Thursday, June 23, 2016

Jenni Rivera's Estate Settles Lawsuit Against Plane Owners Over Fatal Crash: Learjet 25, Starwood Management LLC, N345MC

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

A negligence lawsuit originating from the 2012 plane crash in Mexico that killed Long Beach-based singer Jenni Rivera was settled by her estate with one of the remaining parties sued, attorneys in the case told a judge Thursday.

Attorneys for the singer’s family and Bombardier Inc. during a hearing told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly Kendig that they resolved that part of the case against the company, which serviced the aircraft. The Rivera estate’s lawyer Andrew Owen said court papers will soon be filed outlining how the settlement money will be held in trust for two of Rivera’s five children, Jenika Lopez and Juan Angel Lopez, who were both minors when their mother died.

The judge also scheduled a July 24, 2017 trial of the case against the remaining defendants, Starwood Management LLC, Starwood officer Norma Gonzalez and Garmin International Inc. Starwood owned the jet and Garmin shares responsibility for the allegedly faulty navigational system in the aircraft, the suit alleges.

According to the Rivera estate’s lawyer, Starwood and Gonzalez have been served with notices that the family will seek default judgments against the pair.

Rivera, 43, was killed along with her publicist Artur Rivera, makeup artist Jacobo Yebale, hairstylist Jorge Armando Sanchez Vasquez, and her attorney Mario Macias Pacheco. The jet crashed on Dec. 9, 2012 at about 3:30AM after leaving Monterrey in the mountains of northern Mexico. The Long Beach native had just performed in Monterrey and was on her way to Mexico City to appear on the Mexican version of “The Voice.”

She was widely known for her banda style of regional Mexican music and was one of the biggest stars on Mexican television and popular on regional Spanish stations in California.

Separate lawsuits against Starwood filed by relatives of most of the others killed in the crash are pending. The plaintiffs in the consolidated complaint are family members of Rivera, Yebale, Vasquez, Pacheco, and Miguel Perez Soto, one of the two pilots who died in the crash.

Original article can be found here: https://lbpost.com

NTSB Identification: DCA13RA025
Accident occurred Sunday, December 09, 2012 in Monterrey, Mexico
Aircraft: LEARJET INC 25, registration: N345MC
Injuries: 7 Fatal.

The foreign authority was the source of this information.

On December 9, 2012, at 0333 Central Standard Time, a Learjet 25, N345MC, crashed in mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 5,600 feet above mean sea level approximately 70 miles south of Monterrey, Mexico. The flight departed General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (MMMY), Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico at 0319 and was enroute to Lic. Adolfo Lopez Mateo International Airport (MMTO), Toluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico. The two crew members and five passengers on board were fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

The Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil of Mexico (DGAC) is investigating the accident. The NTSB has designated a U.S. Accredited Representative under the provisions of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 as the State of Manufacture and Registry of the aircraft.

Inquiries regarding this incident should be directed to:

Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil
Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes
Providencia No. 807 — 6° piso
Colonia del Valle
Codigo Postal 03100
México, D.F.
Mexico

Federal Aviation Administration opens investigation into low-flying helicopter at Race to Alaska start

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com



PORT TOWNSEND — The Federal Aviation Administration has begun an investigation into whether a helicopter flew too low at the Race to Alaska starting line last Thursday.

In an email, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the event was reported Monday morning through the agency’s aviation safety hotline with the FAA’s Seattle Flight Standards District Office taking charge of the investigation.

“It is impossible to say how long an investigation will take,” Gregor wrote.

Altitude restrictions

“While helicopters are not subject to the same altitude restrictions as airplanes, they have to be operated so they don’t pose a hazard to people or property on the surface.

“There is no specific foot limit. However, a helicopter should be operated so that the pilot can safely set it down in case of a loss of engine power.”

The blue helicopter began circling the harbor at about 5:45 a.m., first staying well away from the boats and then dropping down to just above the water while several hundred observers watched the start of the race in Port Townsend.

Preliminary reports said the helicopter flew as low as 8 to 15 feet above the water. 

Video

The FAA is currently examining a video of the incident that was posted on the Peninsula Daily News website at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-Helicopter, Gregor said.

Port Townsend Police Department spokesman Luke Bogues said the helicopter’s blades were below the masts of the ship on several occasions and the rotor wind blew paddleboarders off course. 

Emergency dispatchers at JeffCom 911 received several calls Thursday at about 6 a.m., Bogues said. 

Several witnesses submitted their photographs and videos of the incident to police, Bogues said. 

Local probe

Immediately after the incident, Port Townsend Police Officer Bill Corrigan began conducting a local investigation. 

Corrigan said the pilot was a 44-year-old man from Federal Way who was not immediately identified or charged. 

The pilot told police he was hired by a television news crew to film the proceedings.

He said the news crew was encouraging him to fly lower, and he expressed remorse for his decision, according to police. 

Corrigan reported the incident to the FAA on Thursday, according to a press release. 

Police sources were not available for further comment Monday.


http://www.peninsuladailynews.com


 



The pilot of a low-flying helicopter that flew amid the masts of sailboats outside Point Hudson Thursday morning is being investigated for reckless endangerment.

The helicopter was observed flying as low as an estimated 8 to 15 feet above the water before the 6 a.m. start of the second annual Race to Alaska.

Witnesses reported its rotor blades were below the height of some of the boats' masts. According to Section 91.119 of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight rule guidelines, the minimum safe altitude to operate an aircraft over "any congested area of a city" or "over any assembly of persons" is 1,000 feet. Over open water, the limit is 500 feet.

The second annual motorless boat race from Port Townsend to Ketchikan, Alaska, attracted about 80 boats and small watercraft, a few thousand spectators, and two helicopters.

A yellow helo stayed higher while several bystanders called 911 to report a blue Robinson R44II helicopter flying close to boaters gathering outside the Point Hudson Marina.

Witnesses reported the rotor blades were disturbing the water's surface, and the helo was described as having flown as low as 8 feet above the water, hovering and moving between boats. Several witnesses submitted photographs and video evidence to the PTPD.

Bill Corrigan, PTPD officer and a pilot himself, identified the pilot as a 44-year old man from Federal Way, Washington. The pilot told police that he was flying the helicopter for a television news crew, according to a PTPD press release June 23, and that the news crew was encouraging him to fly lower.

"The pilot expressed remorse for his decision to fly that low," PTPD Detective Luke Bogues said in a press release.

No citation has yet been issued, Bogues said Thursday, because the investigation is ongoing. The incident has been reported to the Federal Aviation Administration's flight Standards District Office in Seattle. The FAA could launch its own investigation into whether any flight rules were broken by the pilot.


Original article can be found here:   http://www.ptleader.com




PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. -- Police are investigating after a helicopter was seen flying just feet away from dozens of sailboats Thursday morning in Port Townsend.

The boats, which were part of the Race to Alaska, were gathering outside Point Hudson at about 6 a.m. when a Robinson R44 II helicopter approached from above. Video of the incident shows the chopper flying close to the water and, in some cases, lower than the tops of the sailboats.

As many as 2,000 people were gathered on the shore to watch the beginning of the race, and several of them shot photos and video of the helicopter, according to the Port Townsend Police Department.

Police Officer Bill Corrigan, a pilot himself, is investigating the pilot for potential reckless endangerment charges, according to the department.

A 44-year-old pilot later told police he was flying the helicopter for a television news crew. The Federal Way man said the unidentified news crew was "encouraging him to fly lower," according to the police department.

Police say the pilot, who yet to be arrested or charged with any crimes, expressed remorse for flying that low. The FAA may launch their own investigation into whether any flight rules were broken by the pilot.

Nobody was injured and the race continued on as planned.

Original article can be found here: http://komonews.com 

PORT TOWNSEND — Police are considering filing reckless endangerment charges against the pilot of a helicopter that dipped low over boaters at the beginning of Thursday's Race to Alaska.

“It appears that the helicopter violated height restrictions, “ said Detective Luke Bogues of the Port Townsend Police Department.

He said the helicopter's blades were below the masts of the ship on several occasions. 

“It came so close to the water that a couple of paddleboarders were blown off course,” Bogues said.

Police Officer Bill Corrigan said the pilot was a 44-year-old man from Federal Way. 

Police did not identify the man, who was not charged Thursday.

The pilot told police he was hired by a television news crew to film the proceedings.

He said the news crew was encouraging him to fly lower, and he expressed remorse for his decision, according to police. 

Bogues said the police investigation included determining the news crew's identity. 

The blue helicopter with no markings began circling the harbor at about 5:45 a.m., first staying well away from the boats and then dropping down to just above the water while several hundred observers watched the start of the race.

Emergency dispatchers at JeffCom 911 received several calls at about 6 a.m., Bogues said. 

According to these calls, the helicopter was described as having flown some 8 to 15 feet above the water.

Several witnesses submitted their photographs and videos of the incident to police, Bogues said. 

Corrigan reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration's Flight Standards District Office in Seattle. 

The FAA may launch its own investigation into whether the pilot violated flight rules, Bogues said.

Through its FAA registration number, the helicopter is an 11-year-old Robinson rotorcraft owned by Emerald City Aircraft Leasing in Port Orchard. 

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com

Helicopter hangar at Mercy Hospital remains a hot issue for residents

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

Though the City Commission rejected Valley Med Flight's initial request to build a hangar and place a fuel tank at Mercy Hospital, the issue is ongoing, according to Mayor Richard Johnson. "I would certainly revisit it if the application is in order," Johnson said.



Though the Devils Lake City Commission voted against a plan to build a hangar and install an 8,000 gallon fuel tank for the Valley Med Flight helicopter located at Mercy Hospital, the issue is still ongoing.

According to Mayor Richard Johnson, the primary issue involved zoning. Because the location of the proposed construction is in a high density residential zone, it would be necessary to adjust the city’s ordinance concerning the zoning of the neighborhood.

Johnson indicated that Valley Med Flight may have been better served if they had adhered to proper procedures when requesting to build the hangar, including consulting with the city on the proposed ordinance change. However, Johnson said that the issue is ongoing.

“I would certainly revisit it if the application is in order,” Johnson said.

Larry Liere of the Devils Lake Planning Commission agreed with the mayor’s assessment, and detailed some of the concerns involved with the hangar and fuel tank.

Liere said that some residents were concerned about a two story metal building being placed in close proximity to their property, reporting that one resident was concerned about “no longer being able to see the sunset.”

Because Valley Med Flight is a for-profit enterprise, Liere said that the construction of the hangar and placement of the fuel tank at the site is considered a business venture, which also requires a change in the ordinance concerning zoning.

However, Liere was also amenable to revisiting the issue.

“We’re more than willing to have (Valley Med Flight) come back with a different idea,” Liere said.

Residents remain divided on the issue, with some advocating for the hangar’s construction due to the perception that building the hangar at the airport would increase the time needed to evacuate patients in dire need of medical care.

Lorraine Christensen, who has lived across from Mercy Hospital since 1976, is one such resident.

“I feel that if they’re going to transport them into an ambulance, and they’re critical, they’ll die before they get to the hospital,” Christensen said.

A neighbor of Christensen’s, Michelle Zenk, agreed that evacuation of patients in the most timely fashion possible should be the chief focus.

“It makes no sense to me to come into the airport, get into an ambulance, because if you’re having to be in a helicopter you’re probably not stable enough to have to be moved again,” Zenk said.

Zenk, who moved to the neighborhood in May, also said that she hasn’t been bothered by noise generated by the helicopter.

“I thought that it was going to be an issue for me,” Zenk said. “It’s not an issue for me.”

One resident, who asked not to be named, also had no problem with noise associated with the helicopter. However, the idea of an 8,000 gallon fuel tank in a residential zone caused concern.

“I’ve listened to it for years, but having a big fuel tank bothers me a little bit,” the resident said. “(My concern) is leakage, an explosion. You get that much fuel, it’s a dangerous thing I think.”

Another resident, who also asked not to be named, agreed, while also pointing out that the service itself should remain despite objecting to the proposed hangar and fuel tank.

"We aren't opposed to the helicopter service, and the zone we live in isn't zoned for a hangar and fuel tank,” the resident said. “So no matter if we were opposed (to) it or not, the city zone rules don't allow for it to be done. We’ve survived without it for years.”

Though many in the neighborhood surrounding Mercy Hospital disagreed on the initial proposal concerning the hangar and fuel tank, everyone who spoke out agreed that the service was vital to the community.

Teresa Longie, who has lived in the neighborhood for about a year, supports both the service and the hangar.

“I think some people do have a point about seconds really counting when it comes to people’s lives,” Longie said. “I don’t mind it, it’s not an eyesore to me. I think it’s a benefit to the community.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to it if they did build it out here,” Longie added. “My mom actually had a stroke last year, and seconds really do count. Had she not made it to Fargo in time for her surgery, she wouldn’t be here today.”

Original article can be found here: http://www.devilslakejournal.com

Colorado man gets probation for flying unregistered plane

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

CHEYENNE — A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a Colorado man to three years of supervised probation on a felony conviction of operating an unregistered airplane in a case stemming from the police seizure of over $250,000 cash from a Wyoming hotel room two years ago.

Scott Michael Lewis, 27, of Englewood, Colorado, had pleaded guilty in April. In sentencing him, U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson of Cheyenne followed a federal prosecutor’s recommendation to dismiss a second charge alleging conspiracy to operate an unregistered aircraft.

Friends and family told Johnson that Lewis is working on an undergraduate degree in finance at the University of Colorado in Denver. Lewis also has been working at a hotel and has professional job prospects upon graduation, they said.

Lewis told Johnson that he’s sorry for what happened and would make certain he wouldn’t ever appear again before a criminal court.

In sentencing Lewis to probation, Johnson imposed a lengthy list of conditions, including that he not file any flight plans. The judge said he was impressed with the support that Lewis inspired from the others.

“Frankly, I think you are well on your way to rescuing yourself,” Johnson told Lewis.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wyoming charged Lewis and co-defendant Gilbert Wayne Wiles Jr., of Denver, in January. The charges came nearly two years after authorities in Cody seized a Cessna airplane and the cash.

Wiles pleaded guilty in April to aiding and abetting the operation of an unregistered airplane. He faces between one and three years of probation at his sentencing, set for Friday.

According to court records, a worker at Yellowstone Regional Airport alerted police that the men appeared suspicious after they landed there on Feb. 27, 2014. The worker told police the pilot didn’t radio the airport before landing and sunshades were lowered over the windows even though the plane was about to be stored in a hangar.

A police officer testified earlier this year at a suppression hearing that a drug dog alerted to the plane but no drugs were found. The officer said he interpreted the dog’s actions to mean the plane had been used for transporting drugs in the past. Prosecutors say officers found the cash in a hotel room the men had rented in Cody.

As part of Lewis’ sentence, Johnson forfeited the Cessna to the federal government. Johnson said there had been little discussion at sentencing of the crime.

“It was an ongoing activity,” he said. “And it was an activity that certainly was no good.”

Original article can be found here:  http://trib.com

Van's RV-9, N39CW: Incident occurred June 23, 2016 at Flaglor Airport (8TN4), Mosheim, Greene County, Tennessee

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

http://registry.faa.gov/N39CW


Date: 23-JUN-16
Time: 22:35:00Z
Regis#: N39CW
Aircraft Make: VANS
Aircraft Model: RV9
Event Type: Incident
Highest Injury: None
Damage: Unknown
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
FAA Flight Standards District Office:  FAA Nashville FSDO-19
City: MOSHEIM
State: Tennessee

AIRCRAFT ON LANDING AT A GRASS AIRSTRIP, FLIPPED OVER, MOSHEIM, TENNESSEE.




A single-engine airplane overturned while taxiing down a grassy runway in western Greene County shortly before 6:30 p.m. Thursday. 

The pilot suffered bruises but no serious injuries.

The pilot was Charles Windham, of 630 Wisecarver Road, where the plane wreck took place, according to Greene County Sheriff Pat Hankins.

Authorities responded to the grassy private airstrip, near the former Gilbreath Community Center.

The plane, a Vans RV9 homebuilt aircraft, was on its top when emergency crews arrived. Hankins said the plane is valued at $70,000.

Because the plane wrecked while taxiing — not in the air — the Federal Aviation Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will not investigate, officials said.

Responding agencies included the Greene County Sheriff's Department, the Mosheim Volunteer Fire Department, Greeneville Emergency & Rescue Squad, Greene County-Greeneville EMS and the Greene County Emergency Management Agency.

Original article can be found here: http://www.greenevillesun.com

Southwest Airlines Revamps Aircraft Order Book: To take fewer Boeing 737-Max aircraft than planned through 2022

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

The Wall Street Journal
By Susan Carey 




Southwest Airlines Co., finalizing a revamp of its fleet strategy that began in 2012, on Thursday told investors it is deferring delivery of Boeing Co.’s new 737-Max aircraft to take fewer than earlier planned through 2022, in part to reduce its near-term capital expenditure budget.

The nation’s leading discount carrier has 330 Boeing 737s on firm order for delivery through 2025, as compared with 328 through 2024, its previously reported delivery schedule. Its number of planes on option remains the same. But the new plan will significantly lower the number of new planes entering the fleet from 2018 through 2022, Southwest Chief Financial Officer Tammy Romo said at an investor day presentation Thursday.

This year and next, the Dallas-based carrier plans to boost deliveries, in part to compensate for the previously announced early retirement of about 50 older-version 737s by 2017. It will add 67 planes in 2017, compared with the previously envisioned 61. Some of the additional planes are used 737-700s Southwest has found on the market at good prices. Others are new 737-800s it had on firm order and the third tranche, starting next year, are Boeing’s new-engined version of the 737, the so-called Max-8.

Ms. Romo said the new fleet plan will defer $1.9 billion of aircraft capital spending by 2020. Southwest’s aircraft capex this year will be $1.3 billion, rise next year and then retreat. Beyond 2020, the company will be able to keep that spending at manageable levels, she said. The deferral of 67 firm deliveries over the next several years supports the goal of 2% annual net fleet growth.

Southwest, which flies only variants of Boeing 737s, expects to end this year with 723 planes in its fleet, a number that will dip to 700 in 2017 before rising again to between 730 and 750 aircraft in 2018.

Boeing, in a statement, said its strong 737 order book gave it the flexibility to help Southwest accelerate deliveries in the near term, then sequence its receipt of 737s over the longer term. The manufacturer said it continues to see healthy demand in the single-aisle aircraft market. Industry experts believe because the Max model is in such demand, Southwest’s deferrals in taking some of those models could help Boeing work with other airline customers who want to move up their delivery positions.

Bringing in the new planes will boost fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs, Ms. Romo said. In an earlier investor presentation, she said the Max has 14% more fuel efficiency than Southwest’s 737-700s and 737-800s. The Max is about 20% more fuel efficient that the 737-300s that are being retired.

The airline, No. 4 in the U.S. by traffic, had intended to retire about 50 old-model 737s by mid-2018. But in January, it moved up that date to the third quarter of 2017, so those planes will be out of the system before it starts taking new Max-8 planes. The decision to accelerate those retirements was made to alleviate the need to have separate training regimes for the pilots.

Ms. Romo also said Southwest, which plans to add a new reservation system in 2017, expects that IT cost to reach $500 million. But the benefits of the modern technology and new functionality should allow the carrier to recoup that investment by 2020, she said.

Original article can be found here:  http://www.wsj.com

Carlsbad, San Diego County, California: Local investors sought to help North County airline take off

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com


Ted Vallas, owner of California Pacific Airlines, is seeking investors to help get the airline flying out of McClellan-Palomar Airport based in Carslbad. 



CARLSBAD — If you ask a group of children what they want to be when they grow up, you’ll likely have a handful of future pilots in your midst.

While that dream gives way to reality for many, local entrepreneur Ted Vallas has an offer for local grownups that just might appeal to those still holding on to aviation aspirations — as well as anyone else looking to be a part of the future of local air travel.

Vallas is the owner of California Pacific Airlines, which will be operating out of McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. While CP Air was ready to take off out of the Carlsbad airport in 2011, issues with the FAA’s operating budget grounded those plans. Vallas said that the FAA and Department of Transportation have been very cooperative. Now that the timing is right, Vallas is looking to community investors to raise $5 million over the next three months to take his North County airline to the sky.

Vallas knows a thing or two about local and international business, and the airline industry as well. He spent 19 years as the sole owner of a flag and domestic airline that operated primarily from Lindbergh Field.

Vallas said he has run more than 40 businesses in his 95 years following a stint with the Navy. Included in his varied career is the manufacturing and remanufacturing of aircraft. He was also the developer of many local landmarks, including what is now known as Morgan Run Club & Resort in Rancho Santa Fe.

Vallas’ resume and track record are impressive to say the least, and together with the growing need for a North County airline, investing in CP Air is a timely and unique opportunity.

Phase 1 of Vallas’ plan for CP Air includes service to seven cities — San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. To maximize passenger comfort, CP Air will fly EJ 145 jets that have been modified from 50 seats to 40 seats as well as EJ 170 jets that have been modified from 80 seats to 70 seats. When the second phase rolls out it will include service to St. Louis and down into the Texas area.

“Because of the demographics of the area, we have 1.3 million in North County alone, and a catchment area in excess of 3 million, who we can service who will not have to travel to San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles,” Vallas said. He pointed out that this is a savings in time and in dollars. “It gets people off of the freeways,” he said.

Additionally, CP Air will bring an estimated 150 jobs to North County in its first year, which could multiply to 1,000 local jobs by year four.

Vallas wants CP Air to remain a North County airline in every way, including its ownership. “At present time I own 92 percent of the company,” he said. “I have about $15 million of my family’s and my own money invested. And now we’ve been authorized by the SEC to sell stock locally, and we’d like to keep it a definite low number of investors, primarily in North County.”

By FCC laws, and under the Jumpstart Our Business (JOBS) Act, investors to CP Air must be considered “sophisticated,” meaning they have to have at least $1 million net worth (not including their home) and have an income of at least $200,000 per year.

Vallas promises full transparency to all his investors. “We disclose every possible risk that there could be to the business,” he said. “An airline is not an everyday business. But it’s very rewarding when it’s successful. And there is no reason for it not to be successful. The demand and demographics indicated that there is more demand for seats in North County than we can produce in the next three years.”

Vallas also cited the benefits of CP Air’s success to the community. “Our market area is about 50 percent business people up and down and all throughout the West Coast,” he said. “We will be bringing tourism into North County from all seven cities. The hotels, the restaurants will all benefit.”

For more information and specifics about this unique investment opportunity, please contact Ted Vallas at vallas1@cox.net or call (760) 436 -8919.

Original article can be found here:   https://www.thecoastnews.com

Federal Aviation Administration approves Surf Air route to take planes over Bay: Commuter airline company says changes go into effect July 5

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com




The new approach route approved for Surf Air (green line) will take planes over the Bay to the San Carlos Airport from near Moffett Field when conditions allow a visual-flight-rules (VFR) approach and flights into other airports don't interfere. The route that would continue to be used when visibility is bad is the straight red line, and the shaded area is currently used by Surf Air pilots in VFR conditions. Almanac graphic by Kristin Brown.

Commuter airline Surf Air has received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to start flying a new approach to the San Carlos Airport, sending its planes over the Bay from Moffett Field past the Dumbarton Bridge whenever conditions allow, starting on Tuesday, July 5.

The FAA on June 20 told San Mateo County, which owns and operates the San Carlos Airport, that the modified approach to the airport, which the county had asked for as a "noise mitigation measure," can be used as a test for six months.

County Airports Division Manager Gretchen Kelly said that at the end of the six-month period the FAA will decide whether to implement the new route on a permanent basis based on its operational effects, environmental consequences and community reaction.

The airline will be allowed to use the new route whenever conditions allow a visual approach to the airport and when flights do not interfere with other flights into nearby airports.

Officials at the San Carlos Airport told the Almanac that a review of a year of weather records show that the approach could have been used 86 percent of the time in 2015.

Jim Sullivan, Surf Air's senior vice president of operations, said the airline will start using the new route on July 5.

"We're thrilled, obviously," he said. "We're very excited that this has all come together."

Sullivan said the airline has been ready to use the new route since the end of May, but was waiting for approval from the FAA. Surf Air had its "check pilots," who train other pilots, fly the route 31 times to evaluate it, and had "nothing but positive comments," he said.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum, who represents the North Fair Oaks area that has generated many noise complaints about the Surf Air flights, said the county will be careful to note if the change in route generates noise complaints from other areas, such as the neighborhoods that lie between the current route and Moffett Field.

Kelly said the San Carlos Airport received only one noise complaint during the 31 test flights of the route in May; that was from a resident in Redwood City. She said the aircraft was approximately one lateral mile from the caller's home.

Slocum said the board is also working on longer-term solutions to problems at the airport. While a report from consultants hired by the county to look at the airport will be presented on June 28, he said specific ideas and recommendations for action will not come back until October.

Slocum said he and Supervisor Don Horsley, who represents the district including the airport and Atherton, which has also generated many complaints about Surf Air noise, have spent a long time working to resolve the issues.

"I know it's taken a long time," he said. "These things take time."

The county, and other local officials and residents, have been working with Surf Air since October 2013, just months after Surf Air started flying scheduled flights in and out of the San Carlos Airport in June 2013. The airline's small turboprop planes are especially noisy, residents who live under the flight path have said. The success of the airline, which allows its members to take unlimited flights, has led to the addition of more flights.

In March, the county supervisors approved a "San Carlos Aircraft Disturbance Study" to look at possible short- and long-term solutions.

The county has hired an aviation consultant, an aviation noise consultant and a polling firm to help with the research.

Adam Ullman, a North Fair Oaks resident speaking on behalf of the Calm The Skies citizens' group, said that residents have a number of concerns about the new route as a solution to the problems caused by Surf Air, including the fact that flying it is voluntary and that it can be flown only under certain conditions.

"The county needs to address the long-term planning of the airport and put in place reasonable measures to limit the impact of planes flying 1,000 feet over our homes and schools," he said. "This does not accomplish that."

Ullman said the new route also "doesn't address the bigger issue of commercial service into" the San Carlos Airport "and what constitutes (as) acceptable volume levels of service from any single operator."

"Without a permanent fix," he said, another such airline could come in "and we start from square one again."

Horsley said the county is "conscious of the fact that (the new route) may impact other communities." He said the mayors of other cities Surf Air could begin flying over will be notified of the test.

"We don't really think it's fair to transfer the noise from one neighborhood to another," he said.

Changing Surf Air's approach route also does not eliminate all the problems at the airport, he said. The county is monitoring the noise from airport take-offs, which fly over different nearby neighborhoods as well. "That is a little tougher to control," he said.

Horsley said the county is also looking at doing things such as building "additional airport hangars" for small private planes that would leave less tie-down space for planes like the size of the ones Surf Air uses.

"We have a big need for hangar space," he said, adding that there is a waitlist for hangars.

"We are looking at all of the policies and procedures at the airport as well," he said. "We want to make sure we do not end up with another commercial airline at the airport."

Horsley apologized for the amount of time finding a solution has taken.

"I wish it were faster," he said. "I know our constituents have suffered from this a long time."

Atherton's Mayor Elizabeth Lewis said that getting to the new route has taken a lot of work by a lot of people: the resident group, the supervisors, Rep. Anna Eshoo, staff at San Carlos Airport, Surf Air and the FAA.

"To get to this point is huge," she said. "Hopefully during the six-month trial we will experience a significant reduction in overflight noise."

Lewis said she hopes that the supervisors will also look closely at how to best manage the numbers of regularly scheduled flights in and out of the airport and the times of flights.

"I believe that it is not suitable for use as a busy commercial airport," she said.

Original article can be found here:   http://www.paloaltoonline.com

Cessna 172N, On The Upwind LLC, N733DN: Incident occurred June 22, 2016 in Polk County, Florida

Kathryn's Report: http://www.kathrynsreport.com

http://registry.faa.gov/N733DN

Date: 22-JUN-16
Time: 12:45:00Z
Regis#: N733DN
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: Incident
Highest Injury: Unknown
Damage: Unknown
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Orlando FSDO-15
City: POLK CITY
State: Florida

AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED NEAR POLK CITY, FLORIDA.

Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, N223CG: Incident occurred March 20, 2022 and Accident occurred June 22, 2016

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

March 20, 2022:  Aircraft was back taxiing and veered off runway down an embankment into trees at Lakeway Airpark (3R9),  Travis County, Texas. 


Date: 20-MAR-22
Time: 20:15:00Z
Regis#: N223CG
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA12
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 91
City: LAKEWAY
State: TEXAS





Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
    
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

ProMark Aviation Services


Location: Burnet, Texas
Accident Number: GAA16CA347
Date and Time: June 22, 2016, 16:15 Local
Registration: N223CG
Aircraft: Piper PA 12
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion 
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The flight instructor of the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that after an instructional lesson, while returning to the airport, the student pilot was too low "while turning base leg" of the traffic pattern so the student pilot moved the throttle forward to add power, but the engine did not respond. The flight instructor further reported that he took control of the airplane and made an off airport landing. During the landing, the airplane impacted a low hanging tree limb.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

A post-accident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector revealed that the fuel tanks contained less than one gallon of fuel on board the airplane.

The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate fuel levels, which resulted in fuel starvation, a loss of engine power, and a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to monitor the fuel levels.

Findings

Aircraft Fuel - Fluid level
Personnel issues Fuel planning - Pilot
Personnel issues Fuel planning - Instructor/check pilot
Environmental issues Tree(s) - Contributed to outcome

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach-VFR pattern base Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)
Approach-VFR pattern base Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 37, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: June 16, 2015
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 13, 2015
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2433 hours (Total, all aircraft), 196 hours (Total, this make and model), 2279 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 115 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 44 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Student pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: January 18, 2016
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: November 9, 2015
Flight Time: (Estimated) 330 hours (Total, all aircraft), 8 hours (Total, this make and model), 207 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 29 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 
Registration: N223CG
Model/Series: PA 12 NO SERIES 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1946
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 12-2480
Landing Gear Type: N/A; Amphibian
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: April 27, 2016 100 hour 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1937 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4960.3 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320-B2B
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 150 Horsepower
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBMQ, 1288 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 20:53 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 186°
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 5500 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots / 17 knots 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  / None
Wind Direction: 140° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C / 19°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Burnet, TX (BMQ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: Burnet, TX (BMQ)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 14:30 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: BURNET MUNI KATE CRADDOCK FIELD KBMQ
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1284 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing; Full stop; Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 30.747222,-98.234443 (est)

Cessna 172L Skyhawk, N7728G: Incidents occurred June 20, 2018 in Baker City, Baker County, Oregon and June 22, 2016 in Boise, Ada County, Idaho

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise

Aircraft landed safely after making an emergency landing on a road.

Bair Air Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N7728G

Date: 20-JUN-18
Time: 18:30:00Z
Regis#: N7728G
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172L
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: EMERGENCY DESCENT (EMG)
Operation: 91
City: BAKER CITY
State: OREGON

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise

June 22, 2016:  Aircraft under unknown circumstances sustained aileron damage.


Date:  22-JUN-16

Time:  01:30:00Z
Regis#:  N7728G
Aircraft Make:  CESSNA
Aircraft Model:  172
Event Type:  Incident
Highest Injury:  None
Damage:  Minor
Activity:  Instruction
Flight Phase:  UNKNOWN (UNK)
City: BOISE
State:  Idaho

de Havilland DHC-3T (Otter), N104BM; accident occurred June 19, 2014 in Homer, Alaska -Kathryn's Report

http://registry.faa.gov/N104BM

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Anchorage FSDO-03


NTSB Identification: ANC16LA034
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, June 19, 2016 in Homer, AK
Aircraft: DE HAVILLAND DHC3, registration: N104BM
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On June 19, 2016, about 1535 Alaska daylight time, a single-engine, turbine-powered, float-equipped de Havilland DHC-3T (Otter) airplane, N104BM, struck an eagle while en route at about 2,500 feet and 10 miles northeast of the Homer-Beluga Lake Seaplane Base (5BL), Homer, Alaska. The two airline transport pilots sustained no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and operated by Bald Mountain Air Services, Inc., Homer, as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from 5BL, about 1530. 

The operator reported in a written statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 20, that while on a company training flight, the flight crew observed what they believed to be an eagle immediately before hearing and feeling impact to the left wing, and noted that the leading edge was damaged and deformed. The operator reported that the airplane was flying straight and level, at about 120 miles per hour (mph), at an altitude of about 2,500 feet, and heading northeast at the time of impact. The flight crew notified the Homer Flight Service Station of the bird strike and their intentions to return to 5BL. The operator reported that at this time, the airplane was flying normal with no control issues. However, the first attempt at landing was aborted due to an uncontrollable aileron roll to the left when the airspeed decayed below 75 mph. The flight crew declared an emergency and requested emergency services at 5BL. During the subsequent landing, the flight crew maintained the airspeed above 75 mph until an altitude that was just above the surface of the water. The landing was accomplished without any further control issues. 

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Portions of the bird's remains were retrieved from inside the left wing and sent to the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Laboratory in Washington, District of Columbia. 

The closest official weather observation station is located at the Homer Airport (HOM), Homer, about 10 miles southwest of the accident site. At 1453, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting, and stated in part: Wind 6 knots at 220 degrees; visibility 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, overcast clouds at 6,000 feet; temperature, 57 degrees F; dew point 48 degrees F; altimeter 29.92 inHg.

Cessna 172K Skyhawk, Steamboat Springs Flying Club LLC, N998M: Accident occurred June 17, 2016 in Craig, Moffat County, Colorado

Steamboat Springs Flying Club, LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N998M

FAA Flight Standards District Office:  FAA Salt Lake City FSDO-07

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA327
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 17, 2016 in Craig, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/03/2016
Aircraft: CESSNA R172, registration: N998M
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The student pilot reported that during his fifth solo touch and go landing, the airplane landed short of the runway and impacted the runway asphalt edge with the nose landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The student pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The student pilot's failure to maintain an adequate glide path during landing, which resulted in the airplane landing short of the runway and the nose wheel impacting the runway edge and substantial damage to the firewall.