Friday, August 26, 2016

Piper PA-11 Cub Special, N4910M, registered to a private individual and operated by student pilot: Fatal accident occurred September 14, 2016 in Arcanum, Darke County, Ohio

Clayton Heins (student pilot)


Jacob Turner (passenger)


The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cincinnati, Ohio

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N4910M 


Michael J. Folkerts, Investigator In Charge 
 National Transportation Safety Board


Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Location: Arcanum, OH
Accident Number: CEN16FA370
Date & Time: 09/14/2016, 0915 EDT
Registration: N4910M
Aircraft: PIPER PA 11
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Low altitude operation/event
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis 

Although federal regulations do not allow a student pilot to carry passengers, the student pilot and a passenger departed from a private airstrip on a personal flight in the airplane. During the flight, the passenger posted on social media a video that showed the airplane maneuvering at low altitude. The airplane subsequently impacted a cornfield at high speed. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Toxicology testing of specimens from the student pilot indicated the use of multiple psychoactive drugs, including alprazolam, cocaine, ethanol, and hydroxyzine. The combined effects of these drugs likely impaired his ability to safely perform low-altitude maneuvers. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's reckless flying attitude and use of multiple psychoactive drugs, which likely impaired his ability to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. 

Findings

Aircraft
Altitude - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Illicit drug - Pilot (Cause)
Personality - Pilot (Cause)
Decision making/judgment - Pilot (Cause)
Alcohol - Pilot (Cause)
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Qualification/certification - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Maneuvering-low-alt flying
Low altitude operation/event (Defining event)

Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

On September 14, 2016, about 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N4910M, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Arcanum, Ohio. The student pilot and the passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed without a flight plan from a private grass airstrip about 0800.

According to onboard video posted by the passenger to social media during the flight, the student pilot was in the front seat, and the passenger was in the rear seat. On several occasions, the onboard video showed the airplane maneuvering at a low altitude. While in flight, the passenger texted to a friend that the pilot was flying in a "crazy" manner.

A witness, who was in his car preparing to leave for work, observed the airplane fly by his residence at "tree top" level. After exiting his car to check if the airplane had missed the trees, he saw the airplane enter a turn and descend out of sight. Another witness noticed the airplane flying low "just above the trees." A third witness stated that the airplane was flying in a "very radical" manner and commented, "it was like the pilot was drunk." The airplane subsequently impacted in a cornfield about 300 yards north of the departure airstrip. 

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 20, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/16/2012
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 31 hours (Total, all aircraft), 9 hours (Total, this make and model), 9 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

The student pilot, age 20, was issued a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate on October 16, 2012. A logbook review revealed his initial solo flight occurred on December 23, 2012. He had accumulated 31 total hours, and the last recorded flight was on May 22, 2015. FAA regulations do not permit a student pilot to carry passengers.

According to multiple people interviewed by local law enforcement officials, 2 weeks before the accident, the student pilot returned from a substance abuse rehabilitation facility where he was treated for heroin addiction for about 30 days. 



Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: PIPER
Registration: N4910M
Model/Series: PA 11
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1947
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 111641
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/31/2014, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1750 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1925 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91  installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: C85-12
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 85 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:  None 

The airplane, which was registered to the pilot's father, was manufactured in 1947. The two-place, tandem, high-wing airplane was equipped with a Continental C85-12 engine and a Sensenich fixed-pitch propeller. Review of maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed on Aug 31, 2014, at a total time of 1,925 hours.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVES, 1008 ft msl
Observation Time: 0915 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 4°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 5000 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 17°C
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 9000 ft agl
Visibility:  7 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots, 360°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration:  No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Arcanum, OH (PRIV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Arcanum, OH
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0800 EDT
Type of Airspace:  Class G 

At 0915, the weather observation station at Darke County Airport, Versailles, Ohio, located about 13 miles north of the accident site, reported wind 360° at 4 knots, 7 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 5,000 ft above ground level (agl), broken clouds at 9,000 ft agl, overcast clouds at 11,000 ft agl, temperature 17°C, dew point 17°C, and altimeter setting 30.19 inches of mercury. 



Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.976944, -84.543056 (est) 

A strip of flattened corn plants led from the initial impact point on a northwest heading to the airplane. The airplane was resting inverted on a southeast heading about 100 ft from the initial impact point. The engine remained attached to the airframe. One of the propeller blades was bent, and the other was nearly straight. The flight control surfaces remained attached to their respective airframe surfaces, and flight control continuity was confirmed. The center fuel tank contained about 2 gallons of aviation fuel.

At the recovery location, the spark plugs were removed from the cylinders. All displayed a normal worn-out condition when compared to the Champion Aviation Service Manual (AV-27). During a check of the engine's continuity, the Nos. 2 and 4 cylinders had normal compression. The No. 1 cylinder had weak compression due to a crushed intake valve pushrod, and the No. 3 cylinder had no compression due to a crushed exhaust valve pushrod. Both magnetos were rotated by hand and produced spark at all leads. The carburetor float bowl was removed, and no anomalies were noted. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. 

Medical And Pathological Information

The student pilot had not reported any medical conditions or use of any medications to the FAA. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office, Dayton, Ohio, performed an autopsy of the student pilot, and his cause of death was determined to be multiple trauma. No significant natural disease was identified.

The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing on samples from the student pilot and identified ethanol at 0.105 gm% in blood and 0.134 gm% in urine. In addition, alprazolam and its metabolite hydroxyalprazolam; cocaine and multiple metabolites, including benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, and ecgonine methyl ester; levamisole; hydroxyzine and its metabolite cetirizine; and naltrexone and its metabolite naltrexol were found in urine. Finally, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester, hydroxyzine, cetirizine, naltrexone, and naltrexol were found in blood.

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office also performed toxicology testing on samples from the student pilot. The testing identified 57 ng/ml of alprazolam, 161 ± 33 ng/ml of cocaine, 917 ± 190 ng/ml of benzoylecgonine, 404 ng/ml of ecgonine methyl ester, and 106 ng/ml of cocaethylene in heart blood. In addition, ethanol was found in heart blood at 0.139 ± 0.013 gm% and in vitreous at 0.095 ± 0.009 gm%.

Alprazolam is a sedating benzodiazepine prescription medication used to treat anxiety available as a Schedule IV controlled substance and commonly marketed with the name Xanax. Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant. Ethanol is the intoxicant commonly found in beer, wine, and liquor; it acts as a central nervous system depressant. FAA regulations prohibit any person from acting or attempting to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having 0.040 gm% or more ethanol in the blood. Cocaethylene is a metabolite formed only when cocaine and ethanol are ingested together.

Levamisole is a drug used to deworm animals; it is not available for use in humans. It is a white powder and is commonly used to cut illegally produced cocaine. Hydroxyzine is an anxiolytic often marketed with the names Atarax and Vistaril; it is known to be sedating. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist available by prescription and is commonly sold with the names Revia and Vivitrol; it may be used in the treatment of opioid and alcohol addiction.

Tests And Research

Two personal electronic devices were recovered from the accident site and evaluated by the National Transportation Safety Board Recorder Laboratory. One device contained two short videos of the flight, each about 10 seconds long, that showed the airplane flying low over grassy areas but did not capture the accident sequence. Due to significant impact damage, no data was retrieved from the other device. For further details, see the Personal Electronic Devices Factual Report in the public docket for this investigation.



NTSB Identification: CEN16FA370
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, September 14, 2016 in Arcanum, OH
Aircraft: PIPER PA 11, registration: N4910M
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

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 either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 14, 2016, about 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N4910M, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Arcanum, Ohio. The student pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed without a flight plan from a private grass strip about 0800. 

According to onboard video posted by the passenger to his Facebook page, the airplane was maneuvering near the grass strip, with the student pilot in the front seat and the passenger in the rear seat. The airplane subsequently impacted into a cornfield about 300 yards north of the grass strip, which damaged both wings and fuselage. The airplane came to rest about 100 feet from the initial ground impact point.
Clayton Heins (student pilot)


Jacob Turner (passenger)


The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cincinnati, Ohio

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N4910M 


Michael J. Folkerts, Investigator In Charge 
 National Transportation Safety Board


Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Location: Arcanum, OH
Accident Number: CEN16FA370
Date & Time: 09/14/2016, 0915 EDT
Registration: N4910M
Aircraft: PIPER PA 11
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Low altitude operation/event
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On September 14, 2016, about 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N4910M, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Arcanum, Ohio. The student pilot and the passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed without a flight plan from a private grass airstrip about 0800.

According to onboard video posted by the passenger to social media during the flight, the student pilot was in the front seat, and the passenger was in the rear seat. On several occasions, the onboard video showed the airplane maneuvering at a low altitude. While in flight, the passenger texted to a friend that the pilot was flying in a "crazy" manner.

A witness, who was in his car preparing to leave for work, observed the airplane fly by his residence at "tree top" level. After exiting his car to check if the airplane had missed the trees, he saw the airplane enter a turn and descend out of sight. Another witness noticed the airplane flying low "just above the trees." A third witness stated that the airplane was flying in a "very radical" manner and commented, "it was like the pilot was drunk." The airplane subsequently impacted in a cornfield about 300 yards north of the departure airstrip. 

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 20, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/16/2012
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 31 hours (Total, all aircraft), 9 hours (Total, this make and model), 9 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

The student pilot, age 20, was issued a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate on October 16, 2012. A logbook review revealed his initial solo flight occurred on December 23, 2012. He had accumulated 31 total hours, and the last recorded flight was on May 22, 2015. FAA regulations do not permit a student pilot to carry passengers.

According to multiple people interviewed by local law enforcement officials, 2 weeks before the accident, the student pilot returned from a substance abuse rehabilitation facility where he was treated for heroin addiction for about 30 days. 



Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: PIPER
Registration: N4910M
Model/Series: PA 11
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1947
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 111641
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/31/2014, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1750 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1925 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91  installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: C85-12
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 85 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:  None 

The airplane, which was registered to the pilot's father, was manufactured in 1947. The two-place, tandem, high-wing airplane was equipped with a Continental C85-12 engine and a Sensenich fixed-pitch propeller. Review of maintenance records revealed that the most recent annual inspection was completed on Aug 31, 2014, at a total time of 1,925 hours.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVES, 1008 ft msl
Observation Time: 0915 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 4°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 5000 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 17°C
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 9000 ft agl
Visibility:  7 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots, 360°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration:  No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Arcanum, OH (PRIV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Arcanum, OH
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0800 EDT
Type of Airspace:  Class G 

At 0915, the weather observation station at Darke County Airport, Versailles, Ohio, located about 13 miles north of the accident site, reported wind 360° at 4 knots, 7 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 5,000 ft above ground level (agl), broken clouds at 9,000 ft agl, overcast clouds at 11,000 ft agl, temperature 17°C, dew point 17°C, and altimeter setting 30.19 inches of mercury. 



Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.976944, -84.543056 (est) 

A strip of flattened corn plants led from the initial impact point on a northwest heading to the airplane. The airplane was resting inverted on a southeast heading about 100 ft from the initial impact point. The engine remained attached to the airframe. One of the propeller blades was bent, and the other was nearly straight. The flight control surfaces remained attached to their respective airframe surfaces, and flight control continuity was confirmed. The center fuel tank contained about 2 gallons of aviation fuel.

At the recovery location, the spark plugs were removed from the cylinders. All displayed a normal worn-out condition when compared to the Champion Aviation Service Manual (AV-27). During a check of the engine's continuity, the Nos. 2 and 4 cylinders had normal compression. The No. 1 cylinder had weak compression due to a crushed intake valve pushrod, and the No. 3 cylinder had no compression due to a crushed exhaust valve pushrod. Both magnetos were rotated by hand and produced spark at all leads. The carburetor float bowl was removed, and no anomalies were noted. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. 

Medical And Pathological Information

The student pilot had not reported any medical conditions or use of any medications to the FAA. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office, Dayton, Ohio, performed an autopsy of the student pilot, and his cause of death was determined to be multiple trauma. No significant natural disease was identified.

The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing on samples from the student pilot and identified ethanol at 0.105 gm% in blood and 0.134 gm% in urine. In addition, alprazolam and its metabolite hydroxyalprazolam; cocaine and multiple metabolites, including benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, and ecgonine methyl ester; levamisole; hydroxyzine and its metabolite cetirizine; and naltrexone and its metabolite naltrexol were found in urine. Finally, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester, hydroxyzine, cetirizine, naltrexone, and naltrexol were found in blood.

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office also performed toxicology testing on samples from the student pilot. The testing identified 57 ng/ml of alprazolam, 161 ± 33 ng/ml of cocaine, 917 ± 190 ng/ml of benzoylecgonine, 404 ng/ml of ecgonine methyl ester, and 106 ng/ml of cocaethylene in heart blood. In addition, ethanol was found in heart blood at 0.139 ± 0.013 gm% and in vitreous at 0.095 ± 0.009 gm%.

Alprazolam is a sedating benzodiazepine prescription medication used to treat anxiety available as a Schedule IV controlled substance and commonly marketed with the name Xanax. Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant. Ethanol is the intoxicant commonly found in beer, wine, and liquor; it acts as a central nervous system depressant. FAA regulations prohibit any person from acting or attempting to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having 0.040 gm% or more ethanol in the blood. Cocaethylene is a metabolite formed only when cocaine and ethanol are ingested together.

Levamisole is a drug used to deworm animals; it is not available for use in humans. It is a white powder and is commonly used to cut illegally produced cocaine. Hydroxyzine is an anxiolytic often marketed with the names Atarax and Vistaril; it is known to be sedating. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist available by prescription and is commonly sold with the names Revia and Vivitrol; it may be used in the treatment of opioid and alcohol addiction.

Tests And Research

Two personal electronic devices were recovered from the accident site and evaluated by the National Transportation Safety Board Recorder Laboratory. One device contained two short videos of the flight, each about 10 seconds long, that showed the airplane flying low over grassy areas but did not capture the accident sequence. Due to significant impact damage, no data was retrieved from the other device. For further details, see the Personal Electronic Devices Factual Report in the public docket for this investigation.



NTSB Identification: CEN16FA370
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, September 14, 2016 in Arcanum, OH
Aircraft: PIPER PA 11, registration: N4910M
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

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 either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 14, 2016, about 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N4910M, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Arcanum, Ohio. The student pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed without a flight plan from a private grass strip about 0800. 

According to onboard video posted by the passenger to his Facebook page, the airplane was maneuvering near the grass strip, with the student pilot in the front seat and the passenger in the rear seat. The airplane subsequently impacted into a cornfield about 300 yards north of the grass strip, which damaged both wings and fuselage. The airplane came to rest about 100 feet from the initial ground impact point. PETER H. HEINS: http://registry.faa.gov/N4910M 

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Cincinnati FSDO-05


AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FIELD, THE 2 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, NEAR ARCANUM, OHIO.


NTSB Identification: CEN16FA370
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, September 14, 2016 in Arcanum, OH
Aircraft: PIPER PA 11, registration: N4910M
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

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 either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 14, 2016, about 0915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N4910M, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Arcanum, Ohio. The student pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The local flight departed without a flight plan from a private grass strip about 0800. 


According to onboard video posted by the passenger to his Facebook page, the airplane was maneuvering near the grass strip, with the student pilot in the front seat and the passenger in the rear seat. The airplane subsequently impacted into a cornfield about 300 yards north of the grass strip, which damaged both wings and fuselage. The airplane came to rest about 100 feet from the initial ground impact point.

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov,  and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.


Clayton Heins

Jacob Turner

The plane being removed by accident investigators, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.



ARCANUM, Ohio (WDTN) – The Darke County Sheriff’s Office and the National Transportation Safety Board will be giving an update on the investigation into the plane crash that killed two men Wednesday.

Chief Deputy Mark Whittaker released the names of the victims. The men who died were friends, according to Whittaker. Clayton Heins, 20 and Jacob Turner, 19 were in the plane and Whittaker said Thursday Heins was at the controls.

The NTSB said the crash site is about 100 yards wide and would not characterize the crash as a forced landing. Investigators will look at all of the factors that could have affected the flight of the aircraft.

Heins said Heines had a student pilot’s license and should not have been flying with anyone else in the plane.

On Wednesday, a plane was found crashed in a cornfield in the 7100 block of Dull Road near Arcanum.

Two people were killed in the accident.

Authorities say it appears the men took off around 8 in the morning from a private landing strip close to where it crashed.

The men and plane were missing until a family member flew over and found the scene, hundreds of feet deep in the field, just before 2PM.


Story and video:  http://wdtn.com

























ARCANUM, Ohio (WDTN) – Two young men were killed when a small, single engine plane went down in a cornfield near Arcanum on Wednesday.

The crash happened about a mile south of Arcanum north of Dull Road.

Authorities say it appears the men took off around 8 in the morning from a private landing strip close to where it crashed.

The men and plane were missing until a family member flew over and found the scene, hundreds of feet deep in the field, just before 2PM.

“We do not know the amount of time that this plane has been down and crashed prior to being reported,” said Chief Deputy Mark Whittaker with the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office the bodies of those two men have been taken to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, but the coroner for Darke County won’t release their identities until both bodies are positively identified.

The site is being secured by deputies until officials with the NTSB come to investigate on Thursday.

Once the FAA and NTSB arrive on scene, they’ll consider a variety of different factors to determine the cause of the crash.

Investigators will look at everything from the weather at the time of the accident to the pilot’s medical history.

They will also conduct witness interviews and obtain any communication between the plane and air traffic control to get a better understanding of what happened.

Those investigators will be on site reviewing the wreckage of the plane to see if that gives them any insight into what may have happened.

Investigations like these often take several weeks, or even months to complete. A preliminary report could be released in the next several months, but a final report might not be released until 2017.

Story and video:   http://wdtn.com



ARCANUM, Ohio (WRGT) -- The Darke County Sheriff's Office says a plane that crashed Wednesday had gone missing Wednesday morning and was spotted this afternoon in a cornfield by another pilot who was searching the area from the sky.

Chief Deputy Mark Whittaker of the Darke County Sheriff's Office said they were notified of a yellow Piper Cub single-engine plane that was missing, possibly since about 8 a.m. Sept. 14. About the time the Sheriff's Office was notified, Whittaker said, the pilot searching for the missing plane reportedly spotted the crash site.

The two occupants of the crashed plane have died, Whittaker said; however, as of Wednesday afternoon, the Sheriff's Office was not releasing any details to identify the victims or the plane. He said more information would be released, when it was appropriate to do so. Also, Dr. Tim Kathman, Darke County coroner, said he wasn't releasing the names until a forensic examination and positive identification was made.

The Darke County Sheriff's Office reported Wednesday evening that the plane had taken off sometime in the morning of Sept. 14, 2016, from a private air strip near the crash site. The plane had been spotted earlier in the day flying around the Arcanum area.

An investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board was on the way to the scene and the FAA had been notified, which are standard procedures after a plane crash.

Whittaker said a farmer who owns the field where the plane crashed volunteered to use his tractor to clear corn in the area to allow easier access to the site.

Story and video:   http://abc22now.com



DARKE COUNTY — Two men have been identified in a fatal plane crash Wednesday in Darke County.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are continuing their investigation into the crash of a small plane in Darke County on Wednesday that left two men dead:


  • The single-engine Piper Cub PA-11 went down in a cornfield off Dull Road, near Arcanum


  • The plane was removed from the site after 2 p.m. Thursday


  • The men took off about 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office


  • Clayton Heins, 20, and Jacob Turner, 19, identified as the fatalities

Michael Folkerts, an investigator with National Transportation Safety Board, said Heins only had a student pilot certificate and was not allowed to fly a passenger.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and Folkerts did not want to speculate on the speed of the aircraft. He did say the crash did not look like a forced landing.

UPDATE @ 4:40 p.m. (Sept. 15):

Clayton Heins and Jacob Turner were friends, “known to each other for quite some time,” said Mark Whittaker, chief deputy, Darke County Sheriff’s Office.

Heins was flying the aircraft owned by his father around 8 a.m. Wednesday. The crash happened sometime in the morning, according to witnesses interviewed.

NTSB investigator Michael Folkerts said the cause of the crash is still under investigation and he did not want to speculate on the speed of the aircraft.

UPDATE @ 4:27 p.m. (Sept. 15):

The two deceased men have been identified Clayton Heins, 20, and Jacob Turner, 19, according to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.

UPDATE @ 2:19 p.m. (Sept. 15):

Investigators with NTSB removed the downed plane from the cornfield after 2 p.m. Thursday.

The identifications of two men killed in the plane crash Wednesday are expected to be released this afternoon.

UPDATE @ 7 p.m. (Sept. 14):

The male victims have been taken to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. According to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff’s office will not release the names of the victims tonight.

The single-engine, two-seater Piper Cub PA-11 went down “under unknown circumstances,” Tony Molinaro, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration, said in an email earlier in the afternoon.

Molinaro also said the FAA does not have information about the names of the occupants or the flight plan.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration have been to the crash site and investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are expected on Thursday.

The wreckage was found in a cornfield, about 150 yards east of a railroad bed and north of Dull Road by a family member in a search plane, which had been sent up because the victims had been reported as missing and unaccounted for, a deputy said.

The plane was believed to have taken off about 8 a.m. from a private landing strip on Dull Road, deputies said, and witnesses reported seeing the plane in the Arcanum area in the morning.

According to sheriff’s officials, a family member of one or both of the victims contacted the sheriff’s office after failed attempts to make contact with the two in the aircraft.

Deputies and emergency crews were dispatched to the cornfield about 1:45 p.m. and discovered the wreckage and the victims. When the crash occurred is not known, according to the preliminary investigation by the sheriff’s office.

Frank Brown, of West Carrollton, identified himself as the best friend of one of the victims. He said they were flying from Darke County to West Carrollton to meet him because they were planning to surprise a female friend of theirs and take her up for a ride.

Story and video:  http://www.daytondailynews.com

Loss of Control on Ground: Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub, N66898; accident occurred August 25, 2016 at USAF Academy Airfield (KAFF), Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


http://registry.faa.gov/N66898

Location: Colorado Springs, CO 
Accident Number: CEN16LA348
Date & Time: 08/25/2016, 1300 MDT
Registration: N66898
Aircraft: PIPER PA 18-180
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Glider Tow 

On August 25, 2016, about 1300 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Piper PA-18-180 airplane, N66898, departed the left side of the runway on landing at United States Air Force Academy Airfield (AFF), Colorado Springs, Colorado. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to Big Q Aviation Corporation and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a glider towing operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he just completed a local glider towing operation and was landing on runway 16L. After a routine touchdown and roll out, there was a "large gust of wind" from the right side that lifted the right wing of the airplane. To "regain directional control," the pilot applied rudder, slowly lowered the tailwheel to the ground, and applied pressure to both wheel brakes. He stated that when he applied both wheel brakes, the left brake grabbed "more efficiently" than the right brake and the airplane turned to left and exited the runway. The airplane rotated counterclockwise and the right wheel dug into the soft dirt, and subsequently, the right wing contacted the ground.

The pilot stated that when he began his shift that day, he was advised there "were issues with the steering of the tailwheel." An inspection of the tailwheel by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted the tailwheel functioned properly.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 65, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/10/2015
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/16/2016
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 29000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 65 hours (Total, this make and model), 23000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 65 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 35 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N66898
Model/Series: PA 18-180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Utility
Serial Number: 18-7509091
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1750 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360 SERIES
Registered Owner: Big Q Aviation
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: Big Q Aviation
Operating Certificate(s) Held:None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AFF
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1858 UTC
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 180°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.29 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Colorado Springs, CO (AFF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Colorado Springs, CO (AFF)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1230 MDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: USAF ACADEMY AFLD (AFF)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 6572 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 16L
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3534 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 38.973333, -104.820000 (est)