Monday, December 26, 2016

For third straight year, passenger count declines at Branson Airport



For the third straight year, the number of passengers flying out of Branson Airport declined in 2016.

As of the end of October, 5,149 people had boarded a plane at the airport in 2016 — a drop of 63.5 percent compared to the same 10-month stretch in 2015. Depending on the month, more than a quarter to almost half of airplane seats left the facility unoccupied.

The privately owned and operated Branson Airport has been challenged by the consolidation of the airline industry, which has resulted in reduced competition among airlines and decisions by the largest carriers to focus on more profitable routes.

The 2016 decline in enplanements, an industry term for boarding passengers, builds upon those Branson has experienced in recent years.

The airport opened in 2009 and peaked in 2013 at 113,584 enplanements for the year. In 2014, however, Branson's two mainline carriers — Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines — pulled out of the market. The airport ended the year with just shy of 60,000 enplanements.

The mainline carriers have been replaced by public charter flights, offered in the hope that they will demonstrate a demand for air service from Branson. In 2015, enplanements dropped to 15,732, a year-over-year decline of 73.6 percent.

July was the busiest month at Branson Airport in 2016, with 1,332 enplanements, compared to 3,303 in 2015. February, March and April were the slowest — no passengers boarded a plane during those months.

Branson Airport's commercial service ran through late November this year, but figures pertaining to the month were not available as of press time. Even stellar November figures would leave the airport well short of its 2015 performance in terms of passenger count.

The airport does not itself release the statistics, but they are included in publicly posted reports issued to bondholders. The reports indicate that Branson Airport LLC had a net loss of about $11 million through the first three quarters of 2016.

Branson had nonstop service to four cities in 2016.

Buzz Airways operated flights under the Branson AirExpress name to New Orleans and Austin four times a week between late May and mid-August. Elite Airways, meanwhile, offered flights to Denver and Houston starting in mid-July.

When the Elite Airways service was announced, it was billed as daily service, and Branson Airport Executive Director Jeff Bourk told the News-Leader that, while the schedule was only set through late November, he hoped the flights would continue year-round.

The flights, however, ceased for the year in late November. Bourk said this month they had been offered on a daily basis for a period, and three or five times a week during other parts of the schedule. Bourk said it was challenging to get the data to justify continuing service through the winter given that the service had only been offered for four months.

Bourk said the airport is currently working on its 2017 offerings, with the goal of expanding service.

Earlier this month, the Taney County Partnership — a private-public group that focuses on economic development — said in a news release that a recent economic impact study conducted by Arizona State University found that Branson Airport had a total economic impact of $454.8 million between 2010 and 2015, and that the fiscal impacts from tax collections totaled $14.5 million.

The study itself, which was commissioned by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau, was not released. The partnership said in the release that the study found the airport supported 688 jobs annually on average, in terms of both jobs at the airport and jobs in the community supported by visitors who arrived by air. The release said the airport's economic impacts peaked in 2013 — the same year the airport saw the greatest number of passengers — and then declined in 2014 and 2015.

“The key to restoring economic impact from the airport on the local economy is to grow air service,” Bourk said in the release.

The partnership said in the release that the Taney County Partnership and the Air Service Development Committee have worked to spur both public sector and private sector investment in a fund designed to return Branson Airport service to key markets. The fund includes $1 million from the public sector, specifically from Taney County, the city of Hollister and the Taney County Enhancement District. The level of private-sector investment was not disclosed, but was said to be "significant."

Springfield-Branson National Airport on track for all-time highs

While Branson Airport saw declines in 2016, its neighbor an hour to the north is expecting a record year.

Through the end of November, Springfield-Branson National Airport had 438,007 enplanements, up about 3.9 percent compared to the same period in 2015. On average, flights this year have been 79.7 percent full, according to numbers provided by an airport spokesman.

When talking with the public, the airport generally focuses on total passengers, which includes enplanements and deplanements. Spokesman Kent Boyd said he expects to finish 2016 with total passengers up about 4 percent over the 2015 record of 913,395.

Springfield-Branson is served by four airlines: Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Those carriers provide nonstop flights to Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Orlando and Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers.

Source:  http://www.news-leader.com

Federal Aviation Administration pleased with Potsdam Municipal Airport runway improvements

POTSDAM -- The Federal Aviation Administration is pleased with the runway improvements and new lighting at Potsdam Municipal Airport/Damon Field, according to village Administrator Greg Thompson.

The $1.4 million program completed earlier this year included widening and refinishing the runway to more easily accommodate larger aircraft, maintenance of runway lighting, and installation of a visual landing guidance system.

The contract for the work on the village-owned airport was awarded to local building company J.E. Sheehan Contracting, which widened the runway from 60 feet to 75 feet under the exacting specifications of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Thompson told village board members this week word had come from Federal Aviation Administration that they were pleased with the work.

The Federal Aviation Administration is paying 90 percent of the cost, and the state and the village are splitting the remaining 10 percent.

Still outstanding is delivery of equipment needed for snow removal during the winter months worth $212,570, which is expected next week, he said.

Source:  http://northcountrynow.com

Delays reported at Southwest Florida International Airport

SOUTH FORT MYERS -

Several flights into and out of Southwest Florida International Airport on Monday have been delayed due to weather and air traffic control issues across the country.

It was earlier reported that an air traffic control issue was causing problems, but the FAA has since told NBC2 that any delays affecting flights at RSW are caused by weather or traffic volume.

New statement from the FAA about delays:

The traffic flow management system issue isn't causing delays.

Weather and heavy volume of flights are causing delays at some locations. If a Ft. Myers flight is delayed it's probably due to weather or volume at the destination or origination airport.

Earlier statement from the FAA about delays:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working to correct a problem with the air traffic control management system that allows the FAA Command Center to manage traffic flow more efficiently across the country. The FAA does not use this system to track or communicate with individual flights. We are not experiencing problems with the radar, navigation or communications systems we use to handle specific flights. Monitor fly.faa.gov for real-time information on airport status. Check with the air carriers for information on specific flights.

The flight boards at RSW show several arrivals and departures are delayed, some longer than three hours. The FAA said they do not track flight delays in real-time and it would be Tuesday before they would have the number of flights affected.

You can check flights at swfia.com.

Travelers coming from Charlotte were delayed for a couple of hours and said they had no real sense of when they'd actually be on their flight.

They said the airline would update every 15 to 30 minutes and let them know they were still delayed.

"They started delaying by 30 minutes and 15 minutes and 30 minutes, and I think overall it was a little over two hours delayed," said Ava Paranjape, visiting from Memphis.

"The plane is sitting there on the runway, and they just said we're not ready to go. It's kind of frustrating to not really know what the problem is," said Dominic Tricase of Fort Myers.

Story and video:   http://www.nbc-2.com

Express S90, N176PA: Fatal accident occurred December 26, 2016 near Sierra Sky Park Airport (E79), Fresno, California

Analysis

The private pilot began flight training in 1996 and had accrued about 187 total hours of flight experience by 2012, mostly in low-performance Cessna and Piper airplanes. The pilot then ceased flying until mid-2016, when he purchased the previously-owned experimental amateur-built, high-performance accident airplane.

In late 2016, when he had accrued about 31 hours of flight experience in the airplane, the pilot and a non-pilot rated passenger departed for a local personal flight. Weather conditions were benign, with light winds, clear skies, and moderate temperature. According to multiple witnesses, some of whom were pilots, the airplane entered a steep climb at some point after it lifted off. The airplane then began a sharp right turn while continuing to climb rapidly. Shortly thereafter, the airplane entered a steep descent and impacted marshy terrain about 900 ft to the northeast of the departure end of the runway.

A flight path reconstructed from data recovered from an onboard GPS device indicated a trajectory that was similar to that indicated by the witness accounts. GPS-derived comparison of the profile of the accident takeoff with those of seven of the pilot's other takeoffs in the airplane from the accident airport revealed that five of the other seven takeoff profiles were similar to one another, and that the accident takeoff profile was markedly different from those five. During the accident takeoff, the airplane remained on or near the ground about 25 seconds longer than it did during those five other takeoffs, and then climbed at a rate that was about twice the rates of those five takeoffs. The other two takeoffs exhibited ground or near-ground travel durations of about 40 seconds, with climb rates similar to those of the other five takeoffs.

Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal evidence of any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and the damage was consistent with the engine developing at least moderate power at impact. The airplane was equipped with dual flight controls, but the investigation was unable to determine who was manipulating the controls for the takeoff and flight. The relative sizes of the two occupants were not consistent with the passenger being able to overpower the pilot on the flight controls. The takeoff profile was consistent with an aggressive, more exciting technique sometimes referred to as a "high-performance" or "zoom climb" takeoff. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for this takeoff profile that was uncharacteristic from previous departures. The investigation was also unable to determine the reason(s) for the right turn/roll and departure from controlled flight. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's abnormally steep takeoff climb followed by a loss of control and rapid descent to ground impact, for undetermined reasons. 

Findings

Aircraft
Climb rate - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Lateral/bank control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)
Recent experience - Pilot
Recent experience w/ equipment - Pilot

Not determined
Not determined - Unknown/Not determined (Cause)


William Arthur Huene

Chase Splan


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

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fresno, California
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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/N176PA


Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

Location: Fresno, CA
Accident Number: WPR17FA041
Date & Time: 12/26/2016, 1318 PST
Registration: N176PA
Aircraft: PETRUS DAVID WAYNE S90
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On December 26, 2016, about 1318 Pacific standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Express S-90, N176PA, was destroyed when it departed controlled flight and impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 30 at Sierra Sky Park Airport (E79), Fresno, California. The private pilot/owner and his passenger received fatal injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The pilot had a residence on E79, a residential airpark, and based his airplane there. According to the pilot's wife, the passenger was a family friend, and the flight was to be a local pleasure flight.

Several persons, some of whom were pilots, witnessed various portions of the accident flight, and the reports were generally consistent with one another. The witnesses were at multiple various locations around E79 and its surrounds. All stated that the airplane was climbing after takeoff when it made a "sudden" and/or "rapid" right turn. Two non-pilot witnesses, who were about 1,200 ft northwest of the departure end of the runway, reported that the airplane was "low" when they first observed it and that it then suddenly turned right. Several other witnesses, some of whom were pilots, reported that the airplane was in an abnormally steep climb after liftoff and then began a right turn that was followed shortly thereafter by a rapid descent and impact to the lake situated north of and below the airport elevation.

Accounts of the airplane's specific motions after the right turn varied, but all witnesses reported that the airplane descended rapidly toward the ground very shortly thereafter. Most reported a nose-down attitude during the descent, and one witness qualified the descent as "falling." Maximum bank angle accounts varied, and at least one witness reported a full 360° roll. Maximum altitude accounts also varied, but all accounts agreed that the airplane did not climb very high.

The witnesses who were able to hear the engine agreed that initially the engine sounded normal, but their accounts then diverged as the airplane began its right turn/roll. The deviations in witness accounts of the engine sound are consistent with changing airplane attitudes, and/or differences in witness locations. Some witnesses reported that the engine sounded normal, while others reported a decrease in power (based on volume of the sound) and/or "popping" sounds. Only one witness reported seeing smoke, but he was uncertain whether the airplane that he observed was the accident airplane, and he categorized the smoke as exhaust.

Immediately after the accident, several witnesses attempted to access the accident site to render assistance. One witness, a pilot who resided at E79, was the first person to arrive at the impact site. He stated that there was the "odor of gasoline but no sheen" on the surrounding water. There was no fire.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Pilot

The 47-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued in July 2016.

According to the pilot's logbook, he began flight training in 1996 and received his pilot certificate in 1997. He accrued about 150 hours total in several airplane types, including Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Piper PA-38, and Piper PA-28R models. In 2002 and 2004, he accrued about 24 and 2 hours, respectively, in a Velocity experimental amateur-built airplane. He then stopped flying until 2011. In 2011 and 2012, he flew about 13 hours in a Piper PA-28 airplane.

In August 2016, when he had a total flight experience of about 187 hours, the pilot bought and logged his first flight in the accident airplane make and model, which was the accident airplane. Excluding the accident flight, he had logged a total of 31.1 hours in that airplane. The pilot's total flight experience at the time of the accident was about 218 hours.

A former neighbor of the accident pilot, who was also a pilot and had previously built an Express S-90 in which he had accumulated about 150 flight hours, reported that he had flown the accident airplane several times with the accident pilot, most recently about 5 days before the accident. The former neighbor stated that he knew the pilot well and firmly believed that the pilot would not try to "show off," scare passengers, or do "high performance takeoffs," which he explained were takeoffs in which the airplane climbed away from the runway at an unusually steep angle.

Another resident stated that he thought the accident pilot was a "good pilot" but added that the pilot was "behind the airplane." He did not elaborate on either his opinion or its basis.

Passenger

The passenger was a 32-year-old male. He was the son of a neighbor of the pilot. He did not hold any FAA certificates. According to family members, he had no piloting experience and no plans to learn to fly, and the accident flight was one of his very few flights in a general aviation airplane.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The fixed-gear, four-place, high-performance airplane was designed and marketed by Composite Aircraft Technology. The airplane was built by a third party in 2004 and was owned by several different persons before it was purchased by the accident pilot. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-540 series engine and a Hartzell 3-blade propeller.

According to the maintenance records, the most recent condition inspection was completed in May 2016. As of that date, the airframe had accrued 501 hours total time (TT) in service. Engine maintenance records indicated that an oil and filter change was accomplished in September 2016, at which time the airframe had accumulated a TT of about 546 hours, and the engine had accumulated a TT since major overhaul of about 945 hours. Review of the maintenance records did not reveal any discrepancies or maintenance activities that could be associated with the accident.

The former neighbor who had flown with the pilot in the airplane stated that the airplane flew straight and level "hands off" and that it flew "really well." He also stated that the flight controls were "heavy" and that manipulating them was "like driving a Mack truck." The former neighbor reported that he normally used about 5° to 10° of flap for takeoff in his S-90 and thought that the accident pilot did the same. He was not aware of the accident airplane having a cockpit flap position indicator and thought that the pilot determined the amount of flap deflection visually by looking out the cockpit window. The former neighbor stated that, in his airplane, he used a neutral (tab faired with elevator) pitch trim setting for takeoff, and that the accident pilot used a similar setting.

Weight and Balance Information

According to the most recent weight and balance documentation located by the investigation, the airplane had an empty weight of 2,163 lbs, and a maximum gross weight of 3,300 lbs. The airplane was equipped with two 15-gallon outboard fuel tanks and two 30-gallon inboard fuel tanks.

Calculations using the occupants' weight and two different fuel loads both resulted in a gross weight below the maximum allowable, but with center of gravity (CG) values about 2 inches forward of the allowable envelope. However, the validity of the airplane empty weight/CG, station information, and envelope values could not be independently verified by the investigation. In addition, the exemplar loading conditions were likely representative of the configuration for several previous flights, during which the airplane flew normally.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The airport was not equipped with any weather sensing, reporting, or recording equipment.

The 1315 automated weather observation at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH), located 8 miles south of E79, included visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 10°C, dew point 3°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.28 inches of mercury. The observation did not include any wind data. Meteorological conditions at Fresno-Yosemite Air Terminal (FAT), located 8 miles southeast of E79, were similar and included winds from 310° at 5 knots.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

E79 was equipped with a single paved runway, runway 12/30, that measured 2,473 ft by 50 ft. The airport elevation was 321 ft above mean sea level (msl). The airport was located just south of a lake and ecological preserve that adjoined the San Joaquin River; the lake surface was about 80 ft below the elevation of the airport. E79 was non-towered, and the common traffic advisory frequency communications were not monitored by ground personnel or recorded on any equipment.

Although there was a vehicular traffic monitoring camera that was located at a road intersection just south of E79 and faced the airport, the camera and system did not have any recording capability.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane impacted in marshy ground at the shoreline of the lake located north of the airport. The wreckage came to rest about 70 ft from the initial impact point, and the direction of travel between those two points was 265° true. The accident location was 2,700 ft, on a bearing of 332° true, from the threshold of E79 runway 30. The accident site elevation was about 80 ft below the elevation of E79.

The wreckage was found in three major sections, which remained partially attached to one another; the sections were the wings, the engine and cockpit, and the aft fuselage. The two wings remained attached to one another and came to rest leading edge down, with the chordline approximately perpendicular to the ground. The engine and attached propeller were fully immersed in the water and underlying mud/silt, with the significantly deformed and fractured cockpit remnants mostly above the waterline. The aft fuselage came to rest inverted on top of the cabin section. Some cowling and wing fragments were dispersed in the area of the initial impact point, and some of the marsh grass was flattened in this area as well. However, no significant gouges or other ground scars were observed in this region.

The forward and lower regions of the cabin were severely disrupted by the impact. Both front seats were fracture-separated from the structure. The available evidence indicated that both occupants were using their seat belts and shoulder harnesses and that those restraint systems remained intact and fastened during the impact.

The airplane was equipped with a total of four integral wing fuel tanks. All four tanks were breached but retained their caps in their respective filler necks. No fuel was observed the day after the accident. Wing leading edge damage was continuous along the entire span of both wings, consistent with a laterally-symmetric wing leading edge impact in the aft (chordwise) direction. The two electrically-controlled and -actuated trailing edge flaps remained fully attached to their respective wings. The left flap drive remained connected to the actuator, but the right flap drive was fracture-separated at the flap fitting. Damage precluded determination of the impact flap setting. The ailerons remained fully attached to their respective wings, and all aileron control system fractures were consistent with one-time impact-related overload fractures. All aileron balance weights were present. The left aileron weights were found partially displaced from their normal orientation due to a fractured rod that normally secured the weights. The aileron weights were retained for further laboratory examination. The laboratory findings are discussed later in this report.

The horizontal and vertical stabilizers remained attached to the aft fuselage and were essentially undamaged. The elevators, pitch trim tab, and rudder remained securely attached to their respective aero surfaces and were also essentially undamaged. All pitch and yaw flight control system fractures were consistent with one-time impact-related overload fractures, with no evidence of pre-existing failures.

The cockpit instrumentation was primarily electronic, with a few electro-mechanical or pneumatic flight instruments. All the electronic instrumentation was found immersed in the water at the site, and most were significantly impact-damaged. None had provisions for recording flight or system information. A Garmin GPSMap 496 was recovered and sent to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory for data download. Those results are discussed later.

The fuel selector valve was found in a position that corresponded to the left tank setting, and the valve was observed to be clear of internal debris and blockages. Most engine control postimpact settings were deemed to be unreliable, but no pre-impact failures were identified in those components. The ignition switch was found set to the "BOTH" position. Electrical switch and circuit breaker positions were deemed to be unreliable due to impact and recovery disruption.

The engine data plate indicated that the engine was a 300-horsepower Lycoming IO-540-K1E5. The engine sustained crush damage in the aft and up directions on the bottom and sides and propeller strike damage to the No.1 cylinder. The propeller was a Harztell all-metal, three-blade, controllable-pitch design. The propeller hub was intact, and all three blades were retained in the hub. All three propeller blades exhibited significant bending and twisting deformation and scoring/gouging. One blade exhibited damage congruent with the strike damage to the engine.

No evidence of any pre-impact mechanical deficiencies or failures of the engine or propeller that would have precluded normal operation was observed, and all damage was consistent with ground impact with the engine operating at medium to high power.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Pilot

The Fresno County Coroner's autopsy report indicated that the cause of death of the pilot was "Multiple Skeletal and Visceral Injuries" as a result of "Blunt Impact" and that alcohol and drug test results were all negative. The pilot's height was reported as 69 inches, with a weight of 213 pounds. The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted forensic toxicology examinations on specimens from the pilot and reported that no carbon monoxide, ethanol, or any screened drugs were detected.

Passenger

The Fresno County Coroner's autopsy report indicated that the cause of death of the passenger was "Multiple Skeletal and Visceral Injuries" as a result of "Blunt Impact." The passenger's height was reported as 68 inches, with a weight of 177 pounds. The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted forensic toxicology examinations on specimens from the passenger and reported that no carbon monoxide or ethanol was detected.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

Airspeed Information Discrepancies

Comparison of the airspeed reference values depicted on the airspeed indicator (ASI), the Pilots Operating Handbook (POH), and a copy of the checklist provided by the previous owner of the airplane revealed multiple discrepancies between the three sources. For example, the POH specified a landing configuration stall speed of 50 kts, while the ASI specified 55 kts, and the checklist specified 70 kts, with no configuration reference. The previous owner of the airplane was of the opinion that 70 kts was a much more realistic and representative stall speed, and that the factory-specified 55 kt stall speed was unrealistic and/or impossible. The investigation was unable to determine which data sources and values the pilot utilized for operation of the airplane. All discrepancies are detailed in a separate report that is available in the NTSB public docket for this accident.

Left Aileron Balance Weights

Each aileron was equipped with two balance weights mounted on a common arm that attached to the aileron and extended forward into the wing. Each aileron weight assembly was fully enclosed within its respective wing. During the post recovery examination, the left aileron weights were found partially displaced from their normal orientation, due to a fractured rod that normally secured the weights. This fracture allowed the weights to pivot to an orientation that would prevent aileron motion. Detailed laboratory examination of the fractured and intact rods revealed that the fracture was a one-time overload, with no indications of pre-existing deficiencies, and that the other rods were fully intact. These observations were all consistent with impact forces being the reason for the damage.

GPS 496 Data

The NTSB Recorders Laboratory was able to successfully download data from the recovered GPS device. The extracted data included 59 track logs (referred to as sessions), that were dated between August 2, 2016 and December 26, 2016. The sessions included 35 flights (some with interim landings) including the accident flight. Because the GPS device was a handheld/portable unit, the possibility existed that, excluding the accident flight, the flights could have represented activity in other aircraft, and/or with other than the accident pilot. Correlation of the GPS flights with the pilot's logbook indicated that all but two of the GPS-recorded flights appeared to have been conducted by the pilot in the accident airplane.

The data for the accident flight indicated that the takeoff roll began about 1317:10, and that the airplane was airborne by about 1317:33. The GPS recorded a total of 5 in-flight data points. Rate of climb (ROC) calculations indicated that the airplane initially achieved a maximum ROC of 3,075 feet per minute (fpm). The airplane then entered a descent, reaching a maximum calculated descent rate of 1,924 fpm. The maximum recorded GPS altitude was 631 feet, which was about 310 feet above the runway elevation. The last recorded point was at 1317:48, at an altitude of 434 ft, which was about 200 ft above the impact elevation.

The GPS-derived ground track indicated that the airplane began translating right of the runway centerline when it was about 2/3 of the way down the runway. The flight path became perpendicular to the runway centerline before the airplane reached the end of the runway and continued to arc to the right. The final recorded GPS data point indicated that the airplane was positioned about 250 ft, on a true bearing of about 240°, from the impact location.

The accident takeoff was compared to seven other takeoffs from E79 by plotting them as altitude vs. time from the beginning of their respective takeoff rolls. Although variables affecting takeoff performance (such as flap setting, weight, ambient temperature, and wind) are not known for each takeoff, the accident takeoff profile was markedly different from the other seven takeoff profiles. On the accident takeoff, the airplane remained on or near the ground for about 52 seconds and then began a very steep climb. In contrast, on five of the previous takeoffs the airplane was airborne and climbing in less than 30 seconds, with consistent, yet much lower, climb rates. On the other two takeoffs, the airplane began its climb about 40 seconds after the takeoff began and climbed at a rate between those of the five "flatter" takeoff flights and the accident flight.

Chronologically, three of the five "flatter" takeoffs took place in August, about 4 months before the accident flight. The other two of the five "flatter" takeoffs took place in early November and December. The two remaining takeoffs took place in December. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 47, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
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: 07/15/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 218 hours (Total, all aircraft), 31 hours (Total, this make and model) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: PETRUS DAVID WAYNE
Registration: N176PA
Model/Series: S90
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 80842
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/27/2016, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:  Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 501 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-540
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: FCH, 300 ft msl
Observation Time: 1315 PST
Distance from Accident Site: 8 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 180°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 10°C / 3°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.28 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fresno, CA (E79)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Fresno, CA (E79)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1318 PST
Type of Airspace: 

Airport Information

Airport: Sierra Sky Park (E79)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 321 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 30
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2473 ft / 50 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Unknown

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude:  36.844444, -119.870833


Bill Huene and David Deel were flying home from an overnight trip to Southern California in September of 2002 when Deel said a part of the plane's engine fell off. 

NTSB Identification: WPR17FA041
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, December 26, 2016 in Fresno, CA
Aircraft: PETRUS DAVID WAYNE S90, registration: N176PA
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 December 26, 2016, about 1318 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur-built Express S-90, N176PA, was destroyed when it departed controlled flight and impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 30 at Sierra Sky Park Airport (E79, Fresno, California. The private pilot/owner and his passenger received fatal injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

E79 is a residential airpark; the pilot had a residence on E79, and based his airplane there. According to the pilot's wife, the passenger was a family friend, and the flight was to be a local pleasure flight.

Several witnesses saw or heard portions of the flight and/or accident sequence, but their accounts were not completely consistent. All agreed that the airplane was in the initial climbout portion of its takeoff when it made a rapid or sudden right turn. Accounts of the airplane's specific motions after that initial right turn varied, but all witnesses reported that the airplane descended rapidly towards the ground soon very shortly thereafter. Most reported a nose-down attitude during the descent, and one witness qualified the descent as "falling." Two witnesses, who were not pilots, and who were co-located about 1,200 feet northwest of the departure end of the runway, reported that the airplane was "low" when it was first observed, and that it then made the sudden right turn. Several other witnesses, some of whom were pilots, reported that the airplane climbed abnormally steeply after liftoff, and then began the sudden right turn that was followed shortly thereafter by a rapid descent and impact. Some witnesses reported that the engine sounded normal, while others reported a decrease in power (noise) and/or "popping" sounds. Immediately after the accident, several witnesses telephoned 911 and then attempted to access the accident site to render assistance. There was no fire.

The airplane impacted in marshy ground at the shoreline of a lake that adjoined the San Joaquin River. The wreckage came to rest about 70 feet from the initial impact point, and the direction of travel between those two points was 265 degrees True. The accident location was 900 feet, on a bearing of 28 degrees True, from the threshold of runway 12. The accident site elevation was 239 feet above mean sea level, which was about 80 feet below the elevation of E79.

The composite airplane came to rest in three major pieces, which remained partially attached to one another; there were the wings, the engine and cockpit, and the aft fuselage. The two wings remained attached to one another, and came to rest approximately perpendicular to the ground, leading edge down. The engine and attached propeller were fully immersed in the water and underlying mud/silt, with the significantly deformed and fractured cockpit remnants mostly above the waterline. The aft fuselage came to rest inverted.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. According to the pilot's logbook, he began flight training in 1996, and received his pilot certificate in 1997. He accrued about 150 hours total in several airplanes, including Cessna 150 and 172, and Piper PA-38 and 28R models. In 2002 he accrued about 24 hours in a Velocity, and then ceased flying until 2011. In August 2016, when he had a total flight experience of about 187 hours, the pilot purchased N176PA, and logged his first flight in the accident airplane make and model, which was the accident airplane. Excluding the accident flight, he logged a total of 31.1 hours in that airplane. The pilot's total flight experience at the time of the accident was about 218 hours.

The fixed gear, high performance airplane was designed and marketed by Composite Aircraft Technology. N176PA was built by a third party in 2004, and had several different owners before it was purchased by the accident pilot. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming IO-540 series engine and a Hartzell 3-blade propeller. According to the maintenance records, the most recent condition inspection was completed in May 2016.


The 1315 automated weather observation at Fresno Chandler Executive Airport (FCH), located 8 miles south of E79, included visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 10 degrees C, dew point 3 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.28 inches of mercury. Meteorological conditions at Fresno-Yosemite Air Terminal (FAT), located 8 miles southeast of E79, were similar, with winds from 310 degrees at 5 knots.


FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Bill Huene and David Deel were flying home from an overnight trip to Southern California in September of 2002 when Deel said a part of the plane's engine fell off.

The two crash-landed in a field just south of Fresno before the experimental plane caught fire.

Deel said, "I didn't really know what was going on except for the sounds and the shuttering because the engine's behind us."

Deel said his pilot friend was shaken after the accident and they never flew together after that day, but Huene's love for flying eventually returned.

"It took him awhile to get over that and then he did go out and get his license re-certified and he's been doing it since then."

Deel is still reeling from the news of Monday's plane crash. He and Huene have been friends since they were 14, and even though they went to different high schools they saw each other every week at church youth group.

Huene was the best man in Deel's wedding; not a week went by where they did not talk or text either other. Just two weeks ago the two met for lunch at Chandler Airport.

"They had just reopened their restaurant out there and he wanted to go out there and check it out. It was by the airport and we both liked to watch the planes go in and out."

Deel said the two men talked about their kids, he has two boys and a girl and Huene has two girls, and they talked about their plans for Christmas.

The family has not released any information yet about funeral arrangements. Autopsies on both Huene and Chase Splan, his passenger in the plane, are scheduled to be complete Wednesday.


Story and video:   http://abc30.com




The wreckage of the plane involved in Monday's fatal accident that killed two people in Northwest Fresno, was removed from the San Joaquin river Wednesday. Meanwhile, we take a look back at a tragedy the same pilot avoided 14 years ago.  William Huene spoke with Eyewitness News just moments after he and a passenger walked away from a plane as it exploded in 2002.

His first brush with disaster played out in the skies just above Fresno 14 years ago.  William "Bill" Huene was forced to make an emergency landing in a field just east of Highway 99.  He and a passenger made it out unharmed, just before the plane burst into flames.

In a 2002 interview, Huene said, "You know it all happened so quickly. As far as I'm aware, the engine did quit.  It had no air pressure."

Huene's interview was captured by our cameras in 2002 as the pilot's plane burned up behind him.  His wife and then baby daughter were by his side, thankful a tragedy had been avoided.  So was his passenger.

David Deel says in a 2002 interview, ""All of a sudden the plane started to flutter and it shook really hard."

More than a decade later, Huene's passenger and close friend David Deel, relived the moments in an interview Tuesday.

"The engine of the plane was the issue, not the plane itself. It was kind of a scary thing," says Deel.

In an interview at the scene moments after the plane went down Deel said, "We're okay. Just a little shaken up.  No bruises, no broken bones."

Deel says it took years before Huene would fly again.  But, eventually the pilot's passion brought him back into the skies.  On Monday, the 47 year old husband and father of two,  took his last flight when his plane crashed into the San Joaquin River, killing him and his passenger 32 year old Chase Splan, also a husband and father of two.

"It's kind of hard.  I haven't really got my head around the while thing yet.  It's going be hard. He always wanted to help you out any way he could."

Huene's wife also praised her husband for his piloting skills following the 2002 incident.

"Give him nothing short of full credit for the success of this landing."

And even after his passing, those skills and the type of person Huene was, are being remembered.

Eyewitness News has learned that both of Huene's planes involved in the separate incidents were home-built air crafts.  According to a neighbor, Huene had just purchased the plane he was flying Monday in august this year.  We're told it was the first plane the pilot owned since his last one was destroyed in that fire back in 2002.


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



An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Fresno on Tuesday morning to begin the investigation of the crash of a light airplane in which two men died Monday afternoon after taking off from Sierra Sky Park in northwest Fresno.

The investigator’s arrival coincided with the identification of the pilot of the Express S-90 plane as William Huene, 47, of Fresno, by the Fresno County coroner. Huene died along with family friend Chase Splan, 32, also of Fresno, after the Express S-90 experimental aircraft took off from Sierra Sky Park about 1:30 p.m. and plunged into the San Joaquin River moments later.

Fresno County sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said autopsies on the victims are scheduled for Wednesday morning. Pete Knudson, a spokesman for the NTSB, said a preliminary report on the crash would likely be completed in two weeks.

Huene was a resident of Sierra Sky Park, located along the San Joaquin River near Herndon and Brawley avenues, a subdivision created after World War II as a pioneering community of fly-in homes. He was involved in another plane crash in 2002 when he was forced to land in a cornfield southwest of Fresno when the engine on his plane lost power while on his way back to the sky park. The plane caught fire, but Huene and his passenger escaped unharmed. The passenger, David Deel, praised Huene’s skills after that incident.

Kathy Gregory, who lives at a home on the San Joaquin River Bluffs directly behind where Huene’s plane went down Monday, said she was a friend of Huene. She said she couldn’t believe the crash occurred.

“We heard the airplane take off,” she said. “Then silence. That’s not good – silence.”

“I liked Bill,” she said of Huene. Gregory said she recalled discussing the 2002 crash with Huene and remembered that he said he would not fly again after it occurred.

Gregory said she and her husband, like most who live in the sky park, were also pilots, although she did not fly anymore.

A man who also lives at the sky park was walking his dog near the crash site Tuesday. Not surprisingly, he also knew Huene as a neighbor and friend. He declined to identify himself to The Bee, but described the plane Huene was flying as a “top-notch” aircraft.

Knudson, the NTSB spokesman, described the Express S-90 as a “home-built” experimental aircraft. But that did not mean that there was anything wrong with the craft or its design, according to the neighbor, who described flying an experimental plane as something like having a high-performance automobile.

“One-third of the people out here have experimental planes,” he said.

Plane and Pilot magazine describes the Express S-90 as an “all composite, low-wing, fixed-gear monoplane that subscribes to the high-tech school of kit-built aircraft.” It says the plane can seat four with a top speed of 240 mph and travel 1,400 miles without refueling.

The neighbor said Monday’s crash was the first double fatal incident to take place at the sky park. He recalled another fatal crash, which he said occurred several decades ago, when a pilot took off in the fog and crashed into the river.

Several other crashes by planes taking off or landing at the airport have been reported in recent years, including a 2012 incident, in which an ultralight aircraft was forced to land in a field just west of the sky park. The pilot was not injured.

In 2002, pilot Alan Tolle survived a flight that began at the sky park and ended at Avenue 10 and Road 32 in Madera County. Although the left wing and engine were sheared off in the crash near a vineyard, Tolle suffered only a cut finger.


Source: http://www.fresnobee.com



FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) --  The wreckage was visible in sight of neighbors and friends in the close knit community of airplane enthusiasts. Terry Roberts recalls hearing, then seeing, the plane fly over his home just before it went down.

"All of the sudden I hear a very loud plane coming it, it was going pop, pop, pop, pop."

The pilot, William Huene, and passenger, , are presumed to have died on impact. The wreckage was upside down on the edge of a large pond in a state wildlife refuge just below the Skypark.

"A sad day for the family and friends-- prayers and wishes go out to the family members and the community," said Roberts.

An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board is on the scene.

We spoke with NTSB spokesman Peter Knudsen by phone from Washington.

"What he's going to be focusing on is documenting the accident site and any perishable evidence; this will include recovering the aircraft."

A preliminary report will take about a week, but final findings may take up to a year.

The plane, an Express S 90, is considered experimental, which means it's assembled from a kit. Many of the pilots out here build their own planes and the NTSB said they are not necessarily less safe than factory built planes.

"The statistics on overall accident rates are not terribly different from manufactured aircraft, there are some differences but overall it's a very similar accident rate," said Knudsen.

Pilot William Huene was involved in another crash near Fresno in 2002. He and his passenger escaped injury.

Chase Splan, a young husband and father, lost his father Paul in the crash of an ultralight aircraft near Tracy 9 years ago.

The NTSB plans to remove the wreckage as soon as possible and take it to a secure location where the investigation can continue.

Friends of the pilot told us he had only recently acquired the plane. According to the FAA it was certified just two years ago.


Source:   http://abc30.com

















Two people died Monday in the crash of a single-engine airplane that had just taken off from Sierra Sky Park in northwest Fresno.

Wreckage from the plane was visible at the edge of a pond just north of Sierra Sky Park’s runway. Fire and law enforcement agencies had to navigate narrow roads and trails to get to the crash scene near San Joaquin Country Club.

Fresno Fire reported that two people were on board the plane. They confirmed Monday afternoon that both occupants had died. Their identities have not been released.

Krystal Kerkezian said she was in her backyard and saw the plane take off. Then it made a hard right maneuver and plunged directly into the water.

Her husband Mike drove to the end of Milburn Avenue and ran about a mile to the crash site, where he joined three other men trying to rescue the occupants. They could see no one moving in the aircraft.

A chaplain was called to the crash scene. Later, a Fresno County Coroner’s van was parked nearby as firefighters and rescue crews circled the fallen aircraft, which was also leaking fuel into the pond.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating. NTSB investigators were reportedly on their way to the crash scene Monday night.

The plane was an Express S-90 amateur-built experimental aircraft registered to William A. Huene, whose address is in Sierra Sky Park, according to FAA records. Authorities have not said who was piloting the aircraft when it went down.

The crash comes three years to the day after another fatal plane crash in Fresno. On Dec. 26, 2013, a 72-year-old Tehachapi man and his 8-year-old nephew from Fresno died when the plane they were in clipped a 62-foot-tall tree near the runway at Chandler Downtown Airport and crashed. Killed were Timothy Lowell Farmer and his nephew, Finn Thompson.

Sierra Sky Park has had its own share of aircraft mishaps over the years.

In August 2014, a single-engine plane attempting to land at the park’s airstrip plowed through one fence bordering Herndon Avenue, then smashed into a fence on the other side of normally busy Herndon. Miraculously, no one was hurt.

In October 2008, a single-engine plane flew into the side of a furniture truck along Herndon Avenue as the plane was trying to land at Sierra Sky Park. The pilot was unscathed. A month and a half later, a pilot who had just taken off from the airstrip developed engine trouble and put the plane safely down on a nearby golf course. That pilot also was unhurt.

In 2002, Huene – the registered owner of the experimental plane that crashed Monday – was forced to land in a corn field southwest of Fresno when his engine lost power. He and a friend were on their way back to Sierra Sky Park when the mishap occurred. On landing, the plane caught fire, but Huene and his passenger escaped unharmed, with the passenger, David Deel, praising Huene’s pilot skills.

Said Deel at the time: “He got us down, didn’t he?”

Source: http://www.fresnobee.com