Saturday, July 22, 2017

Panzl S331E, registered to the pilot operating under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, N331ST: Fatal accident occurred July 22, 2017 in Apple Valley, San Bernardino County, California

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

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania 
 
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/N331ST

Location: Apple Valley, CA
Accident Number: WPR17FA161
Date & Time: 07/22/2017, 1500 PDT
Registration: N331ST
Aircraft: APPLEGATE PANZL S331E
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Flight control sys malf/fail
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 22, 2017, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, an Applegate Panzl S331E airplane, N331ST, impacted terrain while conducting aerobatic maneuvers near Apple Valley, California. The private pilot was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to the pilot who was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which originated from Apple Valley Airport (APV), Apple Valley, California, about 1445.

The pilot was practicing her aerobatics routine and was performing the sixth figure of a nine-figure routine when the accident occurred. A witness, who was familiar with the pilot's routine, reported that, as planned, the airplane entered a 45° descent and executed a right snap roll before entering a left roll. The airplane continued its descent, rolling at a slower rate, until it impacted the ground. The witness stated that, when she entered the maneuver, the pilot had adequate altitude to complete it.

An in-cockpit video from a camera mounted over the pilot's right shoulder captured the entirety of the accident flight. During the before takeoff engine run-up, the pilot confirmed flight control continuity; the video showed that the aileron surfaces moved accordingly. The pilot departed and began the aerobatic routine about 3 minutes into the flight. About 4 minutes into the routine, the pilot entered a 45° inverted downline and the airplane performed 1.5 snap rolls to the right. The pilot momentarily stopped the roll at 4,100 ft and started a roll to the left. The right aileron surface was observed trailing edge down, and the left aileron surface could not be seen in the video. The pilot moved her body toward the right of the cockpit, consistent with making a right control stick input; however, the airplane continued to roll left and the roll rate increased; the pilot continued to lean toward the right. About this time, the right aileron could be seen in the video with an upward deflection. The deflection of the left aileron could not be determined. The airplane continued to roll to the left until it impacted the ground. The pilot did not transmit any distress calls before the accident.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 59, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/15/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/14/2017
Flight Time:  982 hours (Total, all aircraft), 189 hours (Total, this make and model) 

The pilot's most recent third-class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate was issued November 15, 2016. On the application for that certificate, she reported 982 total hours of flight experience, 39 hours of which were in the previous six months. The pilot had been flying aerobatics since 2006. The pilot purchased the airplane in 2015 and accrued about 189 flight hours in the airplane since that time, 45 hours of which were in the previous 12 months. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: APPLEGATE
Registration: N331ST
Model/Series: PANZL S331E
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 001
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/08/2016, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:  1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 318 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: IO-540 EXP
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 290 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on December 8, 2016. The maintenance log entry for the inspection indicated that the airplane was disassembled and reassembled. A new control stick was installed, and the ailerons and aileron hinges and attach points were inspected and all were recorded as satisfactory at this time.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVCV, 2885 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1455 PDT
Direction from Accident Site: 265°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 11000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 150°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting:
Temperature/Dew Point: 38°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Apple Valley, CA (APV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Apple Valley, CA (APV)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1445 PDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Apple Valley (APV)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 3062 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.603611, -117.132778 

The airplane impacted sandy desert terrain in an approximate 45° nose down, upright attitude. The engine was mostly embedded in a 2-ft-deep crater; the wood propeller blades were fractured near the propeller hub and fragments were found at the bottom of the crater. The engine cowling, cabin, and both wing skins were heavily fragmented and completely separated from the underlying structure. Impact marks consistent with the leading edges of both wings were visible in the sand. The cabin area was heavily damaged. The skin was still attached to the aft fuselage but exhibited crush damage. The empennage was mostly intact and undamaged.

Control continuity was established throughout the airframe with two breaks, one in the left aileron control assembly and one in the elevator control assembly. The fracture surfaces of the left aileron control rod end and the elevator control were examined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials laboratory. Both fracture surfaces of the left aileron control rod end exhibited relatively flat areas emanating from the inner diameter of the outer ring, which transitioned to angular planes adjacent to the outer diameter. One of the fracture surfaces exhibited smearing damage on much of its flat area that obscured most of the finer features. The other fracture surface exhibited feathery features in the flat area, consistent with fatigue cracking. The elevator control fracture exhibited features consistent with shear overstress.

The engine sustained significant crush damage to the oil sump, exhaust system, and induction system. The magnetos were heavily damaged and could not be tested; the ignition harness was destroyed. The top spark plugs were removed; their coloring varied but was consistent with normal operation when compared to the Champion check-a-plug chart. The fuel nozzles were clear of debris and blockages. Borescope examination of the cylinders revealed no mechanical damage or evidence of detonation or foreign object ingestion. The engine was rotated by hand and continuity was established throughout, thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders and the valves moved appropriately. Examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 

Medical And Pathological Information

The San Bernardino County Coroner, San Bernardino, California, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries.


The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot with negative results for carbon monoxide, and drugs. 85 mg/dL ethanol was detected in blood, which was likely the result of postmortem production.

NTSB Identification: WPR17FA161
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, July 22, 2017 in Apple Valley, CA
Aircraft: APPLEGATE PANZL S331E, registration: N331ST
Injuries: 1 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 July 22, 2017, about 1500 Pacific daylight time an Applegate Panzl S331E airplane, N331ST, impacted terrain while conducting aerobatic maneuvers about 3 miles northeast of the Apple Valley Airport (APV), Apple Valley, California. The pilot, sole occupant, died and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from APV about 1445. 

Witnesses reported this was the second flight of the day practicing this particular aerobatic sequence. About three quarters through the sequence, the pilot conducted an aileron roll and was descending towards the ground as expected, however, she never reduced power and leveled the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground.

The airplane has been recovered to a secure location for further examination.


Margo Chase


Margo Chase, the founder and chief creative officer of the Chase Design Group, died in a plane crash Saturday, July 22, 2017, according to a news release from her company.

Chase founded her company in 1986 and built it into a successful global brand-design firm. Chris Lowery, president of Chase Design, said the company will continue to be inspired by the insatiable curiosity and love of design she embodied.

“Everyone in the Chase Design Group family has been touched and inspired by Margo’s creativity, generous spirit, and love for design. We will all miss her brilliance and incredible energy, but will carry her vision for the organization forward as she would have wanted,” he said. “All of us here at Chase send our heartfelt condolences to her husband, Patrick Dugan, and the rest of her family.”

Chase, who was born in 1958, designed logos for the television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel.” Her company has worked on branding for major companies including Target, PepsiCo, NestlĂ©, and the Campbell Soup Co.

Chase Design also has worked with many celebrities including Cher and Madonna.

Chase taught classes at the California Institute of the Arts, Valencia; Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, and Long Beach State University. Her work was included in an exhibition at “Women Designers USA: 1900 – 2000,” which was sponsored by Bard College.


Margo Chase, 59, died on July 22, in Apple Valley after her plane crashed in the desert.


APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) Friends and family are remembering the life of Margo Chase, an influential graphic designer who tragically lost her life over the weekend at the age of 59.

On Saturday, July 22, as Margo Chase soared over the open desert skies of Apple Valley, practicing her favorite sport of flying, her Panzl Aerobatic Airplane came crashing down as her husband Patrick Dugan and a family friend watched from the ground.

Although Chase died upon impact as a result of the crash, those who knew her say her memories will always live on.

“Margo was one of the most skilled, talented, and dedicated people I have ever met in my life… She was bright, intelligent, and simply fun to be with. She thoroughly enjoyed flying, our sport, and our history, traditions, and people. We are devastated by this news,” Mike Heuer, International Aerobatic Club (IAC) President said in a statement.




Dubbed as one of the most influential graphic designers of our time, her adrenaline-pumped lifestyle has touched just about everyone’s lives whether we know it or not.

She founded her business Chase Design Group in 1986 and created award-winning work for clients including P&G, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Mattel, and Target.

Chase shined with creativity and was even hired to work for such Hollywood notables as Cher, Madonna and the Tejano crossover singer, Selena; creating the jacket for Selena’s cross-over album Dreaming of You.

Chase has also been credited for re-modernizing the logos for Mr. Clean and designing logos for other popular brands and television shows, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

In a video interview for Lynda.com, she expressed how her love for creativity guided her passion into flying:

“I draw in the sky. I love the idea that there’s this goal of perfection that I’m striving for, cause it keeps the challenge there since perfection is something you can never really achieve,” stated Margo.

“My heart goes out to Patrick Dugan, her husband; Tim Just, both of whom were there in Apple Valley with her; and her many friends, family, and colleagues. When we lose good friends like this, life is never quite the same as it leaves a hole in your heart that is always there,” Mike Heuer wrote.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department’s aviation division is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause of the crash.

http://www.vvng.com

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







APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) A single-engine plane went down in Apple Valley Saturday afternoon, killing the pilot.

The crash was reported at 2:17 p.m. outside the boundaries of the Apple Valley Airport, in the desert areas, east of Central and Johnson Roads.

Apple Valley Fire Protection firefighters were dispatched and located the plane with the assistance of the CHP Helicopter.

Fire Chief Sid Hultquist said they confirmed one person was killed but was unable to provide further details.

The Federal Aviation Administration will work with Law Enforcement in the investigation.

 http://www.vvng.com

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