Wing – View from Left Side. 
Wing – View from Right Side.
Wing – View from Rear/Bottom. 
Trike – View from Front – As Found.
Trike – View of Left Side – After Recovery.
Trike – View of Right Side – After Recovery.
Cross Bar Restraint Cable – Forward Attach Point.
Cross Bar Restraint Cable – Rear Attach Point.
Cross Bar Restraint Cable – Rear Attach Point (enlarged). 
Cross Bar Restraint Cable – Aft End – As Found.
Cross Bar Restraint Cable – Shackle and Handle.
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Allentown, 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/N2854L
Location: Green Township, NJ
Accident Number: ERA17FA265
Date & Time: 08/06/2017, 1025 EDT
Registration: N2854L
Aircraft: NORTH WING FREEDOM
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aircraft structural failure
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 6, 2017, about 1025 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built North Wing Freedom weight-shift controlled aircraft, N2854L, was substantially damaged during an attempted departure from Trinca Airport (13N), Green Township, New Jersey. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was owned by the pilot who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
According to his son, the pilot custom-built the airframe himself. He purchased the wing from its manufacturer. On the day of the accident, the pilot transported the aircraft by trailer to 13N, where he met his son; the pilot planned to fly the aircraft for the first time. The pilot had previously received some flight instruction and conducted a solo flight in other similar aircraft.
The pilot's son recalled that, while preparing the aircraft for flight (which included opening the foldable wing), the pilot had some difficulty with one of the cables that ran down the center of the wing (the crossbar restraint cable). The pilot's son stated that the pilot had difficulty pulling the cable in place and had to use a separate cargo type "ratchet strap" as a tool to apply enough tension to the cable.
The pilot's son stated that the pilot performed two ground test runs on the turf runway and then took off. After takeoff, the aircraft drifted slightly to the left, corrected toward the right "too much," and then drifted to the left again. About 50 ft above the ground, the wing "folded" in the manner that it would fold for storage or transport, but the wing "kept its shape." The "nose" of the wing "went up" as the wingtips rotated in the aft direction. The aircraft then descended and impacted the runway. The engine ran continuously during the entire flight, which lasted about 20 seconds.
Pilot Information
Certificate: None
Age: 63, 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: None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot did not possess an airman or a medical certificate. Federal aviation regulations require a sport pilot certificate or higher to operate this aircraft.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: NORTH WING
Registration: N2854L
Model/Series: FREEDOM
Aircraft Category: Weight-Shift
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 122EF51076414
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1250 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 26 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: BMW
ELT: C91A installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: R1200
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 115 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The pilot built the aircraft in 2016 as an experimental amateur-built weight-shift-control trike-style aircraft. It had two seats oriented in a tandem. The North Wing Mustang 3-series model K20X fabric and aluminum tube wing (serial number 62189) was manufactured on March 19, 2016. The aircraft was equipped with a BMW model R1200 two-cylinder four-stroke engine and a three-blade ground adjustable composite propeller. The fuel tank capacity was 12 gallons. The engine was mounted in the rear of the trike in a pusher configuration. The overall weight was estimated to be between 500 and 600 ponds. The Hobbs meter indicated 26.6 hours. According to the pilot's son, the aircraft had been inspected, but he did not recall any inspection or maintenance details.
The aircraft's wing could be folded for storage and transport and opened for flight. The inboard ends of the two crossbars were attached to a fitting that slid forward (for the folded storage position) and aft (for the open or flight position) along the main keel tube. The forward end of the crossbar restraint cable was permanently attached to the crossbar fitting. The aft end of the cable had a shackle that engaged a hook at the rear of the keel tube. The cable held the wing in the open position by pulling the crossbar fitting aft and holding it in the aft position, which then pushed the crossbars outward to hold the wing open.
To fold the wing, the crossbar restraint cable would be unhooked from the rear of the keel tube, which would cause the center crossbar fitting to slide forward. The crossbars and leading edge tubes could then rotate aft until they were nearly parallel with the keel tube.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: K12N, 583 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1054 EDT
Direction from Accident Site:38°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 250°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.12 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Green Township, NJ (13N)
Type of Flight Plan Filed:None
Destination: Green Township, NJ (13N)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1025 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), Andover, New Jersey, located about 3 miles northeast of the accident site, was the nearest weather reporting station. At 1054, the reported weather at 12N included wind from 250° at 3 knots, temperature 21°C, dew point 12°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
Airport: TRINCA (13N)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 600 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Vegetation
Runway Used: 24
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 1924 ft / 135 ft
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: 40.964722, -74.783056
The aircraft impacted the left edge of the runway about 500 ft before the departure end. The fuselage came to rest in a cornfield alongside the runway at the end of the wreckage path, which was about 25 feet long and oriented on a magnetic heading of about 170°. The fuselage was located about 40 feet south of the wing. All major components were accounted for at the accident site. The wing was found partially folded toward its storage position and separated from the fuselage at its mounting brackets. The right wing strut was fractured about 18 inches below its attachment point to the leading edge. Blue paint transfer, consistent with the color of the propeller, was present on both sides of the fracture. Both flight control frame down tubes were buckled about 12 inches from their upper end. The right washout strut was found out of its installation hole and connected to its bungee cord. The aft flying wires were severed; the left wire was found entangled with propeller leading edge strip material. Both arms of the mast, which connect the wing to the fuselage, were bent toward the left and displayed several blue paint transfer marks, consistent with the color of the propeller.
The crossbar restraint cable remained intact and attached to its forward mounting location. The aft end of the cable, to which a "U"-shaped steel shackle was attached, was free and not attached to the hook (referred to as the baily block hook) located at the rear of the wing keel tube. The hook was equipped with a spring lock to keep the shackle engaged in the hook; the spring lock was found intact, and it functioned normally. A strip of nylon fabric webbing, which was attached to the shackle as a loop, had separated from one of its two mounting points. The loop served as a handle to pull the cable into place and allows the shackle to engage with the hook. A 2-inch-long tear was present in the center of the webbing, about ½ inch from its loose end, as shown in figure 1. The other end of the webbing remained attached to the shackle at its mounting point with short tears in the center of the strap on both sides of the mount.
Figure 1. Cable shackle and pull handle. Note tears in nylon webbing.
The aircraft's forward frame was fractured and bent in several locations. The front (pilot's) seat was separated from the fuselage. The aft seat remained attached. The 12-gallon fuel tank was separated from the fuselage and was about 1/2 full. The ballistic airframe parachute system was intact and was not activated. The engine was mostly undamaged and the crankshaft rotated smoothly. Two of the propeller blades were fractured and splintered along their span, and the third blade was fractured at the hub and not found. An 8-inch section of flying cable sheathing was found embedded in one blade.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
A postmortem external examination of the pilot was performed by the County of Morris Medical Examiner in Morristown, New Jersey. His cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and all drugs screened.
NTSB Identification: ERA17FA265
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 06, 2017 in Green Township, NJ
Aircraft: LESTER LYDZINSKI NW-FREEDOM, registration: N2854L
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 August 6, 2017, about 1025 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built NW-Freedom, N2854L, was substantially damaged while attempting to depart from Trinca Airport (13N), Green Township, New Jersey. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The weight-shift-control aircraft was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot's son, the pilot was the owner-builder of the aircraft, and he had custom-built the airframe himself. He purchased the wing separately from its manufacturer. On the day of the accident, the pilot and a friend transported the aircraft by trailer to 13N, where he planned to fly it for the first time. The pilot had previously received some flight instruction, and had conducted a solo flight in other similar aircraft. On the day of the accident, he initially performed two ground test runs on the turf runway, and then took off. After takeoff, the aircraft drifted slightly to the left, corrected toward the right "a little too much," then drifted left again. About 50 ft above the ground, the wing "collapsed" with its tips rotating aft. The aircraft then descended and impacted the runway. The engine ran continuously for the entire flight, which lasted about 30 seconds.
The pilot's son recalled that while preparing the aircraft for flight, the pilot had some difficulty with one of the cables that ran down the center of the wing (the "cross bar restraint cable" according to the manufacturer's instructions). He said that two people could pull the cable in place easily, but it was difficult for one person to pull. The pilot had used a "ratchet strap" to pull the cable into place.
The aircraft impacted the left edge of runway 24, about 500 ft before the departure end. All major components were accounted for at the scene. The wing, constructed of fabric and aluminum tube, was found partially folded toward its storage position, and separated from the fuselage at its mounting brackets. The right wing strut was fractured about 18 inches below its attachment point to the leading edge. Blue paint transfer, consistent with the color of the propeller, was present on both sides of the fracture. Both flight control frame down tubes were buckled about 12 inches from their upper end. The right washout strut was found out of its installation hole, connected to its bungee cord. The aft flying wires were severed, the left wire was found entangled with propeller leading edge strip material. Both arms of the mast, which connect the wing to the fuselage, were bent toward the left and contained several blue paint transfer marks consistent with the color of the propeller. The cross bar restraint cable remained intact and attached to its forward mounting location. The aft end of the cable was free, and not attached to the "baily block hook" located at the rear of the wing keel tube. The fabric webbing handle used to pull the cable into place was separated from one of its two mounting points, and a 2-inch-long tear was present in the center of the webbing, about ½ inch from its loose end. The other end of the webbing remained attached to its mounting point, with short tears in the center on either side of the mount.
The fuselage came to rest in a cornfield alongside the runway at the end of a wreckage path about 25 feet long and oriented on a heading about 170° magnetic. It was located about 40 feet away from the wing. The forward frame was fractured and bent in several locations. The front (pilot's) seat was separated from the fuselage. The aft seat remained attached. The 12-gallon fuel tank was separated from the fuselage, and was about half full. The ballistic airframe parachute system was intact and was not activated. The four-stroke, two-cylinder engine was largely undamaged, and rotated smoothly. Two of the composite propeller blades were fractured and splintered along their span, the third blade was fractured at the hub and not found. An 8-inch section of flying cable sheathing was found embedded in one blade.
The aircraft maintenance records were not located. The Hobbs meter read 26.6 hours. The pilot's son recalled that the aircraft had been inspected at one time, but he did not recall any further maintenance details.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot did not possess an airman or medical certificate.
Lester Lydzinski, 63, of Clifton, has been identified as the man killed in Sunday's plane crash in Sussex, according to New Jersey State Police.
Lydzinski's ultralight aircraft crashed in Green Township on Sunday morning near Trinca Airport around 10:30 a.m. CPR was administered to Lydzinski at the scene of the crash, according to emergency transmissions, but was unsuccessful. Lydzinski was pronounced dead at the scene, according to New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn.
Lydzinski was the only person on the plane at the time of the crash.
Lydzinski was piloting a NW-Freedom, which is a light sport aircraft, state police Lt. Ted Schafer said. The Federal Aviation Administration's public registry indicates that the plane is classified as experimental and categorized as amateur-built. The state police were unable to confirm whether or not the plane was built by Lydzinski, built by someone else or if Lydzinski purchased it from someone.
Schafer said planes like Lydzinski's are common in the airspace above Sussex County, as are small aircraft like Cessnas and gliders that typically fly from Blairstown Aiport in Warren County.
Police said Lydzinski's plane is weight-shift controlled, meaning that a pilot uses their weight to control the height and direction of the plane.
On Sunday, Pete Sklannik, manager of the Trinca Airport, said data and accident effects were collected by the National Transportation Safety Board.
"Once the NTSB arrives on the scene, they will do their part to actually analyze the machinery that is associated with the ultralight aircraft," Sklannik said.
The plane had been approaching the 2,000-foot runway surrounded by cornfields on what appeared to be an ideal day for flying, the airport manager said. It was unclear whether the pilot intended to land, maneuver or circle around.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, according to Federal Aviation Administration's public information officer Arlene Salac.
NTSB spokesman Terry Williams said the agency is still in the "very early stage" of the investigation. Williams said the probe could take as long as a year as investigators work to determine a cause for the crash.
Investigators began their on scene investigation by documenting the crash site, examining the aircraft and taking a preliminary look at the plane's engine. \Williams said they would begin to contact witnesses to the crash beginning today.
A report of the preliminary findings will be available on the NTSB website sometime next week.
Story, video and photo gallery ➤ http://www.northjersey.com
GREEN -- A small aircraft crash at Trinca Airport in Green has left one man dead, state police said.
The accident was reported at about 10:25 a.m. Sunday, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Bill Cisko said.
"The pilot was unfortunately declared dead at the scene of the accident," Cisko said. "Paramedics were attempting to revive him when state police arrived, but they were unsuccessful."
Cisko described the aircraft as a NW-Freedom with one occupant. More details will be released once the family of the deceased has been properly notified.
The crash occurred on airport grounds, Cisko said. No other injuries have been reported.
"As of right now, we have no idea what caused it," he said. "The matter is being investigated by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board."
In addition to state police, Cisko said that paramedics from Saint Clare's Hospital, the Green Fire Department, the Allamuchy/Green First Aid Squad, the Andover Police and the Sussex County Prosecutor's office were all reported at the scene of the accident.
http://www.njherald.com
GREEN -- One person was killed Sunday morning when a small plane crashed at Trinca Airport, authorities said.
New Jersey State Police said the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene of the 10:25 a.m. crash and no other passengers were on board.
Airport manager Pete Sklannik described the plane as a ultralight aircraft.
"They're considered experimental aircraft. They're not in the same category as a fixed-wing aircraft, like a Cessna," Sklannik told NJ Advance Media.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
No cause had been announced as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
It was the second plane crash in New Jersey in a 12-hour span.
On Saturday night, a small plane crashed in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, sending three people to area hospitals.
Trinca Airport is owned by Green Township and access to the entrance was blocked off by police following the crash.
Sklannik said the airport is popular with pilots of ultralight planes.
Story, video and photo gallery ➤ http://www.nj.com
GREEN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — The pilot of a small plane was killed when the aircraft crashed at an airport in Sussex County, New Jersey Sunday morning.
The NW-Freedom amateur-built aircraft crashed at the end of the runway at Trinca Airport in Green Township just before 10:30 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The pilot was pronounced dead on the scene, according to New Jersey State Police.
No passengers were on board at the time of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the cause of the crash, which remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Story and video ➤ http://newyork.cbslocal.com
GREEN TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (WABC) -- State police say a pilot was killed when a small plane crashed near a New Jersey airport.
The accident happened at about 10:25 a.m. Sunday at Trinca Airport in Green Township, Sussex County.
The Federal Aviation Administration says a NW-Freedom amateur-built aircraft crashed at the end of the runway.
Only the pilot was on board.
It's not clear if the plane had taken off from that site or if it was headed to the airport when it went down.
The pilot, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the crash.
Trinca Airport is a public use airport owned by Green Township and located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Andover.
http://abc7ny.com
http://registry.faa.gov/N2854L
Location: Green Township, NJ
Accident Number: ERA17FA265
Date & Time: 08/06/2017, 1025 EDT
Registration: N2854L
Aircraft: NORTH WING FREEDOM
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aircraft structural failure
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 6, 2017, about 1025 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built North Wing Freedom weight-shift controlled aircraft, N2854L, was substantially damaged during an attempted departure from Trinca Airport (13N), Green Township, New Jersey. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was owned by the pilot who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
According to his son, the pilot custom-built the airframe himself. He purchased the wing from its manufacturer. On the day of the accident, the pilot transported the aircraft by trailer to 13N, where he met his son; the pilot planned to fly the aircraft for the first time. The pilot had previously received some flight instruction and conducted a solo flight in other similar aircraft.
The pilot's son recalled that, while preparing the aircraft for flight (which included opening the foldable wing), the pilot had some difficulty with one of the cables that ran down the center of the wing (the crossbar restraint cable). The pilot's son stated that the pilot had difficulty pulling the cable in place and had to use a separate cargo type "ratchet strap" as a tool to apply enough tension to the cable.
The pilot's son stated that the pilot performed two ground test runs on the turf runway and then took off. After takeoff, the aircraft drifted slightly to the left, corrected toward the right "too much," and then drifted to the left again. About 50 ft above the ground, the wing "folded" in the manner that it would fold for storage or transport, but the wing "kept its shape." The "nose" of the wing "went up" as the wingtips rotated in the aft direction. The aircraft then descended and impacted the runway. The engine ran continuously during the entire flight, which lasted about 20 seconds.
Pilot Information
Certificate: None
Age: 63, 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: None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot did not possess an airman or a medical certificate. Federal aviation regulations require a sport pilot certificate or higher to operate this aircraft.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: NORTH WING
Registration: N2854L
Model/Series: FREEDOM
Aircraft Category: Weight-Shift
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 122EF51076414
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1250 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 26 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: BMW
ELT: C91A installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: R1200
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 115 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The pilot built the aircraft in 2016 as an experimental amateur-built weight-shift-control trike-style aircraft. It had two seats oriented in a tandem. The North Wing Mustang 3-series model K20X fabric and aluminum tube wing (serial number 62189) was manufactured on March 19, 2016. The aircraft was equipped with a BMW model R1200 two-cylinder four-stroke engine and a three-blade ground adjustable composite propeller. The fuel tank capacity was 12 gallons. The engine was mounted in the rear of the trike in a pusher configuration. The overall weight was estimated to be between 500 and 600 ponds. The Hobbs meter indicated 26.6 hours. According to the pilot's son, the aircraft had been inspected, but he did not recall any inspection or maintenance details.
The aircraft's wing could be folded for storage and transport and opened for flight. The inboard ends of the two crossbars were attached to a fitting that slid forward (for the folded storage position) and aft (for the open or flight position) along the main keel tube. The forward end of the crossbar restraint cable was permanently attached to the crossbar fitting. The aft end of the cable had a shackle that engaged a hook at the rear of the keel tube. The cable held the wing in the open position by pulling the crossbar fitting aft and holding it in the aft position, which then pushed the crossbars outward to hold the wing open.
To fold the wing, the crossbar restraint cable would be unhooked from the rear of the keel tube, which would cause the center crossbar fitting to slide forward. The crossbars and leading edge tubes could then rotate aft until they were nearly parallel with the keel tube.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: K12N, 583 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1054 EDT
Direction from Accident Site:38°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 250°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.12 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Green Township, NJ (13N)
Type of Flight Plan Filed:None
Destination: Green Township, NJ (13N)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1025 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N), Andover, New Jersey, located about 3 miles northeast of the accident site, was the nearest weather reporting station. At 1054, the reported weather at 12N included wind from 250° at 3 knots, temperature 21°C, dew point 12°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.12 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
Airport: TRINCA (13N)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 600 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Vegetation
Runway Used: 24
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 1924 ft / 135 ft
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: 40.964722, -74.783056
The aircraft impacted the left edge of the runway about 500 ft before the departure end. The fuselage came to rest in a cornfield alongside the runway at the end of the wreckage path, which was about 25 feet long and oriented on a magnetic heading of about 170°. The fuselage was located about 40 feet south of the wing. All major components were accounted for at the accident site. The wing was found partially folded toward its storage position and separated from the fuselage at its mounting brackets. The right wing strut was fractured about 18 inches below its attachment point to the leading edge. Blue paint transfer, consistent with the color of the propeller, was present on both sides of the fracture. Both flight control frame down tubes were buckled about 12 inches from their upper end. The right washout strut was found out of its installation hole and connected to its bungee cord. The aft flying wires were severed; the left wire was found entangled with propeller leading edge strip material. Both arms of the mast, which connect the wing to the fuselage, were bent toward the left and displayed several blue paint transfer marks, consistent with the color of the propeller.
The crossbar restraint cable remained intact and attached to its forward mounting location. The aft end of the cable, to which a "U"-shaped steel shackle was attached, was free and not attached to the hook (referred to as the baily block hook) located at the rear of the wing keel tube. The hook was equipped with a spring lock to keep the shackle engaged in the hook; the spring lock was found intact, and it functioned normally. A strip of nylon fabric webbing, which was attached to the shackle as a loop, had separated from one of its two mounting points. The loop served as a handle to pull the cable into place and allows the shackle to engage with the hook. A 2-inch-long tear was present in the center of the webbing, about ½ inch from its loose end, as shown in figure 1. The other end of the webbing remained attached to the shackle at its mounting point with short tears in the center of the strap on both sides of the mount.
Figure 1. Cable shackle and pull handle. Note tears in nylon webbing.The aircraft's forward frame was fractured and bent in several locations. The front (pilot's) seat was separated from the fuselage. The aft seat remained attached. The 12-gallon fuel tank was separated from the fuselage and was about 1/2 full. The ballistic airframe parachute system was intact and was not activated. The engine was mostly undamaged and the crankshaft rotated smoothly. Two of the propeller blades were fractured and splintered along their span, and the third blade was fractured at the hub and not found. An 8-inch section of flying cable sheathing was found embedded in one blade.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
A postmortem external examination of the pilot was performed by the County of Morris Medical Examiner in Morristown, New Jersey. His cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and all drugs screened.
NTSB Identification: ERA17FA265
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 06, 2017 in Green Township, NJ
Aircraft: LESTER LYDZINSKI NW-FREEDOM, registration: N2854L
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 August 6, 2017, about 1025 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built NW-Freedom, N2854L, was substantially damaged while attempting to depart from Trinca Airport (13N), Green Township, New Jersey. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The weight-shift-control aircraft was operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the pilot's son, the pilot was the owner-builder of the aircraft, and he had custom-built the airframe himself. He purchased the wing separately from its manufacturer. On the day of the accident, the pilot and a friend transported the aircraft by trailer to 13N, where he planned to fly it for the first time. The pilot had previously received some flight instruction, and had conducted a solo flight in other similar aircraft. On the day of the accident, he initially performed two ground test runs on the turf runway, and then took off. After takeoff, the aircraft drifted slightly to the left, corrected toward the right "a little too much," then drifted left again. About 50 ft above the ground, the wing "collapsed" with its tips rotating aft. The aircraft then descended and impacted the runway. The engine ran continuously for the entire flight, which lasted about 30 seconds.
The pilot's son recalled that while preparing the aircraft for flight, the pilot had some difficulty with one of the cables that ran down the center of the wing (the "cross bar restraint cable" according to the manufacturer's instructions). He said that two people could pull the cable in place easily, but it was difficult for one person to pull. The pilot had used a "ratchet strap" to pull the cable into place.
The aircraft impacted the left edge of runway 24, about 500 ft before the departure end. All major components were accounted for at the scene. The wing, constructed of fabric and aluminum tube, was found partially folded toward its storage position, and separated from the fuselage at its mounting brackets. The right wing strut was fractured about 18 inches below its attachment point to the leading edge. Blue paint transfer, consistent with the color of the propeller, was present on both sides of the fracture. Both flight control frame down tubes were buckled about 12 inches from their upper end. The right washout strut was found out of its installation hole, connected to its bungee cord. The aft flying wires were severed, the left wire was found entangled with propeller leading edge strip material. Both arms of the mast, which connect the wing to the fuselage, were bent toward the left and contained several blue paint transfer marks consistent with the color of the propeller. The cross bar restraint cable remained intact and attached to its forward mounting location. The aft end of the cable was free, and not attached to the "baily block hook" located at the rear of the wing keel tube. The fabric webbing handle used to pull the cable into place was separated from one of its two mounting points, and a 2-inch-long tear was present in the center of the webbing, about ½ inch from its loose end. The other end of the webbing remained attached to its mounting point, with short tears in the center on either side of the mount.
The fuselage came to rest in a cornfield alongside the runway at the end of a wreckage path about 25 feet long and oriented on a heading about 170° magnetic. It was located about 40 feet away from the wing. The forward frame was fractured and bent in several locations. The front (pilot's) seat was separated from the fuselage. The aft seat remained attached. The 12-gallon fuel tank was separated from the fuselage, and was about half full. The ballistic airframe parachute system was intact and was not activated. The four-stroke, two-cylinder engine was largely undamaged, and rotated smoothly. Two of the composite propeller blades were fractured and splintered along their span, the third blade was fractured at the hub and not found. An 8-inch section of flying cable sheathing was found embedded in one blade.
The aircraft maintenance records were not located. The Hobbs meter read 26.6 hours. The pilot's son recalled that the aircraft had been inspected at one time, but he did not recall any further maintenance details.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot did not possess an airman or medical certificate.
Lester Z. Lydzinski, 63 of Clifton, New Jersey passed away on August 6th, 2017. Loving father to Mark, Adam and Jessica Lydzinski. Dear brother to Richard Lydzinski. Also survived by his beloved pet dog “Rambo”.
Lester was born in Jastrzebie Zdroj, Poland and lived in the United States for many years. He worked as a Machinist at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation in Teterboro. A Memorial Service will be held on July 11th, 2017 at the Cremation Society of New Jersey – 470 Colfax Avenue, Clifton.
Lester Lydzinski, 63, of Clifton, has been identified as the man killed in Sunday's plane crash in Sussex, according to New Jersey State Police.
Lydzinski's ultralight aircraft crashed in Green Township on Sunday morning near Trinca Airport around 10:30 a.m. CPR was administered to Lydzinski at the scene of the crash, according to emergency transmissions, but was unsuccessful. Lydzinski was pronounced dead at the scene, according to New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn.
Lydzinski was the only person on the plane at the time of the crash.
Lydzinski was piloting a NW-Freedom, which is a light sport aircraft, state police Lt. Ted Schafer said. The Federal Aviation Administration's public registry indicates that the plane is classified as experimental and categorized as amateur-built. The state police were unable to confirm whether or not the plane was built by Lydzinski, built by someone else or if Lydzinski purchased it from someone.
Schafer said planes like Lydzinski's are common in the airspace above Sussex County, as are small aircraft like Cessnas and gliders that typically fly from Blairstown Aiport in Warren County.
Police said Lydzinski's plane is weight-shift controlled, meaning that a pilot uses their weight to control the height and direction of the plane.
On Sunday, Pete Sklannik, manager of the Trinca Airport, said data and accident effects were collected by the National Transportation Safety Board.
"Once the NTSB arrives on the scene, they will do their part to actually analyze the machinery that is associated with the ultralight aircraft," Sklannik said.
The plane had been approaching the 2,000-foot runway surrounded by cornfields on what appeared to be an ideal day for flying, the airport manager said. It was unclear whether the pilot intended to land, maneuver or circle around.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, according to Federal Aviation Administration's public information officer Arlene Salac.
NTSB spokesman Terry Williams said the agency is still in the "very early stage" of the investigation. Williams said the probe could take as long as a year as investigators work to determine a cause for the crash.
Investigators began their on scene investigation by documenting the crash site, examining the aircraft and taking a preliminary look at the plane's engine. \Williams said they would begin to contact witnesses to the crash beginning today.
A report of the preliminary findings will be available on the NTSB website sometime next week.
Story, video and photo gallery ➤ http://www.northjersey.com
Pete Sklannik, Trinca Airport Manager, addresses the media at the scene of an aircraft crash which resulted in the death of the pilot at Trinca Airport in Green Township on Sunday, August 6, 2017.
GREEN -- A small aircraft crash at Trinca Airport in Green has left one man dead, state police said.
The accident was reported at about 10:25 a.m. Sunday, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Bill Cisko said.
"The pilot was unfortunately declared dead at the scene of the accident," Cisko said. "Paramedics were attempting to revive him when state police arrived, but they were unsuccessful."
Cisko described the aircraft as a NW-Freedom with one occupant. More details will be released once the family of the deceased has been properly notified.
The crash occurred on airport grounds, Cisko said. No other injuries have been reported.
"As of right now, we have no idea what caused it," he said. "The matter is being investigated by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board."
In addition to state police, Cisko said that paramedics from Saint Clare's Hospital, the Green Fire Department, the Allamuchy/Green First Aid Squad, the Andover Police and the Sussex County Prosecutor's office were all reported at the scene of the accident.
http://www.njherald.com
GREEN -- One person was killed Sunday morning when a small plane crashed at Trinca Airport, authorities said.
New Jersey State Police said the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene of the 10:25 a.m. crash and no other passengers were on board.
Airport manager Pete Sklannik described the plane as a ultralight aircraft.
"They're considered experimental aircraft. They're not in the same category as a fixed-wing aircraft, like a Cessna," Sklannik told NJ Advance Media.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
No cause had been announced as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
It was the second plane crash in New Jersey in a 12-hour span.
On Saturday night, a small plane crashed in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, sending three people to area hospitals.
Trinca Airport is owned by Green Township and access to the entrance was blocked off by police following the crash.
Sklannik said the airport is popular with pilots of ultralight planes.
Story, video and photo gallery ➤ http://www.nj.com
GREEN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — The pilot of a small plane was killed when the aircraft crashed at an airport in Sussex County, New Jersey Sunday morning.
The NW-Freedom amateur-built aircraft crashed at the end of the runway at Trinca Airport in Green Township just before 10:30 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The pilot was pronounced dead on the scene, according to New Jersey State Police.
No passengers were on board at the time of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the cause of the crash, which remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Story and video ➤ http://newyork.cbslocal.com
GREEN TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (WABC) -- State police say a pilot was killed when a small plane crashed near a New Jersey airport.
The accident happened at about 10:25 a.m. Sunday at Trinca Airport in Green Township, Sussex County.
The Federal Aviation Administration says a NW-Freedom amateur-built aircraft crashed at the end of the runway.
Only the pilot was on board.
It's not clear if the plane had taken off from that site or if it was headed to the airport when it went down.
The pilot, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the probable cause of the crash.
Trinca Airport is a public use airport owned by Green Township and located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Andover.
http://abc7ny.com
