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Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oakland, California
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Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Benicia, CA
Accident Number: WPR17FA200
Date & Time: 09/09/2017, 1413 PDT
Registration: N7215J
Aircraft: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY G36
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On September 9, 2017, about 1413 Pacific daylight time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company G36 airplane, N7215J, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain in Benicia, California about 9 miles northwest of the Buchanan Field Airport (CCR), Concord, California. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Vallee Development Corporation and the pilot was operating the airplane 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 had been filed for the cross-country flight. The flight originated from CCR about 1406 and was destined for California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport, Arcata-Eureka, California.
Radar data revealed that the airplane departed from CCR on a northwest heading, which was consistent with its intended destination. The first few minutes of the data showed the airplane in a climb. The surface winds in the area were about 330° at 12 knots, which would give the airplane about a 12-knot headwind during climb out. The airplane continued the climb to a maximum altitude of about 2,500 ft mean sea level (msl).
The last two minutes of the data revealed that the airplane's ground speed began to decrease as the airplane was nearing its level off altitude. During the last 15 seconds of data, the airplane's ground speed further decreased. At 1412:29, when the airplane was at an altitude of 2,400 ft msl, the ground speed was 69 knots; at 1412:32, the airplane was still at an altitude of 2,400 ft msl, but the ground speed had decreased to 56 knots. At 1412:42, the time of the last data return, the airplane's ground speed was 55 knots and the airplane's altitude had decreased by 600 ft to 1,800 ft msl, at a descent rate of about 3,600 ft per minute. In addition, the radar data showed that the airplane had entered a sharp right turn.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert notification for the airplane at 1926 after a family member reported that the airplane was overdue. A search ensued, and the Civil Air Patrol located the airplane wreckage the next morning near the top of a hillside in Benicia, California.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 67, 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: 05/06/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 528 hours (Total, all aircraft), 2.7 hours (Total, this make and model)
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The pilot had received a high-performance airplane endorsement on March 18, 2003, and a complex airplane endorsement on May 8, 2015. He also held a third-class airman medical certificate issued on May 6, 2017, with no limitations. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accumulated about 528 hours of total flight experience. Most of the pilot's flight time was logged in Piper PA-28 and Cessna C-182 airplanes. He had logged 3 flights, for a total duration of 2.7 hours, in the accident airplane. The three flights occurred in July 2017, with the accident pilot operating as the pilot-in-command and no dual time was logged that may have indicated flight training.
The passenger held a student pilot certificate and a third-class medical certificate dated February 21, 2003. The passenger did not reapply for the medical certificate after it expired and did not receive a pilot's license.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Registration: N7215J
Model/Series: G36 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: E-3715
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/03/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 4000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1535.6 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-550B-39B
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 300 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The Raytheon Aircraft Company G36 was a six-seat, low-wing, retractable-gear airplane, that was manufactured in 2006. The G36 is a variant of the Beechcraft Bonanza 36 airplane.
The airplane was powered by a Continental IO-550-B39B engine with a three-bladed constant speed propeller. The engine was modified with a Tornado Alley Turbo, turbonormalizer system (under Supplemental Type Certificate SA5223NM), which was installed on September 19, 2008. The airplane's maintenance records showed that the most recent airframe annual inspection was completed on December 3, 2016, with a Hobbs meter time of about 1,536 hours. The most recent engine inspection occurred on August 14, 2017; at that time, the Hobbs meter time was about 1,600 hours.
According to the Beechcraft Model G36 Bonanza Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual, the airplane's stall speed at an airplane weight of 3,600 pounds and flaps up, was 68 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) at a 0° bank angle, and 73 KIAS at a 30° bank angle. Using calibrated airspeed reflected about the same stall speeds in the chart.
The Airplane Flight Manual Supplement -550, for airplanes with engines that have the turbonomalizer system installed, increased the airplane's takeoff gross weight to 4,000 pounds. The manual supplement stated that the performance of airplanes equipped with the turbonormalizer system "is equal to or better than the performance listed in the original flight manual." The manual supplement also stated that when operating the airplane at the increased weights authorized, the pilot should expect a decreased rate of climb of up to 13% and to increased stall speeds of up to 7%.
The airplane's most recent weight and balance form was not located during the investigation, and the airplane's weight and balance at the time of the accident could not be determined. Paperwork submitted to the FAA's Aircraft Registration Branch in April 2017, when the pilot purchased the airplane, showed that the airplane's maximum gross weight was 4,000 pounds, and that the useful load was 1,209 pounds.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: CCR, 26 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time:1353 PDT
Direction from Accident Site:155°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 330°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.96 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 17°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: CONCORD, CA (CCR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: ARCATA/EUREKA, CA (ACV)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1406 PDT
Type of Airspace: Unknown
The 1353 weather observation at CCR, (about 20 minutes before the accident occurred) indicated the following conditions: wind 330° at 12 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 30°C, dew point 17°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.106667, -122.126111 (est)
The airplane came to rest on top of a mesa on flat terrain with dense vegetation at an elevation of about 587 ft msl. The fuselage was in an upright position on a magnetic heading of about 125°. Most of the fuselage and engine were contained within an area that measured about 8 ft long, 4 ft wide, and 1 ft deep. The engine was partially buried in the ground. All major structural components of the airplane were located within the wreckage debris area.
The airplane damage and ground signatures were consistent with a wings-level, nose-down, high angle-impact with terrain.
The airplane's wings remained attached to the fuselage but sustained significant compression damage. The leading edges of both wings were crushed aft to the spar. The left and right leading- edge skins, and the main fuel bladders, were ruptured and their fragments were scattered about 170 ft in front of the airplane. The front and bottom portions of the wing tip tanks sustained compression damage corresponding to about a 60° nose-down impact angle. The landing gear and flaps were retracted.
Flight control cable continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the forward floor assembly area. The elevator trim remained attached to the respective sprocket, and the left and right actuators indicated a position of about 2° to 3° tab up.
The empennage and cabin roof had been removed by first responders. The empennage was separated from the fuselage about 2 ft forward of the vertical stabilizer. The rudder and elevators were attached at all their respective attachment points.
The engine sustained impact damage and was separated from its mounts. The propeller separated at the crankshaft, just aft of the propeller flange, and was located near the engine in the wreckage debris area. Two of the three blades were bent aft about mid-span and two of the three blades exhibited twisting. A hole was observed in the right section of the crankcase between cylinders Nos. 1 and 3 that was consistent with impact forces. All of the accessories mounted on the rear of the engine sustained damage.
The airframe and engine were further examined at the Plain Parts facility in Pleasant Grove, California. The examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical And Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Solano County Sheriff's Office, Fairfield, California. The autopsy determined that the pilot's cause of death was "multiple blunt force injuries."
Toxicology testing was performed on the pilot and passenger at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory. The results for the pilot and the passenger were negative for tested drugs. The testing identified ethanol and propanol in the pilot's muscle and liver samples. The testing also identified ethanol in the passenger's brain and muscle samples.
The ethanol detected in the pilot's muscle and liver samples had differing concentrations. Additionally, the presence of propanol, an alcohol produced postmortem along with ethanol and other alcohols, in the pilot's sample's suggested that some or all of the alcohol present was from sources other than consumption. The small amounts of ethanol detected in the passenger's samples also suggested that some or all of the alcohol present was from sources other than consumption.
Additional Information
According to the FAA's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, "true airspeed (TAS) is calibrated airspeed (CAS) corrected for nonstandard altitude and temperature…therefore, for a given CAS, TAS increases as altitude increases. A pilot can find TAS by two methods. The most accurate method is the use of a flight computer…A second method, which is a rule of thumb, provides the approximately TAS. Simply add 2 percent to the CAS for each 1,000 ft of altitude." The handbook also states that the groundspeed is "the actual speed of the airplane over the ground. It is TAS adjusted for wind. Groundspeed decreases with a headwind and increases with a tailwind."
On the accident flight the groundspeed on the last radar return, at an altitude about 2,500 ft, was 55 knots. Adjusting the groundspeed for about a 12-knot headwind would make the TAS about 67 knots. A calculation using the atmospheric pressure, temperature, and airplane's speed, revealed that the CAS was about 5 knots slower than the TAS. Therefore, CAS was estimated to be about 62 knots at the last return.
The FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook, states "transition to a complex airplane, or high-performance airplane, can be demanding for most pilots without previous experience. Increased performance and complexity both require additional planning, judgement, and piloting skills. Transition to these type airplanes, therefore, should be accomplished in a systematic manner through a structured course of flight training by a qualified flight instructor."
Six SD data cards associated with a Garmin G1000 system were located at the accident site. The cards were provided to the NTSB's Vehicle Recorders Division for potential data download. In addition, an engine temperature sensor found at the accident site was provided to the Vehicle Recorders Division to determine if the sensor contained non-volatile memory and could be a source of engine data for the investigation. Some of the SD cards could be read, but they contained data that were not pertinent to the investigation. The engine sensor was not capable of recording data.
NTSB Identification: WPR17FA200
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 09, 2017 in Benicia, CA
Aircraft: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY G36, registration: N7215J
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On September 9, 2017, about 1413 Pacific daylight time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company G36, N7215J, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about 9 miles northwest of the Buchanan Field Airport (CCR) Concord, California. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Vallee Development Corporation and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight. The flight departed CCR about 1408, and was destined for Arcata Airport, Arcata/Eureka, California.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT) for the missing airplane after a family member reported that the flight was overdue. A search ensued and the wreckage was located near the top of a hillside by the Civil Air Patrol the following morning.
Examination of the accident site by the National Transportation Safety Board, investigator-in-charge, revealed that all the major components of the airplane were contained within a confined area. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
Preston Vallee, far right, is shown in a photo from high school. He attended Arcata High and graduated in 1991.
When the program coordinator for the Humboldt County airport in McKinleyville got a call stating an aircraft was missing she got a bad feeling. Emily Jacobs knew it was Terry Vallee’s plane but she didn’t know his co-pilot was his son, her friend from elementary school in Arcata.
“I found out the next day,” Jacobs said.
The flight crashed Sept. 10 and left not only a father and son dead, but also left two holes in the community.
“It’s been devastating for all of us,” Jacobs said.
Terry Vallee, 67, was said to have worn many hats at Lima’s Pharmacy in Eureka. Although Terry Vallee’s co-workers said it was too early to discuss his death, they remembered him as a community member who was a friend to all in his life.
His son, Preston Vallee, 42, grew up in Humboldt County and graduated from Arcata High School in the class of 1991.
Jacobs recalled cheering for him as a cheerleader while he played basketball. Preston Vallee began learning to fly about 15 years ago and Terry Vallee flew as long as she can remember.
“Nobody knows what happened and why the aircraft failed,” Jacobs said.
According to Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, a preliminary report focused on what was found in the wreckage will be released by the National Transportation Safety Board within seven to 10 days after the incident.
“It usually takes the NTSB months if not over a year to determine a probable cause for an accident,” Gregor wrote in an email. “The NTSB is the lead investigative agency. The FAA is a party to the investigation.”
Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass is the former sister-in-law of Terry Vallee. She said that while she isn’t a blood relative, he would always make her feel that way. She remembered always seeing a Terry Vallee around the community and the large smile he carried.
“No matter when I saw him, it felt like I was always part of the family,” Bass said.
Around 11 p.m. Sunday, Bass said she received a call from her ex-husband telling her the news that Terry and Preston Vallee were the pilots in the crash. She said when you hear about these things you never think it’s going to be someone you know, until it is.
“That’s not what I was expecting” said Bass, who remembered Terry Vallee as a “bundle of happiness.”
Bass also remembered Preston Vallee as a well-loved community member, although she said he didn’t know him too well. She said she always looked at Preston Vallee as a role model for her kids when they were younger.
“There’s going to be a big piece missing for the community,” Bass said.
http://www.times-standard.com
BENICIA, Calif. -- Officials are investigating after a father and his son died in a small plane crash near Benicia in Solano County on Saturday.
A 67-year-old man and his 43-year-old son were the only two people on board.
A ground team located the plane early Monday morning in Solano County north of Benicia, Civil Air Patrol officials said.
The Beechcraft BE-36 airplane took off from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord Saturday afternoon on its way to Arcata-Eureka Airport in McKinleyville, but had not landed by Saturday night.
The Civil Air Patrol was activated Saturday night to search for the aircraft.
Story and video ➤ http://abc7news.com
Terry Vallee, 67, of Arcadia, and Preston Vallee, 42, were identified as the passengers on board. The crash site was discovered on Sunday.
A spokesman for the FAA says a single-engine Beechcraft BE36 crashed sometime Saturday after departing from Buchanan Field in Concord. The FAA says the passengers were on their way to the Arcata-Eureka Airport.
Story and video ➤ http://www.ktvu.com
The single engine Beechcraft BE 36 took off from Buchanan Field in Concord on Saturday and was in the air for about ten minutes before crashing in Benicia.
The plane was found Sunday morning.
Terry Vallee, 67 of Arcata and 43 year-old Preston Vallee of Concord both died in the crash.
The cause is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation and Safety Board.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://kiem-tv.com
BENICIA, Calif. (KCRA) — A father and son were killed after their plane crashed in Benicia Saturday, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office said.
Terry Vallee, 67, of Arcata, and Preston Vallee, 43, of Concord, were identified as the two people on board when the plane crashed Saturday.
The plane was found Sunday.
The plane was flying from Buchanan Field in Concord to Arcata-Eureka Airport Saturday when it crashed for unknown reasons, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.kcra.com
Preston Riley Vallee
Preston Riley Vallee a loving father, brother, uncle and son left us way too soon, while flying home to Humboldt with his father. Preston was born on October 24th, 1973 to Terry and Mary Vallee. He spent his childhood with his sister Kelly and brother Mark on the family farm that his parents built from the ground up. Preston was a member of the Arcata Bottom 4-H and Arcata FFA and raised pigs, dairy heifers, and sheep. During that time, Preston accomplished the feat of winning all four Round Robins in Humboldt County and then went on to compete in and win the California State Fair Master Showmanship contest. Preston attended Arcata High School and was a multi-sport athlete, participating in soccer and wrestling for all four years. After high school, Preston attended California State University Chico, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. He was a member of the University's waterski team, serving as captain. He loved those years at Chico, making both life long friends and many of his most cherished memories including his enduring friendship with his fiance Ida Arne. During Preston's high school and college years, he spent every summer working construction with his cousin David Jackson. This inspired Preston to pursue a Masters in Construction Management at Chico State in 1998. In the year 2000 Preston established Vallee Construction. During those 17 years, Preston put his heart and soul into his work. His attention to detail, strong work ethic, integrity and warm friendly manner, enabled him to build an extremely successful business that brought him so much pride. Preston always enjoyed a challenge and loved to have fun. He had a passion for big toys starting in his early years with 3-wheelers, then moving into 4-wheelers, boats, jeeps, trucks, and most recently heavy equipment. Preston worked extremely hard and his greatest accomplishments were his three children, family, friendships and Vallee Construction. His generosity, gentle soul, stubbornness, and kind heart were expressed in everything he did. Preston is joined in death by his father, Terry Vallee. He is preceded by grandparents George Vallee, and Gerald and Claire Jackson. Preston Vallee is survived by his fiance Ida Arne and his three children Colton, Elly, and Scout. His mother Mary Vallee. His grandmother Bette Vallee. His sister and brother-in-law, Kelly and Tad Miller and his brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Theresa Vallee. His nieces and nephews, Sydney, Grace, Bryce, Cade, Katie, Aaron and Jessica. Preston's passion for life was exemplified in everything he did, from summers spent on Trinity Lake to traveling, hunting, camping, skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, and most recently being a Dad. Preston always put his love for family at the top of his priority list. Preston has touched so many lives in his short 43 years. He will be missed by each and everyone one of them. A combined service to celebrate the lives of Preston and his father will be held on Saturday, September 23rd at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka, California from 3 to 7pm. A Celebration of Life will also be held at the Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton, California on September 29th from 3-6pm. In lieu of flowers, Preston's business partners have created a college trust for his three children.
Terry Dale Vallee
Terry Dale Vallee; a loving husband, father, brother, son and most of all ..."the best Papa", left us way too soon while flying home to Humboldt with his son Preston. Terry was born December 27, 1949 in Los Angeles, California to George and Bette Vallee. Terry had ten brothers and sisters and spent his childhood and adult years in Eureka, California. He attended Saint Bernard's Catholic School through high school; graduating in 1968. It was during his junior year that he met the love of his life, Mary Jackson. Terry's childhood memories always included stories at the Excelsior house and camping at Trinity Lake. After high school, Terry spent his first year of college at Carroll College in Montana. He then returned to Eureka and finished his degree in Biology at Humboldt State University. In 1971, Terry and Mary were wed. Soon came their children Kelly, Preston, and Mark. After holding several jobs, Terry decided to follow in his family's footsteps and pursue a career in accounting. To do this he studied to become a CPA and got his first break at David L. Moonie & Co.. He then advanced his career by becoming Controller at Humboldt Land Title Company where he spent 15 years. It was then that he became involved in the Realtors Association and the Eureka Rotary. Terry worked endlessly to develop the home and property on Warren Creek in which he and Mary had always dreamed of raising their children. He enjoyed attending his kids' soccer games, wrestling matches, and Arcata Bottom 4-H events. Terry was very proud that his children competed in 4-H and FFA competitions around the state and that all of his children received college degrees. Terry was a bit of a thrill seeker! After the kids graduated and moved out he began to pursue those interests. He got his pilot's license and joined the Civil Air Patrol where he was named Commander. Next came racing cars at Redwood Acres with the "Rat Pack", followed by the purchase of his Harley. During all his thrill seeking days, Terry and Mary enjoyed traveling together. They made a 3 week trip to Europe celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. They visited various places around the states, where he loved taking his wife fly fishing. Terry retired from Lima's Pharmacy in 2015 after working as their controller for 15 years. He moved onto his next adventure by purchasing some property in the east bay in an effort to move closer to his young grandchildren. It was there that he spent countless hours running equipment to get the property ready to build. While working alongside Preston at the property and helping at Vallee Construction, he and Preston become inseparable. Family was the most important part of Terry's life. His proudest moment was when his first grandchild, Sydney, was born. In total Terry had 10 grandchildren. He absolutely loved spending time with each of them. He enjoyed watching Sydney and Grace show their animals, watching Katie play soccer and Aaron play football. He looked forward to the adventurous nights in the treehouse with Bryce, Cade and Colton. He playing tirelessly, outside in the yard, with his youngest granddaughters Elly and Scout. He was the wild and crazy papa that never said "no". Terry is joined in death by his son Preston Vallee. He is preceded in death by his father George Vallee, brother-in-law Tony Chess, and nephew Matthew Chess. Terry is survived by his wife Mary Vallee, their two children Kelly and husband Tad Miller and their son Mark and wife Theresa Vallee. His ten grandchildren: Sydney and Grace Miller, Bryce and Cade Vallee, Colton, Elly, and Scout Vallee, and Katie, Aaron, and Jessica Foster. His mother Bette Vallee and his siblings Lonnie (Ramona), Jon (Cathy), Georgianna, Tom (Jane), Liz (Bruce), Nancy (Mike), Chris (Deanna), Gabe, Paul, and Stephanie (Ed) and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A combined service to celebrate the lives of Terry and his son will be held on Saturday, September 23rd at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka, California from 3 to 7pm. In lieu of flowers, Preston's business partners have created a trust for Terry's three grandchildren.
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