TAMPA — Two men and a woman take turns poking a fully automatic submachine gun out the slightly open window of a small plane in flight.
They open fire toward the Gulf of Mexico below.
The whole thing was videotaped, edited and posted to the YouTube channel, Do It With Dan.
"What are the legalities of this," asked Dan, the host, as they walk toward a single-engine plane at Peter O. Knight airport for their flight.
Tampa gun maker Mark Serbu, 55, holding a camouflage backpack with the gun barrel sticking out, answers, "I didn't really ask. I'm assuming it's okay."
The Tampa Police Department agreed with Serbu on Monday, but only after taking the matter under advisement. Law enforcement agencies were alerted to the video by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, owners and operators of Peter O. Knight.
The Federal Aviation Administration also is investigating, but would not elaborate Monday.
A lawyer specializing in aviation issues, Guy Haggard of Orlando, said it wouldn't surprise him if the FAA follows the lead of Tampa police.
"People use helicopters for things like hog hunts," Haggard said. "In Florida, you can shoot guns from the sky in some situations."
And under FAA regulations, Haggard said, it is legal to drop an object from an aircraft as long as reasonable precautions are taken to prohibit injuries.
Bullets could be defended as "dropping objects," Haggard said.
The YouTube video includes a slide that says the trio flew for hours to a "safe location" before pulling out what they call a "machine gun." Serbu, the pilot and the owner of Serbu Firearms in Town 'N Country, identified the gun to the Tampa Bay Times as a fully automatic, Heckler & Koch MP5 9 mm submachine gun.
Since no one called law enforcement to complain about gunfire, it appears no one was put at risk, said Tampa police spokesman Stephen Hegarty.
Serbu told the Times he circled the Gulf of Mexico between Clearwater and Tarpon Springs for more than an hour before settling on a safe spot a couple miles from shore at an altitude of about 3,000 feet.
Until the Times contacted him Monday, Serbu said he didn't know the video had drawn the attention of authorities.
"There was no one close to us, no one for at least 10 miles," he said.
"We did everything safe. I had my daughter with us."
Valerie Serbu, 22, is the third person on the plane.
The trip was the idea of the show's host — a man identified on YouTube as Dan who says he's 24 and from Atlanta but wouldn't give the Times his last name. His channel specializes in videos of motorcycle and firearms stunts and has over 800,000 subscribers.
"He just thought it would be fun to shoot guns into the water from a plane," Serbu said with a chuckle.
Some of Dan's viewers had negative things to say in the YouTube comments section, so he took the video down last week — but not before someone copied it to send law enforcement. Dan put the video back online Monday afternoon.
Neither Serbu nor Dan could remember the date of the flight. Police learned from personnel at Peter O. Knight that they flew out of the Davis Islands airport Feb. 21.
In 2013, Serbu made national headlines by refusing to sell semi-automatic, .50-caliber rifles to the New York City Police Department because he disagreed with the NY SAFE ACT that classifies the weapon as an assault rifle, banning it from use by the public.
Serbu planned on selling shirts with the image of the Soup Nazi from the Seinfeld sitcom and the words, "Hey NY-Gov ... No Serb For You" — a play on the character's "No soup for you" catchphrase.
Actor Larry Thomas, who portrayed the Soup Nazi, demanded his likeness be removed so Serbu replaced it with one of him.
"Looks like I did it again," Serbu said with another chuckle Monday.
Near the end of the video, host Dan says shooting a gun out of a plane "might be the most American thing" he's ever done.
The video concludes with a teaser for another of his YouTube feats — firing off flamethrowers in his front yard.
Source: http://www.tampabay.com
An emergency call led emergency services and firefighting units to the Carlsbad Cavern Air Terminal Monday for a possible landing gear malfunction.
The call stemmed from the activation of a landing warning on the small cargo plane as it prepared for landing at the airfield.
Emergency personnel were initially notified of the incident at about 3:25 p.m., said Frank Jurczak, an engineer with the Carlsbad Fire Department's Station 4.
Dispatchers reported that the aircraft landed safely around 3:29 p.m. and recalled the EMS and firefighters.
The plane circled the landing area twice before landing briefly to test the landing gear, Jurczak said.
It then took off again, made another pass and landed safely before taxiing to its hangar.
No injuries or damages to the plane were reported.
Fire crews were assisted by Carlsbad police and emergency services from Eddy County.
Jurczak said personnel underwent a Monday morning drill with a similar scenario.
"It's not a common occurrence, but we did have a drill earlier and we were ready," Jurczak said.
Source: http://www.currentargus.com
A private luxury air service based in Sanford is hiring more pilots this year, thanks to gaining what's known as 135 commuter status, which allows it to operate an unlimited number of flights each week.
Transnorthern Airways LLC, known as Air Unlimited based at the Orlando-Sanford International Airport, announced on March 2 that it’s one of only a handful of charter airlines with Federal Aviation Administration 135 commuter status in Florida.
Charter services without this distinction can fly only up to four times per week between any pair of cities. With this certification, Air Unlimited can offer passengers more flight availability options and increased flexibility with scheduled service.
Air Unlimited has 13 employees including office staff, maintenance personnel, pilots and managers who work in a 1,580-square-foot office with a 7,680-square-foot hangar.
Air Unlimited just hired three pilots and is hiring three more contract pilots. By third-quarter 2017, it plans to hire a total of 10 new pilots. The company said it also is hiring someone to perform maintenance on the aircraft.
The air service company also is looking into expanding its organ transportation service. Through brokers, the company transports human organs to and from medical facilities and surgical teams that need to visit a site to harvest organs and return quickly.
Air Unlimited has worked with Florida Hospital and Tampa General Hospital, said Charles “Chick” Gregg, co-founder and principal of Air Unlimited. “We do three or four flights a month of that. It usually comes late at night and provides additional income with aircraft not being used elsewhere."
Air Unlimited offers featured destinations for scheduled services such as Treasure Cay and Marsh Harbour in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas.
Read more here: http://www.bizjournals.com
William Kyle, President / Owner; Nicole Kyle, Ames Operations Manager; Todd Kyle, Vice-President / Director of Operations; Christopher Schrodt, Chief Pilot.
Charles City, Iowa - North Iowa Air Service in Charles City and Mason City is announcing their expansion. Beginning April 1st, they will begin operations as Central Iowa Air Service at the Ames Municipal Airport. Central Iowa Air Service will be offering AV gas/jet fuel services, charter operations, flight instruction, aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales, rental and storage and much more.
North Iowa Air Service, led by president Bill Kyle of Charles City, has become a family affair. Bill Kyle’s son Todd Kyle has been the VP of Operations at North Iowa Air Service in Mason City, and now, Bill Kyle’s daughter Nikki will lead the Ames team.
Central Iowa Air Service in Ames will have a Piper Archer and Piper Warrior for trainer/rental aircraft and a Piper Navajo and Hawker Beech Jet for charter services. In addition, Central Iowa Air Service customers will also have access to all North Iowa Air Service aircraft, including a Piper Comanche, Piper Cherokee, Piper Aztec, Piper Cheyenne and a Bombardier Lear 45.
Central Iowa Air Service will operate out of the Ames airport terminal at 2501 Airport Road beginning April 1st.
More information about North Iowa Air Service and Central Iowa Air Service can be found on the North Iowa Air Service Facebook page.
Story and audio: http://kchanews.com
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office: Fairbanks, Alaska
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/N736AS
Location: Nome, AK
Accident Number: ANC17FA018
Date & Time: 03/05/2017, 2223 AKS
Registration: N736AS
Aircraft: CESSNA R172K
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On March 5, 2017, about 2223 Alaska standard time, a Cessna R172K airplane, N736AS, impacted sea ice in Norton Sound, about 10 miles east of Nome, Alaska. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight, and instrument meteorological condition (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The flight departed Wasilla Airport (IYS), Wasilla, Alaska, at 1710 destined for Nome City Field Airport (94Z), Nome, Alaska.
The pilot's fiancée stated that the pilot had not flown his airplane since late summer 2016 and that he had listed the airplane for sale in January 2017 because he flew the airplane infrequently. She said that the pilot had flown to Nome often but usually during the summer. On the day of the accident, the pilot's fiancée observed him fueling the airplane from a self-service commercial fuel tank and filling 5-gallon fuel containers before departure. A fuel receipt indicated that the pilot purchased 35.3 gallons of fuel.
The distance from IYS to 94Z is about 470 nautical miles (nm). The pilot's fiancée reported that she received a text message from the pilot about 2100 indicating that he was about 45 minutes from 94Z but would not be able to land there due to weather. The pilot also sent a text message to a friend in Nome, asking about the weather. The friend reported that she sent a text message at 2141 to the pilot indicating a visibility of 10 miles and a ceiling of 600 ft overcast. The pilot responded, "Ok I think I can sneak in." He sent text messages to his friend indicating "one more try" and "one more ok" before texting "not happening" at 2214. A review of Garmin GPSmap 296 data showed an airplane track that included four approaches to runway 21 at 94Z, some maneuvering in the area, and a departure from the area to the east.
Witnesses observed the airplane in fog. They stated that the airplane engine sounded normal and that the airplane lights were on. One witness called the Nome flight service station to ensure that the runway lights were on at Nome Airport (PAOM), which was a larger airport located 1 mile west of 94Z. This witness stated that he was surprised that someone would attempt to land at 94Z given the weather conditions (reported by a witness who lived near 94Z to be "very foggy" with a ceiling of about 300 ft) and the unlit snow-covered runway. That witness observed the airplane making multiple approaches in fog and then departing to the east. He also heard, on the common traffic advisory frequency, a transmission that sounded as if someone were stating "no, no, no!" sometime after the airplane departed the area. This witness then listened to another frequency for an emergency locator transmitter signal but did not hear one.
The Garmin GPSmap 296 data showed that the airplane made no en route stops after departure from IYS and that the airplane was at an altitude of about 9,000 ft while in cruise flight. The total GPS distance flown was 518 nm; the total GPS movement time was about 5 hours 15 minutes. The last GPS data point, which was 9 minutes after the last landing attempt, was at 2223 and indicated that the airplane's groundspeed was 36 knots at an altitude of 373 ft. Figure 1 shows the GPS track data in the Nome area. A GPS report is in the public docket for this accident.
Figure 1. Garmin GPSmap 296 flight data and airport and wreckage locations.
The pilot's fiancée reported the airplane overdue about 0530 on March 6. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert notice at 0606, and an area-wide airport and radio search was conducted. About 0959, a Nome search and rescue crew located the airplane wreckage on sea ice about 10 miles east of Nome, in Norton Sound near Hastings Creek.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-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: 01/22/2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 250 hours (Total, all aircraft), 250 hours (Total, this make and model), 200 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
The pilot, age 28, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He held a third-class medical certificate issued on January 22, 2013, with the limitation "not valid for night flying or by color signal control." A review of FAA aeromedical certification documentation revealed that the pilot failed the color vision test during his 2013 and 2006 aeromedical physicals. According to a statement by the pilot's fiancée, the pilot was well rested and had worked until 1300 on the day of the accident.
The pilot's logbook was not located. His most recent FAA medical application, dated January 22, 2013, stated that he had 62 hours total flight experience with no accumulated time in the previous 6 months. The flight time that the pilot accumulated in the 4 years after the examination could not be determined.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N736AS
Model/Series: R172K K
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: R1722378
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/05/2015, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2550 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2102.5 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-K
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 210 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The four-seat, high-wing, fixed-gear Cessna R172K Hawk XP airplane, serial number R1722378, was manufactured in 1977. The airplane was equipped with a 210-horsepower Continental Motors IO-360-K engine, serial number 355372, and a constant-speed two-blade McCauley 2A34C203-C propeller. The airplane was configured with wheels.
A review of the airframe and engine logbooks revealed that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on February 5, 2015, with a tachometer time of 1,380.4 hours, an airframe total time of 2,102.5 hours, and an engine time since major overhaul of 131.4 hours. The airplane had not been inspected for more than 2 years before the accident and thus was not in compliance with 14 CFR 91.409(a), which states that airplanes operating under Part 91 are required to undergo annual inspections.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: PAOM, 22 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0704 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 293°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Thin Overcast / 400 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 400 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.49 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: -21°C / -22°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: WASILLA, AK (IYS)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: NOME, AK (94Z)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1710 AKS
Type of Airspace: Class E
The closest weather reporting facility was PAOM, which was about 11 miles west of the accident site. At 2204, an automated special weather observation report indicated the following conditions: wind calm, sky overcast 400 ft, visibility 10 miles, temperature -21°C, dew point 22°C, and altimeter 30.49 inches of mercury.
The PAOM terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF) that was published at 1422 on the day of the accident, which would have been available to the pilot before the flight, stated the following conditions from 1600 onward: wind 330° at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles in light snow and mist, and ceiling broken at 1,500 ft. The next TAF was published at 2020, which was after the flight departed, and was valid starting at 2100. The TAF forecasted wind from 280° at 4 knots, visibility 1 ½ miles in light snow and mist, and ceiling overcast at 500 ft. No evidence indicated that the pilot obtained a weather brief before or during the flight.
The nearest public airport outside of Nome is White Mountain Airport (PAWM), White Mountain, Alaska, which is 60 miles northeast of Nome. The 2158 and 2258 automated observations at PAWM both reported a visibility of 10 miles and a clear ceiling.
The US Naval Observatory listed sunset in Nome on March 5, 2017, at 1933 and the end of evening civil twilight at 2022. The FAA defines night at "the time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight."
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: 64.448056, -165.091389 (est)
The airplane came to rest in an open area of sea ice and snow in a steep nose-low attitude on a 110° heading, as shown in figure 2. All major components were located in the wreckage field. The engine, forward fuselage, and cabin were significantly crushed, and the wing leading edges exhibited fore-to-aft accordion crush damage. The empennage and rear fuselage were intact with a spanwise fracture and torsional displacement of the rear fuselage behind the wing. All flight control surfaces remained attached to the airplane, and continuity to the cockpit controls was established. The flaps were in the up position.
Figure 2. N736AS wreckage on the Norton Sound sea ice.
The propeller remained attached to the crankshaft, and the propeller blades were bent slightly aft with no chordwise abrasions or torsional deformation. The engine exhibited impact damage, and the crank case and cylinders remained intact with no evidence of a catastrophic failure.
The left and right fuel tank caps were secure, and no measurable fuel was observed in either wing fuel tank, which appeared intact. The fuel selector knob indicated "both." Six plastic 5-gallon containers were located in the aft cabin area. Two of the cans were intact and full of fuel, two were ruptured and smelled of fuel, and two were intact and empty. A large cooler with packaged marijuana was discovered in the rear seat.
Airport Information
According to the FAA Alaska Chart Supplement, 94Z is a public airport with one runway, 03/21. Airport comments state no winter maintenance or snow removal, runway condition not monitored, and visual inspection recommended before landing.
PAOM has a part-time flight service station, instrument approaches to the airport's two runways, and approach lighting systems and precision approach path indicator lights for the runways. Snow removal is performed daily from 0600 to 2130.
PAWM has medium-intensity runway lighting.
Medical And Pathological Information
The Alaska State Medical Examiner, Anchorage, Alaska, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The autopsy report attributed the pilot's cause of death to multiple blunt force injuries.
The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot with negative results for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs.
Additional Information
Performance
Fuel Planning
The Cessna 172 Hawk XP pilot operating handbook (POH) indicated that the airplane had a total fuel capacity of 52 gallons and a usable fuel quantity of 49 gallons. A range profile chart in section 5, figure 5-8, indicated that, with standard temperature conditions, at an altitude of 9,000 ft, and with no wind, a 545-nm range can be planned at 60% brake horsepower (BHP), and a 505-nm range can be planned at 70% BHP, with a 5-gallon fuel reserve for each range. The engine power settings and the total fuel quantity at the start of the flight are unknown.
Engine Failure
Section 3 of the POH states the following:
After an engine failure in flight, the best glide speed should be established as quickly as possible. While gliding toward a suitable landing area, an effort should be made to identify the cause of the failure. If the engine cannot be restarted, a forced landing without power must be completed.
The POH also stated that the first procedure for an engine failure during flight is to attain 75 knots (indicated airspeed).
Stalls
Section 2, figure 2-2 of the POH indicated that the stall speed at maximum gross weight with the flaps retracted was 54 knots.
The FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A), chapter 4, states the following concerning stalls:
A stall is an aerodynamic condition which occurs when smooth airflow over the airplane's wings is disrupted resulting in loss of lift. Specifically, a stall occurs when the AOA [angle-of-attack]—the angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative wind—exceeds the wing's critical AOA. It is possible to exceed the critical AOA at any airspeed, at any attitude, and at any power setting…. A pilot must recognize the flight conditions that are conductive to stalls and know how to apply the necessary corrective action. This level of proficiency requires learning to recognize an impending stall by sight, sound, and feel.
NTSB Identification: ANC17FA018
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, March 05, 2017 in Nome, AK
Aircraft: CESSNA R172K, registration: N736AS
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 March 5, 2017, about 2223 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172K airplane, N736AS, sustained substantial damage during impact with sea ice in Norton Sound about 10 miles east of Nome, Alaska. The private pilot and sole occupant received fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed along the route of flight, and instrument meteorological condition (IMC) prevailed at the destination. No flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska at 1710 destined for Nome City Field Airport (94Z), Nome.
During an interview with the National Transportations Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 7, the pilot's fiancé said that the pilot was going to visit friends in Nome and that he was time limited by his work schedule. She said that at about 1700 she witnessed him fueling the airplane and two fuel containers, for a total of 35.3 gallons, per the fuel company records. She said that the pilot flew this route often, maybe 20 times before, but usually in summer.
During an interview with the NTSB IIC on March 8, a friend of the pilot in Nome said that she was expecting him that night by 2130 and he was planning to land at Nome City Field. The airplane arrived in the Nome area at 2141 and she and the pilot texted back and forth for the remainder of the flight. Prior to making any approaches, the friend texted the weather to be "10 miles 600 over." The pilot texted back "Ok I think I can sneak in," then he proceeded to make four visual approaches to City Field runway 21, as well as circling maneuvers in the area. He texted "one more try" and after he couldn't land, he texted "one more ok" before his last attempt. At 2214 he texted "not happening" and departed the area.
During an interview with the NTSB IIC on March 7, a witness who lives near City Airport saw the airplane making multiple approaches and depart to the east. He also heard a transmission on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) of 123.6 MHz that sounded like "no, no, no" sometime after the airplane departed the area. The concerned witness then listened on 121.5 MHz for an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal, but did not hear one.
The pilot's fiancé reported the airplane overdue at about 0530 on March 6. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an ALNOT (alert notice) at 0606 and an area wide airport and radio search was conducted. At about 0959 a Nome Search and Rescue crew located the airplane wreckage about 10 miles east of Nome, on sea ice, near Hastings Creek. The wreckage consisted of the entire airplane in a vertical nose down attitude. The Garmin GPSMAP 296 device was recovered and downloaded by the NTSB IIC.
The Garmin GPS data indicates that the airplane took off from Wasilla at 1710 and made no enroute stops. The data shows an airplane track that included four approaches to Nome City Airport runway 21, some maneuvering in the area, then a departure to the east. The total GPS distance flown was 596 statute miles and total GPS time 5.3 hours. The last data point was at time 2223 and indicated the airplane at a groundspeed of 42 mph and 373 feet GPS altitude near the wreckage location.
According to the FAA Alaska Chart Supplement, the Nome City Field Airport has no lighting and is not plowed in winter. About one mile to the west is Nome Airport, which does have runway and approach lighting and is fully maintained.
The pilot held a current FAA Third Class Medical Certificate that stated the restriction "not valid for night flying or by color signal control."
The Cessna 172K Pilot Operating Handbook indicates a maximum fuel capacity of 52 U.S. gallons and usable fuel of 49 U.S. gallons. The actual fuel quantity for this flight is unknown.
The closest weather reporting facility is Nome Airport, Nome, Alaska, about 11 miles west of the accident site. At 2204, an aviation special weather report (SPECI) from the Nome Airport was reporting in part: Wind calm; sky condition, overcast 400 feet; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature -21 degrees C; dewpoint -22 degrees C; altimeter, 30.49 inHg. Official sunset was 1933.
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.
Thomas J. Grainger
Thomas Joseph Grainger was born on June 24, 1988, in Salinas, Calif., and passed away suddenly on March 5, 2017, outside of Nome, Alaska. Born and raised in Central California, he graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in business. He always dreamed about living in Alaska and drove here with his best friend, Marshall, in a beat-up old Ford Bronco, in the summer of 2010. He quickly settled into the Alaskan lifestyle, making many friends along the way. He found his love and future fiancee and family with his beloved girls: Kristina and her daughter, Hannah. He was widely known around Anchorage, Alaska, for his community involvement, including Fur Rondy. Tom's quick wit, incredible smile, giving heart and sense of humor were well-known. Tom is survived by his parents, Joe and Lori Grainger of Salinas; and his two sisters, Maggie and Brittney of San Francisco, Calif. He is also survived by his grandparents, Manuel and Laura Gularte of Salinas; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He also leaves behind his loving fiancee, Kristina Roush; and her daughter, Hannah Craven of Palmer, Alaska; as well as countless friends and acquaintances he came to know as his Alaskan family. To say Tom will be greatly missed is an understatement. An Alaskan Celebration of Life, open to the public, is scheduled for Saturday, March 11, 2017. It will be from 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Homewood Suites in the Klondike Glacier Bay Room, 101 West 48th Avenue in Anchorage. There will be time to share stories, pay respects and celebrate Tom. A memorial will follow in Salinas, Calif., on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Condolences may be sent to: Joe and Lori Grainger, 19667 Woodcrest Drive, Salinas, CA 93908. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom's name to your favorite charity . Arrangements are with Janssen Funeral Homes Inc.
ANCHORAGE – Alaska State Troopers say a pilot was killed when his plane went down near Nome.
The pilot, identified as 28-year-old Wasilla resident Thomas Grainger, was flying from Wasilla to Nome, trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters wrote. The Cessna 172 was unable to land in Nome due to weather, and was later reported overdue on Monday morning around 5:40 a.m.
Grainger’s last communication was at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, according to Peters. Nearly 12 hours later, Nome search and rescue personnel found the aircraft at Hastings Creek, 10 miles east of Nome.
Grainger was confirmed dead at the scene, Peters said, noting that the state medical examiner’s office had been notified.
He was the only person aboard the plane, Peters confirmed. She said later his family has been notified of his death.
Troopers also notified the National Transportation Safety Board, which will conduct an investigation of the crash, according to Peters.
Attempts to reach the agency were not immediately successful.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Allen Kenitzer confirmed his agency was also involved in the crash investigation.
Story and comments: http://www.ktva.com
NOME, Alaska -- The Cessna 172 has no association with the Iditarod.
The Iditarod Trail Committee says that they do not have any planes associated with the race heading in that direction, as mushers will not arrive in Nome for more than a week.
Original Story - Monday, 3:07 p.m.
Nome Search and Rescue located a downed aircraft, at Hastings Creek, on Monday, around 10 a.m. The pilot was confirmed dead, after Alaska State Troopers responded to the scene.
Earlier today, at approximately 5:40 a.m., troopers were alerted to an overdue aircraft, flying from Wasilla to Nome.
The pilot's fiancé reported that the pilot could not land in Nome, due to bad weather, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Instead, he planned on returning to Wasilla.
The pilot left Wasilla on Sunday, at approximately 9:11 p.m, according to NTSB. And the pilot's last communication occurred around 10:30 p.m., according to AST.
At this time, reports say the pilot was the only occupant of the plane. And NTSB says this was not a commercial flight.
The pilot’s identify has not been released, because next of kin still needs to be notified.
NTSB says they will conduct an on scene detailed examination of the wreckage, as it lays east of Nome, on Tuesday.
The tail number of the orange and white Cessna 172 is N736AS. Anyone with any information of the incident is asked to contact NTSB at (202) 314-6290.
Source: http://www.ktuu.com
An aircraft reported overdue after departing from Wasilla Sunday was found crashed near Nome Monday, with its pilot and sole occupant dead, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
Alaska State Troopers identified the pilot at 28-year-old Wasilla resident Thomas Grainger, whose family was told about the crash.
NTSB investigator Noreen Price said that the privately operated Cessna 172 was found crashed about 7 miles east of Nome. The plane had been on a flight from Wasilla to Nome Sunday evening, she said, and is believed to have crashed sometime after 10 p.m. that night.
"He texted his fiancee at 9:11 p.m. that he could not land due to weather," Price said.
Grainger's last communication came at 10:30 p.m., according to troopers.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said an alert for the overdue plane was issued at about 6 a.m. Monday. He said the pilot was reportedly flying under visual flight rules and hadn't filed a flight plan.
Nome Search and Rescue crews deployed Monday to find the plane, Price said, including two snowmachiners who headed east after the plane was last heard heading in that direction. The aircraft was discovered around 10 a.m.
The Iditarod Trail Committee said the plane didn't have any connection with the 1,000-mile race to Nome, which began Monday in Fairbanks.
Both the NTSB and the FAA will be investigating the crash, Price said.
Source: https://www.adn.com
Students in Purdue Aviation are now able to get their pilot’s licenses faster.
The Federal Aviation Administration approved Part 141 of the flight school certification, which demands less time for students to get their pilot’s licenses than what they previously had with Part 61.
The new certification will open up new opportunities for students, particularly those in the school of aviation transportation technology within the Polytechnic Institute.
Jeff Pittard, the president of Purdue Aviation, said the process to receive the Part 141 certification took around 11 months. He said it will allow Purdue Aviation to expand outside of the University.
“We have several opportunities to partner with other organizations to be a source to train professional pilots,” Pittard said.
Pittard said that Part 141 allows students in the flight school to receive their commercial pilot certificates in 60 fewer hours.
“We want to be able to create a school where we are teaching prospective students to become professional pilots in less than a year’s time,” Pittard said.
Ryan Emery, a student who received his pilot’s license through Purdue Aviation, said that Part 141 will help organize how a student can obtain his or her license.
“When I received my license, there was no set structure to when I had to take my classes,” Emery said. “With this new certification, students will have a more concrete schedule to know when they take their classes.”
Read more here: http://www.purdueexponent.org
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Police are investigating after an airliner pilot on approach to Gerald R. Ford International Airport said a laser was pointed into his cockpit on Saturday night.
It’s at least the third similar incident at the metro Grand Rapids airport in recent years.
The pilot of a Delta flight saw the green flash coming from the Bailey’s Grove subdivision, west of the airport.
“The pilot called in to air traffic control and basically said they were around two miles out and had a green laser pointed into the cockpit,” airport Marketing Director Tara Hernanadez told 24 Hour News 8.
Air controllers called Kentwood police, as well as the FBI and Transportation Security Administration.
The plane landed safely.
YouTube video shows what happens when a laser is pointed into the cockpit of an aircraft and the narrow beam of light starts bouncing off the interior of the plane. It can cause some real problems for pilots at one of the most critical points of a flight.
“Taking off and landing at an airport is a crucial time when you’re in a plane, so it’s important to know, you might think of it as just a fun piece, a laser that can’t do any harm, but it can really do more harm than good,” Hernandez said.
Someone caught pointing a laser at an aircraft could face felony charges.
Story and video: http://woodtv.com
AIRCRAFT – M&M, S/N: 1956 Beechcraft G35, N219B Serial No. D-4522
ENGINE - M&M, S/N: Continental E-225-8-E225-ARS1001 which is a modified IO-470
PROPELLER – M&M, S/N: Damaged
TOTAL HOURS (estimated TT & TSMO from logbooks or other information):
ENGINE: 651.6 hours SMOH
PROPELLER: Damaged
AIRFRAME: 4,923.9 hours
OTHER EQUIPMENT: KMA24, Narco AT165, KLN 94, MX170C, MX170B, KN64
DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT: Aircraft landed gear up.
DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGES: Belly skins, propeller, sudden engine stoppage, lower cowling and air intake, all gear doors and cowl flaps.
LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT: On the ramp at Washington Regional Airport, MO
Read more here: http://www.avclaims.com/N219B.htm
U.S. regulators turned down a request by Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines Co. for antitrust immunity to allow them to expand their cooperation, a rare blow that could further dent the patchwork of global alliances between carriers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday said the airlines could secure the commercial benefits from increased cooperation without the antitrust immunity they need to coordinate fares and schedules and share revenues and profits.
Airlines in the three big global alliances that dominate most markets rely on antitrust immunity for much of their cooperation, but the benefits have frayed in recent years and led some carriers to pursue alternative pacts.
Critics also argue that the arrangements inflate fares, though airlines with immunity say they expand consumer choice by offering more routes.
The application from Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings Inc. was closely watched as it is the first U.S. carrier not tied to the three alliance groupings—Star, SkyTeam and Oneworld—to seek antitrust immunity. Japan Airlines is part of Oneworld, alongside American Airlines Group Inc.
Hawaiian is already under pressure from the launch of flights to and within the islands by Southwest Airlines Co. , while All Nippon Airways Co. —a member of Star alongside United Airlines Holdings Inc. —has boosted capacity to and from Hawaii using giant Airbus SE A380 jets.
Hawaii’s decision to restrict some Airbnb operations in the state has also hit travel bookings.
Hawaiian Holdings shares fell after the announcement and closed down 2.3% at $25.53 apiece.
The Transportation Department did provide tentative approval for Hawaiian and Japan Airlines to expand their existing cooperation, including selling seats on each others’ flights and other marketing ties. The two carriers had previously said they needed immunity to proceed with a new deal.
“The evidence in the case indicates that the proposed benefits from this commercial cooperation can be achieved without [antitrust immunity],” the department said.
The airlines have 14 days to respond to the department’s tentative findings.
Hawaiian said it was disappointed and planned to press its case. “The tentative decision recognizes the consumer benefits of our joint venture, but it overlooks the importance of antitrust immunity that major global airline alliances already enjoy, harming a small U.S. carrier like Hawaiian by preventing it from being able to compete on equal footing,” the airline said.
Japan Airlines didn’t respond to requests for comment.
It is the first time an application has been turned down since one from American and Qantas Airways Ltd. was declined three years ago, though the carriers secured approval this year with an updated request.
American’s failure to secure antitrust approval from Chilean regulators for an expanded joint venture with Latam Airlines Group SA led the latter to dump its U.S. partner in favor of a deal with Delta Air Lines Inc.
Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said last week that alliances hadn’t fulfilled all of their promises, with more carriers seeking bilateral deals with other airlines outside the framework of the big groupings.
Mayors from small and midsize cities around Minnesota and the country are concerned about efforts to privatize the nation's air traffic control system, a move they fear would harm rural airports and communities.
More than 100 mayors from all 50 states, including those from Winona, Albert Lea, Ely and New Ulm, sent a letter Monday to the U.S. House and Senate transportation committees, opposing renewed efforts to put the system in the hands of business.
These mayors worry that would give commercial airlines an outsized role in governing the system and could lead to a loss of air service, loss of federal "critical airport" designations, higher fees and financial infeasibility.
Most rural air strips are used for general aviation, which is the industry term for all civil aviation besides commercial flights. These smaller airports often serve aircraft used in medical emergencies, to fight wildfires, transfer organs for transplants, monitor power lines and train pilots.
Minnesota has 135 airports that employ 26,000 people. General aviation in the state contributes an estimated $5.3 billion in economic benefit, according to a 2013 study by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
"Currently thousands of airports around the country are designated as critical to our national air transportation system by the FAA and thus are eligible for federal funding," said Selena Shilad, executive director of Alliance for Aviation Across America, which organized the mayors' letter. "If you put this network under the purview of a private board that is accountable to private commercial interests, that gives us grave concern."
Governance of the nation's airways is a perennial debate in Washington, but the thrum has grown louder in recent months. Airlines For America, the lobbying group representing the majority of U.S. commercial carriers, is making a hard push for privatizing air traffic control and the new Trump administration has signaled favor for a dramatic overhaul.
Opponents include members of both political parties. The Senate appropriations committee, led by Republican Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, sent a letter to the chamber's committee on commerce, science and transportation, opposing efforts to privatize air traffic control.
Proponents say a quasi-governmental public-private entity, like Amtrak or Fannie Mae, would be nimbler and quicker to implement the Federal Aviation Administration's modernization efforts, called NextGen, a program rollout plagued by delays. Airlines and other advocates argue that removing it from Congressional oversight would also stabilize its funding.
The appropriations committee took issue with this common complaint. While funding for the FAA, like other federal agencies, must be reauthorized by Congress every few years, "assertions of a lack of stable funding for the FAA are simply inaccurate," the committee wrote in a letter on Feb. 28. "In fact, the Appropriations Committee has protected and prioritized funding for the Air Traffic Organization by providing more than 99 percent of the Administration's budget request since 2008."
Proponents often point to Canada and the United Kingdom as examples for how to privatize. These systems rely more heavily on user fees, which opponents say drives up the cost to fly. Opponents like to remind them that the United Kingdom had to bail out its private air traffic control entity following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Privatization worries George Bolon, the fixed based operator at the Winona Airport, who supports his mayor signing the letter.
"You will increase the cost for the light, general aviation pilot. You will increase the cost for training schools. You will significantly reduce the safety factor, in my estimation," Bolon said.
Safety will be compromised, Bolon believes, as higher costs may encourage some pilots to "risk it" and fly "under the radar" without letting Air Traffic Control know its flight plans.
"If people become economically driven, they often miss the safety factor," Bolon said. "Saving one person is worth a lot of money. The system currently in able to do this."
Delta Air Lines is an exception among the major commercial carriers in its opposition of privatization. The Atlanta-based airline, and largest operator at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, split from the airline industry trade group last spring over the issue.
Richard Anderson, then-CEO of Delta, was a vocal critic of efforts to privatize air traffic control. Delta pulled its membership from Airlines For America and wrote several Op-Eds in newspapers saying it believed privatization would escalate costs for the airlines and, ultimately, for passengers.
In a paper outlining its opposition, Delta said, "General aviation flights typically use more monetary resources than they give back." If the system is privatized and turned into a revenue-based system, air traffic control resources would likely be prioritized at the larger hub airports rather than spread across the country, Delta argued.
The FAA manages a network of more than 13,500 airports across the U.S., according to the CIA World Factbook. The next largest network is the entire European Union with about 3,100 airports followed by Mexico's 1,700 airports. The federal agency gives airport improvement grants to large and small airports.
Hub airports rely on nearby general aviation airports to relieve them of flights that may not be able to land due to weather or other incidents. Winona Airport is undergoing a $12.5 million improvement project for its safety navigation, such as runway lighting, and about 90 percent was funded by the FAA, Bolon said, "and there's no question that money [was generated by] the major hubs."
Shilad of the Alliance for Aviation Across America said, "In a private system, the board could direct all of the investments to whatever airports they wanted. In many cases, some smaller airports couldn't survive."
Source: http://www.startribune.com
