Thursday, June 15, 2017

The Latest: Flight school denies claims in students’ lawsuit

In this Wednesday, June 14, 2017 photo, Arslan Mamiliyev, who was training to become a commercial pilot at the American Flight Academy in Hartford, Conn., stands outside the building where the school was located. He and other international students are suing the school, saying they lost thousands of dollars and are being forced to leave the country after the school closed following two fatal plane crashes. Federal authorities are investigating the crashes and have seized records from the school. 



HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - The Latest on students suing a Connecticut flight school under investigation after two fatal plane crashes in five months (all times local):

1:05 p.m.

A Connecticut flight school under investigation after two fatal plane crashes is denying allegations by international students who say they are being forced to return to their home countries without finishing the training that they paid tens of thousands of dollars for.

The Hartford-based American Flight Academy released a statement Thursday denying allegations in a lawsuit filed by three students.

The students say they paid $28,000 to $39,000 apiece for commercial pilot training but were far short of the required training hours when the Hartford-based school closed abruptly in April. Two of the students also allege the school cancelled their student visas and they’re being forced to return home Sunday.

The three are from Turkmenistan, Peru and Ecuador.

The two crashes in October and February remain under investigation by federal authorities.

11:34 a.m.

International students at a Connecticut flight school that closed after two fatal plane crashes say they’re out thousands of dollars and are being forced to return to their home countries because their student visas were canceled.

Three students are suing the American Flight Academy. They say they paid $28,000 to $39,000 apiece for commercial pilot training but were far short of the required training hours when the Hartford-based school closed abruptly in April.

The three are from Turkmenistan, Peru and Ecuador.

School owner Arian Prevalla has not returned messages seeking comment. The school’s lawyer declined to comment Thursday.

Authorities are investigating the two crashes. A student was killed and Prevalla survived a wreck in East Hartford in October. Prevalla told authorities the student crashed the plane on purpose. Another student was killed in a crash in East Haven in February.

Original article can be found here: http://www.washingtontimes.com

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — International students at a Connecticut flight school that closed after two fatal plane crashes say they’re out thousands of dollars and are being forced to return to their home countries because their student visas were canceled.

Three students are suing the American Flight Academy. They say they paid $28,000 to $39,000 apiece for commercial pilot training but were far short of the required training hours when the Hartford-based school closed abruptly in April.

The three are from Turkmenistan, Peru and Ecuador.

School owner Arian Prevalla and its lawyer didn’t return messages seeking comment.

Authorities are investigating the two crashes. A student was killed and Prevalla survived a crash in East Hartford in October. Prevalla told authorities the student crashed the plane on purpose. Another student was killed in a crash in East Haven in February.

Original article can be found here: http://wtnh.com

Beechcraft King Air B100, N343KK, TreeLine Transportation Inc: Incident occurred June 14, 2017 at  Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (KTCL), Tuscaloosa County, Alabama

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Birmingham

TreeLine Transportation Inc:   http://registry.faa.govN343KK

Aircraft landed, gear collapsed.

Date: 14-JUN-17
Time: 20:26:00Z
Regis#: N343KK
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: B100
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: TUSCALOOSA
State: ALABAMA

De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter, N510PR, Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc: Incident occurred June 14, 2017 - Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage

Talkeetna Air Taxi Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N510PR

Aircraft on landing, ski caught a crevasse.

Date: 14-JUN-17
Time: 20:30:00Z
Regis#: N510PR
Aircraft Make: DEHAVILLAND
Aircraft Model: DHC3
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: ON DEMAND
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Aircraft Operator: TALKEETNA AIR TAXI
City: DENALI
State: ALASKA

Gulfstream Schweizer G-164C (Grumman Ag-Cat), N7501Z: Accident occurred June 14, 2017 in Delaplaine and Accident occurred June 19, 2014 in Beech Grove, Greene County, Arkansas

Airplane Wreckage at the Accident Site Side View. 

Airplane Wreckage at the Accident Site Rear View. 


The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas

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/N7501Z

Location: Delaplaine, AR
Accident Number: CEN17LA230
Date & Time: 06/14/2017, 1820 CDT
Registration: N7501Z
Aircraft: Grumman G164
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On June 14, 2017, about 1820 central daylight time, a Grumman G164 agricultural airplane, N7501Z, was substantially damaged following a forced landing after a partial loss of engine power near Delaplaine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to HDS Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, and operated by Kin-Co Ag Aviation Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, as a local agricultural flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at 1800 from the operator's private airstrip located in Delaplaine, Arkansas.

The pilot reported that he was en route to spray a rice field after loading chemicals at the company base. While approaching the field, the engine was not producing full power. The pilot elected to executed a forced landing into a rice field. As the airplane landed in the field, the right main landing gear struck a levee, and the airplane flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There were no witnesses to the accident.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the airplane or engine and did not show any evidence of fuel. Although the top fuel tank was breached in the accident, fresh green grass around and underneath the wreckage did not show any evidence of fuel contamination, or blight.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:No 
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/19/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  5000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1270 hours (Total, this make and model), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Grumman
Registration: N7501Z
Model/Series: G164 C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:1979 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number:42C 
Landing Gear Type:Tailwheel 
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/02/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 3109 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Honeywell
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series:TPE331 
Registered Owner: Hds Inc
Rated Power: 650 hp
Operator: KIN-CO AG Aviation Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: NOSG

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ARG, 279 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 11 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1835 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 180°
Lowest Cloud Condition:Clear 
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 100°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: 
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 21°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Delaplaine, AR
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Destination: Delaplaine, AR
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1800 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion:None 
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 36.219444, -90.731389 (est)

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA230 
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 14, 2017 in Delaplaine, AR
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM SCHWEIZER A/C CORP GULFSTREAM AM G 164C, registration: N7501Z
Injuries: 1 Minor.

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 may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On June 14, 2017, about 1820 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT64C agricultural airplane, N7501Z, registered to HDS Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, and operated by Kin-Co Ag Aviation Inc., of Beech Grove, Arkansas, was substantially damaged following a forced landed after a loss of engine power near Delaplaine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The local agricultural flight was being operated under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at 1800 from the operators private airstrip located in Delaplaine, Arkansas.

The pilot reported that he was enroute to spray a rice field after loading chemicals at the company base. While approaching the field, the engine was not making full power. The pilot elected to executed a forced landing into a rice field. As the airplane landed in the field, the right main landing gear struck a levee and the airplane flipped inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. There were no witness to the accident. 


Initial examination of the wreckage by and FAA inspector, did not reveal any anomalies. The airplane wreckage was transported to Dawson Aviation, Clinton, Arkansas, for further examination.

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


NTSB Identification: CEN14LA308
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Thursday, June 19, 2014 in Beech Grove, AR
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/12/2015
Aircraft: GULFSTREAM SCHWEIZER A/C CORP GULFSTREAM AM G 164C, registration: N7501Z
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that the airplane took off with a quartering tailwind of about 10 to 15 mph. The takeoff was normal; however, shortly after lifting off, the airplane began to settle back toward the ground. The pilot started to dump the fertilizer load, but the airplane subsequently descended to the ground and then hit a rice levee. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He noted that the accident might have been prevented if he had paid closer attention to the density altitude; the density altitude was calculated to be 2,205 feet, which would have increased the airplane’s ground roll and decreased its climb performance.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his attempt to take off with insufficient climb performance to climb out of ground effect in the high-density altitude conditions. 

On June 19, 2014, about 1200 central daylight time, a Gulfstream Schweizer G-164C (Grumman Ag-Cat) airplane, N7501Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from a private airstrip near Beech Grove, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by HDS Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported he took off to the north from a 2,500-foot long asphalt runway, with 2,500 lbs. of fertilizer on-board. He added that there was a south wind from about 220 degrees at 10 to 15 miles per hour. The takeoff was normal; however, shortly after lifting off, the airplane began to settle back toward the ground. The pilot started to dump the fertilizer load, but he was unable to recover. The airplane subsequently settled onto the ground and encountered a rice levee. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot noted that the accident might have been prevented by paying closer attention to density altitude.

The accident airplane was powered by a 600-shaft horsepower Garrett model TPE-331-10 turboprop engine. The maximum gross weight for the airplane was 8,625 lbs. The pilot reported that the airplane weight at the time of the accident takeoff was 7,125 lbs. He stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to the accident. 

Weather conditions recorded at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport (JBR), located about 20 miles south of the accident site, at 1153, were: wind from 230 degrees at 8 knots; scattered clouds at 3,200 feet agl, scattered clouds at 3,900 feet agl; 10 miles visibility, temperature 30.0 degrees Celsius, dew point 22.2 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.11 inches of mercury. The associated station pressure was 29.81 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 2,205 feet.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25A) noted that density altitude represents pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature. A decrease in air density corresponds with an increase in density altitude and a decrease in airplane performance. Density altitude is used in calculating airplane performance. The handbook also noted the effect of wind on takeoff distance is large, requiring proper consideration on takeoff performance. A tailwind of 10-percent of the takeoff airspeed will increase the takeoff distance approximately 21-percent.

Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N883AS, ExpressJet, flight ASQ5397: Incident occurred June 14, 2017 at Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta

Delta Air Lines Inc:   http://registry.faa.gov/N883AS

Aircraft on taxi, struck by a baggage cart.  No injuries. Damage minor.

Date: 15-JUN-17
Time: 00:40:00Z
Regis#: N883AS
Aircraft Make: BOMBARDIER
Aircraft Model: CL600
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: EXPRESS JET AIRLINES
Flight Number: ASQ5397
City: ATLANTA
State: GEORGIA

Cessna 172M, N9912Q: Accident occurred June 14, 2017 at Smiley Creek Airport (U87), Ketchum, Blaine County, Idaho

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise, Idaho

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/N9912Q

Location: Galena, ID
Accident Number: GAA17CA341
Date & Time: 06/14/2017, 1100 MDT
Registration: N9912Q
Aircraft: CESSNA 172
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Abrupt maneuver
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

The pilot in the airplane reported that he attempted to perform a crosswind, soft-field take off from a dry turf airstrip. The pilot configured the airplane with full throttle application, flaps 10°, and a nose high attitude until the stall warning horn sounded. He then relaxed pressure on the yoke until the stall warning horn subsided. Shortly after rotation the airplane entered a power-on stall and the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane impacted a barbed wire fence and sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut.

Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented, if he had received instruction from a Federal Aviation Administration Certificated Flight Instructor that was specific to the accident airplane, specifically for a soft-field takeoff because each individual aircraft has nuances that can affect the operation.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 65, 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: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/16/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/24/2017
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 369 hours (Total, all aircraft), 150 hours (Total, this make and model), 327 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N9912Q
Model/Series: 172 M
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 17265856
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/02/2017, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2550 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 9660.5 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91  installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360
Registered Owner: Andy Patrick
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: Ponderosa Aero Club
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSNT, 6495 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1651 UTC
Direction from Accident Site:  340°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Light and Variable /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / 4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Boise, ID (KBOI)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR
Destination: Smiley Creek, ID (U87)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 0900 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: SMILEY CREEK (U87)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 7206 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 32
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4900 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None

Latitude, Longitude:   43.912222, -114.796111 (est)

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA341
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 14, 2017 in Galena, ID
Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N9912Q
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot in the airplane reported that he attempted to perform a crosswind, soft-field take off from a dry turf airstrip. The pilot configured the airplane with full throttle application, flaps 10°, and a nose high attitude until the stall warning horn sounded. He then relaxed pressure on the yoke until the stall warning horn subsided. Shortly after rotation the airplane entered a power-on stall and the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane impacted a barbed wire fence and sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut.

Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented, if he had received instruction from a Federal Aviation Administration Certificated Flight Instructor that was specific to the accident airplane, specifically for a soft-field takeoff because each individual aircraft has nuances that can affect the operation.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Piper PA-28-180, N33764: Accident occurred June 14, 2017 at Estherville Municipal Airport (KEST), Emmet County, Iowa

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines


Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N33764 

Location: Estherville, IA
Accident Number: GAA17CA338
Date & Time: 06/14/2017, 0915 CDT
Registration: N33764
Aircraft: PIPER PA 28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Hard landing
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, as the airplane entered ground effect, while landing in crosswind conditions, a gust of wind lifted the airplane and pushed it to the left. He added that he initiated a go-around and "[pushed] the nose down slightly to gain lift". He further added that, during the go-around, he "must have relaxed the aileron countering the wind", and a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and spun around.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount.

The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The automated weather observation system located on the airport reported, about 23 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 180° at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. The student pilot landed on runway 16. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot's failure to maintain crosswind correction during a go-around in gusting wind conditions.

Findings

Aircraft
Crosswind correction - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Student pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Gusts - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-aborted after touchdown
Other weather encounter

Landing

Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 40, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
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: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/27/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 28 hours (Total, all aircraft), 28 hours (Total, this make and model), 28 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: PIPER
Registration: N33764
Model/Series: PA 28 180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1974
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28-7505178
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: O-360 SER
Registered Owner: Paul Slaughter
Rated Power: hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KEST, 1317 ft msl
Observation Time: 1352 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 197°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 18°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 15 knots/ 21 knots, 180°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 29.75 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Estherville, IA (EST)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Estherville, IA (EST)
Type of Clearance: Unknown
Departure Time: 0834 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information


Airport: ESTHERVILLE MUNI (EST)
Runway Surface Type: Concrete
Airport Elevation: 1318 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 16
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4797 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  43.404444, -94.745556 (est)

Cessna 172M Skyhawk, N755PR, Flight 101 LLC: Incident occurred June 10, 2017 at Oakland County International Airport (KPTK), Waterford Township, Michigan

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids

Flight 101 LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N755PR

Aircraft on takeoff, experienced a birdstrike.

Date: 10-JUN-17
Time: 22:29:00Z
Regis#: N755PR
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: C172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: MINOR
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
City: PONTIAC
State: MICHIGAN

Cessna 172RG Cutlass, N6274R, Flight 101 LLC: Incident occurred June 14, 2017 at Oakland County International Airport (KPTK), Waterford Township, Michigan

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids

Flight 101 LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N6274R

Aircraft landed gear up.

Date: 14-JUN-17
Time: 19:38:00Z
Regis#: N6274R
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: C172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: WATERFORD
State: MICHIGAN

Mooney M20E, N93RE, 5549M Inc: Incident occurred June 13, 2017 at Medina Municipal Airport (1G5), Medina County, Ohio

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cleveland

5549M Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N93RE

Aircraft landed gear up.

Date: 13-JUN-17
Time: 15:30:00Z
Regis#: N93RE
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: MEDINA
State: OHIO

Cessna 182K Skylane, N3019Q: Incident occurred June 14, 2017 in Toquerville, Washington County, Utah

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City

http://registry.faa.gov/N3019Q

Aircraft force landed on a highway.

Date: 14-JUN-17
Time: 18:15:00Z
Regis#: N3019Q
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: C182
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: TOQUERVILLE
State: UTAH

Learjet 35A, N452DA, registered to A&C Big Sky Aviation LLC and operated by Trans-Pacific Air Charter LLC: Fatal accident occurred May 15, 2017 near Teterboro Airport (KTEB), Bergen County, New Jersey

Pilot remains unidentified a month after Teterboro crash

CARLSTADT - A smattering of details about the pilot crop up in a handful of online media reports.

The man was from the Western United States and worked for Hawaii-based Trans-Pacific Jets for about one year. He was older than his 33-year-old co-pilot and had 15 to 20 years of flying experience.

The man worked for a variety of charter companies. According to public records, the aircraft he flew was built in 1981 and owned by A&C Big Sky Aviation LLC in Billings, Montana.

Still, a full month later, authorities have not released the name of the pilot of the LearJet 35 that crashed May 15 in Carlstadt on approach to Teterboro Airport.

The fiery accident killed First Officer Jeffrey Alino of Union, who was identified by fingerprints, and Alino's piloting partner, who remains unidentified.

"It's weird," said Joe Orlando, spokesman for the borough of Carlstadt. "You would think after all this time we would have heard something. I can't figure out why we only have one name."

The National Transportation Safety Board will examine the plane's cockpit voice recorder, which was recovered from the plane that crashed near Teterboro Airport.

While Alino was identified through print analysis, Bergen County and federal officials have said the pilot's remains were too badly burned for anything other than DNA testing.

A cockpit voice recorder, which was recovered by the National Transportation Safety Board after the crash, was found intact and should contain the voices of both pilots.

However, neither the recorder nor a transcript of its contents have been made public.

"We have an idea of who both pilots are," Jim Silliman, a senior National Transportation Safety Board investigator, said a day after the fatal crash. "But confirmation is something we don't have right now."

At the time of the accident, county officials said investigators would rely on DNA testing to confirm the man's identity. Those tests are being conducted by a state forensics team in Trenton, a county official said.

Asked this week why, a month later, the pilot's name still has not been released, a spokesman stated in an email: "DNA testing can take a long time when there is no body."

Orlando, who was at the accident scene, concurred.

"The scene was pretty brutal," Orlando said.

The U.S. Department of Justice in 2005 published a guide on genome research so families of victims could understand how DNA is used to identify their loved ones.

"The process of identifying a victim might be relatively quick or it can be quite lengthy," the department states in "Identifying Victims Using DNA: A Guide for Families."

DNA can be isolated from human remains found at a disaster site and then matched to DNA known to be from the victim - such as the victim's prior bloodwork or personal items.

"In some instances, not every victim can be identified," states the Department of Justice.

Forensic scientist and DNA expert Lawrence Kobilinsky, who has not worked on the Teterboro case, said Tuesday he finds it odd the pilot's name has not been released.

"I would find it hard to believe in a plane crash there is no identifiable DNA," said Kobilinsky, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

"If the fire department put out the fire in a reasonable amount of time, there is usually teeth or bone -- those are good sources of DNA," Kobilinsky said.

Kobilinsky said if a fingerprint was recovered from one victim, there should have been recoverable DNA from the other.

"Did the fire burn hotter in one area than another?" Kobilinsky asked. "Usually it does not."

A blaze would have to roar for hours at temperatures of at least 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit to completely disintegrate a human body, the professor said.

According to an National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report, the LearJet was on approach to Teterboro when it turned late and banked hard during an attempted landing, clipped some buildings and burst into flames as it crashed on Kero Road.

In addition to the late turn, investigators are looking at high winds prevalent in the Northeast that day.

Original article can be found here: http://www.nj.com

Jim Silliman, Investigator In Charge 
National Transportation Safety Board


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

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Teterboro, New Jersey
Bombardier; Montreal, Quebec
Honeywell; Phoenix, Arizona

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

http://registry.faa.gov/N452DA

NTSB Identification: CEN17FA183
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, May 15, 2017 in Teterboro, NJ
Aircraft: GATES LEARJET 35A, registration: N452DA
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 May 15, 2017, at 1529 eastern daylight time, a Gates Learjet 35A, N452DA, operated by Trans-Pacific Jets, departed controlled flight while on a circling approach to runway 1 at the Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey, and impacted a commercial building and parking. The captain and first officer died; no one on the ground was injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire. The airplane was registered to A&C Big Sky Aviation LLC and operated by Trans-Pacific Air Charter LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight departed from the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, about 1504 and was destined for TEB. 

The accident flight was the crewmembers' third flight of the day. The first flight departed TEB about 0732 on a Part 91 positioning flight and landed about 0815 at the Laurence G. Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, Massachusetts, where they refueled and boarded a passenger. They departed BED about 1009 on a Part 135 on-demand charter flight and landed at PHL about 1104. 

The captain filed an IFR flight plan to TEB planning a 28-minute flight at a cruising altitude of flight level 270 (27,000 feet) with a cruise speed of 441 knots and a departure time of 1430. After departure about 1504, the flight was cleared to climb to 4,000 feet above mean sea level (msl). The flight reached a maximum altitude of 4,000 feet msl. About 1515, the flight was cleared to descend to 3,000 ft msl. The New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) cleared the flight for the TEB ILS Runway 6 Approach, circle to land runway 1. TRACON instructed the flight to switch frequencies and contact TEB air traffic control (ATC) about 9 miles from the airport; however, the flight did not check onto the ATC's frequency until 4 miles from the airport. ATC cleared the flight to land on runway 1 and issued the TEB winds of 320 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 32 knots. 

Radar track data indicated that the flight did not start its right circling turn until it was less than 1 mile from the approach end of runway 6. According to TEB ATC, aircraft typically start the right turn at the final approach fix for runway 6, which is located 3.8 nm from the approach end of runway 6. 

A TEB ATC controller reported that he observed the airplane bank hard to the right and he could see the belly of the airplane with the wings almost perpendicular to the ground. The airplane then appeared to level out for just a second or two before the left wing dropped, showing the entire top of the airplane. Other ground witnesses also reported that they observed the airplane in a right turn with the wings in a high angle of bank. Some witnesses described seeing the airplane's wings "wobbling" before the left wing dropped and the airplane descended to the ground. Security video cameras installed at numerous commercial buildings also captured the last moments of the flight, showing the airplane at high angles of bank. One security camera showed the airplane in a steep right wing low, nose down attitude at impact. 

The accident site was located on a 180-degree bearing about 1/2 nautical miles from the threshold of runway 1 at TEB. The main wreckage was distributed in the parking lots of commercial businesses. The wreckage path and debris field was about 440 ft. long on a 135-degree heading, and 3 buildings and 16 vehicles were damaged by impact or fire. Although impact forces and postcrash fire destroyed and consumed much of the airplane, the examination of the wreckage revealed that all components of the airplane were located at the accident site. 

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was located in the wreckage and was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Vehicle Recorder Laboratory. The CVR was auditioned by NTSB senior management staff and found to be operating at the time of the accident. A CVR Group will be formed and a transcript of the flight will be produced. 

Four other airplane components that store non-volatile memory (NVM) and an iPhone were collected and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for examination. All 4 components and the iPhone exhibited impact and fire damage. The 4 components were: 2 Honeywell N1 Digital Electronic Engine Controls (DEEC); 1 Flight Management System (FMS); and 1 Honeywell KGP-56 Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS).

At 1452, the surface weather observation at TEB was: wind 350 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 30 knots; 10 miles visibility; scattered clouds at 4,500 ft; temperature 19 degrees C; dew point 6 degrees C; altimeter 29.75 inches of mercury.

The TEB automated terminal information services (ATIS) Z was in effect at the time of the accident. The 1451 ATIS Information Z stated that the current weather was: wind 350 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 29 knots; visibility 10; light rain, 5,500 ft scattered; temperature 18 degrees C; dew point 6 degrees C; altimeter 29.74 inches of mercury. ILS Runway 6 circle approach in use…Low level wind shear advisory in effect… ."