Tuesday, August 01, 2017

North Dakota Air National Guard: Don't fear the Reaper




FARGO — Under the chin of the brand new unmanned aircraft at the Air National Guard's airport hangar is a 2-foot wide turret with six gleaming glass panels.

Behind each panel is a powerful camera or a laser used for range-finding and to designate targets for guided missiles.

MQ-9 Reapers like this one have been hunting and killing terrorists in Syria and Iraq. With the Guard's 119th Wing planning to fly a pair of Reapers out of their home base at Hector International Airport, officials are wary that these capabilities might somehow inspire fear in the public.

In a media tour Tuesday, Aug. 1, several officials including Col. Britt Hatley, the wing's commander, stressed that the aircraft wouldn't spy on the public — the military isn't allowed to do this on American soil — and would not haul live weapons.

According to Hatley, the Reapers are a great training tool for the wing's pilots, sensor operators and, especially, maintenance crews. Their previous aircraft, unmanned MQ-1 Predators, were stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base and then later relocated to other U.S. bases making hands-on training difficult. There 119th hasn't had an aircraft stationed here since 2013 when the last C-21 Lear jets left.

With their bright red tail flash bearing the wing's Happy Hooligan's nickname, Hatley expects the new Reapers would also help with recruitment. There are more than 120 openings right now from aircraft mechanic to intelligence specialists, including full-time jobs.

"We are hiring," Hatley said, touting financial incentives such as college tuition. Initial training lasts from six weeks to a year depending on the job, he said.



Staying in control

The Reaper is a spindly aircraft with a wingspan that's nearly twice as long as the fuselage.

A bulge at the front end houses a satellite antenna that allows it to be flown overseas from control rooms at Hector airport. Since October when the Predators were relocated, 119th airmen have been flying Reapers remotely often in overseas missions.

Other protrusions on the aircraft hide antennas that link the aircraft directly to the control rooms. These would be used during training flights between the airport and the Guard's training area at Camp Grafton near Devils Lake.

Despite redundant antennas, it is theoretically possible for controllers to lose contact with the aircraft. If that were to happen, the aircraft is programmed to orbit over a certain area while troubleshooters try to restore contact, according to a pilot that the 119th asked not be named for security reasons.

The military has been hesitant about naming pilots and others involved in anti-terrorist operations since the Islamic State released a "kill list" naming about 100 U.S. service members in 2015, according to Guard spokesman Senior Master Sgt. Dave Lipp.




Hauling bombs

The Reaper's turret is equipped with cameras that can see in visible light and infrared. Behind the turret is a synthetic aperture radar that uses radio waves to form pictures, allowing the aircraft to see through clouds.

The sensors won't be turned off while the Reapers flies over civilian areas — initially they'll limit themselves to flights over Fargo before making the trip to Camp Grafton — Hatley said, but sensor operators won't be tracking any specific person or vehicle and keeping a record of what they do. For that kind of practice, he said, they'll use a simulator with different combat scenarios.

The Hooligans' Reapers are Block 5 models, the latest variant of an aircraft that the Air Force has flown for nearly a decade. The first time a Block 5 flew in combat was in late June when airmen of the 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., flew a sortie targeting Islamic State militants, according to the Air Force. Their Reaper flew reconnaissance for 16 hours and used a 500-pound GPS-guided bomb and two laser-guided missiles to destroy two "defensive fighting positions," two vehicles and a mortar.

General Atomics, the Reapers' manufacturer, said it can loiter for as many as 27 hours.

The Hooligans' Reapers will be unarmed while flying here, according to the unnamed pilot. If the public did see bomb-like objects hanging from the wings, they would most likely be training rounds without explosives in them.

This is to give pilots practice flying a laden aircraft, Hatley said. Sensor operators also get practice, too, using their turret to check the physical status of the weapons. "The weapons will not come off the airplane."

"I would just say to allay any concerns that the Fargo populace has, we're doing wonderful things with this airplane for this country," he said. "It's going to take off and land here just like any other airplane does."

Story and photo gallery ► http://www.thedickinsonpress.com

Record Number of Private Jets to Descend into Jackson Hole for Eclipse

Private Aircraft, Jet Charters and their Passengers Flock to Jackson Hole for Eclipse Event, Join Record Crowds for Expected Busiest Day in History August 21st.





JACKSON HOLE, Wyo., Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 21 at 11:35am Jackson Hole, Wyoming will be directly under the totality of the solar eclipse for 2 minutes, 20 seconds, with the partial eclipse lasting for over 2-1/2 hours.

The Jackson Hole valley includes Grand Teton National Park and is adjacent to Yellowstone National Park.  On the exact centerline of the eclipse totality, the southern part of Grand Teton National Park is one of the best places in the entire country to view this event.  

A major summer vacation destination even without a total eclipse, Jackson Hole and the Parks are expected to exceed all-time records for visitors, lodging and traffic.  Visitor demand has been building for the eclipse for over a year.  Upscale lodging opportunities have expanded as a result; a recent advertisement featured a high-end 3-bedroom home with a guest house at $30,000 for the week. 

This increased demand for the eclipse event is resulting in record private jet and charter aircraft traffic at the Jackson Hole Airport, already a popular hub for private jet travel and one of the top 3 summer mountain resort airport destinations in the U.S. along with Aspen, CO and Sun Valley, ID.  Located inside Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Airport is the only airport in the country inside a national park. 

The eclipse's centerline path of totality will pass directly over the airport itself.  Private jet traffic surrounding the Aug. 21 date however, will be far from eclipsed.




Private Jet Traffic Expected to Skyrocket

August is peak season and already a busy month for private jet activity in Jackson Hole, with daily private air operations averaging over 50 arrivals or departures plus more than 20 private aircraft parking on the ramp overnight.

Aircraft parking at Jackson Hole Aviation, the local FBO/private terminal, is expected to jump to near capacity with ramp space possibly filled and the potential of aircraft being turned away.  Depending on the volume of air traffic into Jackson Hole, the FAA may implement Special Traffic Management Programs (STMP) for private aircraft, where advance reservations known as "slots", are needed for arrivals or departures.

Headquartered in Jackson Hole is New Flight Charters, a leader in nationwide private jet charter which arranges around 1,400 custom private jet flights per year.  The company monitors jet charter activity to and from Jackson Hole and is reporting up to ten times the normal activity of private charter aircraft to and from Jackson Hole Airport during this time.

August 18 to 23 is the busiest period, with peak traffic on August 18 and 22. 

"Right now, August 18 looks to be busier than a December 26 at the airport," said New Flight Charters president Rick Colson.  "We knew this would be busy but the numbers we are seeing are amazing."  The day after Christmas is normally the busiest day of the year for private jet arrivals, bringing winter vacationers to Jackson Hole and its world renown ski destination Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the Four Seasons Resort and other high-end lodging.

Commercial airline traffic will be increased as well, an additional 15 commercial flights will be landing and departing between August 18 and 23 – three more per day than normal.  The Jackson Hole Airport is already the busiest airport in Wyoming.

Airport Runway Closing

The airport is planning for the eclipse.  With its location along the precise centerline of the eclipse's path of totality, access to the airport will be limited for both those on the ground and in the air to help manage crowds and traffic.  The runway will be closed for 1 hour around the approximately 2-minute totality at 11:35am.  The closure will be from 30 minutes before, to 30 minutes after the totality.  And those driving to the airport that day will need their private aircraft's tail number, an airline boarding pass, or a legitimate reason to access to the airport.

Busiest Day Ever

Grand Teton National Park, where Jackson Hole Airport is located, is bracing for its busiest day ever.  The Park and Teton County are preparing for potential gridlocked roads, overwhelmed cell phone networks, and completely full public areas including parking lots, campgrounds, boat ramps, and roadway pullouts. 

According to Teton park spokeswoman Denise Germann in the July 26 edition of the local Jackson Hole News & Guide, "'A typical August day is a very busy day at Grand Teton National Park,' Germann said. 'This Aug. 21, the day of the total eclipse, we're expecting to be the busiest day in the history of the park.'

"Above all else, Germann stressed, visitors should come prepared for a long day. Bring food, water, a full gas tank and necessary medications."

Arriving private jets would be wise to do the same.

About New Flight Charters
Since 2004 charter aircraft owner and leading U.S. private jet charter brokerage New Flight Charters has arranged private domestic and international flights with top-rated operator aircraft along with its Best Price Guarantee, top aircraft availability, industry empty legs list, and a perfect safety history.  Extensive client reviews and industry ratings are available on the New Flight Charters website.  As a registered U.S. government contractor with an A+ rating by the BBB, and named to the Inc. 500 fastest growing list four consecutive years, the jet charter company serves a wide variety of clientele including Fortune 500 companies, government heads of state, presidential campaigns, entertainment icons, private families and entrepreneurs.

For charter quotes or information nationwide, call (800) 732-1653. 

Private jet charter information to and from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, including more than 40 current flight specials can be seen at Jackson Hole Jet Charter.

Contact:
NFC Public Relations
pr@newflightcharters.com

SOURCE New Flight Charters

http://www.newflightcharters.com

http://www.prnewswire.com

Silver Airways plots new growth strategy with $1.1 billion aircraft order




Regional airline Silver Airways of Fort Lauderdale, which focuses on Florida and the Bahamas, is looking to expand into the Caribbean and southeastern U.S. with a new fleet of planes at a cost of $1 billion.

On Tuesday, the company announced it had signed a letter of intent to upgrade and expand its fleet with up to 50 new French-made aircraft that can carry 46 passengers each.

The new ATR-600 would replace the company’s existing fleet of 34-passenger Saab 340B turboprop aircraft over the next few years, Silver said in a news release. The airline currently operates an average of 125 daily flights to 10 Florida cities and eight destinations in the Bahamas, the majority from hubs in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa.

Jason Bewley, Silver’s chief financial officer and its newly-appointed president, called the move a “monumental leap forward.”

The new planes will enable Silver to expand its network “with greater reach, including further into the Caribbean and the Southeastern United States,” Bewley said.

For travelers, the new planes would mean an upgraded flying experience and reliability. Silver’s new planes would feature wide cabins with slim lightweight seats, spacious overhead bins and full-size lavatories.

Additionally, Silver said it is exploring talks with San Juan, PR.-based Seaborne Airlines for a “potential commercial cooperation” to further its long-term goal of becoming a major U.S. carrier.

Seaborne’s majority owner is private equity firm Versa Capital Management of Philadelphia. Last September, a Versa affiliate acquired a majority stake in Silver.

The injection of capital from Versa was expected to help fuel Silver’s recent expansion into Cuba and to other potential new markets. In April, however, Silver ended its fledgling Cuba operations due to lack of demand and overcapacity in the market.

On Tuesday, Silver also named aviation industry veteran and attorney Steve Rossum as its new CEO effective Aug. 7. He’ll take over from Sami Teittinen, Silver’s former president and CEO who is leaving the carrier for personal reasons. Rossum was Silver’s external general counsel and fleet transactions advisor.

“My new colleagues and I are fully focused on safety, reliability, growth and working toward fulfilling Silver’s promising future,” Rossum said.

Story and video ► http://www.sun-sentinel.com

North American P-51D Mustang, owned by Mustang Historic Military Aircraft LLC and operated by the pilot, N251PW: Fatal accident occurred July 16, 2017 in Cummings, Atchison County, Kansas


Vlado Lenoch

Bethany Root

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

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas
Warbird Heritage Foundation; Waukegan, Illinois
Tab-Air Maintenance & Restoration; East Troy, Wisconsin

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/N251PW




Location: Cummings, KS
Accident Number: CEN17FA270
Date & Time: 07/16/2017, 1018 CDT
Registration: N251PW
Aircraft: NORTH AMERICAN/AERO CLASSICS P 51
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On July 16, 2017, about 1018 central daylight time, a North American Aero Classics P-51-D airplane, N251PW, was destroyed when it impacted trees and the ground 2.5 miles northeast of Cummings, Kansas. The airline transport pilot and the commercial pilot-certificated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by Mustang Historic Military Aircraft, LLC., and it was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local personal flight departed Amelia Earhart Airport (K59), Atchison, Kansas, about 1005.

According to several witnesses located between K59 and the accident site, the airplane performed aerobatics in the area south of the airport. A witness located several hundred feet from the accident location observed the airplane fly over nearby power lines between 25 ft and 30 ft above the ground. The airplane then pitched up to climb in a near vertical attitude, the nose of the airplane turned to the left, the airplane turned left and then pitched down in a nose-low attitude. The airplane descended towards the ground and just before impact the tail of the airplane came up. The airplane impacted the ground in a near vertical attitude. When the witness heard the airplane flying overhead, he initially thought it was the pilot-certificated passenger flying an agricultural airplane, as she routinely flew over that area in the same manner during agricultural operations.

Radar data, provided by the FAA in National Track Analysis Program (NTAP) format, identified and depicted the accident flight from shortly after departure at 1009:41 until the time of the accident. The airplane initially climbed to 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl); the altitude varied between 2,100 ft and 4,400 ft msl. During the last 30 seconds of the flight, the altitude was about 2,500 ft at 1018:04, increased to 2,700 ft at 1018:08, decreased to 2,500 ft at 1018:22, and continued to decrease to 1,600 ft at 1018:27. The last radar target was located 250 ft to the northeast of the initial impact point.



Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial; Flight Engineer
Age: 64, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Glider; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/22/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/18/2016
Flight Time: (Estimated) 10879 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4000 hours (Total, this make and model)



Pilot-Rated Passenger Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 34, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/09/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model)

Pilot

The pilot's most recent second-class airman medical certificate contained the limitations "Holder shall possess glasses for near/intermediate vision. Not valid for any class after 05/31/2018."

The pilot held a FAA Statement of Aerobatic Competency for four different warbird airplanes including the P-51. His altitude level was "Level 1: Unrestricted" and he held endorsements for solo and formation aerobatics. His endorsement expired in October 2019. According to the pilot's family, he had been flying the make and model of the accident airplane for over 20 years.

Pilot-Certificated Passenger

The pilot-certificated passenger's most recent second-class airman medical certificate contained the limitations "must wear corrective lenses." On the application for this certificate, she estimated her total flight time as 2,000 hours; of which 600 hours had been logged in the past 6 months.

The pilot-certificated passenger was the airport manager at K59 and was employed by McElwain Aerial Spraying as an agriculture pilot. She did not have any flight time or experience in the accident airplane make and model.



Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: NORTH AMERICAN/AERO CLASSICS
Registration: N251PW
Model/Series: P 51 D
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Limited
Serial Number: 44-72086
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/01/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 11610 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:  1108.6 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce
ELT: C91  installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: V-1650-7
Registered Owner:  MUSTANG HISTORIC MILITARY AIRCRAFT LLC
Rated Power: 1590 hp
Operator: Warbird Heritage Foundation
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

The North American P-51-D Mustang is a low-wing, single seat, single engine, propeller driven airplane originally designed and built as a long-range fighter for the military and used during World War II and the Korean War. The accident airplane, Serial Number (S/N) 44-72086, was delivered to the Army Air Forces on January 20, 1945. The airplane was acquired by the current owner in 1996 and restored to an airworthy condition in 2011. The airplane was painted in the markings of Capt. Herbert G. Kolb's "Baby Duck" from the U.S. Army 8th Air Force, 353rd Fighter Group, 350th Fighter Squadron.

The airplane was modified by the addition of a second seat aft of the standard single pilot seat. According to the airplane maintenance records, the aft seat was equipped with a second set of flight controls that were installed in 1968. The controls consisted of a control stick, rudder pedals without brake inputs, throttle lever, and a limited set of flight instruments. There were no trim controls, landing gear controls, or radios in the aft compartment.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSTJ, 826 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1053 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 25°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 24°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Atchison, KS (K59)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Atchison, KS (K59)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1005 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E



Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 39.482222, -95.204444 

The accident site was located in rolling terrain at an elevation of 1,050 ft msl and the airplane impacted the ground on a magnetic heading of 259°.

Several branches were separated from a tree and the angle of damage through the tree was estimated at 60°. A long and narrow ground scar, oriented perpendicular to the debris path, was located just forward of the tree and contained the pitot tube from the wing. A large crater contained bent and torn metal, the engine, gearbox, and propeller assembly. The empennage and fragmented pieces of the fuselage were located 25 ft northwest of the propeller assembly. Fragmented pieces of both wings, the rudder, elevator, and the fuselage were scattered in the debris field that extended over 450 ft from the initial impact point.

The cockpit instruments had separated from their cockpit locations and did not convey reliable readings. All the major portions of the airplane were accounted for on scene. 

Medical And Pathological Information

Pilot

The Forensic Medical Morgue of Kansas City, Kansas, performed the autopsy on the pilot on July 17, 2017, as authorized by the Atchison County Coroner's office. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was "blunt traumatic injuries sustained in a plane crash" and the report listed the specific injuries. The autopsy was limited by the severity of trauma but revealed coronary artery disease described as "mild" and focal hypertrophic cardiac myocytes and a focal healed endomyocardial scar by microscopy. The pilot had longstanding diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, which were controlled with medications. He had reported these conditions and their treatment to the FAA.

The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological tests on specimens that were collected during the pilot's autopsy. Tests of the tissue revealed 54 mg/dL ethanol in the liver, 10 mg/dL ethanol in muscle, atorvastatin in the lung and liver, and losartan in the liver. Putrefaction was present in the samples. Atorvastatin and losartan do not cause impairment or incapacitation. When ethanol is ingested, it is quickly distributed throughout the body's tissues and fluids fairly uniformly. Ethanol may also be produced in the body after death by microbial activity.

Pilot-Certificated Passenger

The Forensic Medical Morgue of Kansas City, Kansas, performed the autopsy on the pilot-certificated passenger on July 17, 2017, as authorized by the Atchison County Coroner's office. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was "blunt traumatic injuries sustained in a plane crash" and the report listed the specific injuries. No significant natural disease was identified.

The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological tests on specimens that were collected during the pilot-certificated passenger's autopsy. Results were negative for carbon monoxide and tested drugs. Tests of the blood revealed 36 mg/dL ethanol. Putrefaction was present in the samples. 



Tests And Research

The wreckage of the airplane was recovered to a secured facility for further examination.

The forward and aft flight control components were reconstructed to ascertain continuity. The controls were deformed, fractured, and separated in numerous places, and all fractures had a dull, grainy appearance consistent with overstress separation. The empennage wreckage consisted of the left and right horizontal stabilizers, elevator, vertical stabilizer, and aft fuselage. There was significant impact damage and deformation.

The propeller separated from the engine at the reduction gear box and one propeller blade fractured at the hub flange. All four propeller blades exhibited leading edge damage and chordwise scratching on the camber sides. The blower assembly separated from the aft end of the engine. The first stage impeller blades in the blower were all bent clockwise, opposite the direction of rotation.

For a detailed description of the wreckage examination see the Airworthiness Group Chairman's factual report available in the public docket for this accident.

Additional Information

The accident airplane was owned by Historic Military Aircraft, LLC, and was operated by the Warbird Heritage Foundation. The pilot was hired through Dacy Airshows to perform in an airshow; part of the Amelia Earhart Festival which took place the day before the accident.

The pilot-certificated passenger approached the pilot on the evening before the accident and queried about a flight in the airplane. It was agreed that they would fly together before he departed the next day. One witness stated that he was not aware of any agreement for the pilot-certificated passenger to manipulate the flight controls. The pilot-certificated passenger was seated in the back seat and had access to the flight controls; however, investigators were not able to determine who was manipulating the flight controls just before or at the time of the accident.







NTSB Identification: CEN17FA270
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 16, 2017 in Cummings, KS
Aircraft: NORTH AMERICAN/AERO CLASSICS P 51, registration: N251PW
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 July 16, 2017, about 1020 central daylight time, a North American Aero Classics P-51 D airplane, N251PW, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain 2.5 miles northeast of Cummings, Kansas. The airline transport pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight departed the Amelia Earhart Airport (K59), Atchison, Kansas, about 1005.

According to several witnesses located between K59 and the accident site, the airplane was observed performing aerobatics at a high altitude. A witness, located further to the south of K59, and several hundred feet from the accident location, observed the airplane fly over nearby power lines between 25 ft and 30 ft above the ground. The airplane pitched up to climb in a near vertical attitude and then the nose turned to the left and the airplane turned and pitched down in a nose low attitude. The airplane descended towards terrain and just prior to impacting the ground the tail of the airplane came up. 

The airplane impacted the ground just short of a grove of trees. A large crater marked the initial ground impact point and contained bent and torn metal, the engine, transmission, and propeller assembly. The empennage and fragmented pieces of the fuselage were located 25 feet northwest of the propeller assembly. Fragmented pieces of both wings, the rudder, and the fuselage were scattered in the debris field that extended over 400 feet from the initial impact point. 

The closest official weather observation station was located 25 miles northeast of the accident site near St. Joseph, Missouri. The weather observation taken at 1053 recorded the wind at 230° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear of clouds, temperature 29° Celsius (C), dewpoint temperature 24° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.06 inches of Mercury.

Vlado Lenoch


The North American P-51D Mustang “Baby Duck” flown by Vlado Lenoch during the Wings Over Waukegan Northern Illinois Airshow in 2016. Lenoch was killed last month when the Mustang crashed in Kansas.


The upcoming Northern Illinois Air Show in September at Waukegan National Airport was almost not going to feature its popular heritage military aircraft because of a recent plane crash in Kansas that killed one of the annual event's featured pilots and destroyed the popular "Baby Duck" P-51D Mustang.

But the Warbird Heritage Foundation, based at Waukegan National, recently decided to keep flying, making an appearance at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh show last weekend in Wisconsin.

"We did halt flight operations, because it felt like the right thing to do at the time," said Paul Wood of Lake Forest, president of the Warbird Heritage Foundation.

"Now we've resumed with flight operations," Wood added. "We felt it was appropriate to bring everything back."

Vlado Lenoch, 64, and a passenger died last month after the World War II-era P-51 fighter he was flying crashed one day after it flew in a festival that celebrates famed aviator Amelia Earhart in her Kansas hometown.

The crash occurred at about 10:15 a.m. July 16 when the 1944 plane turned around, dove toward the ground and crashed in a field about five miles south of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Airport in Atchison, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported on its website.

According to Northbrook resident Tom Coogan, president of the Northern Illinois Air Show, there will be a missing-man formation flyover at the Sept. 9 event in recognition of the loss of Lenoch, who was a local legend for his past participation at Waukegan air shows.

In addition, there will be staged dogfights with Korean War-era planes, paratroopers jumping with a giant United States flag and trailing smoke, mock bombing runs with explosions, and a jet truck making several runs, Coogan said.

"He perished along with (fellow pilot Bethany Root) in Baby Duck, which has been a perennial favorite at this and other air shows around the country," Coogan said of the Burr Ridge pilot. "A loss like this is unfortunate for not only the Northern Illinois Airshow and the Warbird Heritage Foundation, but for air shows across the county."

Coogan added that while the Northern Illinois Air Show is not exclusively a military festival, "most of the performing aircraft are former U.S. and foreign military fighter or combatant training aircraft."

Formerly known as Wings Over Waukegan, the Northern Illinois Air Show is scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 9. Coogan said organizers expect to draw some 10,000 attendees. The cost is $15, but active military personnel in uniform and children 12 and under get in free.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at noon with a 9/11 tribute featuring a color guard and singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" under a dramatic presentation by the Quad City Skydivers flying the American flag and trailing smoke.

"One of the really cool aspects of attending the Northern Illinois Air Show is the ability to walk around the ramp right up to flyable aircraft and their crew. Most people never get that experience," Coogan said. "Bring your curiosity and questions."

According to a tentative schedule posted by organizers, some of the visiting active-duty aircraft and crews will be available for tours. Among the prospective aircraft is a C-17 Globemaster, which has a takeoff weight of 585,000 pounds, and an A-10 Warthog.

"The A-10 is a jet built around a rotary cannon, and its crew members aren't in fear of entering into front -line, low-altitude action," said Coogan, a former Navy pilot with 10 years of military service during the 1980s and 1990s in the Persian Gulf.

Among the vintage aircraft scheduled to perform are North American F-86 Sabres flown during the Korean War. Also on the schedule are a Warbird Heritage A-1 Skyraider, T-2 Buckeye, A-4 Skyhawk, L-39 Albatross, T-28 Trojan, T-6 Texan, L-19 Bird Dog and Navy Stearman aircraft.

Scheduled to fly in for the show are the T-28 Trojan Horseman and the Yak-52 Aerostar Aerobatic team. Wood said the Waukegan event is, "one of the few air shows in the country that will fly historic military aircraft."

"The launch of this air show is a rare opportunity for families to understand American military history," Wood said. "We especially want to connect children with veterans so that our youngest citizens can appreciate the sacrifices that our military personnel have made for our country.

"The air show is a chance for people to experience what it was like for their grandparents or other extended family members who experienced wartime," Wood added. "Families will benefit from revisiting what it means to celebrate freedom while appreciating the sacrifices made by those who served or are serving in the U.S. military."

According to Wood, organizers expect to set a a new attendance record this year.

Also available to those in attendance will be the on-site Lake County Veteran Memorial Park just inside the airport's southern entrance, which is expected to be nearing completion by show day.

For more information, visit http://northernillinoisairshow.com.

http://www.chicagotribune.com

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas
Warbird Heritage Foundation; Waukegan, Illinois

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

Mustang Historic Military Aircraft LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N251PW

NTSB Identification: CEN17FA270
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 16, 2017 in Cummings, KS
Aircraft: NORTH AMERICAN/AERO CLASSICS P 51, registration: N251PW
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 July 16, 2017, about 1020 central daylight time, a North American Aero Classics P-51 D airplane, N251PW, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain 2.5 miles northeast of Cummings, Kansas. The airline transport pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight departed the Amelia Earhart Airport (K59), Atchison, Kansas, about 1005.

According to several witnesses located between K59 and the accident site, the airplane was observed performing aerobatics at a high altitude. A witness, located further to the south of K59, and several hundred feet from the accident location, observed the airplane fly over nearby power lines between 25 ft and 30 ft above the ground. The airplane pitched up to climb in a near vertical attitude and then the nose turned to the left and the airplane turned and pitched down in a nose low attitude. The airplane descended towards terrain and just prior to impacting the ground the tail of the airplane came up. 

The airplane impacted the ground just short of a grove of trees. A large crater marked the initial ground impact point and contained bent and torn metal, the engine, transmission, and propeller assembly. The empennage and fragmented pieces of the fuselage were located 25 feet northwest of the propeller assembly. Fragmented pieces of both wings, the rudder, and the fuselage were scattered in the debris field that extended over 400 feet from the initial impact point. 

The closest official weather observation station was located 25 miles northeast of the accident site near St. Joseph, Missouri. The weather observation taken at 1053 recorded the wind at 230° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear of clouds, temperature 29° Celsius (C), dewpoint temperature 24° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.06 inches of Mercury.

Van's RV-6A: Accident occurred August 01, 2017 on Vargas Island, British Columbia

Two people were airlifted to hospital after a small plane crash Tuesday on Vargas Island, 20 kilometres northwest of Tofino. 

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre received a call around 1:30 p.m. after an amateur-built two-seater plane crashed on a beach on the remote island in Clayoquot Sound, said Lt. (Navy) Tony Wright. The aircraft was landing on the sandy beach when its nose hit the ground, causing the plane to flip upside down, said Jason Kobi, the Transportation Safety Board’s regional manager for Pacific air investigations.

The aircraft had an emergency locator beacon that activated after the crash, Kobi said.

A coast guard vessel from Tofino and a Cormorant helicopter from Comox responded to the scene.

The helicopter landed on the beach and the search and rescue technicians stabilized the pilot and passenger, who had undetermined injuries. The helicopter landed at Victoria International Airport, where B.C. Ambulance paramedics took the two people to hospital.

The Transportation Safety Board is gathering information to determine what caused the crash, but will not send investigators to the scene, Kobi said. Investigators will interview the pilot and passenger as well as people flying in nearby planes who may have witnessed the crash.

http://www.timescolonist.com

The Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Center says two people have been flown to hospital after a small plane crashed on a beach on Vargas Island near Tofino. 

Rescuers responded after a call came in at 1:28pm Tuesday afternoon.

The JRCC says a fixed-wheel RV-6A plane with two people on board made a hard landing on the beach at Ahous Bay. The Coast Guard cutter Cape Ann was dispatched from Tofino while local paramedics also raced to the scene via water taxi.

Both patients were stabilized before being transported to hospital by a Cormorant helicopter from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron based at CFB Comox.

http://www.cheknews.ca


Engine 'surge' said to be behind Air Canada jet's emergency landing in Toronto



It was shortly after takeoff from Toronto’s Pearson airport, when their airplane was still climbing, that passengers aboard the Air Canada jetliner heard very loud bangs.

Some saw red sparks and flames coming from the left engine of the plane.

The plane was able to return safely to Pearson on its own power, but the Friday evening incident added disruption to the normally routine Air Canada daily service from Toronto to Ottawa.

The aircraft, a twin-engine Boeing 767 manufactured in 1989, was carrying 175 passengers.

According to Transport Canada’s Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), the problem is believed to have been a surge – a malfunction of the compressor – in the left engine.

At night, engine surging can be spectacular because of the noise and flash but the passengers were not in harm’s way, aviation consultant Jock Williams said in an interview.

“It’s not a huge danger but the pilot preferred taking every precaution,” he said.

To passengers, it was dramatic. One woman, who was travelling with her three-year-old and eight-month-old, told The Globe and Mail that she was sure the plane was going to crash.

“All I could think was my poor babies will never get to experience life,” said the woman, who didn’t want her name published.

Lynda Judd, an Ottawa-area resident, was also aboard the flight, AC476. In an account she gave to her husband, Peter, she recalled that the plane stopped climbing after the banging sounds.

The Boeing started turning toward Lake Ontario then back toward Pearson. “No announcements were made for a long time but everyone knew something was wrong,” Mr. Judd told The Globe.

“We definitely heard and felt the engine surging,” another passenger, Canadian musician Joshua Bartholomew, tweeted.

Mr. Bartholomew and his wife, Lisa Harriton, who are a Grammy-nominated song-writing and music producing team, were both travelling aboard Flight AC476. He tweeted that it was a “scary” experience.

Mr. Judd said he was told that the pilot eventually announced that they had lost the left engine but were cleared for an emergency landing.

On the ground, several residents in the Toronto area reported hearing blast-like sounds and seeing flames as the plane returned.

According to Ms. Judd, there were many fire trucks with flashing lights waiting for the plane on the runway. It sat for about 20 minutes while the firefighters inspected it, before it could proceed to the gate.

Normally, Flight AC476 would have landed in Ottawa around 8:31 p.m., then the Boeing would have proceeded across the Atlantic to London’s Heathrow airport, as Flight AC888.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada didn’t immediately deploy investigators, but spokesman Chris Krepski said the board would follow up with the carrier to find out what happened.

According to the preliminary CADORS information, the Boeing had left Pearson’s runway 06L when, around 7:55 p.m., its left engine failed.

“Encountered a surge in the left engine and as a precaution returned to Toronto,” the report said.

Surges happen when the compressor, which provides pressurized air to burn the aircraft’s fuel, stalls, possibly because of prior damage, hitting a bird or air backing up, Mr. Williams said.

The passengers were transferred to another aircraft and eventually arrived in Ottawa shortly after midnight.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com

Cessna 150F, N8879S, registered to and operated by a private individual: Accident occurred August 01, 2017 near Tarrant Field Airport (6X0), Mount Selman, Cherokee County, Texas

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

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Irving, Texas
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas 
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama


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/N8879S


National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Factual Report

Location: Bullard, TX
Accident Number: CEN17LA298
Date & Time: 08/01/2017, 1515 CDT
Registration: N8879S
Aircraft: CESSNA 150F
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On August 1, 2017, about 1515 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N8879S, impacted terrain following a loss of control during initial climb after takeoff from runway 12 at the Tarrant Field Airport (6X0), near Mount Selman, Texas. The flight instructor received minor injuries and the student pilot received serious injuries. The airplane impacted nose down and received substantial damage to the forward fuselage and wings. The aircraft was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR), Tyler, Texas, about 1445.

The flight instructor reported that the flight was to prepare the student pilot for his private pilot test flight. They departed TYR and flew to 6X0, making one full-stop landing followed by a taxi back to the end of the runway for a soft-field takeoff. The flight instructor had no memory of the accident takeoff, although he surmised that there could have been a loss of engine power.

An automobile equipped with a dash camera, traveling south on highway 69, east of 6X0, captured the final moments of the flight including the impact. A review of the video, revealed the airplane entering the right frame of the video, just above tree top level. The airplane travels to the left and starts to make a right turn. The wing flaps were not fully retracted, but the amount of deflection could not be determined from the video. During the turn, the left wing and nose of the airplane drop, and the airplane descends into the ground. The airplane struck the ground just east of the highway in a left wing low, nose low attitude, coming to a rest facing north.

The airplane was removed from the scene, and a postaccident examination of the airplane under the supervision of Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors was conducted. The wings and empennage were removed during recovery. Many of the control cables were either cut or disconnected at various turnbuckles; however, flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces. The flap actuator position corresponded to a 10° flap deflection. Dirt type sediment was observed in the bottom of the fuel strainer bowl along with evidence of corrosion. Fuel system continuity was confirmed from each wing root to the fuel strainer and the fuel selector valve was in the on position. Each fuel tank finger screen was clear of debris. The carburetor heat control was found in the off position. Examination of the engine confirmed compression, valve action of all valves, and spark from both magnetos during engine rotation. The carburetor mounting flange was impact separated from the induction assembly. The carburetor remained attached to the separated flange and the mixture and throttle control cables remained attached to the carburetor. The throttle valve was observed in the full open position and the mixture was full rich. The accelerator pump did not spray fuel into the carburetor throat upon throttle actuation. Disassembly of the carburetor revealed dirt and sediment in the bowl, but no obstruction of the fuel metering port was observed. The accelerator pump had rust on its base. No anomalies were found with respect to the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The temperature and dew point recorded at the Cherokee County Airport (JSO), about 14 miles south of the accident site were 23° and 21° Celsius, respectively. According to a carburetor icing probability chart published by Flight Safety Australia, the recorded temperature and dew point were in a range of susceptibility for moderate icing at cruise power settings and serious icing at descent power settings.

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 33, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s):  Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/06/2013
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:  06/05/2016
Flight Time:  1900 hours (Total, all aircraft), 30 hours (Total, this make and model), 1440 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 36 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 35, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/30/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:  
Flight Time: 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N8879S
Model/Series: 150F F
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1965
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Utility
Serial Number: 15062179
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/01/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1601 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:  1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3558 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT:
Engine Model/Series:  O-200 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: JSO
Observation Time: 0815 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 180°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 5000 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 21°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm
Visibility (RVR): 
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Tyler, TX (TYR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Tyler, TX (TYR)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1445 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: TARRANT FIELD (6X0)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 590 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 12
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2700 ft / 30 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop 

Wreckage and Impact Information

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

Latitude, Longitude:  32.094722, -95.289722

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA298
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 01, 2017 in Bullard, TX
Aircraft: CESSNA 150F, registration: N8879S
Injuries: 1 Serious, 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 August 1, 2017, about 1515 central daylight time,, a Cessna 150F, N8879S, collided with terrain following a loss of control during initial climb after takeoff from runway 12 at the Tarrant Field Airport (6X0), near Mount Selman, Texas. The flight instructor received minor injuries and the student pilot received serious injuries. The airplane impacted nose down and received damage to the forward fuselage and wings. The aircraft was registered to and operated by an individual provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR) about 1445.




Two men were seriously injured last week when their single-engine plane crashed along the side of Highway 69 in Cherokee County, about three miles south of Bullard during the afternoon hours of Tuesday, Aug. 1.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the plane departed Tyler Pounds Regional Airport before crashing on Highway 69, near mile 352.

According to the dash cam video of an Angelina County constable who was driving south on Highway 69 at the time of the crash, the low-flying plane attempted to make a left turn to avoid trees. When it did, the plane began to descend and crash nose-first along the ditch on the north side of the roadway.

The plane, identified as a Cessna 150F, a single-engine plane with tail number N8879S, registered to Michael P. Daniel of Eunice, NM.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials identified Joshua Daniel, 36, of Bullard, and Jamie Jackson, 33, of Tomball, as the occupants of the plane, confirming that Daniel is a flight student and Jackson is a pilot instructor. It is still unknown as to who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the wreck.

The FAA said the plane originated from the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport after making a stop to take on more fuel. The two inside the plane were reportedly practicing grass landings and field runs at a landing strip located near the crash site.

As a result of the wreck, Daniel was taken via helicopter to a hospital in Tyler and taken to the Intensive Care Unit with injuries to his head and left arm. Jackson was taken by ambulance to a Tyler hospital. Both men have since been released.

According to the FAA, the pilot of the aircraft did not submit a flight plane, as the plane was observing the visual flight rules, a set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.

The wreck caused traffic backups and the closure of Highway 69 in both directions.

DPS troopers remained with the plane along the side of the highway until FFA and National Transportation Safety Board representatives arrived on the scene from Dallas.

Assisting DPS at the wreck scene were firefighters from Bullard Fire Department and Flint-Gresham Fire Department.

The Federal Aviation Administration report on the crash states that the damage to the plane was “substantial.” The cause of the crash is unknown at present time, but remains under investigation.


http://www.bullardnews.com



CHEROKEE COUNTY, TX (KLTV) - Texas Department of Public Safety Officials confirmed the identities of those involved in a plane crash Tuesday on U.S. Highway 69 in Cherokee County.

The occupants have been identified as Joshua Daniel, 36 of Bullard and Jamie Jackson, 33 of Tomball. On Tuesday night Daniel was still listed in serious condition at ETMC Tyler, and his family said he has injuries to his head and left arm. Jackson has been treated and released from ETMC Tyler.

36-year-old Joshua Daniel, the flight student piloting the aircraft had to be intubated after suffering head and a left arm injury in the crash, according to family members.

Troopers secured the scene and were awaiting the arrival of the Federal Aviation Administration to continue the investigation.  

The Cessna 150, a single-engine plane, went down near the city of Bullard, north of Mount Selman. Jackson was taken by ambulance to ETMC in Tyler, while Daniel was flown to ETMC Tyler by helicopter. 

Family members say they believe the two were practicing field runs and doing grass landings at a nearby landing strip just a few hundred yards away from the crash site.

The FAA confirms the plane departed Tyler Pounds Regional Airport before crashing on Highway 69, near mile 352. The FAA says there is substantial damage to the plane.

Brian Barnett, a pilot stationed at Tyler Pounds, said that he knows the two men who were in the crash. Barnett says that one of the men was a student pilot and the other was his instructor. 

Highway 69 has now reopened going both directions and the plane has been removed from the location.


Story, video and photo gallery ►   http://www.kltv.com




One of the two passengers injured in a plane crash north of Mt. Selman Tuesday has been released from the hospital.

Jamie Jackson, 33, was treated and released from East Texas Medical Center, and 36-year-old Joshua Daniel remained hospitalized Wednesday and listed in serious condition with head and arm injuries. 

The two were in the single engine aircraft that crashed on U.S. Highway 69 on Tuesday. 

The Cessna C150 landed in the ditch about 3 p.m. south of Bullard, nearly missing the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 69. DPS stopped traffic in both directions for less than an hour while first responders evaluated the scene.

Damage to the plane is listed as substantial, according to the FAA Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing webpage. 

Daniel's family arrived to collect his personal belongings and told CBS19 he was training for his pilot's license.

Family members said he was practicing "grass landings" when the accident happened and that he had been in training for about six months.

The family said the the plane was traveling southbound out of Cherokee County when the crash occurred. 

The FAA has not released the cause of the crash.  

http://www.tylerpaper.com



A small plane crashed on highway 69 between Bullard and Mt. Selman. Two people were in the plane, and both sustained head injuries. One was removed from the scene via ambulance while the other was removed with an airlift. The plane was reported to have taken off from Tyler, and was southbound in the direction of Jacksonville.

According to Sgt. Patrick Dark of DPS, the plane was flying low over the highway, when it suddenly turned around and took a nosedive. One of the people in the plane was a 36-year-old studying for a pilot's license. The other was their 33-year-old flight instructor. As of yet, nobody is sure who was flying the plane at the time of the crash.

The FAA has been notified of the accident, and is sending a team down from Dallas to help investigate. DPS will remain with the wreck until they arrive.











BULLARD, Texas (KETK) - Two people were seriously injured Tuesday afternoon in a Cherokee County plane crash.

Smith County officials confirm a plane crashed near the Smith County-Cherokee County line.

DPS is on scene of the accident. According to DPS, the accident is north of Mount Selman off Highway 69 at mile marker 352. 

Two people were aboard the plane when it went down, according to DPS. The Federal Aviation Administration also confirms two people were on board the single-engine aircraft.

The FAA does not know what caused the plane crash at this time. The FAA has identified the plane as a Cessna 150F with tail number N8879S, according to the FAA. The plane is registered to Michael P. Daniel of Eunice, New Mexico.

The FAA spokesman also says the plane had departed from Tyler Pound Regional Airport.

A witness tells KETK they saw a man lying on the ground unconscious following the crash and a second man was walking around. 

One patient is being taken by air to ETMC-Tyler. The second patient will be transported by ground to ETMC-Tyler. KETK has learned the two involved were a flight instructor and student pilot. The passenger is in fair condition and the pilot had to be intubated at the scene.

The victims names have not been released.

Highway 69 was temporarily closed for the helicopter to transport a patient. Bullard Fire and Flint-Gresham Fire Department are also assisting at the scene. 


 The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the accident.

Story, video and photo gallery ►   http://www.easttexasmatters.com