Tuesday, August 15, 2017

PenAir submits Notice triggering Department of Transportation Process to subsidize Essential Air Service to St. Paul, St. George & McGrath

Anchorage, Alaska - PenAir has initiated the process with the U.S. Department of Transportation to subsidize essential air service to the Pribilof Islands of St. Paul and St. George, and McGrath.

As part of the company’s Chapter 11 reorganization and restructuring plan. “These steps will allow PenAir to seek subsidy from the DOT to continue to provide essential air service to these markets which we have been serving for nearly six decades,” said PenAir CEO and Chairman Danny Seybert. “Since filing Chapter 11, we must be prudent in our efforts to streamline our business plan and develop a solid financial plan that will allow us to emerge from bankruptcy. It would be our desire to continue to provide service in the routes we are currently serving within Alaska and today’s DOT notice will help achieve that goal. A key commitment of the DOT’s Essential Air Service is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to communities through the payment of subsidies, if necessary.”

PenAir flies to seven destinations within Alaska including Cold Bay, Sand Point, King Salmon, Dillingham, St. Paul, St. George and McGrath and three routes in the Boston area including Bar Harbor and Presque Isle, ME and Plattsburgh, NY. PenAir also operates under a Capacity Purchase Agreement with Alaska Airlines to operate to/from Unalaska. Passengers on the St. Paul, St. George and McGrath routes will continue to receive service with no changes to scheduled flights. Employees supporting these flights will play a critical role in the reorganization process. “Our employees are a key part of our success and are doing everything we can to keep our PenAir family intact,” said Seybert.

About PenAir - PenAir, founded in 1955 by Orin Seybert in Pilot Point, Alaska, is one of the oldest family owned airlines in the United States. The airline is also one of the largest regional airlines in Alaska and the Northeast U.S., and one of the largest operators of Saab passenger aircraft in the US. System wide. PenAir operates both Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft. Their route structure serves over 20 destinations.

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

Advances in Aerial Drone Technology Leave Future Up In the Air: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Becoming Increasingly Popular Among Public and Police

 NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, young kids were enamored with radio-controlled (RC) vehicles.

Some found it even more exciting if those vehicles could fly, like RC planes and helicopters.

These primitive radio remote-controlled contraptions proved to be precursors to devices that are now classified officially as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s), which are sometimes referred to as drones.

The interest in drones over the past few years has skyrocketed, particularly after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - a federal agency that oversees the regulations on all flying activity - relaxed its rules for issuing certificates to future pilots.

This spurring of activity has not gone unnoticed, with both private citizens and government agencies increasingly making use of the technology.

As News 12 reported, the Secret Service launched a surveillance drone to provide added security during President Donald Trump’s vacation in Bedminster.

The Secret Service sent a privacy note to local residents that they will be testing the drone as they assess it’s capability to collect images from 300 to 400 feet in the air.

Local police departments are also looking into ways to utilize this new technology, including the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office (MCPO).

During the June 1 meeting of the county's Board of Chosen Freeholders, the county agreed to spend $21,829 on "investigative equipment" from a company called FlyMotion.

According to the resolution, the Florida-based company is responsible for “furnishing and delivering of an unmanned aircraft system.”

When further pressed by New Brunswick Today, Freeholder Director Ronald Rios simply said that “it’s going to be used for investigations” without clarification on how exactly it will be implemented.

Further questions about the vehicle were referred to the prosecutor’s office, which did not respond to a request for comment.

As we reported, MCPO detectives attended a basic training orientation on the use of UAV's in August 2015.

However, it’s not just law enforcement that has seen an uptick in drone usage.

The Metuchen Fire Department recently sponsored a Drone Pilot Certification Test Prep Class for regular citizens that are interested in owning and flying a drone.

This class was offerred, in part, to give aspiring pilots a leg up in getting all the legal requirements out of the way for them to start flying successfully.

It was conducted by a local UAV Services firm called Drone Flight Services, which consists of professional drone pilots and experts in the policies and laws that currently regulate drone use for civilians as well as emergency responders.

Even private companies, like Amazon are jumping on the drone bandwagon. According to a CNN report, Amazon obtained a patent earlier this summer for building towers that would service drones to be used for delivering the company's products.

The patent application, first filed in 2015, includes an explanation of how employees would go about securing packages on the drones.

While Amazon’s program for deliveries via drone, dubbed Prime Air, has been in the works since 2013, this is yet another step towards utilizing the cutting-edge technology to further increase Amazon’s advantage by reducing the time in delivering packages from fulfillment centers to their customers.

Amazon has already completed its first delivery by drone in the U.K. in 2016. Amazon’s interest in is bound to push the industry ahead by promoting investment into research of drone technologies.

While the FAA contemplates the future of drone regulation, it is becoming clear that their use will continue to increase, particularly as the prices of the drones continue to drop.

Currently, New Jersey does not have any statewide laws in existence that cover the use of drones. And since the FAA is the only agency that can regulate airspace, local governments have little recourse for drone pilots who abuse their privileges.

However, local governments may be able to pass ordinances regarding privacy, noise concerns and speed restrictions since traditionally that falls under their jurisdiction.

Congress is currently considering a bill introduced earlier this year to increase the jurisdiction of local governments in oversight and regulation of the drone industry.

Drone companies themselves have been welcoming to new regulation since it would raise the bar for operators to fly safely, and allow the industry to grow responsibly.

They say that regulation would bring about clarification, transparency and an oversight infrastructure that does not exist as of yet.

According to MyCentralJersey.com's Nick Muscavage, there were 67 drone incidents in the last year alone in New Jersey.

Most observers are in agreement that oversight and regulation of the industry is a necessity, both for the law enforcement community using the technologies for investigations, as well as the general public who would like to use the drones for recreational use.

Commercial use, such as the type that Amazon is interested in applying will likely complicate things further.

While there are many challenges that still lie ahead before there is more widespread adoption of drones in the skies above us, with the advances in navigation and artificial intelligence technology, the future is not so far away.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://newbrunswicktoday.com

McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N909DL: Accident occurred March 05, 2015 at La Guardia Airport (KLGA), New York

Delta Air Lines Inc was sued on Tuesday by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for damage caused when a jet skidded off a runway at LaGuardia Airport during a March 5, 2015, snowstorm.

The complaint seeks $750,047 for property damage and other costs that allegedly occurred when Flight 1086 veered off Runway 13 after touchdown, struck a fence and came to rest on an embankment, just short of plunging into frigid Flushing Bay.

According to the Port Authority, which operates the airport, the incident "was caused solely by the negligence of Delta and its agents," including the pilot of the MD-88 aircraft.

The complaint filed in the state supreme court in Manhattan did not specify what damage occurred.

Delta declined to comment. The Port Authority had no immediate additional comment.

A September 2016 report by the National Transportation Safety Board said the incident was probably caused by the pilot's use of excessive reverse thrust, resulting in an "inability to maintain directional control" of the airplane.

It said other factors were the pilot's focus on other aspects of the landing, and stress resulting from concern about stopping on the relatively short, snow-covered runway.

None of the 127 passengers and five crew members was seriously injured, though 29 passengers suffered minor injuries, the NTSB said.

HACKENSACK - A Westwood woman has sued Delta Airlines, claiming she was injured two years ago when the plane she was on crash-landed due to pilot error on a snowy runway at LaGuardia Airport. 

Ashley Pronovost, 19, claims in court papers she was a passenger on Flight 1086, which flew from Atlanta to New York - skidding off a runway and striking an airport perimeter fence about 11 a.m. on March 5, 2015.

The plane came to rest with its "nose on an embankment hovering over Flushing Bay with its left wing broken and spewing fuel," according to the suit filed in Bergen County Superior Court.

There were 127 passengers on board. Twenty-nine of them suffered minor injuries, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Pronovost, who is now a student at Quinnipiac University, claims she suffered "physical and psychological personal injuries with resultant medical expenses."

The suit claims the student has suffered a loss of income along with reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and an impairment of her quality of life.

The lawsuit was filed Aug. 7 by attorney Gerald H. Baker of Springfield. In addition to Delta Airlines, Baker blames the captain, first officer and flight crew for negligence that resulted in the crash.

The captain, who is not named in court documents, was under "situational stress resulting from his concern about stopping performance," the suit states.

In September 2016, the NTSB determined the accident was due to the captain's excessive reversing of the engines while braking. The technique rendered the rudder ineffective and caused a loss of control, the NTSB said.

The lawsuit states the captain had "attentional limitations due to the high workload during the landing, which prevented him from immediately recognizing the use of excessive reverse thrust."

Pronovost is seeking a jury trial and unspecified compensatory damages, along with attorney fees and interest.

Delta Airlines did not return a call seeking comment.

Story, photo gallery and comments ➤ http://www.nj.com









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

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

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

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

Delta Air Lines Inc:  http://registry.faa.gov/N909DL

NTSB Identification: DCA15FA085
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of Delta Air Lines
Accident occurred Thursday, March 05, 2015 in New York, NY
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/03/2017
Aircraft: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT CO MD 88, registration: N909DL
Injuries: 132 Uninjured.

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.

NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/AccidentReports.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-16/02.

On March 5, 2015, at 1102 eastern standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 1086, a Boeing MD-88, N909DL, was landing on runway 13 at LaGuardia Airport, New York, New York, when it departed the left side of the runway, contacted the airport perimeter fence, and came to rest with the airplane's nose on an embankment next to Flushing Bay. The 2 pilots, 3 flight attendants, and 98 of the 127 passengers were not injured; the other 29 passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Flight 1086 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

the captain's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane due to his application of excessive reverse thrust, which degraded the effectiveness of the rudder in controlling the airplane's heading. Contributing to the accident were the captain's (1) situational stress resulting from his concerns about stopping performance and (2) attentional limitations due to the high workload during the landing, which prevented him from immediately recognizing the use of excessive reverse thrust.

Commission reverts select Fixed Base Operator minimum operating standards to 2004 requirements

During the July 25, 2017 Commission Meeting, Jet ICU came before the board asking for a determination on whether they could become a Fixed Base Operator (FBO). Since the time of their last application, the Minimum Operating Standards have been increased. Technically the county could not consider their last application since the denial was never appealed and their current application is under the new standards which the company cannot meet. This brought to the forefront the issue that opponents of the new standards warned of. The new standards are too stringent and will stifle competition at the airport. Currently there is only one FBO at the airport- American Aviation.

The following are the select 2015 standards, that the commission voted unanimously to rollback on Aug. 8, 2017.

“Each FBO shall conduct its operations on no less than ten (10) acres, provide for no less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of hangar space, provide for no less than ninety thousand (90,000) square feet of paved ramp area space designed at a minimum to accommodate FAA Airplane Design Group II aircraft (wingspans up to seventy-nine (79) feet) and provide for no less than two thousand (2,000) square feet of floor space for office, customer lounge, and permanent rest rooms.”

Ordinance now rolled back to 2004 standards requires,

“The prospective FBO shall lease from the County no less than three (3) acres within the Airport, erect a hangar of no less than 9,000 square feet, provide for and maintain no less than 40,000 square feet of ramp area, provide for and maintain no less than 2,000 square feet of floor space for office, customer lounge, permanent rest rooms, public telephone facilities for customer use and telephone service connections to the Flight Service Station and/or the United States Weather Bureau.”

Because the commission cannot alter the ordinance for a single company, to give them an advantage or assist them, the county was careful to state that ordinance change was initiated because the ordinance “unfairly restricts competition for FBO-services at BKV.”

Commissioner Nicholson and Chairman Dukes spoke about their line of thinking in adopting the more stringent ordinance when they had voted for it in Feb. 2016.
Chairman Dukes said,

“Obviously when this came up in ‘16 I sat here and listened to it. I have spent my whole life on runways, hangars, on airports for the Air Force all over the world. When I heard this new revision I thought something was driving it outside of us and so I agreed to it. But even then I thought, ‘Why are we making it harder to do business in Hernando County?’ The President invited every county commissioner who would come to Washington D.C. for three days and we sat there for hours as different members of his staff spoke to us. What I took from that is government can’t continue to get in the way. Over the last few years in this United States... government entities are slowing down what we do, making unnecessary rules…” He said he would support changing the selected requirements back to 2004 standards.

Commissioner Nicholson said, “I’m in the same boat as our chairman.” He said that in the past the Aviation Authority and prior airport managers purposely stifled competition - to protect their friends. “That’s what this did,” said Nicholson. “I didn’t know that at the time.” He admitted it was a mistake on his part. “I want to correct it today,” he said.

“I’d like to have another FBO out there,” Nicholson said. He added that there are however lots of other requirements other than the three they are changing.

Holcomb was a little more reticent and desired coming up with a number that creates competition.

Going back to the Trump administration, Commissioner Champion cited that the administration’s goal is to eliminate two regulations for every one they put into place.

Currently they are getting rid of 6 regulations to every 1 regulation put in place, he said.

He stated that the airport should want to be attractive to businesses and should get rid of unnecessary regulations.

“Is it the right thing to do for the county? I think it is,” said Champion.

Commissioner Allocco stressed that he wished to be cautious about not removing standards unnecessarily. “I don’t have an issue with changing some of the standards if it makes for a better playing field, however I want to make sure that we don’t just throw out all the standards because we do want to make sure [the airport] is an attractive place for businesses to want to come here.” He was concerned about “too much degradation of the standards.”

Public comment came from Pat Miketinac who has been vocal about the minimum operating standards in the past. Pat Miketinac stated that there are many other requirements in the current Minimum Operating Standards that go beyond what the FAA requires. “What about all the other regulations that are impossible for startups to meet,” he asked. He named investments in facilities and equipment requirements “that are likely unaffordable to a startup company.” He continued, “If startups are shut out only well established businesses can afford to come here. If they are that well established, why would they risk coming here? There isn’t enough activity here to support another FBO of that size. However a smaller FBO could grow with the county and bring in more business.”

Shirley Miketinac said, “We appreciate the start on revising the standards. We investigated many of the airports across Florida and the US and found that our standards are stricter than many.” She specifically mentioned flight school rules. “I want to thank you for your common sense and for your intelligence and for being open to this.”

Robert Morris also delivered public comment. He served on the Aviation Authority when the 2004 minimum operating standards were passed and helped to develop them. He stated that back in 2004, they wanted to make sure that they were in uniformity with other airports. He urged the commission to look to what their motivation is in reverting back to the 2004 standards. If it is to accommodate a business in order to compete with an existing business, then they may have issues with FAA regulation 51 - 90, which could affect the airport’s ability to get grants.

Attorney Jon Jouben explained that in Santa Rosa county last year, the airport got caught discriminating against the existing FBO by making standards less stringent.
However he said, “I believe that this particular change does not violate that [FAA reg. 51-90]. At the time the contract [with American Aviation] was done, these were the rules in place.”

The board voted unanimously to roll back the identified sections to the 2004 Minimum Operating Standards.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://hernandosun.com

Quad City International Airport (KMLI) passenger numbers continue decline in July



The Quad-City International Airport narrowed its decline in passengers in July as airport officials announced an 11 percent decline in enplanements and deplanements.

Bruce Carter, the airport's aviation director, announced the monthly results at the Rock Island County Metropolitan Airport Authority's regular meeting Tuesday.

Enplanements totaled 29,013 in July compared to 32,616 for the same month a year ago. Total passengers, or enplanments and deplanements combined, also decreased 11 percent to 57,614 vs. 64,743 a year ago.

Carter said he expected a stronger July from the summer travel season, but attributed the decline in passengers to the economy and higher air fares.

He told the governing board that none of the carriers appear to be adding any seats to the market this fall, but Allegiant still plans to restore its Punta Gorda, Florida, flight in December.

"We'll be getting a new city, which people have been wanting, but not until Dec. 15,'' he said after the meeting.

The largest decline percentage-wise was by United Express, which enplaned 6,875 passengers compared to 9,672 a year ago. Other carriers posted these enplanements in July: Allegiant, 5,336, down 2 percent; American Eagle/Envoy, 6,193, -10 percent; Delta Airlines, 10,445, -2 percent.

Charter planes saw a 720 percent increase in July, with 164 passengers compared to 20 a year ago. Carter said part of the increased charter traffic was from the John Deere Classic.

Meanwhile, Carter said airport staff have aggressively pursued additional cargo freight business "and cargo is really exploding."

He credited Jason Sandefur, who runs the airport's airline fueling operation, QCIA Airport Services, with undergoing forklift training to allow the airport to expand its services to include cargo handling.

"There wasn't a mechanism in place for someone to unload the airplane (cargo) and load a truck. Now we've got people trained and people who are aggressive," Carter said.

The QCIA Airport Services deplaned, or offloaded, 41,579 pounds of freight in July, which was part of the 88,688 total freight deplaned at the airport. Total deplaned freight was up 114 percent from July 2016.

Original article can be found here ➤ http://qctimes.com

Lockheed to hire up to 1,000 people at another job fair this month



FORT WORTH - Lockheed Martin is looking for another 1,000 people to help build the F-35 at its Fort Worth plant.

The company will hold its third job fair this summer on Aug. 29, specifically seeking to hire aircraft mechanics, structural assemblers, electrical assemblers and “low observable material coaters,” who apply stealth material to the jets. Job seekers are being asked to pre-register for the event which will be held at the Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel.

“We are shooting to have about 2,000 that would be registered for the event,” said Lockheed Martin spokesman Ken Ross. “We’re not quite there yet. We think there is interest out there.”

Ross said the company plans to offer letters of intent to between 800 to 1,000 people that day.

Those who are offered a letter of intent for a manufacturing position at the job fair will still have to take a written test and pass a standard background check and drug screen. If they pass the written test, they will then get a start date to work on Lockheed’s manufacturing line, Ross said.

Applicants being hired for the production line will make between $44,000 and $77,000 a year, depending on their experience level, and add to a growing level of factory jobs in Tarrant County.

More than 3,000 people showed up for a similar job fair last month in downtown Fort Worth and the company offered 850 letters of intent on the spot. In June, Lockheed made about 600 job offers.

Earlier this year, Lockheed said it planned to hire more than 1,800 workers to handle growing production of its F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. Lockheed employs about 14,000 workers at its west Fort Worth aeronautics complex.

Lockheed is ramping up production of its F-35 to fulfill growing orders to the U.S. military and foreign allies. Last year, the company built about 50 F-35s and it plans to build up to 160 a year by 2019.

Last month, Lockheed was awarded a $5.58 billion down payment for the 11th contract with the Pentagon to help defray costs until it reaches a final agreement with Defense Department negotiators.

Story and video ➤ http://www.star-telegram.com

Confusion About Who Was in Charge During Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL) Shooting Response: Report



Confusion about who was in charge and an uncontrolled self-evacuation added to the chaos during the January shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to a new report released Tuesday.

The 82-page report, prepared by a consulting firm and released by the Broward County Aviation Department, analyzed the response to the January 6 shooting, which left five people dead and six wounded.

The report said a unified command was "never established causing confusion as to who was in charge." The lack of unified command led to "a lack of information regarding resource needs and disjointed, misinformed, and conflicting mission development."

Police say 27-year-old Esteban Santiago flew from Alaska to the airport and opened fire in a crowded baggage claim area. Santiago has pleaded not guilty to a 22-count indictment in the shooting.

"Speculation of additional firearm discharges in other areas within FLL caused an uncontrolled self-evacuation throughout the airport," the report said. "The self-evacuation of people into secure areas led to the complete closure of FLL, passenger delays, traffic control issues, and personal property claim issues."

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel strongly disputed the report, saying he, airport manager Mark Gale and the FBI agent in charge quickly took command of the situation shortly after the shooting. He conceded he hadn't read the report, saying he had received it Monday night.

"It's just not accurate," Israel told a press conference Tuesday. "Critics are going to criticize, but I was out there."

He admitted there was no plan for staging and deploying that many officers at the airport, but said a lot of the confusion and perceived lack of command was caused by the overwhelmed radio system. He said staging plans are being improved and a new radio system is being purchased.

"Command was unified, we knew what was going on (but) it wasn't perfect," he said.

Authorities say Santiago, an Iraq war veteran from Anchorage, Alaska, surrendered 85 seconds after the first shot was fired. The report praises the initial response and capture of Santiago, who admitted the shooting to investigators.

But chaos broke out again 90 minutes after Santiago's barrage when false reports of a second shooter sent people stampeding, injuring 40. The report says that could have been largely avoided if police officers had earphones to listen to their radios without civilians overhearing them.

More than 12,000 passengers were at the airport during the shooting. Many of them ran out through emergency exits onto the airfield after the false second report. There was also terror caused by plainclothes police and deputies, some wearing masks to protect their identities, running through the airport with their guns drawn as they responded to the false report. That could have resulted in uniformed officers accidentally shooting them.

Overall, Israel, Gale and county officials said they are proud of the response but will implement the report's 132 recommended changes as needed.

"It is clear we have some work to do," Gale said. "That is not to say we performed poorly that day, not by a long shot. But we do recognize that as professionals we need to continually improve our performance."

The FBI says Santiago admitted committing the shootings in recorded interviews with agents. His federal trial has been delayed until at least January as prosecutors decide whether to seek the death penalty. Santiago, a diagnosed schizophrenic, told FBI agents he acted under government mind control and then claimed inspiration by the Islamic State extremist group. No terrorism links have been found.

Story and video ➤ http://www.nbcmiami.com

Cessna 182 Skyhawk, N689SP: Pilot landed aircraft downwind on grass airstrip and went off end of airstrip into a plowed field resulting in the aircraft flipping over












AIRCRAFT:   1999 Cessna 182 Skyhawk, N689SP, serial number 172S8099

ENGINE- M&M, S/N:  Lycoming IO-360-L2A, serial number L-28011-51A

PROPELLER – M&M, S/N: McCauley 1A170E/JHA 7660

APPROXIMATE TOTAL HOURS (estimated TT & TSMO from logbooks or other information):

ENGINE:   As of last annual inspection of 5/20/2015, Tach Time 2864.7, TSMOH 280.8

PROPELLER: As of last annual inspection of 5/20/2015, Tach time 2864.7, TTSN 1309.1                

AIRFRAME: As of last annual inspection of 5/20/2015, Tach Time 2864.7, AFTT 2864.7.                      
     
OTHER EQUIPMENT:  KMA 26, KLN 893, (2) KX155A's, KR 87, KT 76C, KAP 140

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:  Pilot landed aircraft downwind on grass airstrip and went off end of airstrip into a plowed field resulting in the aircraft flipping over.

DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGES: Tail vertical fin is damaged and was cut for transport. Nose gear separated. Engine separated off mounts from impact. Prop strike. Tail and wing flight controls appear relatively undamaged.

LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT: Atlanta Air Recovery & Storage, Inc., Griffin, Georgia           

REMARKS: No airworthiness certificate was located in the wreckage and is missing. Contact adjuster for permission to inspect wreckage. Aircraft logbooks located in adjuster office, Atlanta, GA.

Read more here:  http://www.avclaims.com/N689SP.htm

Aviation and aerospace bring $11.6 billion annually to Tulsa economy

Richard McKnight (left) and J.R. Ramirez apply a decal of Oklahoma State University mascot Pistol Pete to the side of an MD-80 on at the American Airlines Tulsa Maintenance Base. Oklahoma has about 1,100 aerospace- and aviation-related business-related companies. 



Tulsa International Airport and surrounding off-airport and aviation and aerospace businesses in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area generate an annual economic impact of $11.6 billion, a report shows.

According to an Oklahoma Aviation & Aerospace Economic Impact Study released Monday, on- and off-airport activity also produce 58,917 jobs, $3 billion in annual payroll and $8.5 billion in annual spending.

Jones Riverside Airport has an annual economic impact of nearly $95 million.

All told, aviation and aerospace businesses in the state generate $43.7 billion annually in economic activity, according to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission report, making aviation and aerospace the second-largest economic engine in the state behind oil and gas.

“Oklahoma is one of the world’s premier destinations for the aerospace and defense industries,” Gov. Mary Fallin said in a statement. “It is centrally located with developed infrastructure, a highly skilled workforce, competitive incentives and low cost of doing business.”

Since 1994, the industry has grown by 250 percent, said Vic Bird, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. Of the $43.7 billion in economic activity, some $19.3 billion came from military aviation, according to the report.

“Aviation and aerospace is extensive in Oklahoma,” Bird said in a statement. “It includes the 109 public airports that comprise the system, the tenants of those airports such as American Airlines and the FAA Monroney Aeronautical Center, the three air force bases and off-airport aerospace businesses like Boeing, NORDAM and FlightSafety.”

The state has about 1,100 aerospace and aviation business-related companies, Fallin said. The average salary in aviation and aerospace is just over $73,000, according to the report.

In a two-part look at Oklahoma’s public airports, including civilian and military, the study measured the total economic impact of each individual airport and then combined these individual airport impacts to determine the overall economic impact of the 109 airports in the Oklahoma Airport System and the state’s three Air Force bases: Altus, Tinker, and Vance.

The last comprehensive study of the state’s airport system was conducted in 1994.

To make the study possible the aeronautics commission received a $245,000 system-planning grant from the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency was then able to match that amount with its own funds and received additional financial support from the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, Tulsa Airport Improvement Trust and the Tulsa Regional Chamber.

Tulsa International, which offers nonstop service to 17 cities, supports 18,369 direct jobs. In the Tulsa MSA, 286 businesses are related to aviation or aerospace. Tulsa is home to American Airlines’ largest maintenance facility, as well as NORDAM, a notable manufacturer of aviation equipment, and the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology. Also, Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing is based on the northeast corner of the airport.

With 15 capital improvement projects planned for fiscal years 2018-22, the Tulsa airport has plans to spend $86 million, according to the study.

Terminal building rehabilitation will upgrade the fire suppression system, reduce unscheduled maintenance on utilities by improving utility racks, replace aging escalators and replace the terminal’s roof.

The terminal building rehabilitation will cost $11.5 million, with 85 percent of the funding from the airport’s collection of passenger facility charges.

Other projects include taxiway reconstruction and runway safety area improvement.

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

Mooney M20E, N2585W: Gear Collapsed in hangar; aircraft jacks went through the wings















AIRCRAFT:     1965 Mooney M20E, N2585W           s/n 940

ENGINE - M&M, S/N:      Lycoming IO-360-A1A     s/n L-19157-51A

PROPELLER – M&M, S/N:     Hartzell HC-C3YR-1RF     s/n DY4221AHH

 APPROXIMATE TOTAL HOURS (estimated TT & TSMO from logbooks or other information)

 ENGINE:         2,785 TT   1001 SMOH   

 PROPELLER:      848 TT                        

 AIRFRAME:     4945 TT                                  

OTHER EQUIPMENT:     Garmin GTX327, King KX155, King KMA24, Northstar M1

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:  Gear Collapsed in hangar. Aircraft jacks went through the wings

DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGES:    Damage includes, but not limited to prop strike, nose gear doors, both wings punctured by jack stands.

LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT:   Santa Maria, CA Airport

REMARKS:  Sold AS IS/WHERE IS.

STARR ADJUSTER CONTACT:   Erik Janas   erik.janas@starrcompanies.com  

OTHER CONTACT:  Sarah at Coastal Aviation 

Read more here:  http://www.avclaims.com/N2585W.htm

Medical Event: Piper PA-22-150, N3664Z; fatal accident occurred August 09, 2017 near San Miguel Ranch Airport (NM53), Las Vegas, San Miguel County, New Mexico

Mike Shaver, 70, of Pine Mountain Lake, pictured inside the cockpit of a Piper PA-22-150P at Outlaw Field in Clarksville, Tennessee, days before he died after crashing in rural New Mexico on August 9th, 2017. Steve Wilson (yellow shirt), a certified flight instructor, flew with Shaver for about an hour on August 3rd, 2017 while testing the plane. 

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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albuquerque, New Mexico

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/N3664Z


Location: Las Vegas, NM
Accident Number: CEN17FA315
Date & Time: 08/09/2017, 1025 MDT
Registration: N3664Z
Aircraft: PIPER PA 22-150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis 

The private pilot departed on a cross-country flight in day visual meteorological conditions. When he did not arrive at his destination as planned, a search was initiated, and the airplane was subsequently located in wooded, mountainous terrain near a private airport about 73 miles short of the destination. The orientation of the wreckage was consistent with the airplane impacting terrain following an aerodynamic stall. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and there was evidence of fuel at the accident site.

The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control during the flight. Radar information showed the airplane maneuvering near the airport before radar contact was lost; the pilot may have been attempting to divert to the airport when the accident occurred. An autopsy of the pilot revealed severe coronary artery disease with 90% stenosis of the left coronary artery as well as evidence of scarring from a previous heart attack. Each of these conditions placed the pilot at significantly increased risk for the sudden development of symptoms from an acute cardiac event, which may have led him to divert. It is likely that, while maneuvering for landing, the pilot was either impaired or incapacitated by the symptoms of an acute cardiac event, which subsequently resulted in a loss of control.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's impairment or incapacitation by symptoms of an acute cardiac event, which resulted in a loss of control.

Findings

Personnel issues
Cardiovascular - Pilot (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-cruise
Medical event (Defining event)
Aerodynamic stall/spin

Uncontrolled descent
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) 

On August 9, 2017, about 1025 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150 airplane, N3664Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Las Vegas, New Mexico. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was privately owned and was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT), Dalhart, Texas, at 0640, and was en route to Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The pilot had recently purchased the accident airplane and took possession of it in Tennessee. On August 3 and 4, the pilot received 1.5 hours of local instruction in the accident airplane. According to personnel at the DHT fixed base operator, the pilot departed DHT for SAF the day before the accident but returned due to weather. The pilot again departed for SAF the morning of the accident.


The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control during the flight; however, a search of radar data found targets correlated to the accident airplane. The data captured the airplane as it departed from DHT and flew southwest until it passed Obar, New Mexico, when it turned west. After passing Bell Ranch, New Mexico, the airplane continued west, then northwest. The airplane made several large s-turns and flew east of San Miguel Ranch Airport (NM53) before turning north and continuing a right turn until radar contact was lost. The last radar return was about 1.4 miles southwest of runway 4 at NM53. A search was initiated after the airplane was reported overdue, and the wreckage was located on August 11.


Mike Shaver 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 70, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: BasicMed
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/22/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 344.9 hours (Total, all aircraft), 19.1 hours (Total, this make and model), 10.1 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10.1 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft) 

The pilot's logbook was found in the wreckage. His most recent flight review was completed on May 22, 2017, in a Cessna 172. The pilot did not hold a current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate and was operating under the provisions of BasicMed. His most recent BasicMed medical examination was conducted on May 9, 2017. The pilot's previous FAA medical certificate was issued on May 17, 2012.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N3664Z 
Model/Series: PA 22-150 160
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1960
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 22-7562
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/03/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2495.66 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed, activated, aided in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-320-A2B
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 150 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

A review of the airplane's logbooks did not find any record of significant maintenance issues. Notes found in the wreckage indicated that the pilot departed on the accident flight with full fuel at a tachometer time of 2509.08 hours. 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KLVS, 6874 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 29 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1005 MDT
Direction from Accident Site: 291°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 1100 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None /
Wind Direction: 210°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.32 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: DALHART, TX (DHT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: SANTA FE, NM (SAF)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0640 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

No significant weather was recorded in the vicinity of the accident.

Airport Information

Airport: SAN MIGUEL RANCH (NM53)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 6300 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: 04
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5600 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None 

NM53 was a private airfield located about 73 miles west of SAF and had no services available. 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 35.486944, -104.593611 

The wreckage came to rest inverted in a wooded area in mountainous terrain. Portions of the right wing suspended in a tree; near the tree's base was a small crater filled with rain water, and the airplane's propeller was located in the crater. Areas of the cockpit contained an odor of fuel.

Examination of the flight controls did not identify any preimpact anomalies. Both propeller blades displayed leading edge damage and polishing. One blade displayed s-bending and curling, and its leading edge displayed gouges and deformation.

The airplane was recovered to a secure facility in Phoenix, Arizona. An examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. 

Medical And Pathological Information

The State of New Mexico, Office of the Medical Investigator, Albuquerque, New Mexico, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The pilot's heart was enlarged and weighed 470 grams (average heart weight given the pilot's weight is 387 grams) with mild four chamber dilation. The proximal left anterior descending coronary artery had 90% stenosis, and both the circumflex and right coronary arteries had 50% stenosis. Fibrosis was identified on the left ventricular free wall. Left concentric ventricular hypertrophy was mentioned, but the recorded wall thicknesses were average. Microscopy demonstrated a focus of increased fibrosis with cardiac myocyte dropout consistent with a scar. The remaining heart had increased interstitial and perivascular fibrosis. Due to the severity of injuries, a detailed examination of the brain could not be conducted. The autopsy noted chemical burns on the pilot consistent with exposure to aviation fuel. The report listed the cause of death as blunt force injuries.

The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing on specimens of the pilot. Testing identified ethanol at 0.151 gm/hg in muscle, and 0.037 gm/hg in liver tissue. Another alcohol commonly produced in tissues after death, N-propanol, was detected in muscle. In addition, metoprolol was found in lung and muscle. Specimens were marked as putrefied.

Ethanol is the intoxicant commonly found in beer, wine, and liquor. It acts as a central nervous system depressant. Because ingested alcohol is distributed throughout the body, levels from different postmortem tissues are usually similar. Ethanol may also be produced in body tissues by microbial activity after death. In these cases, levels among different tissues tend to vary considerably. The alcohol levels in the pilot's tissues are consistent with postmortem production.

Metoprolol, doxazosin, and losartan were found among the pilot's belongings at the accident site. Metoprolol is a blood pressure medication that can also help prevent recurrent heart attacks. It is not generally considered impairing and is commonly sold with the names Lopressor and Toprol.   Doxazosin and losartan were not detected in the toxicology. Both medications are used in the treatment of high blood pressure.
Mike Shaver, 70, of Pine Mountain Lake, pictured inside the cockpit of a Piper PA-22-150P at Outlaw Field in Clarksville, Tennessee, days before he died after crashing in rural New Mexico on August 9th, 2017. Steve Wilson (yellow shirt), a certified flight instructor, flew with Shaver for about an hour on August 3rd, 2017 while testing the plane. 


Federal authorities are investigating a fatal plane crash that claimed the life of a Pine Mountain Lake man earlier this month in a remote part of northeastern New Mexico.

Mike Shaver, 70, husband of retired Tuolumne County Superior Court Judge Eleanor Provost, was the pilot of the PA-22 Tri-Pacer that went missing Aug. 9. Provost said searchers discovered the wreckage on Aug. 13 near a private runway in Trementina, about 120 miles east of Albuquerque.

“He was just the man of my dreams,” said Provost, who turned 70 on Tuesday. “I truly never met a man I’ve loved so much.”

Shaver was an experienced pilot who had been flying airplanes for nearly 40 years, Provost said.

Provost said she drove Shaver to Sacramento International Airport on Aug. 2 for a commercial flight to Tennessee where he was traveling to purchase a PA-22 Tri-Pacer to replace the one he owned that was in need of extensive repairs.

“It was a gorgeous plane and exactly like the one we had, so it’s not like he needed to learn how to fly it,” Provost said.

After arriving in Clarksville, Tennessee, Shaver spent a day testing the plane and started his 1,600-mile journey back to California on Aug. 4. Provost said he would call her once a day at nighttime.

Shaver had flown 400 miles when he called Provost to give her his nightly update on Aug. 4. However, he began to encounter bad weather that slowed his progress in the ensuing days.

Each day, Provost said the amount of miles he flew got less and less due to the weather. She said he even had to sleep inside his plane one night because it was raining and the place he landed didn’t have a pilot’s lounge.

Provost said Shaver reached Dalhart, Texas, and planned on flying to Sante Fe, New Mexico, in his last update to her on the night of Aug. 8.

“When I didn’t get a call Wednesday night, I started to worry a little bit,” Provost said.

After not receiving a call from Shaver or being able to reach him for two days, Provost said mutual friends called the Federal Aviation Administration for her on Aug. 12 to report the plane missing.

Shaver was found dead inside the wreckage of the plane in the early morning hours on Aug. 13, Provost said.

The New Mexico state trooper who retrieved Shaver’s body called Provost several days later and told her that he was certain the cause of the crash was weather related.

Provost said she read news articles on the Internet that warned of funnel clouds in the area of the crash site around the time he went missing.

“He tried to land and either got hit by wind or a wind tunnel, but we don’t yet,” Provost said. “He got thrown off the taxiway and the latest I heard is that the plane actually turned over.”

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash as they do with all plane crashes.

Paul Knudson, spokesman for the NTSB, said a preliminary report on the crash is expected to be filed either later this week or early next week. Elizabeth Cory, spokeswoman for the FAA, said investigations can take a year or more to complete.

Robert Eley, of Clarksville, said the plane previously belonged to Jim Passalacqua, whom he shared an airplane hangar with for 15 years before Passalacqua died of an illness last year. Eley said he was selling the plane at the request of Passalacqua’s wife.

Passalacqua had flown the plane from Tennessee to California several times prior his death, Eley said.

Eley said that Shaver requested to test the plane with a local certified flight instructor before the purchase because it had been several years since he last flew a Tri-Pacer, though he many hours of experience.

Shaver flew with the instructor, Steve Wilson, for about an hour and felt confident that he would be fine making the trip back to California. Provost said her husband was a studious pilot and not a risk taker.

Eley said bad weather prevented Shaver from starting his journey on the morning of Aug. 4, so he spent several hours flying around Outlaw Field in Clarksville until it cleared up.

Paul Purifoy, a friend of Shaver’s who is also a pilot and lives in Pine Mountain Lake, said he and Jerry Baker, who was also a friend of Shaver’s, made the decision to call the FAA when they didn’t hear from him for days.

“As pilots, we were kind of wincing,” Purifoy said. “We checked his credit cards because he has to buy fuel. I said, ‘Look at this point, I hope that he is OK but we have to call the FAA and get them involved.’ “

Purifoy said he was also the one who notified Provost of her husband’s death.

Shaver was an expert mechanic who was known for restoring 1930s-era airplanes, Purifoy said, adding that there was also no questioning Shaver’s capabilities as a pilot.

“Mike always had something going on,” Purifoy said of Shaver’s many projects. “You’ll miss him in the neighborhood because he won’t be calling you for help to give him a hand with something he’s working on.”

Purifoy said people in the PML community, which includes many pilots who have homes with hangars right next to the runway, were surprised at the news of Shaver’s death.

“You never expect your neighbor to die in a crash,” Purifoy said in a telephone interview while helping Provost go through Shaver’s hangar on Wednesday. “It’s very devastating, to say the least.”

Shaver was a veteran of the Marine Corps who served in Vietnam as an airplane mechanic.

After the military, Shaver went on to have a nearly 30-year career working as an airplane mechanic for major airlines. He retired around the time American Airlines merged with TWA in 2001.

Shaver owned a business restoring antique planes in St. Lous, Missouri, until he moved to California after getting divorced from his first wife. He moved to Tuolumne County with a dream of one day owning a home with an airplane hangar in PML.

In 2002, Shaver and Provost met at a party and hit it off. Provost described him as having somewhat of a stern demeanor and wasn’t one to suffer fools gladly, which she liked.

“I don’t put up with idiots very well, but I learned as a judge you have to put up with a certain amount of idiots,” Provost said. “He doesn’t put up with idiots. He doesn’t put up with people who think they’re better. If they didn’t like him, he didn’t care. He just went on to people who did.”

The pair pooled their money in 2004 to purchase a lot in PML where they spent the next four years building Shaver’s dream home that included a 7,500-square-foot hangar.

Shaver would occasionally fly Provost from their home to Columbia Airport, where she would leave her car and drive into Tuolumne County Superior Court in downtown Sonora for work.

“That was very fun,” Provost said. “It makes a huge difference because it would take us something like 15 minutes to fly and 45 minutes to drive.”

They would also make yearly pilgrimages to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, one of the largest airplane shows of its kind in the world. Shaver spent 28 years volunteering to judge antique airplanes at the event.

After dating for 16 years, Provost said the two decided to tie the knot in January 2016.

Provost said she’s grateful for the outpouring of support she’s received from friends, some of whom took her to dinner for her 70th birthday Tuesday night at the restaurant she had planned to go with her husband.

“Something so amazing and wonderful to me that I already knew is there are a heck of a lot of people who thought highly of him,” Provost said. “That’s the Mikey I knew.”


https://www.uniondemocrat.com



Mike Shaver was born in Peoria, Illinois, on Oct. 19, 1946. He grew up on a family farm. After he finished high school he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Viet Nam working on airplanes for a year and a half. He was sent home because of a family emergency after his father died. He helped his mother take care of his brother who had a severe case of Down’s syndrome. He did both construction work and farming.

After a year of college he went to A&P School and became an airplane mechanic for Ozark Airlines which later merged with TWA. When it was about to merge again, this time with American Airlines, he retired and ran his own restoration business in St. Louis until he moved to California. Mike volunteered at Oshkosh, the largest airplane show in the Western Hemisphere and maybe the world. There he judged the antique airplanes with a group of about 10 for the past 28 years.

Mike was an active Rotarian for many years volunteering his time and energy to various community projects including one of the club's largest undertaking, the building of the bathroom at the Little League Baseball Field in Big Oak Flat. Mike was an excellent craftsman and when the Rotary club began their annual shrimp feast Mike donated the material and constructed the large cooking pots for the event that are still in use today.

When he first started living at the Pine Mountain Airport he met and later married Judge Eleanor Provost. They built a hangar/house on the back taxiway.

Mike went to Tennessee to pick up an airplane that he purchased. On Aug. 9, 2017, he went missing and was later found by search and rescue at the crash site in Trementina, New Mexico. It is believed at this time that bad weather was the cause of this fatal accident.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Eleanor; and three children from a previous marriage. He will be missed by Eleanor's family, many friends and the Pine Mountain Lake Aviation Association.


NTSB Identification: CEN17FA315 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 09, 2017 in Las Vegas, NM
Aircraft: PIPER PA 22-150, registration: N3664Z
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On August 9, 2017, about 1025 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-23-150 airplane, N3664Z, impacted terrain near Las Vegas, New Mexico. The private pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The cross-country flight departed Dalhart, Texas, and was en route to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The airplane was reported overdue and a search was conducted. The wreckage was located in mountainous terrain on August 13. Impact signatures were consistent with the airplane striking trees before impacting terrain. The right wing was separated from the airplane and wrapped around a large tree. The remainder of the wreckage came to inverted. The airplane was retained for further examination.
==

Sunday, New Mexico State Police, in conjunction with Search and Rescue, located a downed aircraft north of State Road 104, near Trementina, in eastern San Miguel County. An elderly man was found deceased inside.

Saturday evening, around 9 p.m., a Federal Notice to Airmen management system employee notified the New Mexico State Police of a possible downed aircraft in San Miguel County.  The plane had departed from Texas three or four days prior. A family member of the pilot contacted NOTAM because the pilot had not checked in with the family.

GPS coordinates placed the aircraft near a private runway in a rural location of San Miguel County. A representative from the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center reported it appeared the plane crashed near the runway.

A search and rescue mission was promptly initiated, but the plane wreckage wasn’t located until around 11 a.m. Sunday in a rugged mountainous area, roughly a mile from the runway.  

The Office of the Medical Investigator is still working to identify the deceased. 

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash.