Sunday, November 26, 2017

Did you see this strange cloud in Massachusetts today?




BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Several people messaged Boston 25 News on Facebook about a very unusual cloud in the sky Sunday afternoon. 

They asked us what it could be, so we turned to our meteorologist, Sarah Wroblewksi, for some scientific knowledge. 

"Pretty cool… best guess… I think a hole punch cloud… I’ve never seen it with such a long tail that looks like a tornado, but given the windy/turbulent atmosphere… makes sense. 

Hole punch clouds or fallstreak clouds are formed in an altocumulus layer. What is believed to cause them is when a plane passes through that cloud layer. 

This clouds layer is made up of SUPERCOOLED water droplets. Basically, very small water droplets below freezing. When an airplane ‘punches’ through the clouds, it can trigger heavier ice crystals to develop and fall to the ground… and leave a hole in the cloud. 

It looks like as these ice crystals are falling, they aren’t evaporating like they normally would… but getting caught up in the wind and formed a rotation streak of falling ice crystals. 

Similar in the summer when a gust of wind can pick up dirt at a baseball field and spin it up in the air to make it look like a tornado… even though it isn’t…this is happening to the falling ice crystals. 

It does appear they do eventually evaporate at the bottom as the air is much drier at the surface.

It is a cool and rare thing to see…I’ve only seen a hole punch cloud a handful of times…but never like this."

Story and photos ➤ http://www.fox25boston.com

OUR VIEW: A takeoff for a different Decatur air carrier

Susan Stukins, left, Air Choice One station manager, helps a passenger down the steps after landing in Decatur.



HERALD & REVIEW EDITORIAL BOARD


Park Board member Chris Riley’s decision that he will recuse himself from voting on Archer Daniel Midland’s offer to fund improvements at Decatur Airport is a needed measure to avoid a conflict of interest. The move is the latest in a head-turning series of events in recent weeks.

The park board on Nov. 15 took the unexpected step to reverse its endorsement of what airline should receive federal funding to operate at the airport.

Earlier this month, they recommended a company called Cape Air, which wanted to run prop planes from Decatur to St. Louis and Chicago O’Hare.

Riley, who is director of state government relations for ADM, was one of two commissioners on the five-member board who voted to endorse another company, SkyWest, which proposed using jets to fly only to O’Hare. But they were outvoted.

Then came Nov. 15, when officials from ADM, T/CCI Manufacturing and Decatur Memorial Hospital came to the board meeting and said commissioners should abandon the Cape Air endorsement and go with SkyWest. They said the jets would be better.

But here’s where it gets interesting. ADM offered to give the Decatur Park District $100,000 to refurbish the airport and guaranteed that the company would use at least 5,000 airplane seats a year if SkyWest were selected.

ADM, of course, deservedly wants this because the company’s headquarters in 2014 was relocated from Decatur to Chicago — meaning there are plenty of employees going back and forth. They want fast planes.

Commissioner Chris Harrison, who originally wanted Cape Air, ended up switching his vote and went with SkyWest. The rest, including Riley, voted the same way.

That’s an important distinction — that Riley supported Skywest all along — but in our view, it still raises the inevitable question of a conflict of interest.

Riley is a committed public servant who has served on the park board for many years. But the addition of ADM into a public meeting and lobbying a board on which an employee sits fundamentally changes the dynamic, like it or not. Riley’s recusal on the issue of ADM funding moving forward is the only option.

Some are upset about the possibility that flights to St. Louis are coming to an end. We understand. Yet remember, this is an elected board — and they made this decision. Where these planes go will ultimately be up to the federal Department of Transportation. We're along for the ride. 

Original article can be found here ➤ http://herald-review.com

Mooney M20D Master, C-FESN

A plane from Alberta carrying an Edmonton-area couple — that’s been missing for nearly a year — was located on Monday afternoon in the rugged wilderness of B.C.’s southern interior.

RCMP said the plane was found on Monday, when a B.C. Ambulance Service helicopter crew spotted the wreckage near Revelstoke.

The plane, missing since November 2017, matched the description of the missing white-and-burgundy plane, a Mooney M20D, and also had the matching tail marker, C-FESN.

RCMP said the wreckage was located east of Revelstoke in Glacier National Park. The BCAS helicopter was returning to Kamloops from Field when it spotted the aircraft.

“The RCMP wishes to thank the helicopter pilots and crew of the BC Ambulance Service for their watchful eyes in locating this plane and assisting to bring closure to the two families,” said a Tuesday news release.

On social media, Tammy Neron said “We got word this morning the plane has been found! Cannot thank B.C. Ambulance enough, as they were flying through Rogers Pass to Golden yesterday, Sept, 10, they spotted it. My birthday wish yesterday came true!!!

“RCMP, SAR, BC Transport and the coroners are going out today. Our families cannot thank each and every one of you enough for embracing us during what’s been the hardest 10 months of our lives!”

The missing, four-passenger plane left Penticton, B.C., on Nov. 25, 2017, and was bound for Edmonton. On board were Dominic Neron, 28, from Spruce Grove, Alta., and his girlfriend Ashley Bourgeault — a 31-year-old mother of three — from Edmonton.

In late November, the pair had flown to Penticton to visit family and do some Christmas shopping. Their plane disappeared near Revelstoke on the way home.

A nine-day search took place, but neither the plane nor the occupants were found.

There’s no word on if Neron and Bourgeault were found in the crashed plane. RCMP said currently, the site of the plane crash is being accessed to conduct the investigation in partnership with the BC Coroners Service.

On Tuesday, Revelstoke RCMP said the missing persons-and-plane case has remained open since last year, and that police have frequently deployed search resources while also working and meeting with the families of Neron and Bourgeault.

Police noted that the families have been very active in the area, using drones, seeking tips from the public and searching various areas.

Resources involved in investigation include the RCMP Integrated Forensic Identification Services, Revelstoke Search and Rescue, Transportation Canada, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and the B.C. Coroners Service.

https://globalnews.ca



The family of a man whose plane went missing in November, believes they may have a clue that could lead to his discovery near Enderby.

Ashley Bourgeault and her boyfriend, pilot Dominic Neron, 28, left from Penticton on Nov. 25, 2017 at 2:30 p.m., en route to Edmonton in a single-engine Mooney airplane. When their plane failed to arrive, it was speculated that the aircraft went down. The last evidence of their location came late that evening when a tower picked up a ping from Neron’s cell phone, approximately 20 kilometres northeast of Revelstoke.

A recent development now has the family wondering if the plane could in the North Okanagan, near Mabel Lake.

On Monday afternoon, Neron’s sister, Tammy said a witness contacted her and reported seeing a burgundy plane around 4:45 on Nov. 25. In a post on her Facebook page, Missing Plane: Find Dominic and Ashley, Neron said the witness reported the plane’s landing gear was fully extended, and it was travelling north to north west.

“Dominic had mentioned, should weather be bad that day he would land in Golden, or Revelstoke, or if it was really bad he would head back to Salmon Arm,” said Tammy. “Landing in Salmon Arm would fit this timeline of being spotted near Mabel Lake.”

At this point, Tammy said the family has accepted that Dominic and Ashley may have “passed on.” Her hope is that his plane will be located and friends and families “can get closure.”

She intends to continue search efforts as soon as the snow has melted and is encouraging anyone with any information on the incident, or who might have seen something, to contact her through Facebook on Missing Plane: Find Dominic and Ashley.

https://www.peacearchnews.com

Raymond Sinclair, Brother-in-law to Dominic Neron, Brian Lecompte & Judd Popplewell. 


With snow in the forecast by the end of this week, It might be impossible for any chance for a visual confirmation of the 1963 Mooney Plane that went down several weeks back. 

The Sinclair family are still in Revelstoke searching for their family member, Dominic Neron and his girlfriend Ashley Bourgeault who are now a missing persons matter with the local RCMP. Until any new tips or possible sitings come to light, there can be no further investigation.

On Wednesday, December 13th, Brian Lecompte, Judd Popplewell and Raymond Sinclair (brother-in-law to Neron), flew in Lecompte’s Piper Comanche plane over several mountain passes in search of the missing plane. 

Lecompte volunteered to take Sinclair up for a few hours to go for a look in a few of the hidden areas he knows very well. With over 2200 hours of flight experience, Lecompte knows how to navigate the rocky terrain. Along with Popplewell, who was his co-pilot for the day, at 300 hours, these two know the area well.

Lecompte flew the crew around Mount La Forme, The Trans-Canada demon; Heather Hill and the Rogers Pass area.

I was invited along to join the excursion with Lecompte, Popplewell and Sinclair. As we hit 5000 feet over the Rogers Pass area, the vast land is truly overwhelming; almost intimidating, even on a clear day, especially while trying to find a needle in a haystack.

“If he went into a spiral trying to get out of the soup, it would be like dropping a pencil into the forest. Very hard to find.” Lecompte shared with all eyes hunting the mountain scape.

One issues was the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was never set off. If the plane had a hard landing, the ELT is designed to detect a bad inertia, as long as it is armed. Even if the plane had a relatively easy landing, the ELT may not have been able to be accessible after the fact, therefore, no ELT signal could have been sent.

When asked if their was any indication that Neron may have flown passed the Rogers Pass area, Sinclair indicated that it wasn’t likely.

“We were told that the ping was found right in this area, had he made it further, a tower towards Golden would have been able to pick it up.”

After several hours of flight around the glacier and several mountain passes, the final flight around came to a disappointing conclusion.

According to Sinclair, family and friends have been on a rotation between Alberta and Revelstoke to maintain the search. They are hopeful for something to come to light before until the snow covers everything until next spring.

Story and gallery ➤ http://revelstokecurrent.com



















After rescue crews suspended their search for a plane that dropped from radar on the way to Edmonton, the families of the couple on board are trying to raise funds to keep the search going.

Back on Saturday, November 25, the plane took off from Penticton at about 2:30 p.m., and the Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC Victoria) received an alert about eight hours later. A signal from the pilot’s cellphone was picked up off a cell tower northeast of Revelstoke, B.C.

In the days that followed, aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force and Parks Canada flew about 120 hours and covered more than 22,000 square kilometres in the areas around the plane’s last known location in the search for the plane and the two people on board.

CTV News later confirmed the name of the pilot: Dominic Neron, 28, from Spruce Grove, and his passenger was identified as his girlfriend: Ashley Bourgeault, 31.

On Monday, December 4 at about 4:30 MT, JRCC Victoria suspended their search for the single-engine plane and the case was turned over to the RCMP.

Now, the families of the two people on board are trying to raise funds in order to keep the search going.

Bourgeault’s family is accepting donations through email money transfer to: cajoux@telus.net.

Neron’s sister Tammy set up a GoFundMe page on Tuesday, December 5.

Pilot Dominic Neron and his passenger Ashley Bourgeault

The pair were travelling in this airplane when they went missing. One thing the family asks is for Revelstoke community members to think if they can recall seeing a red/burgundy plane on the afternoon of the 25th, probably within the hour after it left Penticton at 2:30 p.m. Family said other sightings had been ruled out because of the colour of the plane; at this point, they just hope someone may have useful information.


A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter departs from Revelstoke to search on Friday afternoon.


Members of the families of Dominic Neron and Ashley Bourgeault join friends and Revelstoke residents after arriving here to keep the search for the missing pair going.


The families provided many maps, documents and images of the search effort, including this one said to depict flight paths as yellow lines. There were other maps with similar depictions. We don’t have exact details of this photo of one of the many maps. 



Family, friends and Revelstoke members gather soon after arriving in Revelstoke on Saturday.


Maritime Forces Pacific / Forces maritimes du Pacifique

Statement

After an exhaustive search for a single-engine plane missing since November 25, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria (JRCC Victoria) has made the difficult decision to suspend their search today as of 15:30 PST, and transfer the case to the RCMP.

Over the last 9 days, Royal Canadian Air Force and Parks Canada aircraft have flown approximately 120 hours in extremely challenging weather and conditions, covering more than 22,000 square kilometres in the areas surrounding the last known location, and likely flight path, of the missing plane. The JRCC Victoria acknowledges the support we have received from Parks Canada and CASARA, and the information provided by Telus, Rogers, NavCanada and NORAD, which greatly assisted in narrowing the search area.

Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones during this extremely difficult time.

Déclaration

Après une recherche exhaustive pour un avion mono-moteur disparu depuis le 25 novembre, le Centre conjoint de coordination des opérations de sauvetage de Victoria (CCCOS Victoria) a pris la décision difficile de suspendre sa recherche aujourd'hui à 15 h 30, HP, et de transférer le cas à la GRC.

Au cours des neuf derniers jours, les appareils de l'Aviation royale canadienne et de Parcs Canada ont effectué environ 120 heures de vol dans des régions et des conditions météorologiques extrêmement difficiles, couvrant plus de 22,000 kilomètres carrés dans les zones entourant le dernier endroit connu de l’avion. Le CCCOS Victoria reconnaît le soutien que nous avons reçu de Parcs Canada et de l'ACRSA, ainsi que l'information fournie par Telus, Rogers, NavCanada et NORAD, ce qui a grandement contribué à réduire la zone de recherche.

Nos pensées sont avec les familles et les proches en cette période extrêmement difficile.

Over the past nine days, the royal Canadian Aviation and parks Canada aircraft have conducted approximately 120 hours of flight in extremely difficult regions and weather conditions, covering more than 22,000 square kilometres in areas surrounding the Last known location of the plane. Le Victoria recognizes the support we have received from Parks Canada and, as well as the information provided by Telus, Rogers, navcanada and norad, which has greatly contributed to reducing the search area.

Our thoughts are with families and relatives in this extremely difficult time.

The search for a pilot, passenger and the single-engine aircraft they were travelling in has been called off nine days after their disappearance.

Efforts will end at 3:30 p.m. Monday and the case will be transferred to the RCMP, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria said in a statement.

Crews have been combing the Rocky Mountains for signs of Dominic Neron, 28, and his girlfriend Ashley Bourgeault, 31, since Nov. 25.

The couple took off from Penticton, B.C. in Neron's white and burgundy striped Mooney airplane that afternoon and were expected to land in Edmonton Saturday night. Four hours after their anticipated arrival they were reported missing.

Calling the search for the single-engine plane "exhaustive," the JRCC said aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force and Parks Canada spent approximately 120 hours in the air in challenging weather. Searchers covered more than 22,000 square kilometres in the areas surrounding possible locations.

The JRCC acknowledged support from cellphone providers, NavCanada and NORAD for their assistance in narrowing the search area. Cellphone pings led crews to believe the couple may have been in an area about 32 kilometres northeast of Revelstoke, B.C., but after days of searching they were unable to find further signs of the pilot and passenger.

"Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones during this extremely difficult time," the JRCC statement said.

The centre said the pilot did not issue a mayday call during the flight, nor did he file a flight plan.

Piper J3C-65 Cub, registered to and operated by Flying Hawks Inc under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, N11188: Accident occurred November 26, 2017 near Palmyra Municipal Airport (88C), Jefferson County, Wisconsin

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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, 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/N11188


Location: Palmyra, WI
Accident Number: CEN18LA038
Date & Time: 11/26/2017, 1430 CST
Registration: N11188
Aircraft: PIPER / LAUDEMAN J3C 65
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On November 26, 2017, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N11188, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Palmyra Municipal Airport (88C), Palmyra, Wisconsin. Both airline transport pilots were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flying Hawks Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which departed without a flight plan about 1400.

The rear seat pilot stated that he performed a normal takeoff from the rear seat and flew to a nearby area to practice maneuvers. After completing these maneuvers and returning to 88C, the pilots noticed a loss of engine power while on downwind to runway 27. The pilots attempted unsuccessfully to restore engine power and the rear seat pilot turned the airplane toward runway 27. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a tree about 2000 ft short of the runway threshold and nosed over, damaging both wings.

Examination of the airplane at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the fuel shut off valve was in the off position. The front seat pilot stated the fuel shut off valve had been inadvertently pulled off by the rear seat pilot. The front seat pilot attempted to push the fuel shut off valve back in but was unable to do so. The rear pilot stated he may have inadvertently pulled the fuel shut off lever instead of the carburetor heat control lever.

Earlier in the year, both pilots frequently flew an airplane with a carburetor heat control lever that was in a similar position as the accident airplane's fuel shutoff valve. According to an Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine article, "Negative transfer is the transfer from one cockpit to another--of different design or configuration--of habits or responses which were appropriate in the former but are inappropriate in the latter, thereby posing a threat to flying safety. This danger has been demonstrated not only experimentally but also in a number of aircraft accident investigation reports."

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Commercial; Sport Pilot
Age: 76, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/16/2015
Flight Time: 10000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1 hours (Total, this make and model)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Commercial
Age: 75, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 08/20/2017
Flight Time: 20000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5 hours (Total, this make and model), 70 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 30 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER / LAUDEMAN
Registration: N11188
Model/Series: J3C 65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1945
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 9400L
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/10/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1220 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 106 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1205 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91A installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: C-85-12
Registered Owner: FLYING HAWKS INC
Rated Power: 65 hp
Operator: FLYING HAWKS INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBUU, 779 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1430 CST
Direction from Accident Site: 133°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 11 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 230°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.03 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Palmyra, WI (88C)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Palmyra, WI (88C)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1400 CST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: PALMYRA MUNI (88C)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 851 ft
Runway Surface Condition:
Runway Used: 27
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2800 ft / 200 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude:  42.883889, -88.585000 (est)

Location: Palmyra, WI
Accident Number: CEN18LA038
Date & Time: 11/26/2017, 1430 CST
Registration: N11188
Aircraft: PIPER / LAUDEMAN J3C 65
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On November 26, 2017, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper J3C-65 airplane, N11188, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Palmyra Municipal Airport (88C), Palmyra, Wisconsin. The airline transport pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flying Hawks Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which departed without a flight plan about 1400.

The pilot stated that he performed a normal takeoff and then flew west to a nearby area to practice maneuvers. After completing these maneuvers and returning to 88C, the pilot noticed a loss of engine power while on downwind to Runway 27. The pilot and passenger attempted unsuccessfully to restore engine power and then turned the airplane toward Runway 27. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a tree about 1/3 mile prior to the runway threshold and nosed over. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: PIPER / LAUDEMAN
Registration: N11188
Model/Series: J3C 65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: FLYING HAWKS INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:  Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBUU, 779 ft msl
Observation Time: 1430 CST
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C / 2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots, 230°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.03 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Palmyra, WI (88C)
Destination: Palmyra, WI (88C) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude:  42.883889, -88.585000 (est) 


Emil Johnson (Good Samaritan) 


The 76-year-old pilot, David Kemna, from Fort Atkinson and the 75-year-old passenger, William Frison from Whitewater remained hospitalized as of Wednesday. 

The Palmyra Public Safety Department will not be releasing any additional information on their conditions.

The FAA continues to investigate the cause of the crash.

The Palmyra Public Safety Department in a news release publicly thanked Emil Johnson of Palmyra who assisted responders in locating the crash scene and then cutting a path through the underbrush to assist emergency responders in accessing the scene. 

In addition, they thanked representatives from the Flying Hawks Flying Club who provided assistance to the investigation.

The Flying Hawks is a Flying Club located at the Town of Palmyra Airport.


http://fox6now.com











UPDATE (WKOW) -- Authorities say two people are in the hospital after a plane went down in a wooded area in Jefferson County Sunday afternoon. 

Officials say the tough terrain made first responders' jobs difficult. The plane crashed in a swampy area in the village of Palmyra, near the airport. First responders had to trudge through brush and mud to cut the two crash victims out of the plane.

"If they stood in one place for too long, they would sink in. So we're talking mud halfway to their knees," said director of public safety James Small.

Small says this is the second plane crash in his three years on the job. It's a two-seater recreational aircraft. The agency has trained for crashes of the exact model, because there is a lot of recreational traffic at the Palmyra airport. 

The crash victims are at a trauma center, according to officials, who have not released any details on their conditions. The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and Palmyra Public Safety Department. 

PALMYRA (WKOW) -- Authorities say two people are hurt after a plane crashed in the woods in Jefferson County.

According to Village of Palmyra officials, the plane went down around 2:45 p.m. Sunday near the Palmyra Airport. It was found in a wooded swamp. One person was trapped in the plane and responders had to cut the plane to get the person out. 

Both people were taken to a hospital with injuries. 

The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and Palmyra Public Safety Department. 

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


PALMYRA, Wis. – Investigators are working to figure out what caused a plane to crash in Jefferson County Sunday afternoon.

The plane crashed around 2:30 p.m. in a swamp-like area about a half-mile away from the Palmyra Airport. 

Neighbors tell TODAY’S TMJ4 they heard a plane sputtering before it crashed.  

Witnesses say there were multiple people on board. 

Emergency officials remain at the scene.

Story and video ➤ http://www.tmj4.com







PALMYRA -- A dramatic story of rescue out of Palmyra features a man who saw a plane go down in a swampy area Sunday, November 26th before springing into action.

Emil Johnson lives near the Palmyra Airport.

"You heard the pop, pop, popping -- like there wasn't a full engine going," Johnson said. "I saw him make the turn to the west to head to the airport. But he was too low."

On Sunday afternoon, two men in a Piper Cub were lucky Johnson was watching.

"They had the window open in the cockpit and I heard one say, 'Oh, (blank),' and they knew they were in trouble," Johnson said.

The next thing Johnson knew... "I saw the plane come down at a slight angle and just nosedive right in there," Johnson said.

Johnson called 911, hopped into his golf cart and led rescuers to the crash site in a wooded, swampy area. He and a police sergeant helped clear the brush so they could reach the victims.

"She yelled to me, 'do you have any nippers at your house?' I'm cleaning this all by hand and I had nippers on my golf cart, so I handed them to her and she started cutting," Johnson said.

Rescuers were able to get the men in the plane out -- and take them to a nearby hospital.

Johnson said the plane had been headed right towards his house and his neighbor's house before it hit. The pilot was able to veer away.

"I did my job, I hope, just by getting the people to 'em," Johnson said. "I credit the guy -- whoever was flying it. I think he saved a lot of mayhem that could have happened if they'd have kept going."

The plane that crashed belongs to the Flying Hawks Flight Club, a club of a few dozen members based out of the Town of Palmyra Airport.

The two men in that crashed plane are being treated for their injuries.

Original article can be found here ➤  http://fox6now.com

Robinson R44 II, N48WF, Earlybird Aerial Services LLC: Incident occurred November 26, 2017 in Hudson, McLean County, Illinois

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois

Rotorcraft during aerial application, struck a powerline and force landed in a field.

Earlybird Aerial Services LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N48WF

Date: 26-NOV-17
Time: 20:42:00Z
Regis#: N48WF
Aircraft Make: ROBINSON
Aircraft Model: R44
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: AERIAL APPLICATION
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
City: HUDSON
State: ILLINOIS


Comlara Park is split between Woodford and McLean Counties.


EUREKA — A crop-dusting helicopter pilot made a “hard landing” Sunday near Lake Evergreen in southeastern Woodford County.

The 33-year-old man, who wasn’t identified in Woodford County Sheriff’s Office news release, wasn’t injured and refused treatment. He was the only person in the 2008 Robinson R44 Raven 2 helicopter, according to Chief Deputy Dennis Tipsword.

It wasn’t clear what caused the helicopter to go down at about 2:40 p.m., Tipsword said. Nothing at the scene indicated a possible crime, he added.

The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation.

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

HUDSON — First responders were busy Sunday responding to a variety of crashes and a downed helicopter near Hudson. 

Both the McLean County and Woodford County Sheriff deputies responded to Comlara Park near Hudson at about 2:45 p.m. for a report of a helicopter that had landed hard in a field. Officials said there were no injuries and the pilot apparently did not suffer major injuries.

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

WOODFORD COUNTY - The Woodford County Sheriff's Department is investigating an incident involving a helicopter near Comlara Park on Sunday.

The McLean County Sheriff's Department says the helicopter's pilot was having issues during his flight, and made a hard landing east of Comlara Park. 

The pilot appears to be okay.

It was initially thought that the helicopter crashed inside Comlara Park. Because it landed to the east, the Woodford County Sheriff's Department is handling the investigation.

The department still had people on scene and did not have any additional information as of 3:45 p.m.

Original article ➤ http://www.centralillinoisproud.com

WOODFORD COUNTY, Ill. (WEEK) -- - UPDATE 11/27/17: The Woodford County Sheriff's Office said a helicopter that made a hard landing on the southeast side of Lake Evergreen was a crop duster. The pilot was uninjured. It is unclear what caused the helicopter to go down. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. 

ORIGINAL STORY: At around 2:45PM, McLean and Woodford County received notice of a downed aircraft at Comlara Park. Woodford County later clarified that aircraft was a helicopter, which landed just on the Woodford County side of the line.

McLean County police then elaborated that the helicopter made a hard landing, but was otherwise intact. No one was injured. 

Original article ➤ http://www.week.com