Monday, April 16, 2018

Loss of Lift: Beech G33 Bonanza, N9345Q; fatal accident occurred April 16, 2018 in Warsaw, Coshocton County, Ohio

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

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbus, Ohio
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas

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

http://registry.faa.gov/N9345Q

Location: Warsaw, OH
Accident Number: CEN18FA143
Date & Time: 04/16/2018, 0630 EDT
Registration: N9345Q
Aircraft: BEECH G33
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of lift
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On April 16, 2018, about 0632 eastern daylight time, a Beech G33 airplane, N9345Q, impacted terrain near Warsaw, Ohio. The commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was privately owned and operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed from Elyria Airport (1G1), Elyria, Ohio, and was en route to Deland Municipal Airport, Deland, Florida.

According to Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control information, at 0627, the pilot reported to the controller that he needed to descend from 4,000 ft mean sea level (msl) to 3,000 ft msl due to icing. Passing through 3,700 ft, the pilot reported, "looks like we are out of the clouds here." When the airplane reached 3,000 ft, the controller asked the pilot for an update; the pilot replied that they were underneath the clouds and that the temperature was 34°F above freezing. As the airplane descended to 2,700 ft, the controller issued a low altitude alert and told the pilot that the minimum vectoring altitude in the area was 2,900 ft. The pilot acknowledged and stated, "we have some rime ice, but we are losing it." The controller asked if the pilot needed to land and the pilot responded "negative," indicating again that the icing was "clearing up" and that the temperature was 39°F; however, the airplane continued to descend through 2,200 ft. When the controller queried the pilot, the pilot responded, "ah, we're doing okay right now" and "waiting for this ice to dissipate." The airplane continued to descend until radar contact was lost at 0632 at an altitude of 1,500 ft.

A passing pilot spotted the wreckage of the airplane and relayed the information to the controller, who notified local law enforcement.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 67, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/24/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 2300 hours (Total, all aircraft), 500 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: BEECH
Registration: N9345Q
Model/Series: G33 G33
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1971
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: CD-1269
Landing Gear Type:
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 
Airframe Total Time: 
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT:
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner: ZEZLINA EDWARD M
Rated Power:
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

The accident airplane was not equipped or certificated for flight in any icing conditions. 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: K4I3, 1191 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0636 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 258°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2200 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4300 ft agl
Visibility (RVR): 
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: Clear Air / Unknown
Wind Direction: 270°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: Light / Unknown
Altimeter Setting: 29.67 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C / 1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Unknown Obscuration; Unknown Precipitation
Departure Point: ELYRIA, OH (1G1)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: DELAND, FL (DED)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class G 

A review of the National Weather Analysis (NWA) Chart issued at 0500 on the day of the accident indicated that the accident site was west of the surface low pressure center in western Pennsylvania and a surface trough that connected that surface low pressure center and a surface low pressure center in eastern Lake Erie. Modeling depicted air temperatures in the upper 30s to mid-40s °F, dew point temperatures in the mid-30s °F with temperature-dew point spreads of 5° F or less, a west wind of 10 to 15 knots, overcast sky cover, and light rain.

The 0800 upper air sounding from a station 98 miles west-southwest of the accident site depicted a greater than 90% relative humidity from the surface to 8,000 ft mean sea level (msl ). The freezing level was located at 1,512 ft msl (505 ft agl).

An interactive sounding analysis program reported the possibility of clouds from 2,000 ft through 14,000 ft msl. Moderate or greater rime icing was indicated between 2,000 and 9,500 ft msl (around 1,000 to 8,500 ft agl). In addition, there was a high probability of light to moderate clear-air turbulence in several layers between the surface and 13,000 ft msl.

Satellite infrared imagery indicated cloud cover over the accident site with approximate tops at 15,000 ft msl. Additional data indicated mid-level water clouds and thick mid-level water or ice clouds.

There are no SIGMET advisories or Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) Center Weather Advisories (CWA) valid for the accident site at the accident time. An AIRMET Zulu was valid for the accident site at the accident time for altitudes below 18,000 ft msl. AIRMET Zulu warned of moderate icing conditions below 15,000 ft. The AIRMET was issued at 0445 and valid until 1100.

The Graphical Forecasts for Aviation (GFA) products made available before the accident time and before the accident flight departed 1G1 indicated cloud cover between 3,500 ft and 10,000 ft msl with a 30 to 60% chance of light rain showers or moderate rain and a surface wind from the west between 10 to 15 knots.

Current Icing Potential (CIP) and Forecast Icing Potential (FIP) products are created by the NWS Aviation Weather Center (AWC) and are intended to be supplemental to other icing advisories (e.g. AIRMETs and SIGMETs). The FIP images indicated a 60 to 85% probability of light to moderate icing at 4,000 to 6,000 ft at 0600 at the accident site. The FIP indicated no potential for any Supercooled Large Droplets. This FIP information would have been available on the NWS AWC website before the accident flight departed 1G1.

The CIP product indicated a 40 to 85% probability of light icing at 4,000 to 6,000 ft at 0600 at the accident site. The CIP also indicated a 40 to 70% chance of SLD near the accident site around the accident time, with the bottom of the SLD layer between 2,500 and 5,000 ft msl and the top of the SLD layer between 12,500 and 15,000 ft msl.

A search of official weather briefing sources, such as Leidos Flight Service and Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS), revealed that the accident pilot did not request a weather briefing from Leidos or DUATS. ForeFlight did not have any record of the accident pilot accessing weather information. With no internet access while in flight, ForeFlight is still able to access weather information directly from the FAA, but leaves no remote record of such access. There was no record of the accident pilot receiving or retrieving any other weather information before or during the accident flight.

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 40.406389, -82.081944

The airplane impacted a wooded area; several large trees displayed damage consistent with impact. The outboard section of the right wing was found near the base of one of the trees. Portions of the wing and pieces of plexiglass where found in the debris path, which was about 100 ft long and oriented heading of about 220°.

The wreckage came to rest in the upright position. A postcrash fire consumed a majority of the fuselage and cockpit area. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit controls to the flight control surfaces. The landing gear and flaps were both in the retracted position. The propeller was fractured at the propeller hub; all three blades displayed nicks, gouges, curling, and rotational scoring. There were numerous branches with 45° cuts found in the debris field. No preimpact anomalies were detected with the airframe engine.

A member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol – Crash Reconstruction and Analysis Unit documented the accident scene and discovered two pieces of ice located about 25 ft east of the main wreckage with a curvature similar to the leading edge of a wing or horizontal stabilizer.

Medical And Pathological Information

An autopsy was conducted on the pilot by the Office of the Licking County Coroner, Newark, Ohio. The autopsy cited cause of death due to multiple blunt force injuries. The autopsy also noted the presence of mild atherosclerosis of the aorta.

The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. Testing was positive for losartan, which is used to treat high blood pressure and to lower the risk of stroke in certain people with heart disease. The pilot had reported his use of this medication to the FAA, and it is not impairing. 

Additional Information

FAA Advisory Circular 91-74B, Pilot Guide: Flight in Icing Conditions, stated:


An aircraft with a completely unprotected wing is unlikely to be certificated for flight in icing conditions, but may inadvertently encounter icing conditions…The ice causes an increase in drag, which the pilot detects as a loss in airspeed or an increase in the power required to maintain the same airspeed. (The drag increase is also due to ice on other parts of the aircraft). The longer the encounter, the greater the drag increase; even with increased power, it may not be possible to maintain airspeed. If the aircraft has relatively limited power (as is the case with many aircraft with no ice protection), it may soon approach stall speed and a dangerous situation.

Location: Warsaw, OH
Accident Number: CEN18FA143
Date & Time: 04/16/2018, 0630 EDT
Registration: N9345Q
Aircraft: BEECH G33
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On April 16, 2018, about 0630 eastern daylight time, a Beech G33 airplane, N9345Q, impacted terrain near Warsaw, Ohio. The commercial rated pilot and passenger were both fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a cross-country flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight departed from the Elyria Airport (1G1), Elyria, Ohio, and was en route to the Deland Municipal Airport (DED), Deland, Florida.

According to preliminary information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot was in radio contact with air traffic control. While in cruise flight, the pilot requested a descent after encountering icing conditions. The airplane continued its descent and then dropped off radar.

A passing pilot spotted the wreckage of the airplane. The land owners reported that around 0630, they heard the airplane's engine followed by an unusual sound, which they later thought to be the airplane's impact.

The airplane impacted a lightly wooded area. Several large trees had damage consistent with the airplane's collision. The outboard section of the right wing was found near the base of one of the trees. The airplane wreckage came to rest in the upright position. A post-crash fire consumed a majority of the fuselage and cockpit area. The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: BEECH
Registration: N9345Q
Model/Series: G33 G33
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: K4I3, 1191 ft msl
Observation Time: 0636 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 3°C / 1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2200 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots, 270°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4300 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.67 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: ELYRIA, OH (1G1)
Destination: DELAND, FL (DED)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 40.406389, -82.081944

Edward Zezlina Sr.


Edward Zezlina Sr. and Linda J. O’Brien



Edward Zezlina Sr. grew up in Northeast Ohio and lived there for most of his life. Edward joined the Army, serving in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart. Edward Zezlina Jr. said his father was a non-commissioned officer in the 75th infantry, attached to the 173rd airborne brigade. He conducted Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol missions while in Vietnam and his unit was later formed into the 75th Ranger Regiment in the late 1970s. His father’s service to his country inspired Zezlina Jr. to join the military. 

http://www.chroniclet.com


Linda J. O’Brien (Bodnar), age 71, of Grafton and formerly of Boardman, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 16, 2018 along with her life partner Edward Zezlina as a result of a plane accident.  Born August 5, 1946 in Salt Lake City, Utah; she was the daughter of Edward O’Brien and Mary Efurd.

http://www.lanefuneralhomes.com







WALHONDING - Two people are believed dead after a Beech G33 Bonanza crash Monday morning in the Walhonding area, according to authorities.

Lt. Matt Boyd, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said the number of bodies and the identities of the deceased are yet to be determined. Names will be released once families are notified, he said, and he wasn’t sure when that would be.

The Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office reported receiving a call around 7:25 a.m. from the flight service center in Panama City, Florida, that a Beech G33 Bonanza making its way from Elyria had dropped off of radar in the Coshocton County area. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the plane did not land at the Coshocton County or Holmes County airports before starting a search.

At about 9:50 a.m. Monday, a farmer reported finding the wreckage in a heavily wooded area on a hill off of County Road 401 between Tiverton and Spring Mountain, Boyd said. Debris was centralized to a small area on the hill. Looking at broken branches and trees, one could see the path the plane took to the crash site.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined. Boyd said the patrol has the lead in the local investigation. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were expected later Monday, Boyd said.

Assisting on scene were Coshocton County EMS, Walhonding Valley Fire Department and Coshocton County Coroner Robert Gwinn. Emergency crews cleared the scene around noon. Cleaning of debris has yet to start, pending further investigation of the site.

Original article ➤ https://www.coshoctontribune.com





The Ohio State Highway Patrol identified the two people killed in a Beech G33 Bonanza crash in Coshocton County Monday.

According to Ohio State Highway Patrol, Edward Zezlina, 67, and Linda O'Brien, 71, were in the Beech G33 Bonanza when it crashed.  

Edward Zezlina was flying the Beech G33 Bonanza. 

The couple lives in Grafton, Ohio, in Lorain County.

The crash happened in a remote area only accessible by foot or ATV.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the flight left Elyria, Ohio and was headed to DeLand, Florida. 

The call came in at about 10 a.m. and the crash is located in the 30700 block of County Road 401.

At about 7:25 a.m., the Coshocton County Sheriff received a call that the Beech G33 Bonanza dropped off the radar. 

The Sheriff's office and highway patrol confirmed the Beech G33 Bonanza did not land at any surrounding airports and began a search. 

At about 9:50 a.m., a resident reported finding the wreckage.

The National Transportation Safety Board will determine the cause of the crash after further investigation.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by authorities including the Federal Aviation Administration and local law enforcement.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.10tv.com

5 comments:

  1. I am a pilot from Elyria, the airport that this plane took off from was (1G1) or Elyria Municipal Airport (or Elyria City Airport). I believe this crash was caused by the following factors: dense cloud cover or IFR conditions with possible freezing rain and wing icing, also could have had faulty exhaust since the pilot heat was used which may have cause asphyxiation to both occupants. Lastly could have experience carburetor icing which would have cause the engine to quit.

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  2. FAA records show this plane had a Continental IO-470 motor. You can't get carb. ice if it's fuel injected!

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  3. Weather most certainly played a role in this crash as evidenced by looking at the FlightAware flight track of this aircraft that morning. Why would you choose to fly to Florida with that weather front extending along almost your entire trip? Should have just waited a day until the weather improved. Looking at the crash site pics it looks like the plane came straight down as the wreckage is confined to a small area.

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  4. I went to a FAA seminar years ago statement made "98 percent of pilots killed due to weather are buried on a clear day". Worth some thought. I gave it plenty in my years as a corporate pilot, shared it with my passangers a few times too.

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  5. Ice in flight is bad news. It destroys the smooth
    flow of air, increasing drag while decreasing the
    ability of the airfoil to create lift. The actual weight
    of ice on an airplane is insignificant when compared
    to the airflow disruption it causes. As
    power is added to compensate for the additional
    drag and the nose is lifted to maintain altitude,
    the angle of attack is increased, allowing the
    underside of the wings and fuselage to accumulate
    additional ice. Ice accumulates on every
    exposed frontal surface of the airplane—not just
    on the wings, propeller, and windshield, but also
    on the antennas, vents, intakes, and cowlings. It
    builds in flight where no heat or boots can reach
    it. It can cause antennas to vibrate so severely
    that they break. In moderate to severe conditions,
    a light aircraft can become so iced up that continued
    flight is impossible. The airplane may stall at
    much higher speeds and lower angles of attack
    than normal. It can roll or pitch uncontrollably,
    and recovery might be impossible.

    ReplyDelete