Sunday, June 17, 2018

Controlled Flight into Terrain and Object: Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N734BS, fatal accident occurred June 15, 2018 in Rotan, Fisher County, Texas

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

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Lubbock, Texas
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Lycoming; Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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


http://registry.faa.gov/N734BS

Location: Rotan, TX
Accident Number: CEN18FA227
Date & Time: 06/15/2018, 1538 CDT
Registration:N734BS 
Aircraft: CESSNA 172N
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Aerial Observation 

On June 15, 2018, at 1538 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N airplane, N734BS, was destroyed when it impacted power lines and terrain near Rotan, Texas. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Aero Photo as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 aerial photography flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Midland Airpark (MDD), Midland, Texas, about 1331 and was destined for Spicewood Airport (88R), Spicewood, Texas.

According to information from the operator and data from a Garmin Aera 560 portable GPS device recovered at the accident site, the airplane departed 88R about 1020 to perform aerial photography missions. After completing several missions, the airplane landed at MDD about 1250. The airplane remained at the airport for about 40 minutes and departed about 1331. The airplane flew circling-type maneuvers near Midland, Odessa, and Lubbock, Texas, consistent with the reported photography missions. After the circling maneuver near Lubbock, the airplane traveled southeast on a straight path toward 88R, but the airplane impacted non-electrified power lines that crossed a canyon and subsequently impacted terrain.

The final recorded data point, at 1537, was about 3.3 nautical miles northwest of the accident site and showed the airplane's altitude at that time as 2,206 ft mean sea level (msl). According to Google Earth, the terrain elevation at that location was about 2,008 ft msl.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 38, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/18/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  5524 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5027 hours (Total, this make and model) 

The 38-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings. The pilot also held a second-class medical certificate dated April 18, 2018, without limitations. He reported 5,578 hours of total flight experience at that time. The pilot's flight logbook was not recovered during the investigation, but he completed a company pilot information form on May 7, 2018, which indicated that he had accumulated 5,523.6 hours of total flight experience, including 2.5 hours in multiengine airplanes, 5,026.9 hours in Cessna 172 airplanes, 902.4 hours during the preceding 12 months, and 242.3 hours during the preceding 90 days. The form also indicated that the pilot's most recent flight review was conducted on February 27, 2018. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N734BS
Model/Series: 172N 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 17268731
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 08/31/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2299 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 7636 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: O-320-D2J
Registered Owner: AERO PHOTO
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: AERO PHOTO
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

The airplane, serial number 17268731, was manufactured in 1977 and was powered by a Lycoming O-320-D2J engine, serial number RL-18668-39, rated to produce 160 horsepower. The airplane had fixed landing gear and accommodated four occupants, including the pilot.

Maintenance records indicated that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on August 31, 2017, with a tachometer reading of 7,636 hours. The recent airplane maintenance entries did not indicate if the tachometer reading correlated to the airplane's total time in service. Likewise, the recent engine maintenance entries did not indicate if the tachometer reading correlated to the actual engine hours or the number of hours that the engine had accumulated since its most recent overhaul. 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SWW, 2380 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 30 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2035 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 170°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 7000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots / 23 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 140°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 13°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Midland, TX (MDD)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Spicewood, TX (88R)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1331 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G 

At 1535, the recorded weather conditions at Avenger Field Airport, Sweetwater, Texas, which was about 30 nautical miles south of the accident site, were wind from 140° at 12 knots, gusting to 23 knots; 10 statute miles visibility; scattered clouds at 7,000 ft above the ground; temperature 34°C; dew point 13°C; and altimeter setting 29.91 inches of mercury. 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 32.911944, -100.540833 

The power lines that the airplane struck were suspended from wooden poles that were about 20 ft tall and were on the peaks of the ridges forming the canyon. The power lines were estimated to be about 130 ft above the floor of the canyon. The airplane came to rest inverted about 900 ft from the power lines, and the accident site was about 50° from where the power lines crossed the center of the canyon. Te power lines were not marked.

The aft fuselage was broken near the baggage compartment, and the entire aft fuselage and the tail were bent over the inverted fuselage. Both wings appeared intact and still attached to the fuselage and wing struts. The ailerons and flaps remained attached to the wings. The tail surfaces were intact, and the rudder and elevator remained attached. The engine was separated from the airplane with the propeller still attached to the engine. A large portion of power line cable had wrapped around the crankshaft an estimated 15 times aft of the propeller. Access to the accident site was limited due to the topography, and the position of the wreckage was not suitable for a detailed on-scene examination, but subsequent examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 

Medical And Pathological Information

According to the autopsy performed by South Plains Forensic Pathology in Lubbock, the pilot's cause of death was blunt injuries of the head and torso.

Toxicology testing performed by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified, in the pilot specimens, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana) and its metabolites as well as cocaine and its metabolites. Specifically, THC was found at 0.006 µg/ml in the pilot's cavity blood specimens as were two THC inactive metabolites, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. All three compounds were also found in the pilot's urine specimens. Cocaine was detected in the pilot's urine specimens as were its inactive metabolites benzoylecgonine, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, and ecgonine methyl ester. These inactive metabolites were also identified in the pilot's cavity blood specimens; cocaine was not detected in those specimens.

Tests And Research

In addition to the Garmin Aera 560 portable GPS device, a GoPro Hero 4 action camera was located at the accident site and was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Vehicle Recorder Laboratory for data extraction. The device contained 181 files consisting of 177 still images and 4 videos. Seven of the still images had timestamps consistent with the accident flight, and all those images were taken from the front right seat of the airplane. Several of those images showed the airplane operating at low altitudes near geographical features such as canyons and plateaus. The final image had a timestamp of 1540:50. For that image, the camera was pointed directly ahead of the airplane through the front windscreen, and the airplane was flying toward an area of small canyons that were depicted in previous images. The airplane was in a moderate left bank about level with the tops of small canyons that surrounded the airplane. In the distance, on top of a small canyon to the right, a wooden pole structure was visible, and the orientation of the structure indicated that the suspended power lines stretched in front of the airplane's flightpath. On the left side of the image, the suspended power lines were visible at a similar altitude as that of the airplane.

Additional Information

FAA regulations (14 CFR 91.13) prohibit the operation of "an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another." Furthermore, except when necessary for takeoff or landing, the regulations (14 CFR 91.119) require pilots to maintain an altitude of at least 1,000 ft above the highest obstacle within a 2,000-foot horizontal radius of the aircraft in congested areas except during takeoff or landing. In uncongested areas, pilots must maintain an altitude of at least 500 ft above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, an aircraft cannot be operated closer than 500 ft to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.


An Instagram user provided the NTSB with screen-captured video recordings that were reportedly made by the passenger in the accident airplane and uploaded to Instagram's "My Story" feature. One of the passenger's videos, titled "Just Checking the Livestock" was taken from the right window of the airplane, panning forward to the windscreen. The airplane's estimated altitude at that time was 30 ft above the ground. The final "My Story" video was taken from the right window of the airplane. At that time, the airplane was traveling at a high ground speed, and the airplane's altitude was estimated to be less than 100 ft above the ground. The geography in the area consisted of small hills and rock formations.

Location: Rotan, TX
Accident Number: CEN18FA227
Date & Time: 06/15/2018, 1800 CDT
Registration: N734BS
Aircraft: CESSNA 172N
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Business 

On June 15, 2018, at 1538 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734BS, was destroyed when it impacted a power lines and terrain near Rotan, Texas. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Aero Photo under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident. The flight was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Midland Airpark (MDD), Midland, Texas, about 1331, and the Spicewood Airport (88R), Spicewood, Texas was the intended destination.

The airplane had departed 88R earlier in the day to perform aerial photography missions. After completing several missions the airplane landed at MDD, reportedly to refuel. After departing MDD on the accident flight, the airplane flew photography missions near Midland, Texas, Odessa, Texas, and Lubbock, Texas. After completing the missions near Lubbock the airplane traveled southeast to return to 88R.

The airplane impacted a non-electrified power lines that crossed a canyon near Rotan, Texas. The power line that was struck was suspended from wooden poles about 20 ft tall that were on the peaks of the adjacent ridges forming the canyon. The power lines were estimated to be about 130 ft above the floor of the canyon. The airplane came to rest inverted about 900 feet from the power lines and the direction from the center of the canyon where the power line crossed to the accident site was about 50°. The aft fuselage was broken near the baggage compartment and the entire aft fuselage and tail were bent over the inverted fuselage. Both wings appeared intact and still attached to the fuselage and wing struts. The ailerons and flaps remained attached to the wings. The tail surfaces were intact and the rudder and elevator remained attached. The engine was separated with the prop still attached to the engine. A portion of power line cable was wrapped around the crankshaft aft of the propeller an estimated 15 turns. Access to the site was limited due to the topography and the position of the wreckage was not suitable for a detailed on-scene examination. For these reasons, the examination was limited until the recovery of the airplane from the accident scene. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N734BS
Model/Series: 172N N
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: AERO PHOTO
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SWW
Observation Time: 2035 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 30 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 13°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 7000 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 12 knots/ 23 knots, 140°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.91 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Midland, TX (MDD)
Destination: Spicewood, TX (88R)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 32.911944, -100.540833

Dallas Lee McMahan

A former Corpus Christi photographer and surfer was the pilot of a plane that crashed Friday in West Texas, state authorities said.

Dallas Lee McMahon, 33, of Austin and Jay Robert Leibson, 38, of Burnet, were both killed when the plane crashed in Fisher County, according to Department of Public Safety officials.

McMahon was a professional photographer and graphic designer.

He specialized in aerial photography and also had a following for his talents capturing surfing, which is prominently featured on his website.

Ethan Thompson, a professor of Media Arts at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, said McMahon was his student 10 years ago.

"Dallas was a kind and creative person who loved being outside, doing things and making things," Thompson wrote the Caller-Times in a Facebook message. "He was a very talented photographer, and he turned it into his profession. He loved surfing and the outdoors, and sharing those things with his friend and through his photography."

Before moving to Austin, McMahon worked for New Wave Photography. Ryan Graham, New Wave's owner, said McMahon was an employee of the company before Graham bought it in 2014.

"He was instrumental in the foundation of New Wave Photography," Graham said. "It's special to me to have purchased what he was a part of."

McMahon's work varied from skateboarding and surfing to landscape and weddings.

"He had the skills for photography, web design ... he was like a jack of all trades," Graham said. "His artistic style and presentation made his work stand out. Just looking at his work it was clear — his style was unique."

Graham said McMahon was always helpful to other photographers and enthusiasts, offering tips and exchanging ideas.

"He would always talk shop with anyone. He's responsible for my jump into professional photography. He convinced me to take what I was doing on the side and turn it into a career. He showed me what was possible," he said.

McMahon's photography was often displayed at Texas Surf Museum alongside that of Jon Steele, a professional photographer from California.

"He was amazingly outgoing and always stoked," Steele told the Caller-Times. "We were friends forever."

Steele said McMahon had a passion for art and music. He played a mandolin.

"He was always so fired up. He never said 'no' to anything. He was excited about any opportunity. His new job with aerial photography was amazing. He was taking some beautiful shots."

McMahon is listed an employee at Aero Photo, an aerial photography company based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Aero Photo has an operational base near Austin.

"He doing exactly was he loved to do," Steele said. "For him to go this way ... you can't be bummed that he left that way. He was doing what he loves — making art. That's how we all want to go."

Leibson also worked for Aero Photo; the company's website lists him as one of its pilots.

Federal Aviation Administration records show Leibson has had a commercial pilot license since December 2013. He was also a certified flight instructor and was qualified to fly single- and multi-engine aircraft. 

DPS reported the Cessna 172N they were flying apparently struck power lines Friday afternoon, about 10 miles northwest of Rotan. The plane crashed at the bottom of a canyon just before 4:30 p.m., according to DPS.

Weather conditions were clear. The crash is under investigation.

Fisher County is a rural and has a small population — estimated at 3,880 in 2017, according to census figures. 

While the county has some flat terrain, there are remote sections with gullies and brush, making access difficult. 

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise $15,000 for McMahon's memorial fund. As of Monday, nearly $10,000 had been raised.

McMahon, a Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi graduate, had his own photography business in Corpus Christi and also worked at the Texas Surf Museum, according to the GoFundMe page.


Original article can be found here: https://www.caller.com

Dallas McMahon Memorial Fund

ROTAN, TX — A Cessna 172 aircraft crashed 10 miles northwest of Rotan in Fisher County Saturday afternoon and both pilot and his only passenger were killed.

According to the Texas DPS, Dallas Lee McMahon 33, of Austin, was piloting a Cessna 172N and hit a power line before crashing and then plunging into a canyon below.

Fisher County Sheriff Alan Arnwine told KTXS that the plane came to a rest in rough terrain. It took rescuers two hours in ATV off-road vehicles to reach the crash site. KTXS reported the crash was on the Hawks Double Mountain Ranch in northwest Fisher County. The ranch is a hunting resort. Unknown is if the pilot and passenger were headed to or from the ranch.

DPS reported the plane hit the power lines and then crashed into the bottom of a canyon.

Pilot McMahon’s only passenger was Jay Robert Liebson, 38, of Burnet.

Once first responders arrived at the scene, both occupants were pronounced dead and the bodies taken to a funeral home in Rotan.

The crash happened Saturday afternoon, June 15, 2018, at 4:24 p.m., according to DPS. The weather was clear with clouds, DPS reported.

The Cessna 172 is a single-engine, four-seat (including the pilot) aircraft with a “high” wing. A high wing means the wing is mounted above the pilots’ heads. High wing aircraft allow for better visibility below, which makes these kinds of planes great platforms for aerial photography. The 172 that crashed was registered to Aero Photo out of Saint Petersburg, Florida since 2006. The plane was first registered as airworthy in 1977. Aero Photo initially called KTXS asking about any reported crashes, looking for their airplane and pilots.

The last two flights tracked by FlightAware.com of this 172 were a 3:45 hour flight from Texas Gulf Coast Regional near Houston to the Giddings-Lee County Airport on June 8; and on June 7, a 3-hour, 56-minute flight from Burnet Muni to Houston Executive Airport.

Not all flights are tracked on FlightAware, particularly flights flown under Visual Flight Rules, or VFR, where filing a flight plan is optional.

Original article can be found here: https://sanangelolive.com

Cessna 172N Skyhawk II, N734BS


FISHER COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - The two people killed in a Friday afternoon plane crash near Rotan have been identified, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. 

The pilot was 33-year-old Dallas Lee McMahan of Austin. The passenger was 38-year-old Jay Robert Liebson of Burnet. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. 

The crash happened at about 4:30 p.m., Friday 10 miles northwest of Rotan in Fisher County. 

DPS said the plane was a Cessna 172N. It appeared to have struck power lines before crashing into the bottom of a canyon, DPS said. 

Original article: http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com

FISHER COUNTY, Texas — UPDATE:

Two men were killed after their small plane crashed Friday evening.

The single engine plane crashed at Hawks Double Mountain Ranch, northwest of Fisher County.

According to Fisher County Sheriff Alan Arnwine, the plane hit a power line.

The Fishers County Sheriff's Office received the call around 4:20 p.m.

However, due to rough terrain they couldn't reach the two men until nearly two hours later. They needed an ATV to reach the scene.

The crash is still under investigation.

PREVIOUS STORY:

The Fisher County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a plane went down in Fisher County on Friday.

The plane went down around 5:15 p.m.

Fire personnel and rescue crews have set up a staging area near FM 611 and County Road 2832 in Rotan.

The exact location of where the plane went down has not been released and the Fisher County Sheriff's Office has not provided any further details.

However, the owner of Aero Photo, an aerial photography company based out of St. Petersburg, Florida with an operational base near Austin, contacted KTXS to ask about the fate of her company's plane and the crew.

The aircraft that went down is believed to be a Cessna 172N Skyhawk. The single engine plane was built in 1977 and can seat up to four people.

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

5 comments:

  1. Apparently no Dallas Lee McMahon or McMahan in the FAA Airman database.

    ReplyDelete

  2. Unfortunately, another tally to a long list of preventable aviation deaths.

    Respects to the deceased and their families.

    ReplyDelete
  3. No McMahon in the FAA database because the pilot was Jay Bob Leibson. The DPS was mistaken in their initial report to the media that McMahon was the pilot. McMahon was the photographer on board. He has plenty of photos of himself in the right seat of the Cessna, there, but was not a pilot or pilot in training.

    ReplyDelete
  4. FYI....You can request to NOT have your name listed in the FAA public database search.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's incorrect. You can request to have your ADDRESS unlisted, but your name and certificate information cannot be withheld from the public search.

    https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/change_releasability/

    ReplyDelete