Friday, October 19, 2018

Bowers Fly Baby, N107KW: Fatal accident occurred October 19, 2018 in Milton, Florida

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

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Birmingham, Alabama

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


https://registry.faa.gov/N107KW

Location: Milton, FL

Accident Number: ERA19FA020
Date & Time: 10/19/2018, 1130 CDT
Registration: N107KW
Aircraft: Bowers FLYBABY
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On October 19, 2018, at 1130 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Bowers Flybaby, N107KW, was substantially damaged after impacting trees and terrain near Milton, Florida. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed George T. McCutchan Airport (8FL6), Harold, Florida, around 1100.


The owner/operator of the airplane reported that pilot was his friend and a highly experienced military and airline pilot. The pilot routinely flew the airplane to either Yellow River Airstrip (FD93), Holt, Florida, or Baker Sky Ranch, a private airport, but the owner was unsure where the pilot was flying to on the day of the accident. He also stated that there were no known issues with the airplane.


Several witnesses observed the flight and stated that the airplane was flying west-southwest and paralleling the highway 500 ft above ground level (agl) about 2 miles northwest of FD93. They stated that the airplane's engine sounded like it was modulating back and forth from normal power to no power on a regular interval. One witness said the engine sounded smooth when it had power, however, it then went quiet for about 10 seconds before starting back up again; "it did this several times." The airplane descended to about 100 ft agl, just above the tree tops when the wings started to rock back and forth. The airplane then made a left turn to the south, immediately rolled left and descended steeply until impact. Another witness stated he heard a "backfire" as the airplane was descending.


The airplane collided with trees and terrain on a heading of about 120° in a heavily wooded area next to a farm. The wreckage path was compact; all primary structural components and flight control surfaces were accounted for in the debris field. There were several broken branches about 20 ft agl in nearby trees and the airplane struck the ground in a nose down angle. The propeller remained attached to the flange and one blade was broken backwards but remained attached to the hub. The engine remained attached to the firewall, which was separated from the fuselage. The left wing separated from the fuselage and was broken in several locations. The airplane had numerous breaks and tears in the fuselage. The tail section, including the rudder and elevators remained attached and showed little sign of damage. The 12-gallon fuel tank mounted on the firewall was compromised during the accident sequence and contained about 2 gallons of 100 low lead aviation gasoline. There was no post-accident fire.


The wreckage was retained for further examination.


According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airmen records, the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land, airplane single engine land and flight engineer. He held a basic medical certificate. The pilot reported 7,859 total hours of flight experience as of his most recent medical examination, which was dated June 13, 2016 and according to the owner of the airplane, he had accumulated about 37 hours in the accident airplane.


According to FAA airworthiness and airplane maintenance records, the airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category on September 20, 2008. It was a single place, open cockpit, low wing, tail-wheel equipped airplane that was constructed of wood and fabric. It was powered by a Continental A-80, 80-horsepower engine that drove a Sensenich wooden two-blade fixed pitch propeller. The engine tachometer recovered from the accident site showed 142.2 hours. According to the airplane logbooks, the last condition inspection was completed on April 26, 2018 and the recorded tachometer at that time was 119.1 hours.


Bob Sikes Airport (CEW) Crestview, Florida was located about 15 miles east of the accident site. The 1153 weather observation at CEW, included wind from 100° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 27° C, dew point 21° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.23 inches of mercury. 


Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information


Aircraft Make: Bowers

Registration: N107KW
Model/Series: FLYBABY
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
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: KCEW, 213 ft msl
Observation Time: 1653 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 21°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots / , 100°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.23 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Harold, FL (8FL6)
Destination: 

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: 30.708611, -86.771111

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.


John L. Boudreaux, Jr.
Birth Date: February 26, 1950
Death Date: October 19, 2018
~

Maj. John Landry “Boodie” Boudreaux, Jr. (USAF, Ret.)

February 26, 1950 – October 19, 2018

Maj. John Landry “Boodie” Boudreaux, Jr. (USAF, Ret.), who served his country as a fighter pilot and entertained jazz lovers as a big band trumpeter, died on October 19, in Holt, FL, in a single-engine aircraft accident. He was 68.

A native of Baton Rouge, LA, John graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1968. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He received a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in American history from Louisiana State University in 1972. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force through ROTC.

As an Air Force command fighter pilot, John served at bases in the United States, Germany and South Korea. He logged more than 4,000 hours in six fighter and trainer aircraft from 1973 to 1993 (F-15, F-106, F-100, T-37, T-38 & T-33). After retirement from active duty, he was employed by FedEx as a flight engineer in Memphis. He retired in 2014 as an Airbus Captain with 20 years of service and more than 8,000 flight hours.

John’s lifelong passion for music was cultivated during four years as a member of the LSU Golden Band from Tigerland. Upon relocating to Memphis in 1995, he revived his love for jazz as a trumpet player with the Memphis Knights Big Band, VA Band, and the Memphis Shrine Band, and as the leader of the Memphis Doctors Band. He volunteered his time to play “Taps” for local military funerals in association with Bugles Across America.

John was an aviator in every sense of the word. He participated in numerous events to promote aviation and preserve aviation history. He piloted his own planes in retirement and was a traveling member of the “Black Ducks” flying club near Milton, FL. He will be deeply missed as an exceptional man, full of life and joy in every moment.

Visitation will be held Thursday, November 1, from 5-7 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:45 a.m., Friday, November 2 at Grace Hill Church, 10576 Collierville Road, Collierville. Friends will be received from 10:30-11:45 a.m. The service will be officiated by Pastor Jason Stockdale. Burial with full military honors will follow at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene, Memphis.

John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jan Will Boudreaux, his high school sweetheart and fellow high school band member; a daughter Allison Boudreaux Walden, CFRE, IOM (Christopher James Walden); son Maj. Jeremy John Boudreaux, USAF (Jessie Seahorn Boudreaux); grandchildren Luke Walden and Lillian Walden; mother Ruth Bowman Suthon Boudreaux; and brothers Richard Lee Boudreaux (Candice Hughes), Ronald Charles Boudreaux and Jeffrey Lynn Boudreaux (Isabelle Begue); niece Josephine Boudreaux (Evan Weinberg) and great-niece Eleanora Weinberg. He is preceded in death by his father, John Landry “Buddy” Boudreaux.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The National Aviation Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 31096, Dayton, Ohio 45437 or the National Museum of the United States Air Force by way of the Air Force Museum Foundation, P.O. Box 1903, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”. 

https://www.memorialparkfuneralandcemetery.com



HOLT — One man died Friday as the result of a small plane crash near Holt.

John Boudreaux, of Memphis Tenn., has tentatively been identified as the deceased pilot of the single engine Fly Baby aircraft that went down around 10 a.m. in the Log Lake area, close to U.S. Highway 90.

Boudreaux had taken off from George T. McCutchan airfield in Santa Rosa County about 30 minutes before the crash occurred.

The plane he was flying belonged to Maj. Gen. Clay T. McCutchan, who served in the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field. FAA records show McCutchan lives in Escambia County close to the Santa Rosa County line.

Records indicate McCutchan owns several aircraft and Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michele Nicholson confirmed he maintains a small airfield on his property.

McCutchan was unavailable Friday for comment.

Witnesses said they saw the plane flying low and heard its engine shut off and come back on, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

One person said he saw the aircraft go down somewhere north of U.S. 90.

As first responders conducted a search of the area, a resident of Joseph Cook Road said that he had located the plane in trees south of his property, the release said.

The FAA will investigate the cause of the crash., a man, was the only person aboard, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michele Nicholson said.

The FAA has been notified about the crash and will investigate, the news release said.

Records show the plane involved in the accident was manufactured in 2008. A certificate to operate the aircraft had been issued in 2014 and was not due to expire until 2020.

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

Updated Story 3:20 pm Friday

Investigators say the victim in this morning's plane crash has been tentatively identified as John Boudreaux of Memphis, Tennessee. According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Boudreaux had reportedly taken off from George T. McCutchan airfield in Santa Rosa County around 9:30 am Friday. Witnesses told investigators they heard the plane's engine shut off and come back on. One witness told officials he saw the small aircraft go down north of Highway 90. A man living on Joseph Cook Road told first responders he found the aircraft in trees south of his property. ​

Original Story 11:30 am Friday

HOLT, Fla. (WKRG) - A pilot was killed this morning when a single-engine plane crashed near Holt. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office says the plane crashed east of Highway 90 near Cooper Lane. Investigators say a witness called 911 around 10 am Friday and reported seeing a small plane flying over his property. The caller told officials the plane's engine was sputtering.

First responders found a crash scene. The pilot was the only person on-board the plane. The FAA will investigate.

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

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