Friday, October 26, 2018

Inflight Upset: Piper PA-31T Cheyenne, N555PM; fatal accident occurred October 25, 2018 in Atlantic Ocean

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

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

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Accident Investigation and Prevention; Washington, District of Columbia
Piper Aircraft Inc; Vero Beach, Florida

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Atlantic Ocean
Accident Number: ERA19LA026
Date & Time: October 25, 2018, 11:19 Local
Registration: N555PM
Aircraft: Piper PA31T
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Inflight upset
Injuries: 5 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The two pilots and three passengers were conducting a cross-country flight over the ocean from South Carolina to the Bahamas. About 30 minutes into the flight, while climbing through 24,300 ft to 25,000 ft about 95 miles beyond the coast, the pilot made a garbled radio transmission indicating an emergency and intent to return. At the time of the transmission the airplane had drifted slightly right of course. The airplane then began a descent and returned on course. After the controller requested several times for the pilot to repeat the radio transmission, the pilot replied, "we're descending." About 15 seconds later, at an altitude of about 23,500 ft, the airplane turned sharply toward the left, and the descent rate increased to greater than 4,000 ft per minute, consistent with a loss of control. Attempts by the air traffic controller to clarify the nature of the emergency and the pilot's intentions were unsuccessful. About 1 minute after the sharp left turn and increased descent, the pilot again declared an emergency. No further communications were received. Search efforts coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard observed an oil slick and some debris on the water in the vicinity of where the airplane was last observed via radar, however the debris was not identified or recovered. According to recorded weather information, a shallow layer favorable for light rime icing was present at 23,000 ft. However, because the airplane was not recovered, the investigation could not determine whether airframe icing or any other more-specific issues contributed to the loss of control.

One air traffic control communication audio recording intermittently captured the sound of an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) "homing" signal for about 45 minutes, beginning near the time of takeoff, and ending about 5 minutes after radar contact was lost. Due to the intermittent nature of the signal, and the duration of the recording, it could not be determined if the ELT signal had begun
transmitting before or ceased transmitting after these times. Because ELT homing signals sound the same for all airplanes, the source could not be determined. However, the ELT sound was recorded by only the second of two geographic areas that the airplane flew through and began before the airplane arrived near either of those areas. Had the accident airplane's ELT been activated near the start of the
flight, it is unlikely that it would be detected in the second area and not the first. Additionally, the intermittent nature of the ELT signal is more consistent with an ELT located on the ground, rather than an airborne activation. An airborne ELT is more likely to have a direct line-of-sight to one or more of the ground based receiving antennas, particularly at higher altitudes, resulting in more consistent reception.

The pilot's initial emergency and subsequent radio transmissions contained notably louder background noise compared to the previous transmissions. The source or reason for the for the increase in noise could not be determined.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
An in-flight loss of control, which resulted in an impact with water, for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered.

Findings

Not determined (general) - Unknown/Not determined

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-climb to cruise Inflight upset (Defining event)

On October 25, 2018, about 1119 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31T, N555PM, was presumed to have impacted the Atlantic Ocean about 100 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. The two pilots and three passengers were not found and presumed fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The family of the pilot/owner reported that the airplane departed from its home base, a private runway in Andrews, South Carolina, destined for Governors Harbour Airport (MYEM), Governors Harbour, Bahamas. Radar and air traffic control data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed the airplane departed the private runway toward the southeast about 1047. The airplane crossed over the coastline and began a climb to an assigned altitude of 25,000 ft. The climb rate was consistent at 500 ft per minute (fpm), and the airplane remained on course flying toward the assigned airspace fix. When the airplane was about 12 miles from the fix (about 95 miles southeast of Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport (CHS), Charleston, South Carolina), while climbing through 24,300 ft, the pilot made a garbled radio transmission (that had a considerably increased background noise level) that included the word "emergency". The pilot of another airplane on the same frequency relayed that he heard N555PM say that he was diverting to CHS. At the time of the transmission, the airplane had drifted slightly to the right (less than 1/4 mile) of course. The airplane then began a descent about 1,000 fpm and returned on course toward the fix. About 23 seconds after the garbled emergency transmission, following several requests from air traffic control requests to repeat it, the pilot (or possibly the co-pilot) stated, "we're descending." About 15 seconds later, at an altitude of about 23,500 ft, the airplane turned sharply toward the left, and the descent rate increased to greater than 4,000 fpm. About 25 seconds after that, the radar data's altitude parameter became invalid; the last reported altitude was 21,500 ft. About 35 seconds later, at 1118:33, the pilot transmitted "emergency emergency," and no further transmissions were recorded. The last radar position was recorded at 1118:50, about 3 miles to the left (northeast) of the airplane's original course toward the fix. That position corresponded to a location about 100 nautical miles east southeast of CHS.

The FAA issued an alert notice (ALNOT) and a search effort was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard. One of the search airplanes reported an oil sheen on the surface of the water near the last known coordinates; however, neither the airplane nor debris were located. A nearby commercial tanker vessel was requested by the Coast Guard to divert to the area and search. Personnel reported briefly observing a white object just beneath the water surface, about 4.5 miles east of the last recorded radar position, but they were unable to identify it. The search effort was cancelled 2 days later at sunset.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private 
Age: 47, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 18, 2018
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2778 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 70,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 9, 2017
Occupational Pilot: UNK 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 12000 hours (Total, all aircraft)

The airplane was certificated for single pilot operation. The second pilot on board, who also held a flight instructor certificate, was serving as co-pilot.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 
Registration: N555PM
Model/Series: PA31T
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1976 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 31T-7620028
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 8
Date/Type of Last Inspection: September 5, 2018 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 8999 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 2 Turbo prop
Airframe Total Time: 7718 Hrs as of last inspection 
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Canada
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-28A
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 620 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

A review of airplane records revealed that the airplane's most recent annual inspection included routine maintenance, the replacement of the starter generators on both engines, replacement of the cabin oxygen bottle, and compliance with several airworthiness directive (AD) inspections, including AD 2017-02-06, which addressed a potential issue with electrical wiring arcing and fire risk. The airplane was equipped with an airframe and propeller deicing system, an autopilot, airborne weather radar, and an satellite-based weather data receiver.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCHS,40 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 106 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 10:56 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 290°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 12000 ft AGL 
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 20000 ft AGL
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots / 18 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: Clear air /
Wind Direction: 30° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: Moderate /
Altimeter Setting: 30.18 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Andrews, SC (PVT) 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Governors Hrbr. (MYEM)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 10:46 Local
Type of Airspace:

A review of weather records revealed that there were no convective or precipitation echoes in the area at the time of the accident. Satellite imagery depicted a mid-level layer of clouds in the area with tops estimated at 15,500 ft. An AIRMET advisory for moderate turbulence was in effect for the region. Atmospheric model results characterized the atmosphere as stable, with a freezing level around 13,000 ft. Icing conditions were likely between the freezing level and the estimated cloud tops. Additionally, a shallow layer favorable for light rime icing was present at 23,000 ft. Pilot reports from the region indicated light to moderate turbulence.

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 3 Fatal 
Aircraft Fire: Unknown
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 5 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 37.634952,-72.860855(est)

Additional Information

At the time of the pilot's initial emergency radio transmission, the air traffic control audio recording included the sound of an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) 'homing' signal, obscuring the pilot's voice. The only intelligible portion of the transmission was the call sign and the word "emergency." The pilot's intention to return to CHS was overheard by the pilot of another airplane in the area and relayed back to the ATC controller.

The ATC communications recording provided by the FAA included audio sources from all of the radio frequencies and land line telephones used and monitored by the controllers during their shifts, mixed together into a single recorded channel or stream. As a result, the audio from any one radio frequency (or other source, such as land line telephone calls) cannot be separated or isolated from any other source during playback. In this case, the sound of the pilot's voice could not be separated from the simultaneous sound of the ELT signal. Efforts to filter and reduce the ELT noise failed to enhance the intelligibility or clarity of the pilot's initial "emergency" radio transmission.

Further, the frequency on which the ELT signal was transmitting, could not be determined. Air traffic controllers monitor both the 121.5 and 243 MHz emergency frequencies through a network of remote antennas on the ground, which correspond to the geographic area or "sector" that they control. Because the recording mixed all frequencies together, it was not possible to determine if the ELT was transmitting on either (or both) of these frequencies. All ELTs transmit the same audible "homing signal" which all sound alike. Some military ELTs transmit exclusively on 243 MHz, while all civilian ELTs always transmit on at least 121.5, some also transmit simultaneously on 243 MHz. Some ELTs additionally transmit a unique digital code on 406 MHz, but also transmit the 'homing' signal on 121.5 MHz. The type of ELT installed on the accident airplane was not recorded in the available aircraft records.

The ELT signal was recorded intermittently from 1039 (about 7 minutes before the airplane was first detected on radar, as it took off from Andrews, South Carolina) until 1124, about 5 minutes after the airplane's last recorded radar position. The signal was at times present for several seconds, and frequently only for a fraction of a second. The duration of time during which the signal was not heard, varied from a fraction of a second to several minutes. The overall duration spanned nearly the entire recording, which began at 1030 and ended at 1130. The ELT signal was captured only on the recording of the "R52" controller position at the Jacksonville air route traffic control center, which was the 2nd controller position at Jacksonville to talk to N555PM. As the flight continued south into Jacksonville airspace, it first encountered the "R71" controller position. There were no ELT signals heard on the R71 recording. As the flight proceeded further south, it was handed off to the R52 position.

According to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center 2018 annual report, 60 percent of the emergency beacons (about 5,900) detected in 2018 were non-distress related (accidental activation, improper testing, etc).

James Edwin “Jamie” Mitchum, Jr.

Mitchum’s relatives and friends described him as a family man with a strong faith in God. He loved all things adventurous — flying his helicopters and airplanes, boating, fishing, hiking, riding motorcycles — and enjoyed sharing those experiences with his relatives and friends.

Captain Joseph Wayne Allbritton Jr. 

Joseph was a Clemson graduate who followed his passion for adventure and blue marlins to Charleston. He traveled the world, earned his Captain's license and along the way married his best first mate, Diana, and was Tripp's very proud father. His was respected and remembered in the sport fishing and boating industry communities from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Bahamas to Fiji and New Zealand. But he always steered his boat home to his family. His many friends around the world have appreciated his ability to make us all feel special. He was the Captain of his life, the fisherman of our dreams and will be long remembered and loved. 


Location: Atlantic Ocean, AO
Accident Number: ERA19LA026
Date & Time: 10/25/2018, 1119 EDT
Registration: N555PM
Aircraft: Piper PA31T
Injuries: 5 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On October 25, 2018, at about 1119 eastern daylight time, and about 100 miles south east of Charleston, South Carolina (CHS), radar contact was lost with a Piper PA-31T, N555PM. The airplane was presumed to have impacted the Atlantic Ocean. The commercial pilot and four passengers were not found and presumed fatally injured. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed from a private airport in Andrews, South Carolina about 1047, bound for Governor's Harbor airport, Bahamas (MYEM). The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot's family reported that the airplane departed from its home base, a private runway in Andrews, South Carolina. Preliminary radar and air traffic control data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed the airplane departed the area toward the southeast about, 1047. The airplane crossed over the coastline and began a climb to an assigned altitude of 25,000 feet. The climb rate was consistent at 500 feet per minute (fpm), and the airplane remained on course flying toward the assigned airspace fix, named LURKS. When the airplane was about 12 miles from LURKS (about 95 miles southeast of CHS), while climbing through 24,300 feet, the pilot made a garbled radio transmission indicating that he was diverting to CHS. The airplane began a descent at about 1,000 fpm and maintained a course towards LURKS. About 23 seconds later, after several air traffic control requests to repeat the radio transmission, the pilot replied, "we're descending". About 15 seconds later, at an altitude of about 23,500 feet, the airplane turned sharply toward the left, and the descent rate increased to greater than 4,000 fpm. About 25 seconds later, the radar data altitude parameter went invalid, the last reported altitude was 21,500 feet. About 35 seconds later, the pilot transmitted "emergency emergency, five five five papa mike", and no further transmissions were recorded. About 25 seconds later, the last radar position (32.3184N 78.0661W) was recorded at 1119, which was about 3 miles to the left (northeast) of the airplane's original course towards LURKS. That position corresponded to a location about 100 nautical miles east southeast of CHS.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT) and a search effort was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard. One of the search airplanes reported an oil sheen on the surface of the water near the last known coordinates; however, neither the airplane nor debris were located. The search effort was cancelled on October 27 at sunset.

A review of the airplane maintenance logbooks revealed that the most recent annual inspection was performed on September 5, 2018, and at that time the airframe had accrued a total of 7,718 hours. That inspection included routine maintenance, the replacement of the starter generators on both engines, replacement of the cabin oxygen bottle, and compliance with several airworthiness directive inspections, including AD 2017-02-06, which addresses a potential issue with electrical wiring arcing and fire risk.

According to Federal Aviation Administration airman records the pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multi-engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument airplane. His most recent medical certificate was issued on March 8, 2018, at which time he reported a total of 2,778 hours of total flight experience.

A preliminary review of weather records revealed that there were no convective or precipitation echoes in the area at the time of the accident. Satellite imagery depicted a mid-level layer of clouds in the area with tops estimated at 15,500 feet. An Airmen's Meteorological Information advisory for moderate turbulence was in effect for the region. Atmospheric model results characterized the atmosphere as stable, with a freezing level around 13,000 feet and a shallow layer favorable for light rime icing at 23,000 feet.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N555PM
Model/Series: PA31T
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Bulldog Flying Club Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCHS, 40 ft msl
Observation Time: 1056 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 106 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / 8°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 12000 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / 18 knots, 30°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 20000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.18 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Andrews, SC (PVT)
Destination: Governors Hrbr., FN (MYEM)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 3 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: Unknown
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 5 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude:  32.318333, -78.066111 (est)



MURRELLS INLET, South Carolina (WPDE) — A second airplane oxygen mask has turned up in the Myrtle Beach area this month.

Amy Moss, of Murrells Inlet, said she was walking her dog with her family, looking for shells on New Year's Day, when she noticed the mask sticking out of the dune.

Moss decided to keep it, not realizing how significant the find would become.

“[My daughter] was like, 'You’re going to carry that back?' I’m was like 'Yes! I’m going to carry that back,'” Moss recalled.

Moss said she tried to do some research but wasn't successful.

During a conversation over dinner Tuesday night, Moss said she saw ABC 15's Facebook post about another oxygen mask being found in Garden City, which sparked the memory of her find.

“I was just really excited, ‘Oh my gosh, this came from something and someone else found it, too,'" she said.

Aviation analyst: 'It's possible."

ABC 15 contacted ABC News' aviation analyst, John Nance, for more information about the masks and to inquire about the possibility of being connected to a plane that disappeared after crashing off the coast of Charleston in October.

Nance said both of the masks likely came from the same crash and were manufactured specifically for private aircraft.

"[The plane model is] very compatible with the idea of having passenger oxygen masks on board," Nance explained.

He specified that the connection was a possibility but not a certainty.

"There are not that many of these masks around. This is not a 20,000 or 50,000 item stock."

Coast Guard and NTSB investigators believed the plane, a Piper PA-31, landed intact, after not finding any sign of the aircraft or debris during the two-day search.

Nance said some pieces of the plane would most likely be floating somewhere in the ocean.

"When an airplane hits the water intact, there will be a debris field," he said. "It may be very small and it may be very contained, but there will be a debris field."

According to a label on the mask Moss found, it was manufactured in January 1981. That's a few years after the plane was manufactured-- and the same year that another plane, which crashed off of Springmaid Pier last year, was built.

Nance said he would expect more debris to wash up along the Grand Strand in the near future if it was coming from the Charleston-area crash.

Brooke Hensley, the daughter of one of the passengers on board that airplane, said she was glad people were paying attention to what was washing up on the beach, even if it wasn't connected to her father's disappearance.

"There is always a possibility someone could find something," she said. "At least now people will know how important strange items on the beach could be."

Hensley encouraged people to hang on to the strange items they come across and email to her at N555PMInfo@gmail.com if they believe they've found a piece of the missing plane.


Story and video ➤  https://wpde.com



A woman thinks that a shoe found on a South Carolina beach may be connected to the death of her father who disappeared after a plane crash 100 miles off the coast.

Jamie Mitchum Jr., 58, of St. Stephen, and four other people were last seen alive on October 25, 2018. They were on board a private Piper PA-31 that left Robert F. Swinnie Airport in Andrews, S.C., and was bound for the Bahamas.

Authorities said the plane’s occupants reported an in-flight emergency to air traffic controllers before the plane disappeared off radar about 110 miles southeast of Charleston.

Mitchum, who was a licensed helicopter and airplane pilot who volunteered with the Berkeley County Rescue Squad, left behind his wife and his daughter, Brooke Hensley.

Hensley said this week she has been in contact with a Grand Strand woman after coming across a Facebook post that showed a picture of an oxygen mask found Jan. 13 on a Garden City beach. It’s the type of mask used in airplanes.

The woman also found a dirty white tennis shoe.

Hensley said that while she can’t be certain, she thinks the shoe possibly belonged to her father.

Even with a potential clue, the mystery as to what happened to the plane that was carrying Mitchum may never be solved.

“We don’t know why it crashed,” she said. “And we don’t know where, exactly.”

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.wyff4.com


Jamie Mitchum, a private pilot in Berkeley County, South Carolina, was one of five people aboard a plane bound for the Bahamas that went missing last week off the coast of Charleston. 

James Edwin “Jamie” Mitchum, Jr., 58, of St. Stephen, SC, owner and operator of Mitchum’s Construction, Inc., was lost at sea on October 25, 2018. He, along with 4 other people were in route to the Bahamas when their plane lost contact and disappeared from radar.

A celebration of his life will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Sunday, November 4, 2018, in the Northwood Academy Gymnasium, 104 Charger Dr., Summerville, SC, with the service beginning at 5:00 PM. Condolences may be sent to the family at PO Box 777, Bonneau, SC 29431.


Mr. Mitchum was born December 15, 1959, in Moncks Corner, SC, a son of James E. Mitchum, Sr., and Kay Schwartz Mitchum. He was a licensed helicopter and airplane pilot, and he also volunteered with the Berkeley County Rescue Squad. He loved all things adventurous — flying his helicopters and planes, boating, fishing, hiking, riding motorcycles, and enjoy
ed sharing those experiences with his relatives and friends. It was his nature to take others along to enjoy the rare scenery from all sorts of places - on his boat, in the air, over the water, on the open road. He was an amazing man who brought much joy to others.

Surviving are, his wife, Sandra Nobles Mitchum; a daughter, Brooke Hensley and her husband, Derek, of St. Stephen; a son, Brock Mitchum of St. Stephen; a sister, Lynn Mixon and her husband, Gerald, of Bethera; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Buddy and Mary Nobles of St. Stephen; and four grandchildren, Logan Mitchum, Mason Mitchum, Kaylee Mitchum, and Makaylyn Hensley.

https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net

Joseph Allbritton competes in the Megadock Billfishing Tournament in Charleston in 2016. The Charleston resident was among five people aboard a small plane that went missing off the coast after taking off from Georgetown County on October 25.

Two of the five Lowcountry residents aboard a small plane that disappeared off Charleston’s coast last week are being remembered by loved ones as avid outdoorsmen — one a private pilot, the other a sport fishing captain.

An eight-seat Piper PA-31T bound for the Bahamas took off from the Robert F. Swinnie Airport in Andrews on Oct. 25 and disappeared more than 100 miles off the coast. Authorities said the plane’s occupants reported an in-flight emergency to air traffic controllers before the plane fell off radar southeast of Charleston.

Some families of the five passengers this week are planning memorial services after the Coast Guard’s three-day search of the Atlantic Ocean failed to turn up any signs of the downed aircraft or the victims.

While the Coast Guard has declined to release the names of those on the plane, loved ones have publicly identified two of the passengers as Jamie Mitchum Jr., 58, of Bonneau, and Joseph Wayne Allbritton Jr., 34, of Charleston.

Mitchum and others aboard were licensed pilots, according to FAA records. Authorities have not said who was flying the aircraft.

Mitchum’s relatives and friends described him as a family man with a strong faith in God.

He loved all things adventurous — flying his helicopters and planes, boating, fishing, hiking, riding motorcycles — and enjoyed sharing those experiences with his relatives and friends.

“It was his nature to take others along to enjoy the rare scenery from all sorts of places,” his niece Marsha Mixon Costa said. “On his boat, in the air, over the water, on the open road. He was an amazing man and brought much joy to others.”

Mitchum worked in construction and volunteered with the Berkeley County Rescue Squad, flying his helicopter whenever the search group needed a view from above. Bill Salisbury, chief of the volunteer squad that disbanded last year, said the pilot never allowed the organization to reimburse him for the cost of fuel.

“You could not have met a finer guy,” said Salisbury, who also serves as coroner of Berkeley County. “Jamie was the one to help you.”

At the annual CoonFest on Lake Moultrie, Mitchum could be found in the middle of the action on his house boat, Salisbury said. He and his wife took regular fishing trips to Florida.

Loved ones of Allbritton planned to gather Thursday for a memorial service and a celebration of life at Ripley Light Yacht Club to honor the man they knew as adventurous and passionate.

A Sumter native and Clemson graduate, Allbritton lived in Charleston with his wife, Diana, and their young son. His work as a fishing boat captain took him around the world to places such as the Bahamas, Fiji and New Zealand. In flying to the Bahamas last week, he was returning to work after spending time with his family, according to a GoFundMe page that has raised nearly $50,000 for his wife and son. 

Allbritton was widely known around Charleston’s docks, where other captains and crew members said he always had a smile at fishing tournaments regardless of whether his boat competed well.

Staff with the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series penned a tribute to Allbritton, saying the fishing community was fortunate to witness his accomplishments and watch him assume the role of dedicated father. They vowed to help make sure Allbritton’s son knows him through their fond memories of him.

“Capt. Joseph, we could always count on you. In an age when reliability is difficult, you were a constant pillar of true authenticity and principled honor,” fishing series staff said on Facebook.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of last week’s plane crash. Diana Allbritton wrote on Facebook that she hopes the results of that probe can help avert further tragedies. 

“This, I’m sure, will be an exhaustive investigation. Hopefully whatever they discover can be used to help prevent a similar plane crash for people in the future,” she said. 


https://www.postandcourier.com


CHARLESTON, SC (WIS) - Hundreds attended a celebration of life service and memorial on Thursday to pay their respects to a man who hasn’t been seen since the plane he was traveling in went missing off the coast near Charleston late last month.

The memorial service for 34-year-old Joseph Allbritton was held at the First Baptist Church in Charleston.

His family confirmed that he was one of five people traveling on a Piper PA-31 aircraft that departed from Robert F. Swinnie Airport in Andrews and was headed to the Bahamas. Allbritton, a Sumter native, had a wife and 3-year-old son.

“It’s the hardest moment I could possibly imagine multiplied by 1,000. It’s utterly impossible to get your head around,” Joshua Allbritton, Joseph’s brother said.

Coast Guard officials said in a news release that the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, or AFRCC, notified the Coast Guard 7th District watch standers at 11:33 a.m. on Oct. 25 of a civilian aircraft emergency. The Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center received a report from the aircraft of an in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the AFRCC.

Friends, family, and loved ones say the perfect description of Joseph Allbritton is, “a quiet man with a loud voice.”

At his memorial and celebration of life service, it was clear that Joseph undoubtedly touched the lives of many.

“You don’t expect a 34-year-old to go off to his job and not come home,” Pastor Clay Smith with Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter said. “When the Coast Guard is searching for the family, it’s a gut-wrenching time. There’s a couple of days there were maybe there’s hope, maybe he’s still out there, maybe he’s on a raft, and then as time passes it doesn’t look good and they have to come to this acceptance.”

Fred Moulton, Headmaster of Wilson Hall, attended the memorial service Thursday. Allbritton graduated from Wilson Hall in 2002.

Moulton said in the decades he’s been at the school, Allbritton is one of the students that stood out.

“It didn’t matter if I was 50-years-old or 15-years-old, you were drawn to him.” Moulton said. “You know when I saw the orange Clemson hat on the reef at the service it just brought a tear to my eye. That’s him - it’s a working shirt, it’s a crooked hat, it’s dust and dirt and hard hands and big shoulders and a smile.”

After searching approximately 3,516 miles for 76 hours, the Coast Guard suspended their search on Oct. 27.

“It is with a heavy heart that we suspend our search for the missing aircraft and its five passengers,” Capt. John Reed, Commander, Sector Charleston said. “I have spoken with the family of those that were on this plane and extend my deepest sympathies to them and all those who have been hit by this tragic loss at sea.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

https://www.live5news.com

Joseph Allbritton

Memorial Service for Joseph Allbritton: 
Thursday, November 1, 2018 - 11:00
First Baptist Church 
48 Meeting Street
Charleston, South Carolina

Celebration of Life
Thursday, November 1, 2018 - 5:00
Ripley Light Marina/Yacht Club
95 Ripley Point Drive
Charleston, South Carolina



Diana Allbritton recently lost her husband, Joseph Allbritton, in a terrible private plane crash. He was flying back to work in the Bahamas as a fishing boat captain after spending a wonderful two weeks at home with his family and the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 110 miles east of Charleston. After an exhaustive three day air and water search, the Coast Guard's Search and Rescue team ceased.  They were unable to retrieve anything related to the crash for many weather related reasons. 

Help Diana's family move forward:  https://www.gofundme.com

Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew members search for a downed civilian aircraft Oct. 27, 2018, 110 miles east of Charleston. The aircraft, a Piper PA-31, was en route to the Bahamas from South Carolina on when they declared an in-flight emergency and were lost on radar. The Coast Guard ended its search Saturday night.



Search efforts have been suspended for a downed aircraft that went missing about 110 miles east of Charleston on Thursday, carrying Joseph Allbritton Jr., a Sumter native and Wilson Hall alumnus.

After searching about 3,516 square miles over 76 hours for the Piper PA-31 twin-engine aircraft, The Coast Guard 7th District announced “with a heavy heart” it was suspending the search for the plane and its five passengers, according to Capt. John Reed, commander, Sector Charleston, on its website.

“I have spoken with the family of those that were on this plane and extend my deepest sympathies to them and all those who have been hit by this tragic loss at sea,” he said in a news release.

The aircraft was leaving from South Carolina to the Bahamas when the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center received a report from it of an “in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the AFRCC.”

Allbritton Jr.’s wife, Diana Schmidt Allbritton, posted on Facebook Sunday that her husband “was in a private plane that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday morning.” The Coast Guard has not released information about the plane’s occupants or owner, but several people have told The Sumter Item since Thursday Allbritton was a passenger.

Posts about his status on the flight across social media have not been made private from friends and family members.

“The Coast Guard gave us a final briefing late yesterday afternoon. After an exhaustive three-day air and water search, Search and Rescue ceased at sunset (about 6:30 p.m.),” his wife posted Sunday. “They were unable to retrieve anything related to the crash, in part due to difficult weather conditions including high waves, winds and the nature of the crash. The Coast Guard was in touch with us throughout the days and nights as they continuously searched for survivors. They were the most caring group of people and presented us information in a most humane way.

“Members of the Coast Guard prayed with us and shared tears.”

She wrote in the post that the Coast Guard news release did not include the names of the five lost “per the request of one of the other families.”

“We were not opposed to the release of Joseph’s name to the public, so please feel free to share this news with anyone who you think you should know,” her post continued. “Joseph traveled extensively with his job and always lived his life to the fullest and loved his career with everything he had.”

She wrote that the National Transportation Safety Board has taken over the investigation into the crash and that “hopefully whatever they discover can be used to help prevent a similar plane crash for people in the future.”

Allbritton, who has a young child with Allbritton Jr., said, “Our hearts are full from all the outpouring of love and support we have received from all of you.”


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


Coast Guard continues to search for downed aircraft 110 miles east of Charleston 

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 10/26/2018 03:17 PM EDT

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
Office: 904-714-7606/7607
After Hours: 305-318-1864

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard is continuing to search Friday for a downed aircraft approximately 110 miles east of Charleston.

As of 12 p.m., Coast Guard crews have searched approximately 2,600 square miles.

The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) notified Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders Thursday of a civilian aircraft emergency at 11:33 a.m. The Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center received a report from the aircraft of an in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the AFRCC. The aircraft, a Piper PA-31, was leaving from South Carolina to the Bahamas.




The Coast Guard continued its search Friday for a small airplane that went missing off Charleston a day earlier.

Flight-tracking websites showed a Piper PA-31 owned by a Delaware company flying southward over the Atlantic Ocean toward the Bahamas when it suddenly fell off radar.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it would not confirm specifics about the plane until it’s found and its occupants are identified, regional spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.

Officials were able to confirm that there were five people aboard the missing airplane.

Information on FlightAware.com, a worldwide tracking service that pulls data from air traffic control systems, is consistent with the details authorities have released.

Bound for the Bahamas, the airplane took off Thursday morning from the Robert F. Swinnie Airport in Andrews in western Georgetown County, officials have said.

The Coast Guard said air traffic controllers later got a report of an in-flight emergency, then lost contact with the plane about 100 miles southeast of Charleston.

Coast Guard helicopters, an airplane from Florida and the Cutter Hamilton, a ship based in North Charleston, had searched 2,600 square miles of the ocean surface by midday Friday, the agency said, but it had not announced discovery of the aircraft.

The Hamilton’s crew also planned to search overnight, according to the Coast Guard.

FlightAware.com and other websites identified the plane as a 1976 two-engine Piper owned by Bulldog Flying Club Inc. in Wilmington, Del. The eight-seat plane had reached an altitude of nearly 25,000 feet and a top speed of about 270 mph, the data showed. Those numbers dipped before radar lost contact.

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

The U.S. Coast Guard reported Friday afternoon that it had searched more than 2,600 square miles of ocean and found no signs of a small plane that vanished Thursday off the coast of South Carolina, a USCG spokesman said Friday.

The search area was centered about 110 miles east of Charleston, USCG Petty Officer Ryan Dickinson said.

Coast Guard officials said they learned at 11:33 a.m. Thursday of a civilian aircraft that had communicated details of “an in-flight emergency.”

The Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center reported it lost contact with the aircraft on radar about the same time, said a release.

The Piper PA-31 was heading for the Bahamas when it disappeared, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration told the Charleston Post & Courier “it would not confirm specifics about the plane until it’s found and its occupants are identified,” the newspaper reported.

The plane left Robert F. Swinnie Airport in Andrews, South Carolina, on Thursday morning, according to WCSC. Andrews is about an hour south of Myrtle Beach.

The Flight Safety Foundation’s Air Safety Network reported that a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne went missing in the Atlantic Ocean at 11:33 a.m. Thursday.

The Flight Aware plane tracking website shows the twin-engine plane, tail number N555PM, taking off from the small airport in Andrews, flying out over the ocean before turning back after about 30 minutes and heading towards Charleston. Then the plane disappeared from radar, the track shows.

The plane was bound for Governor’s Harbor Airport in the Bahamas, the South Strand News Reports, before being diverted to Charleston at 11:18 a.m.

FAA records show the turbo-prop plane, built in 1976, belonged to the Bulldog Flying Club, registered in Wilmington, Delaware.

The Coast Guard on Friday morning said in a tweet that a HC-130 Hercules out of Clearwater, Florida, “is conducting a first light search for the downed civilian aircraft.” Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton searched through the night, the USCG added.

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

Coast Guard responds to downed aircraft 110 miles east of Charleston

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 10/25/2018 07:21 PM EDT

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
Office: 904-714-7606/7607
After Hours: 305-318-1864
PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard is responding to a downed aircraft Thursday approximately 110 miles east of Charleston.

The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) notified Coast Guard 7th District watchstanders of a civilian aircraft emergency at 11:33 a.m. The Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center received a report from the aircraft of an in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the AFRCC. The aircraft, a Piper PA-31, was leaving from South Carolina to the Bahamas. 

Assisting in the response are:

Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules aircraft
Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton
Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal
Commercial vessel Seabulk Challenge
Navy P-3 Orion

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Emergency crews are continuing to search for a missing private plane about 100 miles south-southeast of Charleston.

On Thursday night, Coast Guard officials stated that the USCG Cutter Hamilton crew would continue to search throughout the night for the aircraft.

“Air assets will conduct a first light search Friday morning,” USCG officials said.

The Coast Guard had earlier deployed aircraft and vessels to search for the Piper PA-31 aircraft which the Federal Aviation Administration said had been missing since around 11:45 a.m. Thursday.

The aircraft had departed from Robert F. Swinnie Airport in Andrews, SC, and was headed to the Bahamas.

Officials with the Coast Guard say they were initially notified at 11:33 a.m. regarding the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center receiving a report from the aircraft of an in-flight emergency, lost contact on radar and notified the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, crews with the US Navy and the Coast Guard were dispatched to search for the plane.

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




























15 comments:

  1. Hmm. A Lot of data missing here. When you declare an emergency,if you have altitude to spare and the plane is controllable, tell the agency you're in contact with what your problem is, number of persons aboard, fuel state and intentions. An ICAO International Flight Plan should have been filed and activated, and those forms include data on transmitters: ELT/PLB/CPI, Rafts, Flares and other equipment required for flight over oceans. The RADAR should have indicated a CST or "Coast" trace on the display that would aid in locating the position of ditching. From that estimate, searchers can try to locate floating debris, or listen for the ELT underwater signal pulses. This definitely does not look good for a rescue, but a recovery of the wreckage may be possible.

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  2. Also worth noting, the torched drug plane that was found the same day in Belize appears to look like the same model and paint as this missing aircraft. I don't know if this plane has the range to fly from SC to Belize but might be worth looking into.

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  3. I just did a quick internet search of the distance from Charleston,SC to Belize City and it is 1,220 miles. Well within the 1,700 mile range of a PA-31T. Interesting.

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  4. The plane in Belize was a King Air, the missing plane is a Piper Navaho.

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  5. Impossible to know what happened based upon the scanty information available at this moment.

    Odds are given the history of aviation in this area, that human error on the part of the pilot, aircraft maintenance, or some combination of the two, were the major determinants in whatever happened.

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  6. After comparing the photos of a PA-31T(N555PM) and those from www.channel5.com in Belize of the burned out suspected drug plane, I've concluded they're different aircraft. A PA-31T has no dihedral of the horizontal stabilizer whereas the burned out plane in the pic does.

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  7. If you research this make and model aircraft you’ll see an AD Concerning the electrical panel on the left side of the cockpit near the floor area concerning electrical lines and hydraulic lines . This is a reoccurring problem with this make a model aircraft for in flight fires. This could explain between the fire and smoke Why no further communications were made .

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  8. If he lived in Charleston why would he drive about sixty miles to an non towered airport with not much activity and why would the the company want to pick him up there? Not much info out there on Bulldog Flying Club. But what comes to mind would be a fire in flight. Would the Cheyenne need to run the combustion heater at 25000'?

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  9. Jim, good questions. The NTSB will have all the resources to research the answers. You'll absolutely need to use a heater (If not a "Combustion" type, then a bleed Air Cycle unit.) at FL250. The air is perty dern cold at that altitude. A clue as to a possible causal factor would be the weather that impeded the search efforts. Satellite photos taken at the time of the emergency could show some weather conditions existing at that point. RADAR paints some weather, but most of the returns are washed with computer programs. Many "Clubs" are simply tax shelters or associations which involve fractional ownership of aircraft. (Sort of an aeronautical Time Share scheme..) All this would come out in the final NTSB Probable Cause Report....some time in the distant future. It will be a nail biter for that team, because they only have an emergency declared, a RADAR Display recording, maintenance/fueling logs, pilot background data and weather observations to determine what happened.

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  10. The Cheyenne in question would have a combustion heater that would be likely used at 24000 feet. The Cheyenne floor is very cold. Many also had an electric aux heater as well. Later models used an air cycle machine.

    There are issues with fire starting in between the pilot's and co-pilot's seats, with mandatory inspections mandated by the FAA in 2017. The issue was chafing very high amperage wiring.

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  11. Anonymous, that's good information. As I pointed out, the aircraft logs would reflect whether there was an inspection performed within the allotted flight hours. Have there been many fires of that type? The AD narrative describes a single fatal mishap attributed to circuit breaker panel wiring anomalies

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  12. Icing or engine failure?
    https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20181025X55256&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=LA

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  13. Who else was on the aircraft besides Mitchum and Albritten?

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  14. Who else was on the aircraft besides Mitchum and Albritten?

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  15. Two one gallon cans of polyurethane were in the unpressurized nose cargo section. Pressure changes inside and outside the cans thru FL240 could have caused a can to rupture/open. The resulting rupture/open would present flammable fumes just about the time it would have started to get cold in the cabin. Starting the janitrol heater would have caused a fire, blown a hole/nose section off of the aircraft, which would have made the aircraft uncontrollable.

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