Friday, March 15, 2019

Loss of Engine Power (Partial): Cessna 172 Skyhawk, N8620B; fatal accident occurred March 14, 2019 at Lakeway Airpark (3R9), Travis County, Texas



































































Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

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

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

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Lakeway, Texas
Accident Number: CEN19FA099
Date & Time: March 14, 2019, 13:40 Local 
Registration: N8620B
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial)
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. A flight instructor and pilot on the ground reported that the accident airplane's engine was "cutting in and out" or "sputtering" following an aborted landing. Both witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be maneuvering to return to the runway when the airplane entered a left turn, then descended in a steep, nose-down attitude consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The common traffic advisory frequency recording captured a transmission that indicated the flight instructor might attempt to return to the airport. The airplane impacted a tree and then a road sign in a mostly residential area.

A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller exhibited signs of rotation and propeller strike marks were found on the ground at the accident site. Although the witness reports indicated a possible loss of power, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the postaccident examination. After the partial loss of engine power, the flight instructor attempted a turn at low altitude, during which he failed to maintain proper airspeed and exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, and the flight instructor's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot
Aircraft Airspeed - Not attained/maintained
Aircraft Angle of attack - Capability exceeded
Not determined (general) - Unknown/Not determined

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach-VFR pattern downwind Loss of engine power (partial) (Defining event)
Approach-VFR pattern downwind Aerodynamic stall/spin
Approach-VFR pattern downwind Loss of control in flight
Approach-VFR pattern downwind Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

On March 14, 2019, about 1340 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N8620B, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Lakeway, Texas. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries and the student pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The purpose of the flight was for the student to practice crosswind takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor was unable to recall the events leading up to the accident.

Another flight instructor saw the accident airplane abort two landings, which he surmised was due to the gusting wind conditions. As the airplane flew upwind after the second aborted landing, he heard the engine begin to sputter. The airplane then turned back toward the airport, flew over his location at the airport fuel pump, then turned right away from the runway before entering a left turn toward the runway from about 500 to 600 ft above ground level He stated that from his view on the ground, it appeared that the flight instructor was flying the airplane at that point. The airplane stalled and descended straight toward the ground, "wing and nose" first.

A pilot, was who receiving instruction with the eyewitness flight instructor, reported that he saw the airplane turn back toward the runway after conducting a go-around. The airplane proceeded over the runway and he heard the engine "sputtering." He saw a puff of "darker exhaust" come out of the engine and heard the engine restarting. The airplane maneuvered toward a left downwind leg for the runway, then "appeared to abruptly stall and roll to its left in a nose-down attitude."

A pilot who lived near the northwest end of the airport reported that the airplane got his attention as the sound from the engine was "unusual." He saw the airplane's flaps extended and stated that the engine noises were not the sound of an engine making any appreciable power.

The common traffic advisory frequency recording for the airport just before the time of the accident, recorded a transmission stating, "Lakeway traffic, Skyhawk making a 180 to land Lakeway."

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 38, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine 
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: October 3, 2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: November 10, 2017
Flight Time: 1472 hours (Total, all aircraft), 462 hours (Total, this make and model), 855 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 115 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 41 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Student pilot Information

Certificate: Student 
Age: 36, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None 
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: None 
Last FAA Medical Exam: February 12, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 15.3 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N8620B
Model/Series: 172 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1958
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 36320
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 7, 2018 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 99 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 4976.7 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: C91 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: O-300-D
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 145 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

The Cessna 172 Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the aerodynamic stall speed for flaps down (40°) is 52 kts at a 0° bank angle, 54 kts at a 20° bank angle, 59 kts at a 40° bank angle, and 73 kts at a 60° bank angle.

The airplane was equipped with a stall warning indicator.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KRYW, 1231 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 18:35 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 9°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 12 knots / 20 knots 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 340° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / -14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lakeway, TX (3R9)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Lakeway, TX (3R9)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 13:40 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Lakeway Airpark 3R9
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 909 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 34 IFR 
Approach: None 
Runway Length/Width: 3930 ft / 70 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing; Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 30.351388,-97.993888(est)

The wreckage was located about 930 ft southwest of the runway 34 threshold at an elevation of about 915 ft mean sea level (msl) in a mostly residential area. The airplane initially impacted a tree and road sign on a heading of about 59°, and various propeller strike marks on the asphalt were observed in the direction of travel. The airplane traveled about 180 ft to the northeast across a road before it came to rest on a heading of about 182°.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. The airframe was found in a tail-high attitude off a road in an area of grass. The front of the airplane, including the engine and propeller, came to rest in a tree line. Witness marks on the airframe indicated that the wing flaps were fully extended (40°) at the time of impact. All structural components of the airplane were located at the accident site. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airframe.

Engine control cable continuity was confirmed. The carburetor was found separated in two pieces. The two-blade metal propeller was found attached to the crankshaft. The propeller spinner exhibited evidence of rotation. Both blades were bent aft and one blade was severely twisted.

The engine was transported to the manufacturer's facility for a teardown and examination under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge. During the examination, no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the engine were noted.

Review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed no evidence of uncorrected mechanical discrepancies with the airframe and engine.

Medical and Pathological Information

The Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, Austin, Texas, conducted an autopsy of the student pilot. His cause of the death was multiple blunt force injures.

Toxicology testing for the student pilot was performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory and was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and tested-for drugs.

Preventing Similar Accidents

Prevent Aerodynamic Stalls at Low Altitude

While maneuvering an airplane at low altitude in visual meteorological conditions, many pilots fail to avoid conditions that lead to an aerodynamic stall, recognize the warning signs of a stall onset, and apply appropriate recovery techniques. Many stall accidents result when a pilot is momentarily distracted from the primary task of flying, such as while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern, during an emergency, or when fixating on ground objects.

An aerodynamic stall can happen at any airspeed, at any altitude, and with any engine power setting. Pilots need to be honest with themselves about their knowledge of stalls and preparedness to recognize and handle a stall situation. Training can help pilots fully understand the stall phenomenon, including angle-of-attack concepts and how weight, center of gravity, turbulence, maneuvering loads and other factors can affect an airplane's stall characteristics. The stall characteristics may be different in each type of plane, so learn them before you fly.

The stall airspeeds marked on the airspeed indicator (for example, the bottom of the green arc and the bottom of the white arc) typically represent steady flight speeds at 1G at the airplane's maximum gross weight in the specified configuration. Maneuvering loads and other factors can increase the airspeed at which the airplane will stall. For example, increasing bank angle can increase stall speed exponentially.

Reducing angle of attack by lowering the airplane's nose at the first indication of a stall is the most important immediate response for stall avoidance and stall recovery. This may seem counterintuitive at low altitudes, but is a necessary first step.


The NTSB presents this information to prevent recurrence of similar accidents. Note that this should not be considered guidance from the regulator, nor does this supersede existing FAA Regulations (FARs).



Location: Lakeway, TX
Accident Number: CEN19FA099
Date & Time: 03/14/2019, 1340 CDT
Registration: N8620B
Aircraft: Cessna 172
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

On March 14, 2019, about 1340 central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna 172 (Skyhawk) airplane, N8620B, impacted terrain at a road intersection while attempting to land at the Lakeway Airpark (3R9), Lakeway, Texas. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) sustained serious injuries and the student pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by the CFI as part of the Lakeway Flying Club, Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from 3R9 about 1325 CDT.

Law enforcement officers (LEO) from the Lakeway Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspectors (ASI) traveled to, secured, and documented the accident site shortly after the accident occurred. LEO and FAA ASI reported the purpose of the flight was for training with the student pilot by the CFI in the local area. While conducting operations in the traffic pattern utilizing runway 34, a witness who is also a CFI, observed the airplane abort two landings. During the attempted third landing, the witness observed the airplane depart controlled flight for unknown reasons and impact terrain. The wreckage was located at a "T" intersection about 930 ft southwest of the threshold for runway 34, at an elevation of about 915 ft above mean sea level. No ground injuries from the accident sequence were sustained by any individuals in the area. No distress calls were heard by other pilots flying in the local area prior to the impact.

Both occupants were extracted from the wreckage and were transported to medical facilities via helicopter air ambulance in a critical injury status. The student pilot succumbed to his injuries and was produced dead upon reaching the medical facility. At the time of writing of this preliminary report, the CFI is listed in a critical injury status.

On March 15, 2019, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), and air safety investigators from Textron Aviation and Continental Motors traveled to the accident site. The team members conducted accident site documentation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage. All structural components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The airplane initially impacted a tree and road sign to the west of the Lakeway Swim Center on a heading of about 59° prior to the "T' intersection, and various powered propeller impact marks on the asphalt were observed in the direction of travel. The airplane traveled about 180 ft to the northeast across a road before terminating at the final resting point on a heading of about 182°. First responders removed about 25 gallons of fuel from both wing tanks. Just south of the initial impact point and the final resting point is set of power transmission lines that span from the southwest to the northeast, just south of runway 34. No evidence of a power line strike occurring were observed. The wreckage was recovered and transportation to a secure location at 3R9.

On March 16, 2019, the investigative team members conducted an airframe and engine examination with the wreckage. During the examination, no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine were noted. An examination of the airplane's maintenance records revealed no evidence of uncorrected mechanical discrepancies with the airframe and engine.

A CFI, who is also employed by the Lakeway Police Department as a LEO, reported he flew the accident airplane on the day of the accident with a student pilot from about 1000 CDT to about 1100 CDT. The CFI reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation.

A Garmin Aera 510 global positioning system unit was secured from the wreckage by the NTSB IIC and transported to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory in Washington, District of Columbia for a future examination and data extraction.

The Lakeway Flying Club, based at 3R9, is a not-for-profit corporation organized for the purpose of providing its members with airplanes for recreational usage and training purposes. In addition to the accident airplane, the Lakeway Flying Club also utilizes a Cessna 172G airplane and a Beech 35-33 (Debonair) airplane.

The four-seat capacity airplane, serial number 36320, was manufactured in 1957. The airplane was equipped with a 145 horsepower Continental Motors O-300-D carbureted engine, serial number 27160-D-2-D. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N8620B
Model/Series: 172 Undesignated
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: KRYW, 1231 ft msl
Observation Time: 1334 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / -8°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:  8 knots / , 360°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 28.8 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Lakeway, TX (3R9)
Destination: Lakeway, TX (3R9)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude:  30.351389, -97.993889 (est)

Kevin Wayne Henderson

Kevin Henderson & Family 

Kevin Wayne Henderson entered this world October 20, 1982 in Huntsville, Texas to Larry and Elena Henderson.

The second son born into a military family, Kevin always had a sense of service and a passion for flying. Even as a kid, he had an admirable work ethic. After graduating high school, he attempted to join the US Army and fly Apache Helicopters. Unfortunately, that didn't pan out for him and he returned to Texas disappointed. He was hired on at Best Buy in Austin. He would later join the Geek Squad team and continued to excel for over 10 years culminating as the Deputy Field Marshall for the Austin/ San Antonio region. His intellect, love of the latest technology, and leadership provided a candid example of professionalism that others respected and aspired to be. His greatest accomplishment was his family. He was the one in the family to get everyone together for any and every event, special or not. He was the photographer to capture those perfect moments of you that you wouldn't want the world to see. 

The clown with a contagious laugh to put a smile on your face and joy in your heart.  The one quick to forgive even when you think he shouldn't. The genuine unconditional love he had for everyone, not just his family. The pride he had in all things that he did, otherwise it wouldn't have been worth doing to him. The monumental patience he had, especially when he would be dog tired after a long day's work or helping anybody in need, he would still have the strength and fortitude to drag himself up and spend time with his children, his family.

Like everyone on this earth he had his difficult times, but these last four years were the best. He found True Love, his family grew, and he started to pursue a passion he'd had since he was a kid, to fly. He had been working on his private pilot's license for the last six months when tragedy struck. He and his friend attempted to land and for reasons unknown at this time, they didn't make it to the runway.

Kevin departed too soon in a plane crash on March 14, 2019 at the young age of 36. He survives through his parents, Larry and Elena Henderson; His older brother Larry; His little sister Kayla (expecting); His wife Jaclyn (expecting) and their daughter Kayla and soon to enter this world Aria Rose; His daughters Isabella and Olivia; and the countless friends and family that were blessed enough to know him even for a moment. 


https://www.harrellfuneralhomes.com


Scott Nelson & Family 

LAKEWAY, Texas — One man was killed and another is in critical condition after a plane crashed in a busy Lakeway neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

The crash happened just before 1:45 p.m. near the intersection of Lakeway Boulevard and The Hills Drive.

Lakeway police identified the men on board the plane as Randall "Scott" Nelson and Kevin Henderson. Henderson died at the hospital shortly after the crash.

Nelson's wife told KVUE that Nelson is awake, in good spirits and no longer needs help with oxygen. She said he has started to talk and that his breathing and feeding tubes are "officially out."

His wife says doctors have been able to repair his pelvis and his arm after four surgeries. He will undergo several facial reconstruction surgeries on his nose over the next several months.

"The amount of support and prayers we have gotten is truly remarkable and we couldn't be happier with his progress."

The family has started a GoFundMe page to help cover medical expenses, as well as a page for the Henderson family.

According to Lakeway Police Chief Todd Radford, the pilot made two attempts to land at the Lakeway Airpark just down the street from the scene of the crash.

"On the third attempt, they had come up this way, something occurred, and the plane went down coming this direction," Chief Radford said.

The plane, a Cessna 172, hit a few tree limbs and a metal pole before crashing into a grassy ditch.

Christopher Wood, an off-duty Lake Travis Fire Rescue firefighter, had just finished golfing nearby when he heard all of the commotion and ran to help.

"I just saw a lady in the middle of the road screaming with her arms up. I looked to the left and just seen the plane had just went down," Wood said. "I tried to manage it like it was a critical incident, like I was on duty."

With the help of another off-duty firefighter, Wood removed both men from the mangled cockpit. 

"When you do this for a living, if something happens in front of you, you just generally are going to respond," he said. "It's how God made me."

People that know the Nelson family showed up on Friday to put flowers near the crash site. 

"We're devastated. We're devastated for the Hendersons and the Nelsons and their families. Our community, there's been a wide out pour of grief and sadness," said Angela Beck, the POA President for Hills of Lakeway.

Beck said this is the second plane crash they've had.

Marsha Finch, who flies the plane at least four times a month, told KVUE she's never once had any mechanical problems with it.

"I consider that plane my plane because I rent it and fly it often," Finch said. "Made to fly and it loves to fly, so you feel very secure in it." 

According to Finch, the plane belongs to a local flight club, whose members often share the plane. 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigators were at the crash site Thursday evening, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators arrived Friday afternoon. 

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

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





Friday, March 15 update: The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into what caused a small plane to crash in Lakeway on Thursday, said Lakeway Police Chief Todd Radford.

Crash survivor Randall Scott Nelson remains in critical condition, and police still do not know who was flying the plane when it crashed, Radford said.

Meanwhile, two westbound lanes of Lakeway Boulevard have been reopened but one eastbound lane of Lakeway Boulevard remains closed in the area of Thursday’s plane crash, Radford said.

The Hills Drive remains closed from Lakeway Boulevard to Trophy Drive because of the crash, which occurred near the intersection of The Hills Drive and Lakeway Boulevard.

San Marcos resident Kevin Wayne Henderson was killed in the crash. A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money for his family that on Friday had raised nearly $8,000.

Original article: LAKEWAY — Lakeway police have identified a man who was killed after a plane crash Thursday as Kevin Wayne Henderson of San Marcos.

Police also identified another man who was also in the plane as Randall Scott Nelson. He was flown by helicopter to the Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin in critical condition. Police said he was stable about an hour after the crash, though still critical.

It’s unclear who the pilot was.


A single-engine Cessna 172 crashed about 2:40 p.m. Thursday as it tried to land at the Lakeway Airpark, at 115 Flying Scot St. off Lakeway Boulevard, police said. It’s unclear exactly what caused the crash.

Emergency workers said both men were unconscious when medics first arrived. Lakeway Police Department Chief Todd Radford said the plane twice attempted to land and finally crashed on its third attempt. It appeared to have clipped a tree and a pole before slamming to the ground, leaving the pilot and passenger gravely injured.

Police shut down several roads in the area while investigators gathered evidence. Federal investigators were at the crash site Thursday afternoon, and the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.

Christopher Wood, a lieutenant with Lake Travis Fire Rescue, said he was headed home from a round of golf in the area when he saw a woman screaming in the street with her arms up. The plane had just gone down, and people were getting out of their cars to help.

Wood, who was off duty, said he went to the wreckage and pulled one of the men out as a gas line pumped fuel into the aircraft. As he went back for the second man, an Austin firefighter arrived and helped pull him out. “When you do this for a living, if something happens in front of you, you’re generally gonna respond,” Wood said. “You don’t just drive around to get the other nine holes in. It’s how God made me. No first-responder, no guy would pull around that. Everybody would’ve done the same thing and pulled them out.”

Lakeway resident Lee Finch said he saw the plane circle the runway about 2 p.m. “It wasn’t full power,” he said. “I heard it running rough and not accelerating, flying very slow.”

Finch said the plane appeared to be maneuvering to land but said he did not see the crash.

At least two other planes have gone down in Central Texas this year. A pilot died in a single-engine aircraft crash near Fredericksburg in mid-January.

Another plane went down in Horseshoe Bay on Feb. 15 injuring two.

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



Chris Wood was golfing and off duty (Lake Travis Fire Rescue) but decided to jump in to help after he heard screams nearby. He says both victims were struggling to breathe.


A small plane crashed in Lakeway on Thursday afternoon, leaving one person dead and one person injured.

According to Lake Travis, it happened near an air park runway by the intersection of the Hills Drive and Lakeway Blvd., Two people were involved, one died.

Lakeway Police said Kevin Wayne Henderson of San Marcos died after the crash. As of Thursday night, Randal Scott Nelson of Lake Travis is in stable but critical condition at a hospital in Downtown Austin.

Witnesses told Lakeway police the plane was seen trying to land twice before it crashed at the intersection.

The road was blocked off for several hours until police opened one east bound lane as the sun went down.

According to Austin-Travis County EMS, the two men were in their 30s. 

Lee Finch, a resident of the area, said he had previously flown on the very plane that was involved in Thursday's crash. He said he saw the plane struggling before it came down.

"There's no mechanical reason that I was aware of that would impact this aircraft. (the plane) was obviously not producing power that they demanded," said Finch.

NTSB and FAA investigators took over the investigation on Thursday night as they cause of the crash is still being determined.

Story and video ➤ https://cbsaustin.com


LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) — The Lakeway Police Department confirmed that one passenger was killed and one is in critical condition following a small plane crash at Lakeway Boulevard and The Hills Drive in Lakeway Thursday afternoon.

In a press conference Thursday, LPD confirmed that bystanders, including two off-duty fire fighters, were able to pull the passengers from the craft. Once the pair were out, emergency medical services took one of them to Baylor-Scott and White Medical Center in Lakeway, where he later died. The other was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas. 

The passenger at Dell Seton is in critical condition. The other passenger was identified as Kevin Wayne Henderson, who was from San Marcos. It is not yet known which of the individuals were piloting the aircraft.

Police say the single-engine vehicle was attempting to land at the time of the crash and had made multiple approaches, but it's not known why it went down.

Roads at The Hills Drive and Lakeway Boulevard will remain closed until wreckage is removed. 

Story and video ➤ https://www.kxan.com



LAKEWAY, Texas — One man is dead and another is in critical condition after a plane crashed in a busy Lakeway neighborhood Thursday afternoon.

The crash happened just before 1:45 p.m. near the intersection of Lakeway Boulevard and The Hills Drive.

According to Lakeway Police Chief Todd Radford, the pilot made two attempts to land at the Lakeway Airpark just down the street from the scene of the crash.

"On the third attempt, they had come up this way, something occurred, and the plane went down coming this direction," Chief Radford said.

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk hit a few tree limbs and a metal pole before crashing into a grassy ditch.

Christopher Wood, an off-duty Lake Travis Fire Rescue firefighter, had just finished golfing nearby when he heard all of the commotion and ran to help.

"I just saw a lady in the middle of the road screaming with her arms up. I looked to the left and just seen the plane had just went down," Wood said. "I tried to manage it like it was a critical incident, like I was on duty."

With the help of another off-duty firefighter, Wood removed both men from the mangled cockpit. 

"When you do this for a living, if something happens in front of you, you just generally are going to respond," he said. "It's how God made me."

Marsha Finch, who flies the plane at least four times a month, told KVUE she's never once had any mechanical problems with it.

"I consider that plane my plane because I rent it and fly it often," Finch said. "Made to fly and it loves to fly, so you feel very secure in it." 

Lakeway police identified the men on board the plane as Randall Nelson and Kevin Henderson. Henderson died at the hospital shortly after the crash. 

As of Thursday evening, Nelson was still in critical condition at the hospital.

According to Finch, the plane belongs to a local flight club, whose members often share the plane. 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigators were at the crash site Thursday evening, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators will arrive Friday morning.

Story and video ➤ https://www.kiiitv.com





Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating the cause of a plane crash at 1:42 p.m. March 14 in Lakeway that claimed the life of one occupant and left the other in critical, but stable condition.

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk was attempting to land at the Lakeway Airpark when it crashed at the intersection of Lakeway Boulevard and The Hills Drive.

Lakeway police, Lake Travis Fire Rescue, Austin-Travis County EMS, Travis County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety all responded to the scene, and the plane’s two occupants were transported by StarFlight to area hospitals.

Eastbound lanes in that section of Lakeway Boulevard remain partially closed to traffic as the plane must remain there overnight. Police anticipate both of the road's westbound lanes will be open soon at that intersection.

17 comments:

  1. Practicing engine-out procedures, not enough carb heat = carb ice ???

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think you may have it right. According to NWS for a nearby weather station (I couldn't find METAR archive data for this site)

    at 10:35am Winds N 13 G 22 Vis 10.00 Sky CLR Temp 51 Dew pt 26 RH 38%

    According to an icing chart from AOPA, this is considered "serious icing" conditions. Yesterday was a perfect spring day in central Texas and that bright sunshine made it feel a lot warmer than it was. And carb icing isn't a major topic for pilots in our area.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Another sad ending for a "classic" Cessna most likely through no fault is it's own.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Carb icing is very unlikely given the weather conditions. The temperature at the time of the accident was 60F with a dewpoint of 27F. Also, training flights and T&G are not allowed at this airport so I'd rule out any engine-out practice.

    A few witnesses said that the plane just took off and tried to return to the runway after losing power. If that were true, they would have been taking off from RWY 16 with a 10 kt tailwind. Not impossible, but unlikely.

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  5. I happened to drive by the accident site about 5pm that day. I am familiar with the Lakeway airport and I am a pilot (although not current). It looks to me a simple case of trying to land in the wrong direction. The wind was out of the north, yet they were trying to land southbound, so the wind would have been at their backs and pushed them off the end of the runway.

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  6. Could have been a stuck valve causing a dead cylinder. If they tried turning at low altitude to go back to the airport, most likely stalled and spun in. Will have to wait on the NTSB report to know for sure.

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  7. I bet if they made two attempts at landing they forgot to turn the carb heat "off" on climb-out causing a loss of power and poor climb rate OR they didn't use carb heat during the descent to landing, picked up carb ice and then when they hit full power for the go around, it wasn't there and a crash resulted. The investigation will bring out the facts in due time.

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  8. I'm wondering if they were in fact trying to land OR were they on a go around? It looks like the plane has full flaps deployed and I believe on these old Cessna's that equates to 40 degrees. If for some reason they couldn't get the flaps to retract that would have resulted in a very poor climb rate due to lots of drag possibly causing to collide with terrain. Not sure if this plane had manual or electric flaps but a popped circuit breaker for the flaps preventing them from retracting on go around could be fatal.

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  9. This plane was a 1957 model and had manual flaps. Electric flaps weren't introduced until 1964 on Cessna 172's.

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  10. Apparently, no Fire. Did it run out of gas?

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  11. The flight was a training flight. The pilot/student was left seat, the instructor was in the right. They had attempted 2 landings and went around both attempts. The wind was very gusty. As they pulled up for the go around on 34, people on the ground heard the engine backfire and stumble. The plane then attempted a 180 to land on rwy 16. On the radio you hear the instructor call for full flaps, 30 seconds later you hear the crash. They entered final for 16 too high and attempted to slow the plane with a 20kt tailwind, most of that tail wind was blocked by the trees, when they could not make the field the plane pulled up and crashed on the roadway just past the end of the runway. They stalled in slow flight as they picked up the tailwind just over ground effect.

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  12. Nice theory Richard but the facts don't line up. Live and fly there. They crashed on a heading back into 34. The winds were gusty and varying 360 to 40 @ the time. Entering final to 16 as you identify is a final that is out over Lake Travis. In fact, their last approach was essentially a short final on a 45 degree to 34 generally into headwinds not "tailwinds." They crashed on a 45 degree angle 150 yards short of the threshold for 34. Check your online video with pattern approach to 34. Just like that. Seems like you wouldn't have gotten your facts this wrong if you really knew something about the accident. Also, not sure where you get the "radio" chatter as 3R9 doesn't records traffic and don't know how you'd hear any of what you claim to hear. Cockpit conversations calling for flaps etc. would have not been broadcast unless they were keying mike the entire time. Sooo...?

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  13. Live there too - from the photos, the wreck is clearly pointing towards the elementary school. The "No Thru Trucks" sign is eastbound on Lakeway, right at the corner with The Hills. That would be a 16 heading, not 34, unless he spun it in.
    Agree, unless he had a stuck mic, I doubt if much of anything would have been heard over the CTAF, so that all sounds like a bunch of fake news.
    Their ratings were student and CFI so a training flight makes sense. If they were using 34, as would be expected given the wind, had an engine out or simply ran out of gas on a go around, they may have tried to return via 16. They could have miscalculated their position and trajectory for the emergency landing and ran out of runway quickly with a strong tailwind.
    The CFI survived so eventually a full report with a hopefully accurate explanation will be available. Until then, feel free to speculate however you wish, and RIP to the other pilot.

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  14. I stopped by the crash site today on the way home from work and I had it wrong. The plane came to rest with the tail pointed towards the runway which led me to believe they were attempting to land on 16. However, at the site, after seeing the impact and skid marks, I believe they were trying to come around to 34. The plane impacted the ground at the very end of the driveway that leads to the swim center. It then skidded across The Hills Drive and nosed into the ditch across the street, where the tail swung around ~90 degrees to the left and impacted the aforementioned "No Trucks" sign. They were on base for 34 and were cutting final short in order to make the field, or the plane stalled on base. Either way, the plane impacted ground at a ~45 degree angle to Rwy 34. I find it hard to believe they were dead stick at this point since full flaps were deployed. You would not do that short of the field if you were already running out of altitude due to the increased drag. Given that, I don't have any idea what would have caused them to stall in that config, especially with a CFI on board. I guess we will have to wait for the report to come out to know for sure. I am done speculating.

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  15. I've thought about my initial response to Richard earlier. I saw the crash site within an hour of them reopening the road. What has been omitted in other reports of the site is the impact damaged started at the stop sign at the exit of the swim center's driveway. If you look at it on Google street view you will see the back of the stop sign and a smallish shrub immediately behind the stop sign. The shrub was torn in half, the sign's pole was bent and the sign was missing. There was impact scarring in the street where the nose and prop hit right beyond the stop sign pointing in about a 20 degree heading. There appeared to be striations consistent with a turning prop. The scarring continued in a straight line on about a 20-30 degree heading across the street into the ditch/culvert. Presumably the impact in the culvert deflected the plane where the left wing then presumably took out the No Thru Trucks sign on Lakeway Blvd. The bounce/deflection in the culvert ultimately stopped as what we saw in the pictures, facing a heading of about 150 degrees. Looking back at the Google street view on the swim center driveway you'll note there are two much taller trees immediately behind the smallish bush that was damaged. At the time I thought it was quite odd those trees had no apparent damage whatsoever even though the heading shown by the line of impact damage would have had to have taken them through those trees. I now suspect that it may well have been an aborted attempt at 16 that was going to be too long. They then tried to power back up with whatever power they were producing to try and get over the tree line at the end of 16. But with faltering engine and tailwinds it is conceivable they stalled and spun to the left quickly reversing direction. That would have caused them to drop into a tight area missing the taller trees behind the apparent direction of the crash but still taking out only the smallish bush and the swim center's stop sign on the way to the culvert. This is the only scenario that I can surmise that fits the versions from the handful of witnesses at 3R9 as well as the physical evidence. If that's what played out, it would have been a terrifying last 20 seconds.

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  16. I know for a fact that the winds were blowing harder than 8kts that day. I cancelled an instrument training day that day out of KGTU due to the winds being above my minimums. I wonder how/where they got the 8 knots from?

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  17. I really thought we would know the true story by now, given that the CFI survived the crash and was reported awake and talking 2 months ago

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