Friday, May 17, 2019

Aviat A-1B Husky, N236AM: Fatal accident occurred May 15, 2019 near Santa Ynez Airport (KIZA), Santa Barbara County, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

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

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Van Nuys, California


Location: Santa Ynez, CA
Accident Number: WPR19FA146
Date & Time: 05/15/2019, 1339 PDT
Registration: N236AM
Aircraft: Aviat A1
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On May 15, 2019, about 1339 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft Inc., A1-B airplane, N236AM, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain about 8 miles northeast of the Santa Ynez Airport (IZA), Santa Ynez, California. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-county flight, which originated at 1322 from a private ranch near Montecito, California.

Information provided by local law enforcement revealed that the pilot had flown to a private ranch, located about 23 miles east of IZA, earlier in the day. Following a brief visit with the owner of the ranch, the pilot departed on the return leg to IZA. About 2000, local law enforcement was notified by concerned friends and family that the pilot had not returned, and the Federal Aviation Administration issued an Alert Notice (ALNOT) shortly after. The wreckage of the airplane was located by a law enforcement air unit the morning of May 16.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted steep rising mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 2,700 ft msl, and an approximate heading of 284° magnetic. The main wreckage came to rest upright about 30 ft below the initial impact point and was mostly consumed by fire. All major structural components of the airplane were observed at the accident site. The wreckage was recovered to a secure facility for further examination. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Aviat
Registration: N236AM
Model/Series: A1 B
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: KIZA, 671 ft msl
Observation Time: 2035 PDT
Distance from Accident Site: 8 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C / 12°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2500 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 230°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Montecito, CA
Destination: Santa Ynez, CA (KIZA) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.691111, -119.953333

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

Pierre Josefsohn
December 21, 1950 — May 15, 2019

Pierre Josefsohn, age 68, of Solvang, Calif., passed away tragically on May 15, 2019 as a result of an accident in Santa Barbara County. A devoted family man and successful businessman, Josefsohn was born in Paris, France, on December 21, 1950, to Benjamin and Yvette Josefsohn. After graduating from the University of Economic Sciences in Paris, Josefsohn worked in Paris and Brazil before moving to the United States, where he lived for 25 years. Josefsohn is survived by his beloved wife, Marguerite, and their children, Rémi and Margot; his mother Yvette; his sister Anne; Anne’s children, Yael, Michael, and Jonathan; cousins Claude and Pierre Levy; and cousins Hina and Guy Benjamin, along with their daughters, Tehani and Loana. An avid flier, Josefsohn had a great sense of humor and spirit for adventure, with some of his happiest times occurring while piloting small planes between California and Alaska. Pierre will be greatly missed by relatives and friends throughout the world.

His funeral will be held Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m. at the Mission Santa Inés Mission, 1760 Mission Drive in Solvang, CA


Donations can be made to Family Formation Charitable Trust http://www.adoptionart.org

Pierre Josefsohn

At approximately 8:00 p.m. last night, May 15, 2019, the Sheriff’s Office was notified of an overdue aircraft out of the Santa Ynez Airport. The pilot had left earlier in the afternoon in his 2006 Aviat fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft for a solo, short flight around the area. His family became concerned when he did not return and was not in contact with them. A tracking system indicated that his plane was in the Figueroa Mountain Road area approximately two miles south of Ranger Peak. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit was contacted and begin flying the area but due to the dark and foggy conditions, search efforts were suspended. A plan was formulated to resume search efforts at daybreak.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. this morning, May 16, 2019, the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team was deployed. The team assembled and formulated a plan to reach the remote area where the plane’s final radar track was detected by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. At daybreak, the team drove into the area in 4X4 vehicles and a UTV (Utility Vehicle) and begin searching by foot. Using binoculars, at approximately 7:30 a.m. they were able to spot what appeared to be aircraft wreckage on the side of a steep hillside known as Goat Rock. An Air Support team flew over the location and confirmed there was a wrecked plane as well as a decedent about 100 feet on the ridge below.

It took Sheriff’s Search and Rescue about an hour and a half to climb up a steep ridgeline to a point above the wreckage where they then utilized ropes to rappel down to the decedent. Search and Rescue and Air Support teams worked together to recover the decedent. He was hoisted out of the area by Copter 3 and was turned over to the Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office at the Santa Barbara Airport.

The decedent has been identified as being 68-year-old Pierre Josefsohn of Solvang. The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation and the accident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. 

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office


Pierre Josefsohn







A 68-year-old Solvang man was killed in a plane crash near Figueroa Mountain on Wednesday night, according to a news release from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office was told of an overdue aircraft at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the release. The pilot had left from the Santa Ynez Airport earlier that afternoon “for a solo, short flight around the area,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

A tracking system showed that the plane was in the Figueroa Mountain Road area, about two miles south of Ranger Peak, the news release said. A sheriff and fire air support unit began flying in the area, searching for the plane, but had to suspend the search due to dark and foggy conditions.

The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team resumed the search at about 3 a.m. Thursday, according to the release. At about 7:30 a.m., the team found aircraft wreckage on the side of a steep hill known as Goat Rock.

The air support unit flew over the area and confirmed that there was a wrecked plane in the area, as well as a deceased person about 100 feet below on the ridge, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The dead man has been identified as Pierre Josefsohn, 68, of Solvang, the Sheriff’s Office said.  The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

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


Solvang resident Pierre Josefsohn, 68, was killed in a small aircraft crash near Figueroa Mountain, the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.

Josefsohn left early Wednesday afternoon in his Aviat A-1B Husky for a quick flight around the area, but his family became concerned when he did not return and failed to contact them. A tracking system on his plane indicated it was located approximately two miles south of Ranger Peak. A Sheriff’s helicopter was dispatched but the search was suspended because of foggy weather.

At daybreak Thursday morning, a Search and Rescue Team began searching by foot and located Josefsohn’s plane on the side of a steep hillside known as Goat Rock. His body was inside. Officials are working to determine the cause of the crash and the incident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. Josefsohn leaves behind a wife and two children.

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

4 comments:

  1. WOW ! ... just about every other day someone around 70 or so dumps a plane and dies........ whats going on ? My best to the family, I'm really a bit depressed to hear this 'cause I'm 70 and I kinda want to stop flying .... RIP my brother, Our Lord in Heaven be with you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Anonymous Anonymous said... Then stop flying...."
    You'll be old, one day if you should live that long. Will you take your own advice ? Doubt it...

    ReplyDelete