Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Piper PA-28-151 Cherokee Warrior, N7943C: Fatal accident occurred June 09, 2019 in Antioch, Contra Costa County, California

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

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oakland, California
Lycoming Engines; Chandler, Arizona
Piper Aircraft; Arizona

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

https://registry.faa.gov/N7943C

Location: Antioch, CA
Accident Number: WPR19FA163
Date & Time: 06/09/2019, 1732 PDT
Registration: N7943C
Aircraft: Piper PA28
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On June 9, 2019, about 1732 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA 28-151 airplane, N7943C, impacted water near Antioch, California. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane received substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The airplane was registered to Monka Aviation 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 around the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from Buchanan Field (CCR), about 1700.

According to multiple witnesses located near the accident site, the airplane was seen maneuvering at low altitude, when it impacted the Broad Slough portion of the San Joaquin River. The wreckage was located submerged in about 20 ft of water, about 1,600 ft from the shoreline. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N7943C
Model/Series: PA28 151
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Sterling Avionics Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCCR
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 4°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 360°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Antioch, CA (KCCR)
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.044167, -121.838889 (est)

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. 

Colin Um 

It is with great sadness that the Berkeley Biomechanics Laboratory learns about Colin Um’s death this past weekend. Colin was an undergraduate researcher in the lab from 2016-2018, performing computational studies of the disc with graduate student, Bo Yang. Colin had many interests outside of the classroom, including flying.



Contra Costa Sheriff's Office
Update on Downed Plane in Delta/Pilot Identified

During a search yesterday of Broad Slough where the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit located the plane wreckage, the Dive Team recovered a body from the wreckage, which was in approximately 20 feet of water, at about 5:30 PM.

The Coroner's Division later identified the person, who was the pilot and only occupant of the plane, as 22-year-old Colin Um of Berkeley.

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, at about 5:32 PM, a boater notified Sheriff’s Office Dispatch of a small plane crashing into the Delta at the north end of Broad Slough, north of Antioch.

Several public safety agencies immediately responded. Debris and a backpack were found at the location. The plane took off from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord at about 5 PM.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash. Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the NTSB by email at: witness@NTSB.GOV.

Although a date has not been set, a salvage company is expected to remove the plane wreckage in the near future.

The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office would like to extend our condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of Colin Um. An autopsy into the cause of death is scheduled for tomorrow.


Contra Costa Sheriff's Office
Update on Downed Plane/Wreckage Located

This morning the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit went to Broad Slough in the Delta where a plane was reported to have gone down yesterday. Marine Patrol Deputies, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, used a side scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle to find the exact location of the plane. The plane wreckage was located at about 10:30 AM. A Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was later deployed.

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, at about 5:32 PM, a boater notified Sheriff’s Office Dispatch of a small plane crashing into the Delta at the north end of Broad Slough, north of Antioch.

Several agencies that included the Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Pittsburg PD, Solano County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Coast Guard, and the California Highway Patrol responded. Debris and a backpack were found at the location.

The plane took off from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord at about 5 PM. The pilot is believed to be the only occupant in the plane. The name of the pilot is not being released at this time as his identity has not been confirmed.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash. Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the NTSB by email at: witness@NTSB.GOV.

The Marine Services Unit is continuing with recovery operations. A salvage company is expected to remove the plane wreckage within the next few days.


Update – Tuesday, June 11

Update on Downed Plane in Delta/Pilot Identified


During a search yesterday of Broad Slough where the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit located the plane wreckage, the Dive Team recovered a body from the wreckage, which was in approximately 20 feet of water, at about 5:30 PM.

The Coroner’s Division later identified the person, who was the pilot and only occupant of the plane, as 22-year-old Colin Um of Berkeley.

The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the cause of the crash. Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the NTSB by email at: witness@NTSB.GOV.

Although a date has not been set, a salvage company is expected to remove the plane wreckage in the near future.

Update – Monday, June 10

This morning the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit went to Broad Slough in the Delta where a plane was reported to have gone down yesterday. Marine Patrol Deputies, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, used a side scan sonar and remotely operated vehicle to find the exact location of the plane. The plane wreckage was located at about 10:30 AM. A Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was later deployed.

UPDATE – Sheriffs Office

Airplane Down in Delta/Pilot Missing

Today at about 5:32 PM, a boater notified Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Dispatch of a small plane crashing into the California Delta at the north end of Broad Slough, north of Pittsburg.

Several agencies that included the Office of the Sheriff Marine Patrol Unit, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Pittsburg PD, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Coast Guard, and the California Highway Patrol responded. Debris and a backpack were found at the location. The plane is believed to have taken off from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord at about 5 PM. The pilot was the only occupant in the plane. The name of the pilot is not being released at this time as his identity has not been confirmed.

A search was conducted by the responding agencies with negative results. The FAA and NTSB have been contacted. Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Units have been conducting sonar searches for evidence of the plane wreckage.

Any witnesses to this incident are asked to contact the NTSB by email at witness@NTSB.GOV.

At around 5:30 pm Sunday, Contra Costa County Firefighters were dispatched to a report of an airplane crash into the delta waters.

Fire units responded to the Antioch Marina where fire boats were dispatched across the Delta to Broad Slough.

After about 30-minutes into the search, Rescue Boat 81 who located a backpack, ID, flight map, and a tail number. No body has yet been recovered. Debris from a small aircraft found in Broad Slough, west of Kimball Island.

The US Coast Guard, Pittsburg Police, Contra Costa County Sheriff, and CHP air support assisted in the search.

After about 70 minutes into the search, it switched from a rescue mission to a recovery mission.

By 7:24 pm, the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office took over the incident.

Update: Per Contra Costa County Fire, the plane  was rented out of Buchanan Airfield in Concord around 3:00 pm and the pilot was the only occupant. Ongoing recovery operations being conducted by Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://eastcountytoday.net

6 comments:

  1. Student pilot certificate issued 6/6/18. First-class medical issued May 2018. No other certificates or ratings.

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  2. He had passed his Private check ride within the prior week.

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  3. One of the mags went out on this plane a few weeks before the crash. I believe they switched mags from 09X to see if that fix the problem. Don't fly cheap ladies and gentlemen. Rip Colin. :(

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  4. RIP Colin, a very sad day. My condolences to Colin's family, my heart reaches out as my Son is also passionately flying at the same age.

    To the Anon above, I have flown many hours in 09X: Sterling Aviation is a first class organization, with IMO top notch maintenance and flight instruction. The investigators will get to the true root cause, if you have factual observations please contact them.

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  5. Replies
    1. I agree, and very suspicious: His own father didn't know he was flying and a jet ski and boat left the area of the crash as soon as the plane hit the water. What's that all about? Perhaps he was showing off for friends?

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