Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Lancair IV, N350CL: Fatal accident occurred August 11, 2019 in Kooskia, Idaho County, Idaho

Carl and Joelle Lindros , both 83, of Santa Barbara, California

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Spokane, Washington

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

https://registry.faa.gov/N350CL



Location: Kooskia, ID
Accident Number:WPR19FA216
Date & Time: 08/11/2019, 1040 PDT
Registration: N350CL
Aircraft: Lancair LANCAIR IV
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On August 11, 2019, about 1040 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Lancair IV airplane, N350CL, impacted sloping terrain, about 3 miles east of Kooskia, Idaho. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from Polson Airport (8S1), Polson, Montana, at 0930, and destined for Sacramento, California. Family members were expecting their arrival at 1230.

A local resident was driving near the accident site about the time of the accident and remembered the weather being "nasty," with heavy rain, and lightning. As he was driving, he remembered seeing a flash of light and an explosion from the accident site location and thought it was a lightning strike that struck a tree. He called local authorities and hours later found out that it was the airplane impacting terrain. In a follow-up conversation with the NTSB, he stated he did not see the airplane prior to impacting terrain. Another witness was fishing nearby and described the weather having heavy rain and a lot of lightning about the time of the accident. The witness remembers hearing an airplane's engine revving up and down, as if it were straining. He concluded that he didn't hear or see the airplane impact terrain.

According to weather radar imagery, an area of light to extreme precipitation was observed moving northeast over the accident area around the time of the accident. One-half inch hail was detected about 15 minutes prior to the accident time. Heavy values of precipitation were detected well above 30,000 ft mean sea level (msl) during this period.

Preliminary radar data shows a track departing the 8S1 area at about 0950. The tracking continues direct to the southwest with the altitude of the airplane between 10,500-10,800 ft msl. At 1019, about 26 miles from the accident site, the track turns southbound, for about 4 minutes and about 16 miles from the accident site the track then turns right to the southwest. At 1026, the track indicates the airplane in a climb to 13,250 ft before making a left turn followed by a rapidly descending left turn to the area of the accident site.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Lancair
Registration: N350CL
Model/Series: LANCAIR IV Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Unknown
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Polson, MT (8S1)
Destination: Sacramento, CA 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: On-Ground
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 46.157778, -115.919722

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.




Idaho County Coroner Cody Funke confirmed there were two people on board of the Lancair 4 that crashed on Sunday. With the assistance of the Idaho State University Department of Anthropology, Carl Lindros, 83, and Joanne Lindros, 81, of Santa Barbara, CA were located and then positively identified via their personal effects by their son, Randy Lindros.

KOOSKIA – Federal agencies continue to investigate a fatal plane crash last Sunday, August 11, outside Kooskia.


Human remains recovered at the site on Harris Ridge will be sent for autopsy, according to an Idaho County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) press release Tuesday, August 13, which also noted identity of the victims is pending family notification.


However, in a Monday. August 12, Lewiston Tribune story, Sheriff Doug Giddings identified those believed involved as Carl and Joelle Lindros, both 83, of Santa Barbara, Calif. The pair was believed to be traveling from Montana to Sacramento when the crash occurred for as-yet unknown reasons.


Giddings was unavailable for comment as of press time Tuesday.


Investigators face a challenge with the investigation as the aircraft, believed to be a Lancair IV, was completely engulfed in fire.


“It was completely destroyed. The biggest piece we found was four feet of wing,” said Lt. Doug Ulmer, ICSO. “The plane completely disintegrated.”


Initially the incident was reported Sunday morning, at approximately 10:41 a.m., as a fire, believed resulting from a lightning storm that earlier went through the area. The Kooskia Fire Department and Idaho Department of Lands crews were dispatched to the scene up Harris Ridge just outside Kooskia, according to Ulmer.


“Upon arrival at the scene, they realized this was an airplane crash, instead of a lightning-caused fire,” he said.


The plane crashed into a draw, leaving an approximate 75-yard skid trail of burnt debris. Firefighters secured a line around the scene to contain the fire’s spread, and secured the scene until law enforcement arrived, according to Ulmer.


Information recovered from the crash site, which may help confirm positive victim identification, has been provided to the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation and Safety Board. These agencies will take the lead on the investigation.


According to Ulmer, the agencies are arranging for recovering crash debris.


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


GRANGEVILLE, Idaho - The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a small plane crash in north-central Idaho killed two people.

The Lewiston Tribune reported Tuesday that Carl and Joelle Lindros, both 83 and believed to be from Santa Barbara, California, were in the Lancair IV aircraft when it crashed near Kooskia, Idaho late Sunday morning. Officials think the couple was traveling from Montana to Sacramento at the time.

Idaho County Sheriff Doug Giddings says it's not yet known why the plane crashed, but it apparently burst into flames and was destroyed on impact. Giddings says the wreckage has made it hard for authorities to tell if there were any other people on board.

Giddings says officials are working with the couple's son in California to learn more. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Both Carl and Joelle were visible members of the Santa Barbara Community. Carl previously served as board president of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara. 

Victoria Juarez, current president and CEO of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, issued the following statement regarding the death of Carl Lindros to our newsroom.

"We were shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely deaths of Carl and Jo Lindros. Carl was a beloved and influential supporter of the Scholarship Foundation for more than five decades, serving on the organization's Board of Directors from 1969 to 1986, and as Board president in 1985-86. A founding member of the Board's Investment Committee, Carl was instrumental in building the Foundation's endowment. Ever committed to the Scholarship Foundation, he was a member of our Investment Committee at the time of his death. This organization and the wider Santa Barbara Community have lost a generous and visionary leader."

https://www.keyt.com








GRANGEVILLE — Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were on scene at Harris Ridge a few miles northeast of Kooskia on Monday where a small aircraft crashed, killing two 83-year-old people, believed to be from Santa Barbara, Calif.

Idaho County Sheriff Doug Giddings said Monday that Carl and Joelle Lindros were believed to be traveling from Montana to Sacramento in a Lancair IV aircraft when it crashed for unknown reasons about 10:40 a.m. Sunday.

The plane apparently burst into flames and was destroyed on impact.

“They crashed, and there was not much left but bits and pieces,” Giddings said. “We’re not sure how many were in the plane; it was pretty shattered.”

The accident was first reported as a fire on the ridge, Giddings said, and local fire departments were dispatched to the scene, where the wreckage was discovered.

Giddings said officials are working with the couple’s son in California and more information about the accident may be released today.

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

12 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Did you know Carl? I did, he was a very capable pilot -- I saw him just a few weeks earlier.

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  2. Flight Aware shows them around 10,000 feet for the whole trip. Is that possible along that route? Wouldn't they need to be much higher?

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  3. Plane was doing 300-350 MPH when it struck the ground. A cruise missile.

    Three weeks earlier this same airplane flew over Los Angeles from one end of the city to the other. See https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N350CL Flew from Fullerton to Oxnard, flying over most of LA, then directly over LAX, then toward Santa Monica, and onward to Oxnard.

    Could've just as easily lost control of the airplane over Los Angeles.

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  4. The only identifiable parts in the wreckage I see are the turbocharger and the intercooler. Ground scar is more like an F-16.

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  5. Note the mention of a lightning storm. Experimental composite planes like Lancair's typically don't have metal mesh in their skins to protect them from lightning like certified composite planes do. A lightning strike can splinter unprotected composite structures. They could have taken a hit on a flight control and the pilot did his best to bring it in during or near a storm.

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  6. Well, from the bent prop it seems the motor was running when they impacted terrain. The mention of a storm in the area could offer a clue.
    A relative of mine died at age 89 after suffering in a nursing home for 7 years. I would prefer to go out like this, but I'd hate to total a good plane to do it.

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  7. 83 ? Really,.... I drew the line at 70 and converted my shop into an Ultralight part 103 Factory........ I get to weld, bend, glue, staple, paint with no thought of driving something I'm strapped into IN TO THE GROUND for whatever reason.... so........I still wish the fmily peace, love & hugs for their loss... R.I.P...... I guess we all leave this earth at some point so GOD BLESS to both of them.

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  8. agree with the above, and to all those "well he/she died what he/she loved doing," did they really love being spun, flipped, beaten, slammed, broken, and burned to death? Not to mention the panic and terror they likely felt in their last moments of consciousness?

    And certainly not to mention those they killed in their aircraft and/or on the ground. Did those folks also love the experience and were glad to have died that way?

    It's all well and good to love aviation. That's why most of us are here on this forum.

    But don't try to drag some blanket of nonexistent comfort over those who died in the endeavor.

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  9. The lightning strike theory is interesting and could explain how the plane went out of control and crashed so violently. So does a medical emergency on the part of the pilot. I wonder if he ever showed his wife how to fly the plane and talk on the radio just in case? Sad, RIP aviators.

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  10. This is a controlled flight into terrain. No doubt about it.
    I'd almost bet anything it was poor visibility and neither one knew what had happened.
    Prop was spinning. One blade bent, it hit first and the second blade broke at the hub.
    Typical of horizontal decent into terra firma.
    RIP together.

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    Replies
    1. The above anonymous August 27, 2019, 11:14 am commentator spouts untrue, illogical, and hurtful nonsense. If he/she bothered to read the initial investigation report (above), they would know the angle of descent, spin, speed, etc. My Father was a highly competent, brilliant man, pilot, and parent. My Mother was proficient at level-flight, radio operation, and assisted landings, and one of the most incredible human beings to ever live. Neither Dad nor Mom would have suspected such a horrible end to this life. However, they would hope the writer would find comfort in Jesus both for this life and the next. May you R.I.P. in Him today. I suggest you find yourself a Bible and a real friend to lead to that glorious place.

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