Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria, N5502S: Fatal accident occurred September 07, 2019 in Carpenter, Laramie County, Wyoming

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Casper, Wyoming

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

https://registry.faa.gov/N5502S

Location: Carpenter, WY
Accident Number: CEN19FA305
Date & Time: 09/07/2019, 1440 MDT
Registration: N5502S
Aircraft: Champion 7GCBC
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On September 7, 2019, about 1440 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N5502S, impacted terrain after a departure climb from a grass field near Carpenter, Wyoming. After the departure climb toward the west to about 100-200 ft above ground level (agl), the airplane entered a left bank turn that increased to about 60° while turning toward the southeast and maintaining an altitude of about 100-200 ft agl before it entered the descent, which was consistent with an accelerated stall. The airplane was destroyed by impacted forces. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined to Fort Morgan, Colorado.

Two witnesses near the field stated that they heard the noise of airplane engine operating, and one of the witnesses said that it appeared as if the airplane stalled.

Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the wing flaps were in the retracted position. The airplane control surfaces were attached and secure. The magneto and master switches were in the ON position. The throttle and mixture controls were in their full forward positions. The engine primer was in the forward and locked position. One of the propeller blades exhibited twisting and chordwise scratching consistent with torsional operation.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Champion
Registration: N5502S
Model/Series: 7GCBC No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: CYS, 6160 ft msl
Observation Time: 1453 MDT
Distance from Accident Site: 25 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots / 27 knots, 260°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Carpenter, WY
Destination: Fort Morgan, CO 

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: 41.030000, -104.246389 (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.


Zane Glenn Schmeeckle

Zane Glenn Schmeeckle, 62, longtime area building contractor, died Saturday, September 7, 2019 near Carpenter, WY after his private plane crashed in an open field, shortly after takeoff. Zane was born in Sterling, CO on August 5, 1957 to Glenn & Patricia Schmeeckle. He grew up in New Raymer, where he attended schools and graduated. 

On April 1, 1987, Zane married Pamela Gordon in Fort Collins. Zane has been the sole proprietor in his company, Design Builders, in Fort Morgan since 1988, working within the community and beyond as an accomplished contractor and businessman for the past 30 plus years. He was also a business partner with KTS Concrete in Fort Morgan. Zane was a member of the Elks Lodge #1143, Fort Morgan, AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), GAOA (Glasair Aircraft Owners Association), and the Colorado Pilots Association. Flying was his passion, but his grandchildren had his heart. 

Zane especially enjoyed spending time with his family, trips to the mountains, off-roading and four wheeling, as well as riding motorcycles. He truly lived life to the fullest and he will be missed by all who know and love him. Zane is survived by his wife, Pam Schmeeckle; their three daughters, Jonna (Justin) Young, Lindsey (Keith) Krentz, and Kylie Schmeeckle; and his grandchildren, Tayler Young, Brody Young, Dylan Krentz, Zaiden Krentz, Josie Krentz, Brynlee Baldwin, and Matthew Baldwin, all of Fort Morgan. He is also survived by his mother, Patricia Anderson of Greeley; two brothers, Wayne (Robin) Schmeeckle of Fort Morgan and Fred (Kim) Schmeeckle of Greeley; three sisters, K.C. (Brian) Miller of Phoenix, AZ, Renda (Michael) Collins of West Plains, MO, and Barb Schmeeckle of Phoenix, AZ, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn Schmeeckle; and his step father, Bill Anderson.

Services to celebrate Zane's life will be held Saturday, September 14th at 10:00 AM in the gymnasium at Prairie School, 42315 Weld County Road 133, Raymer, CO 80742. Interment will follow immediately in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Fort Morgan. Memorial donations may be made to the EAA online at www. eaa. org or sent to EAA Aviation Foundation, Inc. PO Box 3816, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3816

CHEYENNE, Wyoming - A general contractor out of Colorado is dead after a plane crash in Southeastern Wyoming. 

The crash happened Saturday afternoon at Burnette Dairy, East of Carpenter, in an open field.

Laramie County Fire District #4 says the call came in around 2:48 PM Saturday, and they were on scene less than 20 minutes later.

District #4 was on scene for more than 19 hours when federal agencies couldn’t arrive before Sunday.

The County Coroner Rebecca Reid says the pilot was Zane Schmeeckle of Fort Morgan, Colorado. She says Schmeekle was doing work at Burnette Dairy, and flew his private plane from Colorado to work sites day to day. Schmeekle took off from the dairy farm and crashed shortly after takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration and  National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating. 

Coroner Reid says an autopsy was performed Monday, but the cause of death is still being investigated.

Original article ➤  https://www.wyomingnewsnow.tv

1 comment:

  1. Altitude there is 5,440 and temperature Saturday afternoon was 82 ... and perhaps warmer in localized spots catching sun. Density altitude calculates to approximately 8,500. That's not extremely high density altitude ... but still it's pretty high.

    This pilot is from that Colorado / Wyoming area so he would be very familiar with high altitude and density altitude.

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