Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Loss of Control in Flight: Cessna 421 Golden Eagle, N731PF; fatal accident occurred September 29, 2019 in DeLand, Volusia County, Florida

Armand Girouard 
December 28th, 1991 - September 29th, 2019

Ernendro Pedro Philippe 
September 14th, 1987 - September 29th, 2019

Shawna Jo Carbonaro
March 1st, 1985 – September 29th, 2019
~





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; Orlando, Florida
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Deland, Florida 
Accident Number: ERA19FA283
Date and Time: September 29, 2019, 16:00 Local
Registration: N731PF
Aircraft: Cessna 421 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
Injuries: 3 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The owner of the airplane had purchased the airplane with the intent to resell it after repairs had been made. As part of that process, a mechanic hired by the owner had assessed the airplane’s condition, proposed the necessary repairs to the airplane’s owner, and had identified a pilot who would, once the repairs and required inspection annual inspection had been completed, fly the airplane from where it was located to where the owner resided. While the mechanic had identified a potential pilot for the relocation flight, he had not yet completed the repairs to the airplane, nor had he completed the necessary logbook entries that would have returned the airplane to service.

The pilot-rated passenger onboard the airplane for the accident flight, was the pilot who had been identified by the mechanic for the relocation flight. Review of the pilot-rated passenger’s flight experience revealed that he did not possess the necessary pilot certificate rating, nor did he have the flight experience necessary to act as pilot-in-command of the complex, high-performance, pressurized, multi-engine airplane. Additionally, the owner of the airplane had not given the pilot-rated-passenger, or anyone else, permission to fly the airplane. The reason for, and the circumstances under which the pilot-rated passenger and the commercial pilot (who did hold a multi-engine rating) were flying the airplane on the accident flight could not be definitively determined, although because another passenger was onboard the airplane, it is most likely that the accident flight was personal in nature. Given the commercial pilot’s previous flight experience, it is also likely that he was acting as pilot-in-command for the flight.

One witness said that he heard the airplane’s engines backfiring as it flew overhead, while another witness located about 1 mile from the accident site heard the accident airplane flying overhead. The second witness said that both engines were running, but they seemed to be running at idle and that the flaps and landing gear were retracted. The witness saw the airplane roll to the left three times before descending below the tree line. As the airplane descended toward the ground, the witness heard the engines make “two pop” sounds. 

The airplane impacted a wooded area about 4 miles from the departure airport, and the wreckage path through the trees was only about 75-feet long. While the witnesses described the airplane’s engines backfiring or popping before the accident, the post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, examination of both propeller blades showed evidence of low rotational energy at impact, and that neither propeller had been feathered in flight.

Given the witness statement describing the airplane “rolling three times” before it descended from view toward the ground, it is most likely that the pilot lost control of the airplane and while maneuvering. It is also likely that the pilot’s lack of any documented previous training or flight experience in the accident airplane make and model contributed to his inability to maintain control of the airplane.

Toxicology testing was performed on the pilot’s chest cavity blood. The results identified 6.7 ng/ml of delta-9-tetrahydracannabinol (THC, the active compound in marijuana) as well as 2.6 ng/ml of its active metabolite, 11-hydroxy-THC and 41.3 ng/ml of its inactive metabolite delta9-carboxy-THC. Because the measured THC levels were from cavity blood, it was not possible to determine when the pilot last used marijuana or whether he was impaired by it at the time of the flight. As a result, it could not be determined whether effects from the pilot’s use of marijuana contributed to the accident circumstances.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of training and experience in the accident airplane make and model.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft (general) - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Total experience w/ equipment - Pilot

Factual Information

On September 29, 2019, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 421, N731PF, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain near DeLand Municipal Airport (DED), DeLand, Florida. The commercial pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and aft-seated passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The owner of the airplane stated that he purchased the airplane on June 21, 2019, and that planned to make repairs and resell the airplane. The airplane was based at DED at the time of purchase and had not undergone an annual inspection for several years. The owner hired a mechanic to make the necessary repairs and conduct an annual inspection of the airplane. During the inspection, the mechanic informed the owner that the left tachometer generator and the fuel gauges were inoperative and that other items also needed repair or replacement. Once the work was done and the annual inspection was signed off, the mechanic would find a pilot to transport the airplane to Texas, where the owner resided. The mechanic subsequently found a pilot who he thought would be able to fly the airplane to Texas (the pilot-rated passenger).

The mechanic stated that he had not completed the repairs to the airplane or signed off the airplane’s annual inspection at the time of the accident flight. The airplane owner stated that he did not know the pilot or the passengers and that he was not aware that the airplane was being flown at that time.

A witness in the vicinity of the accident site shortly before the accident stated that he heard the airplane fly overhead at an altitude of about 2,000 ft and described the engines as sounding “rough.” About 10 minutes later, he observed the airplane overhead at an altitude of 1,000 ft and heard the engine “sputtering and backfiring.”

According to another witness who was about 1-mile away from the accident site, he heard the accident airplane flying very low overhead. He then observed the airplane banking to the left and said that both engines seemed to be running at “low idle.” As he continued to watch the airplane, he noticed that the flaps and landing gear were retracted. The witness also observed the airplane roll to the left three times before descending below the tree line. As the airplane descended toward the ground, the engines made “two pop” sounds. The witness saw no smoke coming from the airplane during the descent.

The airplane crashed in a heavily wooded area and a post-impact fire ensued.

The pilot, age 27, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot also held a flight instructor certificate with an airplane single-engine rating. His Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate was issued June 4, 2018. A review of the pilot’s logbook revealed that the last entry was dated May 29, 2019. The total pilot-in-command time entered was 500 hours, including about 40 hours of multiengine airplane flight time. The logbook did not show that the pilot had received any instruction or had logged any previous flight experience in the Cessna 421. While the pilot did have an endorsement in his logbook for the operation of high-performance airplanes, he did not have an endorsement for the operation of complex airplanes.

The pilot-rated passenger, age 32, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on April 12, 2019. A review of his pilot logbook revealed a total of 155 flight hours, all in single-engine airplanes.

A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the airplane received its last annual inspection on February 15, 2014, at a Hobbs meter time of 858 hours. The Hobbs meter reading at the time of the 2019 examination was 862 hours.

The main wreckage was located about 4 nautical miles from DED on a 230° magnetic heading. The wreckage path was about 75 ft in length from the first broken tree branch, which was about 75 ft high, to the location where the airplane came to rest at the base of a tree in an upright position. There were freshly broken branches at the wreckage site.

All flight control surfaces were located at the accident site. The cockpit section of the airplane was crushed, and a tree trunk extended from the bottom of the fuselage to the top of the right side of the cockpit. The fuselage exhibited crush damage to the aft pressure bulkhead. The empennage was broken away from the fuselage at the aft pressure bulkhead and remained partially attached by flight control cables. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers remained attached to the empennage. The vertical stabilizer was buckled, and the rudder was attached at the lower attachment points. The rudder was broken in two parts; the lower section containing the rudder trim was buckled, and the upper section was also buckled and partially attached to the remaining rudder assembly.

Examination of both engines and their components revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation or production of the rated horsepower. Examination of both propellers revealed the presence of witness marks that showed contact between the blade counterweights and the propeller hub, which were consistent with the propellers being at a low pitch position (and not feathered) during impact. Additionally, the damage to the propeller hubs and their assemblies, as well as the twisting, bending, and paint scuffing observed on the propeller blades, were all consistent with relatively low rotational energy at impact.

The Office of the Medical Examiner, Daytona Beach, Florida, performed an autopsy on the pilot and pilot-rated passenger. Their cause of death was blunt force trauma.

For the pilot, toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified in chest cavity blood samples, 6.7 ng/ml of delta-9-tetrahydracannabinol (THC, the active compound in marijuana), 2.6 ng/ml of its active metabolite 11-hydroxy-THC, and 41.3 ng/ml of its inactive metabolite delta-9-carboxy-THC. In addition, 12.5 ng/ml of THC, 390 ng/ml of 11-hydroxy-THC, and 734.5 ng/ml of delta-9-carboxy-THC were found in urine samples. The tests were negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol.

For the pilot-rated passenger, toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs.

History of Flight

Maneuvering Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 27, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
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: June 4, 2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model), 185 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)

Pilot-rated passenger Information

Certificate: Private 
Age: 32, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 12, 2019
Occupational Pilot: UNK
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 155 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N731PF
Model/Series: 421 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1968
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 421-0164
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle 
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: February 15, 2014 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 6841 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 4 Hrs
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 858 Hrs
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C91A installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: GTSIO-520-D
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 375 Horsepower
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: DED, 79 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 15:55 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 230°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3100 ft AGL 
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4800 ft AGL 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 60°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 23°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Deland, FL (DED) 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Deland, FL (DED)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 15:42 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Deland Muni-Sidney H Taylor Fi DED
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 79 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 29.024444,-81.344169

=================

Location: Deland, FL
Accident Number: ERA19FA283
Date & Time: 09/29/2019, 1600 EDT
Registration: N731PF
Aircraft: Cessna 421
Injuries: 3 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On September 29, 2019, about 1600, eastern standard daylight time, a Cessna 421, N731PF, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain near Deland, Florida. The commercial pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and aft-seated passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from DeLand Municipal Airport-Sidney H Taylor Field (DED), Deland, Florida about 1542.

According to the owner of the airplane, he purchased the airplane on June 21, 2019, with plans to make repairs before selling it. The airplane was base at DED at the time of purchase and had not had an annual inspection for several years. The owner hired a mechanic to make necessary repairs and conduct an annual inspection on the airplane. During the inspection of the airplane, the mechanic informed the owner that the left tachometer generator and the fuel gauges did not work, along with other items that needed repair and replacement. The owner planned that once all of the work was done and the annual was signed off, the mechanic would find a pilot to transport the airplane to Texas, where he resided. The mechanic subsequently told the owner that he found a flight instructor that was able to fly the airplane back to Texas (the pilot-rated passenger). The owner stated that he did not know the pilot nor the other passenger onboard the airplane, and was not aware that the airplane was being flown by anyone when the accident occurred.

The mechanic he stated that he had not completed the necessary repairs to the airplane, nor had he signed off the airplane's annual inspection at the time of the accident.

According to air traffic control (ATC), a review of radar data revealed that the flight departed DED and proceeded to a point about 17 miles southwest of DED. The airplane was observed on radar conducting flight maneuvers at 2,500 ft. After the flight maneuvers were completed the airplane was observed heading back to DED. While returning to DED, the airplane descended until it reached 1,000 ft, then made a left turn before radar contact was lost. There were no ATC services and no voice communications with ATC.

According to a witness in the area at the time of the accident, he heard the airplane fly over at an altitude about 2,000 ft, and described the engine(s) sound as "rough." About 10 minutes later he observed the airplane coming back at an altitude of 1,000 ft and the engine sounds included "sputtering and backfiring." He was able to identify the airplane as a twin-engine Cessna and white in color. He did not see any smoke or fire emitting from the airplane when it flew over but continued to observe the airplane as it descended below the tree line. The witness did not see or hear the crash, but later that evening he heard about it on the local news and contacted the local authorities to report what he saw and heard.

According to another witness, about a mile away from the accident site, he was in his garage and heard the accident airplane flying over. It sounded very loud so he walked out of his garage and down his driveway to see. He said both engines were running, but they seemed to be running at idle. As he continued to watch the airplane, he said that it was flying "very slow and very low", and the flaps and landing gear was retracted. Suddenly the airplane rolled to the left and began to "spiral downward" three times before descending below the tree line. As the airplane spiraled to the ground the engines made "two popping" sounds before crashing into a wooded area. No smoke was seen emitting from the airplane during the descent. He report what he saw to the local authorities, and the local authorities responded shortly afterwards.

The pilot, age 27, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot also held a flight instructor certificate with an airplane single engine rating. His Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) first-class medical certificate was issued June 4, 2018. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that the last entry was dated May 29, 2019. The total pilot in command time entered was 500 hours, including approximately 40 hours of multiengine flight time. Of the 500 hours, approximately 185 hours was flight instruction given in single engine airplanes. The logbook did not show that the pilot had received any instruction or had logged any previous flight experience in the Cessna 421.

The pilot-rated passenger, age 32, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most-recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on April 12, 2019. A review of the pilot logbook revealed a total of 155 flight hours, all in single-engine airplanes.

The airplane was manufactured in 1968. It was powered by two Continental GTSIO-520-D engines each rated at 375 horsepower. The engines were each equipped with a McCauley three-blade, controllable-pitch propeller. Review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane was last inspected in accordance with an annual inspection on February 15, 2014, at a Hobbs meter time of 858 hours. The current Hobbs reading at the time of the examination was 862 hours.

The DED weather at 1555 was reported as wind from 060° at 7 knots, 10 miles visibility or greater, a scattered ceiling at 3,100 ft above ground level (agl), broken skies at 4,800 ft agl, temperature of 29° Celsius (C), dew point temperature of 23° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.08 inches of mercury.

The airplane crashed in a heavy wooded area; the main wreckage was located approximately 4 nautical miles from DED on a 230 magnetic degree heading. The wreckage path was about 75 ft in length from the first broken tree branch, which was about 75ft high from where the airplane came to rest.

Examination of the accident site revealed the airplane was at the base of a tree in a upright position. There were freshly cut branches at the wreckage site. All flight control surfaces were located at the accident site. The cockpit section of the airplane was crushed and a tree trunk extended from the bottom of the fuselage through the top of the right side of the cockpit. The fuselage exhibited crush damage to the aft pressure bulkhead. The empennage was broken away from the fuselage at the aft pressure bulkhead and remained partially attached by flight control cables. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers remained attached to the empennage. The vertical stabilizer was buckled and the rudder was attached at the lower attachment points. The rudder was broken in two parts, the lower section containing the rudder trim was buckled. The upper section of the rudder was also buckled and partially attached to the remainder of the rudder assembly.

The horizontal stabilizer remained attached to the empennage and was buckled. The elevators were buckled remained attached to the horizontal assembly. Flight control cable continuity was established from the control yoke, rudder pedals and the trim actuator; to the rudder, rudder trim tab, elevator assemblies.

An examination of the left wing assembly revealed that a post-crash fire destroyed the wing assembly outboard of the engine nacelles. The left engine and nacelle exhibited fire and impact damage, and the inboard section of the wing remained attached to the fuselage at the wing root. The left landing gear was found in the extended position and the flaps were retracted. The left main and auxiliary fuel tanks were destroyed by post-crash fire. Flight control cables were found within the left wing assembly and extended outboard to fire damaged wing area. Flight control continuity was established from the aileron, aileron trim tab cables, to the control yoke and trim actuator.

Examination of the right wing assembly revealed that a post-crash fire destroyed the wing assembly outboard of the engine nacelles. The right engine and nacelle exhibited fire and impact damage, and the inboard section of the wing remained attached to the fuselage at the wing root. The right landing gear was found in the extended position and the flaps were retracted. The right main and auxiliary fuel tanks were destroyed by post-crash fire. Flight control cables were found within the right wing assembly and extended outboard to fire damaged wing area. Flight control continuity was established from the aileron, cables to the control yoke.

Examination of the right engine revealed that the crankcase remained intact and displayed impact and thermal damage signatures. There were no holes in the case that would indicate a catastrophic internal engine failure. The propeller flange remained attached to the rest of the propeller flange; the flange displayed impact damage and was bent. The propeller shaft gear was partially visible after removing the alternator; the gear displayed normal operating signatures. The propeller shaft was rotated using a hand tool; continuity was established between the propeller shaft, reduction gear, quill shaft, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, and associated components. All six cylinders remained attached to their cylinder bays and displayed varying amounts of impact and thermal damage.

The cylinders were inspected using a lighted borescope. The piston faces, cylinder bores and valve heads displayed normal operating and combustion signatures. While rotating the propeller shaft it was noted that all six cylinders displayed thumb compression and suction. During rotation it was noted that all the rocker arms and valves moved accordingly.

Examination of the right propeller assembly revealed the three blade, constant speed propeller remained partially attached to the propeller flange and displayed impact damage signatures. The propeller blade marked "A" displayed minor damage to the rubber boot. The propeller blade marked "B" displayed minor impact damage near the root of the blade. Propeller blade marked "C" displayed minor S-bending as well as significant aft bending deformation. During the on scene portion of the investigation several tree branches were found with clean approximate 45 degree angle cuts and appeared to have black paint transfer on the right side of the airplane.

Examination of the left engine revealed that the crankcase remained intact and displayed impact and thermal damage signatures. There were no holes in the case that would indicate a catastrophic internal engine failure. The propeller flange remained attached to the rest of the propeller flange; the flange displayed impact damage and was bent. The propeller shaft gear was partially visible after removing the alternator; the gear displayed normal operating signatures. The propeller shaft was rotated using a hand tool; continuity was established between the propeller shaft, reduction gear, quill shaft, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, and associated components. The crankshaft gear was visible after removing the starter adapter; the gear remained intact and was undamaged. All six cylinders remained attached to their cylinder bays and displayed varying amounts of impact and thermal damage. The cylinders were inspected using a lighted borescope; the piston faces, cylinder bores, and valve heads displayed normal operating and combustion signatures. While rotating the propeller shaft all cylinders displayed thumb compression and suction and all of the overhead valve components moved accordingly.

Examination of the left propeller assembly revealed the three blade, constant speed propeller remained partially attached to the propeller flange and displayed impact damage signatures. The propeller blade marked "A" displayed minor impact damage to the root and was not bent. The propeller blade marked "B" displayed S-bending, twisting, and aft bending deformation as well as significant polishing of the cambered side. The propeller blade marked "C" displayed aft bending deformation and leading edge polishing near the tip. During the on scene portion of the investigation several tree branches were found with clean approximate 45 degree angle cuts and appeared to have black paint transfer on the left side of the airplane.






The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board about a fatal plane crash in Deland in September said the Cessna 421 had not had an annual inspection in more than five years and was not supposed to be in flight.

The plane crashed in a wooded area off State Road 44 and Grand Avenue on September 29th and burst into flames.

The pilot, Armand Girouard, a former Embry Riddle student and current employee, was killed along with two passengers.

The report said the Texas-based owner of the plane bought it this past June and planned to make repairs before selling it.

According to the report, the owner hired a mechanic who discovered parts, including fuel gauges and a left tachometer generator, that didn't work and other parts that needed repair.

According to the report, the repairs had not been completed when the crash occurred nor did the owner know the plane was in flight.

A pilot-rated passenger on board had been identified by the mechanic as someone who could fly the plane back to Texas once the repairs were complete.

https://www.wesh.com




Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N731PF
Model/Series: 421 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: DED, 79 ft msl
Observation Time: 1555 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3100 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 60°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4800 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Deland, FL (DED)
Destination: Deland, FL (DED)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 29.024444, -81.344167


Armand Girouard


On Sunday September 29th, 2019, Shawna Jo Carbonaro, 34, mother of 3 amazing children, has earned her wings alongside of her longtime boyfriend Emendro “Andrew” Philippe. Shawna was born March 1st, 1985 in Orlando Florida to Dom Carbonaro and Suzanne Rice. She was a wonderful mother to her son, Da’mon Floyd, and two daughters, Shawnice Floyd and Dominique Toliver.

Shawna was employed at IHOP where she was a server, alongside family and friends. She enjoyed living Life, playing pool, dancing, singing music of all genres and making everyone in her presence happy. She set her goals high in life and was determined to achieve them all, big or small.

Shawna is survived by her grandmothers Karen Carroll, Barbara Robertson, and Leona Carbonara (Granny Lee), her grandfather David Crane Sr., mother Suzanne Rice, father Dom Carbonaro, step-father David Crane Jr, step-mother Maria Carbonaro, three children Da’mon Floyd, Shawnice Floyd, Dominique Toliver, two sisters Jamie Rice, Cadie Crane, one brother David Tyler Crane, many Aunts and Uncles, several cousins, nieces and nephews, and several friends.

A Funeral Service will be held Friday October 4th, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. The Service will take place at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery, 1295 Saxon Blvd. Orange City, Fl. 32763.

Donations are accepted and appreciated. An account has been set up on her behalf. Thank you, https://www.gofundme.com



Ernendro 'Andrew' Philippe, 32, resident of Kissimmee, FL, entered into eternal peace on September 29, 2019. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 14, 1987, to Pedro Philippe and the late Immacula Alexa.

He was a successful entrepreneur with many interests and passions. In a short time, he ran successful businesses, became a master technician, and a real estate investor. He was also able to carry out his greatest childhood dream of becoming a pilot. Andrew always enjoyed sharing his love for flying with family and friends. We were so proud to watch him live out his dreams.

Andrew went by many names, father, Son, brother, uncle, nephew, & friend. He was a devoted father to his Son Isaiah and a selfless person who always put his family first. He always made sure to share the legacy of his late mom in all of his accomplishments.

Andrew was many things-humble, loving, caring, generous, outgoing, intelligent, laid back & family orientated he did many charitable works from his heart.

Andrew is survived by his beloved father, Pedro Philippe, his two amazing brothers Adler Sanon and Rodney Philippe, Megan Brown, and their Son Isaiah Philippe.  He also leaves memories to be cherished by his loving Aunt Esther Fleury-Alexa; cousins: Aisha Beauvais, Randy Fleury, Melissa Fleury Sandra Fleury-Sanon, Youdy Sanon and there four children.

Andrew grew up in church, and he is a believer in Christ. His favorite verse was john 3:17 " For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn but to save the world through him. In Andrew's words (LOVE ALL SERVE ALL).













DELAND, Florida — An investigation into a plane crash that killed three people over the weekend in wooded area of DeLand is underway.

A National Transportation Safety Board​'s investigator-in-charge was due to the scene Monday morning.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, the Cessna 421 Golden Eagle crashed at about 4 p.m. Sunday near West New York Avenue and Grand Avenue and caught fire.

When first responders arrived at the scene, they found the three people with no pulse, deputies said. Several witnesses told authorities they saw the plane go down.

"We tried to put the fire out with fire extinguishers," Greg Kwiatkowski said. "(We) blew through like 10 fire extinguishers and didn’t do anything."

The Sheriff's Office on Monday released the identities of the victims: Armand Girouard, 27, of DeLand; Ernendro Philippe, 32, of Kissimmee; and Shawna Carbonaro, 34, of DeLand. Girouard was the pilot.

The Sheriff's Office released body camera footage and 911 audio on Monday and said the crash investigation has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB.

NTSB spokesperson Terry Williams stressed the agency is in the “fact-gathering stage." A preliminary report is expected within 10 days, outlining the facts gathered by the investigator. It will not draw any conclusions about possible causes of the crash -- that will be included in the NTSB’s final report, which could take months or more complete.

The NTSB investigator will continue to work at the crash site Tuesday. At some point soon, the wreckage will be moved to a more secure location as the investigation continues, Williams said.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.mynews13.com

25 comments:

  1. I'm a bit confused...
    Was this a familiarization flight in an aircraft not yet certified as airworthy by a pilot surrogate of the pilot hired to ferry said aircraft once it was deemed airworthy ?

    or was this the aviation equivalent of a Ferris Bueller joyride with tragic consequences ?

    The Final Report Docket should be very interesting

    No matter ... RIP to all

    ReplyDelete
  2. Incomplete maint., no sign-off, no training (maybe), no annual, no nothing. Horrible ADM all over.

    Ok, when accidents happen, they say not one but many broken things have to stack up before an accident can actually take over. This time, just about EVERYTHING was broken from the beginning.

    He should have rented a 172 at a local flight school. If he did so, they'd probably be having wings and beers at a local beach bar. But no, not anymore, never for eternity.... rip.

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  3. This one will play out in the courts for years. What a mess

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  4. This whole thing stinks. I know a guy who looked at the plane a year ago and said it was a part out plane at best. The plane was sold to a guy in TN then he sold it to a guy in TX who says he was going to repair it and sell it. 3 flips on one plane. Everyone knew the plane was way out of annual and needed a lot of expensive work. The mechanic did the inspection and then reassembled a 421 without finishing it? Then found a pilot to fly it? I feel that everyone involved knew the plane was not ready to fly. Putting a pilot with 40 hours multi time (probably in a twin star if he was at Riddle) into a 421 is crazy to begin with never mind one 5 years out of annual. The owner claims he didn't know that the plane was flying. Does that denote that it was used without permission? Did the mechanic know it was flying? Who told this low time pilot that the 421 was OK to fly? I have a feeling everyone involved knew the condition of the plane and that the pilot was taking it out for a hop before the flight to TX. 421s are expensive to keep going especially the early ones. The exhaust AD alone is 15K in parts. Owner seems to be trying to keep costs down to a minimum to increase profit. The pilot flew this hunk of junk and lost his and his friends lives because of it and everyone is saying I didnt know.

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  5. Sounds like low time pilot took his friends on a joyride for the rest of their life.

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  6. It's a wonder insurance co.s are still willing to insure light planes at all considering the hijinks involved in so many of these accidents.

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  7. I can almost guarantee there was no insurance on the plane. If there was it most likely had a non-movement policy.
    Like I said before this one is going to be a legal nightmare with no winners, not even the lawyers.

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  8. It looks like there is very little tree damage around the accident site and in the last picture there is a tree impaled through the copilots side of the cockpit. There are broken limbs at the top of the same tree. It seems there was very little forward momentum which would indicate a flat spin but how that would develop at such a low altitude is beyond me.

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  9. I dislike tattooed people. And this is fully legal as they are not a protected class. God the tats on that woman are tasteless...

    That aside it does look like a Ferry Bueller gone wrong. Another reason most airplanes owners never let anyone have access to their planes.

    Plain old liability. Whoever brought this bird will face a 7-8 figures lawsuit just by sitting on their asses at home doing nothing, except for some young idiot deciding tp take their plane for a joyride.

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  10. That tree through the right side of the cockpit is right through that right seat. I shudder thinking of that having spent many hours right seat in a 414 which was a lower powered version of the same aircraft. These things are beasts and not for the green lower tiered twin pilot which this sounds suspect as the case. Let alone one in questionable airworthiness and history. Would never have set foot in it no matter how much I was offered based on the information about it here.

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  11. I hadn't noticed that tree. Wow. How is that even possible?

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  12. Take a look at the very first pic. look how clean the cut is on the left hand side of the cockpit. Thru the windshield back to the door. Curious about the blade and saw they used to get thru the aluminum, Plexiglas. plastic and wire so clean and straight.

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  13. Poster's Transcript of LiveATC file KDED-Sep-29-2019-1930Z.mp3

    Although "There were no ATC services and no voice communications with ATC" (NTSB Preliminary Report), there were CTAF communications.
    I have transcribed them from the LiveATC file, KDED-Sep-29-2019-1930Z.mp3.

    * Communications not from or directly related to N731PF are excluded.
    * Timestamps are [hh:mm:ss] EDT, estimated (a) from audio-file time offsets, and (b) cross-checked with event times reported by the NTSB.
    * When departing, N731PF speaks in a higher tonality and relatively quickly; returning, N731PF speaks deliberately, with a lower tonality. My guess is that the pilot is doing the radio work on the way out and the pilot-rated passenger is doing the radio work on the way back, while the pilot deals with the problem. The voices are distinguished in the transcript as "p1" and "p2"

    [15:30:30] *** FILE BEGINS ***
    [15:40:04] N957TC: Deland Traffic, White Skyhawk Pink Tail, November-9-5-7-Tango-Charlie, is... 5 miles to the southeast, maneuvering to join a midfield downwind for Runway 5. Deland.
    [15:40:35] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, radio check.
    [15:40:38] ?UNICOM: (female voice) You're loud and clear.
    [15:40:39] N731PF: (p1) Thank you very much. Uh, Twin Cessna taking off Runway 5. We'll be departing on the downwind towards the west, then on southwest. [unclear: "Deland Traffic"?]
    [15:40:48] N957TC: (male) OK. We're a white Skyhawk with a pink tail. Uh, we're gonna be passing off to the, uh, [unclear phrase] northeast. And we will, uh... ah, just maneuvering to join the downwind Runway 5. Deland.
    [15:41:01] N731PF: (p1) [unclear phrase] climb out pretty quick. I'll probably be at 2000 on the downwind.
    [15:41:09] N957TC: (male) And we'll descend down to pattern altitude. Uh... Deland.
    [15:41:26] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna departing 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:42:22] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna turning left crosswind runway. Deland. [Note: The NTSB Preliminary Report says "The flight originated from DeLand ... [at] about 1542."]
    [15:43:10] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 1-thousand-5-hundred feet, turning left downwind. We'll [or "Will"] be departing to... straight out on a left downwind. Deland.
    [15:43:20] N957TC: (male) Deland Traffic, White Skyhawk Pink Tail, maneuvering to join the midfield downwind at 1-thousand northeast of the field still. Deland.
    [15:44:13] N957TC: (male) Deland Traffic, White Skyhawk Pink Tail, joining midfield downfield on the 40-5 degree. Uh, Deland.
    [15:44:33] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna about, um... 2 miles west of the field, 2-thousand feet, heading southwest. Last call.
    [15:45:15] N957TC: (female) Traffic, Pink and White Tail Skyhawk, uh, turning downwind... uh, sorry, turning final for Runway 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:53:55] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, approximately 14 nautim... um, nautical miles, coming straight into 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:55:11] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 10 miles, straight in 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:56:57] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 7 miles, Runway 5, straight in. Deland Traffic.
    [15:58:02] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 5-point-5 nautical miles, straight in for Runway 5. Deland Traffic. [note: last communication?]
    [16:00:00] [Note: NTSB's reported accident time.]
    [16:01:49] *** FILE ENDS ***

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  14. Poster's Transcript of LiveATC file KDED-Sep-29-2019-1930Z.mp3

    Although "There were no ATC services and no voice communications with ATC" (NTSB Preliminary Report), there were CTAF communications.
    I have transcribed them from the LiveATC file, KDED-Sep-29-2019-1930Z.mp3.

    * Communications not from or directly related to N731PF are excluded.
    * Timestamps are [hh:mm:ss] EDT, estimated (a) from audio-file time offsets, and (b) cross-checked with event times reported by the NTSB.
    * When departing, N731PF speaks in a higher tonality and relatively quickly; returning, N731PF speaks deliberately, with a lower tonality. My guess is that the pilot is doing the radio work on the way out and the pilot-rated passenger is doing the radio work on the way back, while the pilot deals with the problem. The voices are distinguished in the transcript as "p1" and "p2"

    [15:30:30] *** FILE BEGINS ***
    [15:40:04] N957TC: Deland Traffic, White Skyhawk Pink Tail, November-9-5-7-Tango-Charlie, is... 5 miles to the southeast, maneuvering to join a midfield downwind for Runway 5. Deland.
    [15:40:35] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, radio check.
    [15:40:38] ?UNICOM: (female voice) You're loud and clear.
    [15:40:39] N731PF: (p1) Thank you very much. Uh, Twin Cessna taking off Runway 5. We'll be departing on the downwind towards the west, then on southwest. [unclear: "Deland Traffic"?]
    [15:40:48] N957TC: (male) OK. We're a white Skyhawk with a pink tail. Uh, we're gonna be passing off to the, uh, [unclear phrase] northeast. And we will, uh... ah, just maneuvering to join the downwind Runway 5. Deland.
    [15:41:01] N731PF: (p1) [unclear phrase] climb out pretty quick. I'll probably be at 2000 on the downwind.
    [15:41:09] N957TC: (male) And we'll descend down to pattern altitude. Uh... Deland.
    [15:41:26] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna departing 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:42:22] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna turning left crosswind runway. Deland. [Note: The NTSB Preliminary Report says "The flight originated from DeLand ... [at] about 1542."]
    [15:43:10] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 1-thousand-5-hundred feet, turning left downwind. We'll [or "Will"] be departing to... straight out on a left downwind. Deland.
    [15:43:20] N957TC: (male) Deland Traffic, White Skyhawk Pink Tail, maneuvering to join the midfield downwind at 1-thousand northeast of the field still. Deland.
    [15:44:13] N957TC: (male) Deland Traffic, White Skyhawk Pink Tail, joining midfield downfield on the 40-5 degree. Uh, Deland.
    [15:44:33] N731PF: (p1) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna about, um... 2 miles west of the field, 2-thousand feet, heading southwest. Last call.
    [15:45:15] N957TC: (female) Traffic, Pink and White Tail Skyhawk, uh, turning downwind... uh, sorry, turning final for Runway 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:53:55] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, approximately 14 nautim... um, nautical miles, coming straight into 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:55:11] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 10 miles, straight in 5. Deland Traffic.
    [15:56:57] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 7 miles, Runway 5, straight in. Deland Traffic.
    [15:58:02] N731PF: (p2) Deland Traffic, Twin Cessna, 5-point-5 nautical miles, straight in for Runway 5. Deland Traffic. [note: last communication?]
    [16:00:00] [Note: NTSB's reported accident time.]
    [16:01:49] *** FILE ENDS ***

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  15. Jail time for Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University?

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  16. There is only one way a tree can impale that fuselage like that (and anyone unfortunate enough to be sitting in that right front seat): the aircraft came in with no forward velocity meaning it was a spin in and based on the cabin and all four corners being intact on the scene, it was a flat spin and they pancaked in. It's like something out of the Final Destination movies.

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  17. I’m guessing the fuel boost pumps where set on high boost and Flooded out the engines. if he’s only operated Lycomings in the past. we will find out in the report. should have never tried to fly that aircraft with 40 hrs. TT twin time 😔

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  18. Another guess, Insects and their nests clogged the fuel vent lines and created and a fuel flow issue. A plane sitting 7 years in Florida is bound to have some nests.

    On short ground run ups the problem would not be apparent. After 5-10 minutes of full power it would create a vacuum in the tanks and starve the engines. I have seen this in single engine planes, I do not know anything about the 421.

    The post crash fire probably destroyed a good part of the fuel system and any clues if it was a fuel issue.

    Like I say a guess.

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  19. Well I'll not make any guesses as to what went wrong with this Joy Ride..... I will say Peace and Love be with the families of these
    folks.

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  20. Another reason for an owner of any plane to lock it and let no one access it under any circumstances. The same as a firearm.

    This is why all planes rather rot of misuse than be left to be used by anyone... US tort law. It is better to have them rust and decay than risk even to the slightest anyone else flying them and the catastrophic consequences of that person's lack of judgement if it happens backfire on whoever even touched the machine before them.

    This may be why that plane was so neglected in the first place. And whatever the circumstances that made the PIC decide to take a tragic flight in it, even though the CFR says he is entirely at fault, the lawyers here will try their luck with a laymen jury and put the blame entirely on the lack of security around the plane and even claim the plane's owner withheld info as to the plane's airworthiness to the pilot.

    Another nail in the GA coffin now restricted to the rare few and soon only commercial operators and the government only able to be protected by their own lawyers.

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  21. I have flown the B and C model 421. Very comfortable plane with both engines turning. Not a plane I would ever want to be with an engine out. I always thought of the 425 as a 421 with enough power ... One or both engines turning.

    The 421 is also a very complex airplane that requires smooth hands on the throttles and skilled hands on the mechanic and hands full of money from the owner.

    When I flew the 421's they were 30 years newer and they were not neglected from the pilot, mechanic, or money standpoint.

    RIP to those lost.

    7C

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  22. If the pilot rated passenger "the guy in the picture chomping on the cigar and claiming to be such a great business man" was an owner of multiple businesses and strutting around in $1000 dollar business suits then why did his girlfriend (the women that died in this crash also) have to work at IHOP? That dude has criminal written all over his face.

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