Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Las Vegas, Nevada
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
https://registry.faa.gov/N7GA
Location: North Las Vegas, NV
Accident Number: WPR20FA034
Date & Time: 11/26/2019, 1730 PST
Registration: N7GA
Aircraft: CIRRUS SR-22
Injuries: 3 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On November 26, 2019, at 1730 Pacific standard time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N7GA, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain about 10 nm miles north of the North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), North Las Vegas, Nevada. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Baron Von Speed LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight which originated from Lake Havasu, Arizona, about 1643, with an intended destination of VGT.
Review of preliminary radar data depicted the airplane on a northwesterly heading at an altitude of 6,500 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane maintained this altitude for most of the flight. At 1724:29, a left turn to a westerly heading was initiated, where the airplane remained for about 1 minute until it made a right turn to a northwesterly heading. About 1 minute, 18 seconds later, the airplane turned to a northerly heading for about 1 minute, 24 seconds, and subsequently returned to a northwesterly heading, where it remained until radar contact was lost 2 minutes later in the area of Gass Peak.
Examination of the accident site by representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the airplane impacted terrain about 400 ft below the summit of Gass Peak. The wreckage was fragmented and mostly consumed by a post impact fire. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CIRRUS
Registration: N7GA
Model/Series: SR-22
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: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: KVGT, 2203 ft msl
Observation Time: 0053 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 11 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C / -10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 110°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.86 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR/IFR
Departure Point: Lake Havasu, AZ
Destination: North Las Vegas, NV (VGT)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 2 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 36.400000, -115.180833
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.
The Clark County coroner’s office on Tuesday identified the last two victims of a November fiery plane crash north of the Las Vegas Valley.
Gregory Akers, 60, had previously been identified as a victim in the crash, which happened Nov. 26 in mountainous terrain near Gass Peak, about 15 miles north of Las Vegas. The coroner’s office on Tuesday identified the other victims as Akers’ wife and mother-in-law — Valeriya Slyzko, 48, and Nina Morovova, 71, respectively.
Slyzko had previously been identified by her co-workers and Akers’ family. The three, who were all from Henderson, died of blunt force injuries, and their deaths were ruled accidents, the coroner’s office said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said in November that the plane — a single-engine Cirrus SR22 registered to Akers’ company, Baron Von Speed LCC — went down under unknown circumstances.
Akers’ cousin, Tina Lopez, told the Review-Journal in December that Akers was a man with “a big heart.” Akers was a retired air traffic controller at both McCarran International and Dallas-Fort Worth International airports.
“He didn’t have any children. … His babies were his airplanes,” Lopez said.
Slyzko worked at a U.S. Postal Service processing office near McCarran. According to Slyzko’s coworkers, she was from Ukraine and had worked at the office since about 2014.
Diana Spence, one of her coworkers, said Slyzko was texting her the day of the crash, sharing selfies of her in the small plane and the view over Lake Havasu.
“She loved everybody, she defended everybody, she liked everybody,” Spence said.
https://www.reviewjournal.com
Valeriya Anatoliivna Slyzko
Valeriya Anatoliivna Slyzko, age 48, passed away tragically November 26th 2019 in a plane crash on Gass Peak north of Las Vegas along with her husband Greg Akers and mother Nina Victorovna Morozova. Valeriya was born in 1971 in Kadiivka City, Ukraine. She moved to Dallas, Texas in 1997 and married Greg in 1998, where they lived till moving to Henderson, Nevada in 2003. Valeriya worked for the United States Postal Service processing office where she had many friends where all say they were blessed to have known her. She was known as a very kind person who always had a smile, who loved everybody, defended everybody and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Valeriya is survived by her father in law, William Akers; brother in law Jeff Akers and sister in law Terry Akers, nephew Jack Akers, her beloved Chihuahua puppies Billy, Heidi, and Olav; and many, many friends who will miss her immensely. Mass will be held for Valeriya at 10:00 am, Friday December 20th 2019 at St Peter the Apostle, 204 South Boulder Hwy, Henderson Nevada and Memorial Service on Saturday December 21st 2019 at 2:00pm, at Davis Funeral Home, 6200 South Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Nina Victorovna Morozova
Nina Victorovna Morozova, age 71, passed away tragically November 26th 2019 in a plane crash on Gass Peak north of Las Vegas along with her daughter Valeriya Anatoliivna Slyzko and son in law Greg Akers. Nina was born 1948 in Ukraine. She moved to Henderson, Nevada with her daughter and son in law in 2015. She was known as a very kind person by all who knew her and her neighbors who spoke fondly of her remember her daily walks with their puppies. Mass will be held for Nina at 10:00 am, Friday December 20th 2019 at St Peter the Apostle, 204 South Boulder Hwy, Henderson Nevada and Memorial Service on Saturday December 21st 2019 at 2:00pm at Davis Funeral Home, 6200 South Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gregory Steven Akers
Valeriya Anatoliivna Slyzko
In the hours before the plane crash that would take her life, Valeriya Slyzko was texting with her friend and co-worker, sharing selfies of her in the small plane, of the view over Lake Havasu and of the beer she drank with lunch.
But by late afternoon on November 26th, the texts had stopped, Slyzko’s co-worker and friend, Diana Spence, said Saturday night.
“I’m just so blessed to have known her,” Spence said during a vigil for Slyzko at the United States Postal Service processing office where she worked, 3755 E. Post Road.
Slyzko was one of three people who died in a fiery plane crash near Gass Peak, about 15 miles north of Las Vegas, although Slyzko’s identity had not been officially released by the Clark County coroner’s office as of Saturday. The coroner’s office has identified her husband, 60-year-old Gregory Akers, of Henderson, as another victim, and family members have said the third victim was Slyzko’s mother.
About 25 of Slyzko’s friends and coworkers on Saturday night lit white candles and spoke about the kind woman who always had a smile for everyone.
Slyzko, who is from Ukraine, had worked at the office since 2014, said David Cole, one of her co-workers. She “never said a bad word about anybody,” he said.
“It’s tough,” Cole said. “We still come to work and some days I think, man, she’s going to be walking through that door any minute.”
Cole said he wasn’t aware of any family Slyzko had in the U.S. other than her mother and husband.
The coroner’s office has ruled Akers’ death an accident. Officials have said the crash happened about 5:35 p.m. Nov. 26, and the plane was a single-engine Cirrus SR22 registered to Akers’ company, Baron Von Speed LLC.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor has said the plane went down under unknown circumstances. Further information about what caused the crash was not available as of Saturday.
Spence emphasized that Slyzko was “a great person.” On the day of the crash, Spence said, she had been texting Slyzko while she was in the plane. They talked on the phone briefly and then Slyzko sent her a picture of her lunch. Spence was likely the last person Slyzko spoke with before the crash.
“I just cherish that we were friends for that short time,” said Spence, adding that she had worked at the facility with Slyzko for about 15 months.
Slyzko’s co-workers spoke about her love for her dogs, how she liked beer and was a “fierce soul.” One woman lamented that she didn’t give Slyzko a hug when she saw her at work the day before the crash.
“She just touched my heart so much,” the woman said.
Spence said she wanted people to know about Slyzko’s kindness.
“She loved everybody, she defended everybody, she liked everybody,” Spence said.
https://www.reviewjournal.com
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board have yet to begin their probe into the cause of a single-engine plane crash at Gass Peak last Tuesday, partly because the wreckage is in such rugged terrain.
The location is also the reason LVMPD's Search and Rescue Team waited four days after the crash to assist in the recovery of the bodies of the three victims on board.
Only the name of one victim has been released by the Coroner’s office.
He’s identified as Gregory Akers of Henderson, described on his business website as an aviation expert and photographer.
The release of the names of the other two victims onboard is pending.
According to aviation expert Reed Yadon, Gass Peak would be one of the worst possible places for a pilot to experience an emergency.
“It's not fair to speculate on what went wrong. What could have gone wrong? It could be anything from engine failure to severe turbulence to limited visibility,” said Yadon. “Night was coming on, and simply slamming into the mountain.”
The NTSB tells News 3, that investigators have some options to examine the wreckage, as they try to pinpoint a cause. It may be possible to photograph the crash site from the air and have the wreckage brought off the mountain for inspection.
The NTSB says it may also be possible for a crash investigator to reach the crash site to personally view the wreckage.
Reed Yadon says, "either way, there may not be much to see."
“The object is to try to get any wreckage of the aircraft and try to retrieve it for investigation purposes,” said Yadon. “We also don't know how much of the aircraft is left. It appears there was an intense fire that burned for a couple of minutes so you have to believe that a good deal of the aircraft was destroyed.”
Ironically, Yadon says this type of aircraft, a Cirrus SR-22, is equipped with a parachute that can be deployed by the pilot in the event of a mechanical failure.
“You simply pull a pin and pull a lever, and at that point, the aircraft is going to ride down on a parachute,” said Yadon. “But in the mountains, it's another thing, and that's what we're dealing with.”
The NTSB says its preliminary findings into the cause of the crash are still 2 to 24 months away.
https://news3lv.com
Gregory Akers
The pilot of an airplane that went down Tuesday in mountainous terrain near Las Vegas in a crash that was “not survivable” has been identified by the Clark County coroner’s office as Gregory Akers, 60, of Henderson.The coroner’s office has not yet identified the other two victims of the crash, but Akers’ cousin, Tina Lopez, told the Review-Journal that they were his wife, Valeriya Slyzko, and his mother-in-law. Lopez, who lives outside Dallas, said she did not know the mother-in-law’s name.
“Greg was the kind of guy everyone needed to be friends with,” Lopez said. “A very caring, very giving person.”
The Metropolitan Police Department’s search and rescue unit recovered the remains of the victims near Gass Peak, about 15 miles north of Las Vegas, on Saturday, said police Lt. Larry Hatfield. The Clark County coroner’s office said Monday that Akers died of blunt force trauma. The manner of death was listed as an accident. The release of the names of the other two victims was pending notification of next of kin.
Akers was an aviation enthusiast and retired air traffic controller at both McCarran International and Dallas-Fort Worth International airports. He moved to the Las Vegas area from Dallas around 1996.
‘A love for aviation’
“He always had a love for aviation,” Lopez said. “He would fly small planes all around.”
Authorities said a Cirrus SR22 registered to Akers’ company, Baron Von Speed LCC, crashed in the area of Gass Peak around 5:35 p.m. Tuesday. Akers and his wife were listed as managing members of the company.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the plane went down under unknown circumstances. Authorities said at the time that the crash was not survivable.
Witness Evertt Rogers, who lives on a large horse ranch near the southern base of the Sheep Mountain range, said he stepped outside Tuesday night after receiving a news alert on his phone about the crash.
“And there it was,” Rogers, 31, said last week, pointing toward the summit of Gass Peak. “An intense fire burning on top of the mountain. The chopper was circling the peak of the mountain with a searchlight, and I could see the mountaintop.”
Lopez said the FAA notified the family of the crash shortly after it happened, she said.
A social media post to the Facebook page Mail Handler said Slyzko was a postal service clerk at the Las Vegas Mail Processing Annex.
A preliminary report on the accident has not been filed yet by the National Transportation Safety Board.
“No NTSB investigator has been to the site,” NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said on Friday. (It is) unclear if one will be able to, given the challenging terrain.”
Gass Peak has an elevation of about 6,943 feet, which is about 4,900 feet above Las Vegas.
Knudson said previously that when an aircraft crashes into such rugged terrain, it can prevent investigators from accessing the site. In these cases a private company is hired to retrieve the wreckage for further investigation.
Born in Germany
Lopez said Akers was born in Germany.
“I had gone into in the airline field myself,” Lopez said. “I moved to Texas and I lived with him and his wife and they took me in and I went through air travel school.
“He had a big heart,” Lopez added. “He was the kind of person who, if you needed something, he would be the first to go and get it for you. He didn’t have any children. … His babies were his airplanes. He knew how to fly several different types of aircraft. That’s what he did his entire life.”
https://www.reviewjournal.com
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Multiple agencies are investigating after a plane crashed into Gass Peak on Tuesday evening.
The crash happened around 5:35 p.m., and authorities said that from a first look from the air, it was determined there were no survivors.
The plane was a Cirrus SR22, and the tail number is N7GA, which is registered to Baron Von Speed LLC.
The company’s website said the owner is Greg Akers, and multiple neighbors of Akers told 13 Action News they believed he was one of the three people on board the plane when it crashed.
One neighbor said she has lived across the street from Akers for 13 years, and he’s watched her daughters grow up. She also said he always told them about his aviation adventures - even sending videos from the view of his airplane when he flew.
“You almost thought that was his child… his passion for aircraft, his passion for flying, his passion for his past job as an air traffic controller, he always had something fun to share,” said Cosette Packer.
The coroner’s office has not yet to release the identity of the victims.
Las Vegas police had to suspend their initial search due to weather and then said search teams would look at the area Wednesday morning.
Officers said they will continue to work with federal and local agencies during the recovery and investigative efforts with the NTSB.
Story and video ➤ https://www.ktnv.com
“Recovery efforts may not take place until Friday and Saturday,” Metropolitan Police Department Lt. David Gordon said Wednesday. The department on Tuesday night had sent a helicopter to search the area.
The Cirrus SR22, capable of about 210 mph, crashed around 5:35 p.m. Tuesday. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the plane went down under unknown circumstances near Gass Peak, in the Sheep Mountain range, and caught fire.
Initial reports indicated that three people were on board, he said. Las Vegas police described the crash as “not survivable” on Tuesday night.
At 6,943 feet, Gass Peak is the highest point in the Sheep Mountain range, looming about 4,900 feet above Las Vegas.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning through 4 a.m. Saturday for the mountains surrounding the valley.
As for the Sheep Mountain range, snow began falling around 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to meteorologist Chris Outler.
“Heavier and steadier snowfall” accompanied by gusty winds was expected well into Wednesday evening before a brief lull overnight, he said.
‘Very challenging terrain’
Still, without the inclement weather, the location of the crash presents its own set of problems, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The agency is leading the investigation into the crash.
“Our understanding is it is very challenging terrain,” spokesman Peter Knudson said, adding that “it is not clear at this point” when — if at all — an investigator will be able to access the site.
Generally, he said, there are two types of recovery efforts in such investigations.
The first would involve the recovery of victims, typically carried out by local authorities. The second would be the examination and recovery of the aircraft itself.
In some cases, an aircraft recovery company might be required to retrieve evidence if access to the site by an investigator is not be feasible.
The downed aircraft, with tail number N7GA, was registered to Baron Von Speed LCC, a local aviation company, according to the FAA.
Officials have not released information about the aircraft’s passengers, but state business records list Rachel Bergeron as a registered agent for Baron Von Speed and two managing members: Gregory Akers — a former Las Vegas air traffic controller — and Valeriya Slyzko.
Clark County marriage records show Akers and Slyzko were married in February 1998. No one answered the door at their listed Henderson address late Wednesday morning, but a neighbor, Rob Beaudry, described Akers as a “very pleasant guy.”
‘An intense fire’
Evertt Rogers, who lives on a large horse ranch near the southern base of the Sheep Mountain range, said he stepped outside Tuesday night after receiving a news alert on his phone about the crash.
“And there it was,” Rogers, 31, told the Review-Journal on Wednesday, “an intense fire burning on top of the mountain. The chopper was circling the peak of the mountain with a searchlight, and I could see the mountaintop.”
He doesn’t remember how long he stood outside watching, but “all of the sudden” the fire — which he said resembled a white light, unlike a regular camp fire — went out.
“The helicopter did a couple more rounds over the mountain, and then it came down the hill, along the slope, slowly,” Rogers said.
At the same time, Kris Korpi said he witnessed the moment the four-passenger aircraft slammed into the mountain from his 14th floor office in the Molasky building near downtown Las Vegas.
A visitor to his office prompted him to look out the window in the direction of Gass Peak, where he saw a fireball emanating from the mountain.
“Aircraft exploded on impact with flaming debris ejected across a narrow field limited by the steep gradient of the mountainside,” Korpi, 72, said in an email. “The fireball and debris field extinguished rapidly (20-25 seconds) and faint embers dropped below unaided visibility in less than two minutes.”
Story and video ➤ https://www.reviewjournal.com
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A small plane crashed north of Las Vegas Tuesday night, but recovery efforts have been delayed because of the weather.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. near Gass Mountain Peak. Metro Police told 8 News Now they don’t believe any of the three people on board survived.
A single-engine Cirrus SR22 plane with tail number N7GA was listed as the aircraft that crashed on the Federal Aviation Administration’s website.
Witnesses in the area reported an explosion.
“My heart’s broken. I mean, it’s just beyond tragic,” said Chris Clyne, a friend of one of the supposed victims.
Friends told us one of the people who died in the crash was Greg Akers. Records showed Akers owned Baron Von Speed LLC, the company to which the plane belonged. We were told Akers just retired, and he’ll be greatly missed.
“Just a great, great person,” expressed Clyne. “He was funny, outgoing, caring. He helped people. He was very talented. Just a wonderful, wonderful soul.”
According to flight radar, the small aircraft was heading to the North Las Vegas Airport when it lost contact with air traffic controllers. Now, friends are left wondering what went wrong.
“He was a great pilot, and he was very smart on that stuff. So, it’s just sad, whatever happened, you know,” said Clyne.
The NTSB, the lead agency in this case, said it could take up to a year or more before there are answers. In the meantime, friends are holding on to Akers’ memory.
“I’m going to miss him.”
Metro Police told us recovery efforts may not happen until Friday or Saturday. It’s also important to note that the names of the victims have not been officially released by the Clark County Coroner’s office.
Story and video ➤ https://www.8newsnow.com
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police say the team flew Tuesday evening over the crash site, which is at about 6600 feet elevation.
"Although inclement weather conditions prevented rescuers from landing in the area, they were able to determine from the air that there were no survivors," an LVMPD spokesman said in a statement.
LVMPD Search and Rescue returned to examine the area again Wednesday morning to get more details to share with federal investigators, a spokesman said in a statement.
Police will continue to work with federal and local agencies on recovery and investigative efforts, though the National Transportation Safety Board has jurisdiction over the investigation.
The Clark County Coroner's office will identify the victims and their cause and manner of death. There's been no immediate confirmation on the number of people who were on board.
Search and Rescue organizers advised that inclement weather could delay recovery efforts into Friday or Saturday, Lt. David Gordon said earlier Wednesday.
Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the NTSB, said a timeline has yet to be determined for recovering the airplane from the site of the crash.
FAA records indicate the plane was registered to a company called Baron Von Speed that operates in Las Vegas.
ORIGINAL | A small plane crashed north of the Las Vegas valley on Tuesday evening around 5:30 p.m.
Initial reports were of an airplane going down and catching fire in the mountainous area north of N. Decatur Boulevard and Iron Mountain Road.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that the plane, a single-engine Cirrus SR22 with three people on board, crashed under unknown circumstances on Gass Peak.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department dispatched a helicopter to assess the scene.
Lt. Boxler with LVMPD says that the Search and Rescue chopper determined the crash was “not survivable” and no rescue efforts were made.
The North Las Vegas Fire Department says that the NLV Airport reported a plane missing from its airspace.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will begin an investigation beginning Wednesday, November 27th.
HENDERSON (FOX5) -- Three people are dead after a small plane crashed north of the Las Vegas Valley on Tuesday night.
According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police spokesman Lt. Brian Boxler, reports of a small plane crash at Gass Peak came in about 5:30 p.m. on November 26th. The site is about 6,600 feet above sea level.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the plane to be a single-engine Cirrus SR22 that crashed and reportedly caught fire after crashing, according to spokesman Ian Gregor.
"Initial reports" were that three people were on board. Nellis Air Force Base said it was not one of their aircraft and police believe those on board to be civilians.
At 7:30 p.m., Boxler said the search team determined the crash "was not survivable" and there "will be no rescue efforts."
On November 27th at 9:15 a.m., LVMPD's Search and Rescue reassessed the area to gather any additional details. Crews were able to confirm that there were no survivors from the crash from the air.
LVMPD spokesman Lt. David Gordon said Wednesday morning that "recovery efforts may not take place until Friday or Saturday," due to inclement weather.
The peak is north of the valley near the Clark County Shooting Complex. FAA and NTSB will investigate further.
LVMPD said the identification of the victims, and their cause and manner of death, will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
Story and video ➤ https://www.fox5vegas.com
Las Vegas Strip is about 2,000 feet above sea level, North Las Vegas Airport 2,205 ft / 672 m and Gass Peak is the highest peak in the Las Vegas Range of Southern Nevada with a summit of 6,937 feet.
ReplyDeleteTerrible news, wife and mother-in-law also aboard. Pilot name Greg Akers. I wonder if controlled impact?
ReplyDeleteThe flight track for the 2nd flight on the 26th appears to show an autopilot set for 6500ft right up to the end. They probably never saw the mountain in the dark, and never felt a thing.
ReplyDeleteAircraft was speaking to Nellis approach. Aircraft was assigned 6,500 ft and was vectored towards the mountain to avoid traffic departing Nellis. At the time of the crash, the sun had set and the mountain was not visible.
ReplyDeletegretnabear posted the info for the flight from VGT to HII. Why? This was not the accident flight. The accident occurred on the return flight from HII to VGT. This info has nothing to do with the accident that occurred over two hours later????
ReplyDeleteAll that technology in the glass panel displaying every kind of situational awareness you could want, an autopilot, emergency chute and maybe even anti ice. Yet here we are reading the terrible aftermath. Curious what went wrong on this one.
ReplyDeleteThe pilot was part of the formation in this event, also listed in the current blog, and was credited for the photos: http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2019/11/loss-of-engine-power-partial-cirrus.html
ReplyDeleteA lot of swiss cheese holes would have to line up for this to happen with the technology in the Cirrus and contact with ATC.
I wonder how much a modest resolution thermal IR camera would add to the airframe cost and allow visibility of terrain at night and in light mist/haze. Certainly the video could be ported through the existing displays.
ReplyDeleteSR22s built before 2003 were equipped with traditional analog instruments and a 10" (later 12") Multi-function display (MFD). First “Glass” SR22, late 2002 - early 2004.
ReplyDeleteI flew out of this airport a couple of years ago. Landed one evening, stayed overnight, and departed runway 30 the next day in calm sunny VFR. I instructed clearance delivery I needed a northwest departure for a Reno heading. Next thing I know, the controller has me headed ENE. After about 1 minute (giving him the benefit of the doubt), I said "where are you taking me - I need to go to Reno". After his "oopsie", I finally received the correct vectors.
ReplyDeleteFlying in from the east on a dark evening was hairy enough for me - I was essentially IFR in VFR conditions. Who knows what this fellow was experiencing taking off in the pitch black dark towards the mountains...?
BTW - His records indicate he was a control tower operator @ LV - wondering if he was the same one I experienced.
Being an older Cirrus I have a feeling this one was not equipped with full glass and was probably a Steam Gauge with GNS430's (complete guess) but based on the CFIT nature of this accident that seems a good assumption. I fly into VGT often from Reno and have a hangar there as well, but have not seen this airplane up close in person. There is a lot of Terrain North and Northwest of Las Vegas and I fly with a FLTA equipped IFD550 in my airplane to help ensure I don't allow something like this to happen. As a retired controller he would know he could have told them "unable" when they turned him for departing traffic and they would have had to come up with another solution. It will be a while till the report comes out, but it seems they turned him into terrain, forgot about him and he allowed the flight into terrain to continue. Very, very sad. ATC are great people, but you have to be willing to respectfully challenge them now and then. If you screw up as the pilot, you can die, if they screw up, you can die....
ReplyDeleteSR-22 seems to be on a roll to the aircraft with the highest ratio of specific type to have incurred the highest fatal accident rate of any GA aircraft the last few years. My question is why?
ReplyDeleteKirk,
ReplyDeleteI feel it is an overconfidence by Cirrus Pilots. I've seen them take off out of Reno and Minden NV and go straight at the Sierras over Lake Tahoe in very windy and otherwise inclement weather. I've talked to some owners who really seem to feel an extra sense of confidence in the airplane. I think it is such an advanced airplane that is very simple and wonderful to fly for it's capabilities that it's inherit ability to make a pilot feel comfortable is it's downfall in that they begin to trust it in situations they probably shouldn't.
It's a great airframe with great avionics and abilities, but it still flies almost 100 year old engine technology like any other piston single and mother nature can swat any piston single down like a fly if she chooses.
ref above. Those who can buy, operate, and maintain will fine pre 2004 SR22 G1 priced <$200K; pre 2007 G2 <$350K: pre 2011 <$500K; pre 2017 <$700K
ReplyDeletehttps://cirrusaircraft.com/preowned/
RIP GA>
ReplyDelete