Socata TB 30 Epsilon, N50TB: Accident occurred November 01, 2019 at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (KAZO), Michigan

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 
 
https://registry.faa.gov/N50TB

Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Accident Number: CEN20LA017
Date & Time: 11/01/2019, 1635 EDT
Registration: N50TB
Aircraft: SOCATA TB 30 EPSILON
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On November 1, 2019, about 1635 eastern daylight time, a Socata TB-30 Epsilon, N50TB, experienced a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) Kalamazoo, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight 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 W.K. Kellogg Airport (BTL), Battle Creek, Michigan.

According to the pilot, he had been practicing approaches at AZO, then landed to refuel. Following refueling, the pilot taxied from the fuel pumps to runway 27 and was cleared for takeoff. The airplane produced full power during the takeoff sequence and climbed to approximately 300 ft above ground level. Shortly after the pilot retracted the landing gear, the engine began losing power to the point that altitude could no longer be maintained. The pilot declared an emergency with the air traffic control tower and made the decision to avoid a residential area by turning left in an attempt to return to runway 9. During the turn, the pilot realized the runway could not be made and elected to land in the grass adjacent to the runway surface. The airplane impacted in a wings level attitude with the landing gear retracted. Ground scars showed the impact was located about 30 ft northwest of taxiway intersection F, skidding 400 ft on a heading of 100 degree magnetic, striking a taxiway light and marker sign, and finally coming to rest upright on a 160 degree heading. The pilot was able to egress unassisted while airport fire rescue personnel responded.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: SOCATA
Registration: N50TB
Model/Series: TB 30 EPSILON
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: AZO, 874 ft msl
Observation Time: 1553 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / -5°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 13 knots / , 210°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 9000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Kalamazoo, MI (AZO)
Destination: Battle Creek, MI (BTL)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 42.234444, -85.551667 (est)

Kalamazoo, Michigan:

On November 1st, 2019, at approximately 4:33 pm, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, along with firefighters from the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport, responded to the airfield for an aircraft that had crash landed. A small, single-engine airplane, piloted by a 41 year old Battle Creek man, suffered a mechanical issue just after takeoff. The pilot attempted to land on a runway, but instead crash landed in a grassy area nearby. The pilot was transported by ambulance to the hospital for minor injuries. There were no other occupants in the airplane. The cause of the crash is unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted, and is investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 488-8911 or Silent Observer at 343-2100

By authority of:
Sgt. Robert Holdwick
Date: 11/1/19
Address: 150 E. Crosstown Pkwy., Suite A, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Contact: KDPS Operations Division 269-337-8120
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety

Original article ➤ https://kalamazoopublicsafety.org

KALAMAZOO, Michigan — Emergency crews responded to the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport on November 1st, 2019, after a small plane crash landed.

Police said a single-engine airplane tried to land just after 4:30 p.m., but crashed into a grassy area nearby.

The 41-year-old Battle Creek man was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

Officials said they were given no advance notice that the plane was in any trouble and the cause of the crash is unknown.

The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted and are investigating.

Story and video ➤ https://wwmt.com

A Battle Creek pilot made a crash landing near the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport Friday afternoon.

On November 1st, at 4:33 pm, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, along with firefighters from the Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport, responded to the airfield for an aircraft that had crash landed. 

A single-engine airplane, piloted by a 41-year-old Battle Creek man, suffered a mechanical issue just after takeoff.

The pilot attempted to land on a runway, but instead crash landed in a grassy area nearby. 

The pilot was transported by ambulance to the hospital for minor injuries. 

There were no other occupants in the airplane.

The cause of the crash is unknown. 

The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted, and is investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-488-8911 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100.

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

KALAMAZOO, Michigan - A mechanical issue on a small plane led to a crash landing at the Kalamazoo airport the caused a minor injury, police said.

The pilot, a 41-year-old Battle Creek man, was the plane’s only occupant.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers said rescue crews were called to the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport just after 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 for the incident.

Police said a mechanical issue surfaced on the single-engine aircraft just after takeoff.

The pilot then attempted to land on a runway but ended up landing on a grassy area nearby. Police described it as a crash landing.

The Battle Creek man was taken by ambulance to a hospital for minor injuries.

Police said the exact cause of the crash was not immediately known. 

Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating the crash landing.

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

Mooney M20J, N201SV: Incident occurred October 31, 2019 at Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport (KINW), Navajo County, Arizona

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale

Aircraft landed gear up.

https://registry.faa.gov/N201SV

Date: 31-OCT-19
Time: 18:45:00Z
Regis#: N201SV
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20J
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: WINSLOW
State: ARIZONA

Piper PA-23, N1485P: Accident occurred October 31, 2019 at William R. Pogue Municipal Airport (KOWP), Sand Springs, Osage County, Oklahoma

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oklahoma City

Aircraft landed gear up.

https://registry.faa.gov/N1485P

Date: 31-OCT-19
Time: 20:40:00Z
Regis#: N1485P
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA23
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: SAND SPRINGS
State: OKLAHOMA

Birdstrike: Beech 200 Super King Air, N850BK; accident occurred October 31, 2019 near New Braunfels Regional Airport (KBAZ), Guadalupe County, Texas

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

RPM Consulting LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N850BK

Location: New Braunfels, Texas

Accident Number: GAA20CA054

Date & Time: October 31, 2019, 17:00 Local

Registration: N850BK

Aircraft: Beech 200 

Aircraft Damage: Minor

Defining Event: Birdstrike

Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation

Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was descending through 2,500 ft while about 200 knots when a single bird struck the upper left corner of the pilot-side windshield. The windshield was broken and cracked by the impact. The pilot was seriously injured by flying glass that ejected from the broken inner ply's surface, which affected his vision. The passenger in the cabin moved up into the copilot's seat, and while being instructed by the pilot, landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained minor damage to the windshield. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The airplane's in-flight collision with a bird.

Findings

Environmental issues Animal(s)/bird(s) - Effect on personnel

Environmental issues Animal(s)/bird(s) - Ability to respond/compensate

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-descent Birdstrike (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Private

Age: 54, Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter 

Restraint Used: Unknown

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 

Last FAA Medical Exam: October 11, 2018

Occupational Pilot: Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: November 10, 2018

Flight Time: (Estimated) 8500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3400 hours (Total, this make and model), 6000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 40 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Passenger Information

Certificate: Age: Male

Airplane Rating(s): 

Seat Occupied: Unknown

Other Aircraft Rating(s): 

Restraint Used: Unknown

Instrument Rating(s): 

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): 

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: 

Last FAA Medical Exam:

Occupational Pilot: No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech

Registration: N850BK

Model/Series: 200 B200

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 1981

Amateur Built: No

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 

Serial Number: BB-896

Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle 

Seats: 10

Date/Type of Last Inspection:

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 12500 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: 2 Turbo prop

Airframe Total Time: Engine

Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney

ELT: Installed, not activated 

Engine Model/Series: PT6-42

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 850 Horsepower

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KBAZ,645 ft msl 

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 21:51 Local

Direction from Accident Site: 324°

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear

Visibility 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: None 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None

Wind Direction: 360° 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 30.37 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / -6°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Dallas, TX (ADS)

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Destination: New Braunfels, TX (BAZ)

Type of Clearance: VFR

Departure Time: 16:00 Local

Type of Airspace: Class D

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious

Aircraft Damage: Minor

Passenger Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 29.774999,-97.977775(est)

Pilatus PC-12/45, N368PC: Incident occurred October 31, 2019 at Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC), Utah

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City

Aircraft struck a bird on landing.

Flax Services LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N368PC

Date: 31-OCT-19
Time: 02:58:00Z
Regis#: N368PC
Aircraft Make: PILATUS
Aircraft Model: PC12
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: SALT LAKE CITY
State: UTAH

Grumman OV-1D Mohawk, N10VD: Fatal accident occurred November 01, 2019 at Witham Field Airport (KSUA), Stuart, Martin County, Florida

Dr. Joseph Masessa

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

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

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Miramar, Florida 
Honeywell; Phoenix, Arizona 

https://registry.faa.gov/N10VD

Location: Stuart, FL
Accident Number: ERA20FA027
Date & Time: 11/01/2019, 1310 EDT
Registration: N10VD
Aircraft: GRUMMAN OV-1
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Air Race/Show

On November 1, 2019, about 1310 eastern daylight time, a Grumman OV-1D, N10VD, registered to MD Aviation Limited, impacted near the approach end of runway 30 at Witham Field (SUA), Stuart, Florida. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an airshow demonstration flight at the 2019 Audi Stuart Airshow. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated about 1307.

The pilot was scheduled to perform a 12-minute routine that day. Personnel interviewed by NTSB reported differing number of passes performed after takeoff.

The person who was acting as crew-chief, and whom had accrued about 880 hours in the same make and model airplane during military conflict, reported that the pilot informed him and another individual before departure that no acrobatic maneuvers were to be performed due to the ceiling and wind conditions. The crew-chief stated that the pilot's, "…only reason to fly was to visually locate the acrobatic box so he would be ready [for] the show on Saturday. His intent was to make a slow speed low pass followed by a high speed low pass and a normal landing to a full stop." The crew-chief observed the pilot perform a check of all flight controls, flaps, and speed brakes while taxiing to takeoff adding all appeared to move and work normally. He reported that from his vantage point on the last pass when turning from base leg of the airport traffic pattern onto final leg of the airport traffic pattern, it appeared the bank angle exceeded 90°. The airplane then did a rapid right roll to an inverted position, and the nose dropped to what appeared to be 45° nose down followed by impact and fireball. He added that he did not see the speed brakes deploy or the landing gear extend.

An airshow performer who was about 2,150 ft north-northwest of the accident site reported that after departure from runway 30, the airplane began to climb, followed by a "dog leg" to the left followed by a right turn to enter the aerobatic box. The airplane then descended or dove in, and when near the approach end of runway 30, began to climb. He then diverted his attention, and when he looked back, the airplane was near the approach end of runway 30, facing approximately down runway 34, "overbanked" about 100° to the right. He then saw the airplane in a nose low attitude pulling, which continued until he lost sight. He added that the engines sounded like they were at full power. He heard the impact and then saw smoke.

Another witness, who was also an operations inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, and who was standing near show center (about 3,770 ft northwest of the accident site) reported seeing the airplane flying inverted in a nose level attitude heading in a southeasterly direction. She looked to another inspector briefly, then observed the airplane in a 45° nose-down attitude "spiralling" to the right, providing a view of the upper part of the airplane. She did not see the impact, nor did she see any smoke trailing the airplane, or see components of the airplane separate. She thought the airplane was accelerating (consistent with power) or at least maintaining a constant rate during the descent, indicating to her that it was not decelerating.

A pilot-rated witness who was 15 ft above ground level on the Air Boss stand, which was located about 3,700 ft northwest of the accident site, reported hearing the pilot announce on the radio he would do a "low show"; the pilot sounded calm during that transmission. At that time the ceiling was ragged and moving to scattered at 1,600 ft. The pilot was setting up for his last pass and flew parallel to the runway 12 showline. The pilot then initiated a climb at the west end of the field achieving about 15° of pitch, which he held for a few seconds, then the pitch increased to 35°. At that time the witness saw blue sky behind the airplane. The blue sky remained, then while at 1,000 to 1,300 ft above ground level (agl), he noted a "crisp" right roll to 135° of bank which was stabilized. The airplane continued the brisk pull as it approached 180° of bank; the speed increased and the turn radius decreased. After completing 170° of heading change, while at 500 feet agl, the witness did not notice any wing rock or longitudinal change. The engines sounded fine to him. He did not see any attempt to unload the wings. During the last 200 ft of descent, the rotation rate increased slightly.

Airport security video depicted the final portion of the flight. A review of the provided video revealed that immediately before impact, the airplane was in about a 60° nose low and right wing low attitude. The video depicted the bottom and left side views of the airplane. The landing gear and left speedbrake were retracted, and all three vertical stabilizers were visible. The positions of the left aileron, left elevator, and rudder flight control surfaces could not be accurately determined.

The airplane impacted onto the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) at the approach end of runway 30. The wreckage was recovered for further examination.

At 1312, a surface weather observation taken at SUA reported wind 360° at 10 knots with gusts to 16 knots, 7 miles visibility, scattered clouds 1,300 feet, broken clouds 1,500 feet, temperature 28°C, dew point 23°C, and an altimeter setting 30.08 inches of mercury.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GRUMMAN
Registration: N10VD
Model/Series: OV-1 D
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: SUA, 16 ft msl
Observation Time: 1312 EDT
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 1300 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / 16 knots, 360°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1500 ft agl
Visibility:  7 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Stuart, FL (SUA)
Destination: Stuart, FL (SUA)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: On-Ground
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 27.176111, -80.212500 

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. 

Dr. Joseph Masessa

STUART — Dr. Joseph Masessa was identified as the pilot who died during a fiery plane crash Friday afternoon.

Masessa, was the only one pilot scheduled to fly a Grumman OV-1D Mohawk during the show.

Since the Stuart Air Show started 30 years ago, this is the first plane crash the event has seen, officials said. 

"He will always be remembered as we move forward in future endeavors," a post from the Stuart Air Show said. 

On Saturday, all Stuart Air Show events were canceled because of weather. The Stuart Air Show will return to its scheduled program on Sunday. Officials with the show were unable to be reached Saturday despite numerous attempts.

Sheriff William Snyder of the Martin County Sheriff's Office said Masessa had performed at the air show in previous years and was from South Florida. Snyder said at a press conference Friday Masessa was an experienced pilot.

"The sheriff's office and all of us here are extremely saddened by this," Snyder said. "This is part of the air show, this airplane was here and getting ready for the air show."

Fire Rescue officials said they were staged at the airport and immediately responded when the plane crashed. Officials said nothing could have been done to save Masessa.

“It was in its practice routine and it went nose down into the runway,” said Chris Kammel, bureau chief of Martin County Fire Rescue EMS. 

Witnesses outside the airport reported seeing black smoke after the crash. The plane was fully engulfed in flames, Snyder said.  

"Joe was a beloved performer of the air show, a local Floridian and will forever be family," a Twitter post by the Stuart Air Show said. 

Story and video ➤ https://www.tcpalm.com

Joseph M. Masessa, M.D. was a Diplomate of American Board of Dermatology as well as trained in MOHS Skin Cancer Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, and General & Cosmetic Dermatology. 

A crew works to add the names of missing Vietnam War soldiers onto Joseph Masessa's Grumman OV-1D Mohawk plane.

A dermatologist from New Jersey died after his plane crashed Friday as he prepared for an air show in Florida, officials for the event confirmed.

Joseph Masessa specialized in skin cancer, surgery and cosmetic dermatology in five North Jersey Dermatology Center locations: Rockaway, Parsippany, Clifton, Newfoundland and Kearny. He is also listed as a doctor for the Dermatology Center of Florida.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said a Grumman OV-1 Mohawk was set to take part in the Stuart Airshow this weekend but crashed on a runway extension at Whitman Field around 1 p.m. Friday. The airshow listed Masessa as the person who would fly the Mohawk in its lineup.

“Joe was a beloved performer of the air show, a local Floridian, and will forever be family,” the Audi Stuart Air Show in Florida wrote in a statement.

A friend who worked on Masessa’s crew around 2014 said the doctor lived and worked in New Jersey and would come to Florida to perform in airshows. He was unsure if Masessa had been living in Florida at the time of the crash.

“He was an incredible pilot," said Brandon Walker, who lives in Georgia. "He’d take his shirt off his back for you.”

Masessa owned a home in Franklin Lakes, according to property records.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is working with the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the crash. The FAA did not respond to a request for comment Saturday and no one from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office was available to comment.

The doctor loved the Mohawk plane, which was built for battle and first used in the Vietnam War. He even had the names of missing soldiers from that war added onto the fuselage.

Walker told NJ Advance Media that the plane was the world’s "first flying monument.”

“This was our thank you to these men and women, our way to say that they are not forgotten,” said Walker, who helped add the names onto the plane’s exterior.

Masessa was a member of the OV-1 Mohawk Association. One member remembered Masessa as a “prolific airshow artist” and mourned him on the group’s website.

“This is a huge tragedy for the OV-1 Mohawk community,” Bill McNease wrote.


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

Joseph Masessa, far left, stands with others in the pilot community.

STUART, Florida — Karl Robinson was playing a quick round of golf Friday afternoon when he saw it: a plane, part of the Stuart Air Show, drop out of the sky.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Robinson said. “You see this stuff on TV or movies or on internet videos or something, but it was pretty shocking to see that. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”

Robinson was golfing on the Martin County Golf Course, which is adjacent to the Witham Field, where the show was taking place.

He was in his golf cart, driving from one hole to the next when he saw the crash.

Robinson drove the cart to the fence that separates the course from the airport and got as close as he could.

He quickly realized there was nothing anyone could do.

“The fire was put out real quickly,” he said. “And you’re looking around for the plane and the parts and the pieces, and there was really not much to see.

“You’re going up to the scene expecting to see all this wreckage, and it was just little pieces of metal. There was nothing there.”

Investigators said the pilot was the only one on board the plane and was killed.

“It was very startling and surreal. You’re seeing something that your mind is not believing,” Robinson said. “It was shocking. It was a tough thing to witness. I’ll never forget it.”

The pilot’s identity has not yet been released.

The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct the investigation into the cause of the crash.

Story and video ➤ https://www.wpbf.com

Dr. Joseph Masessa

STUART – One person is dead after a plane associated with this weekend’s Stuart Air Show crashed Friday afternoon.

The sole victim was the male pilot who performed at this air show previously, said Sheriff William Snyder of the Martin County Sheriff's Office. Identity of the person killed was not released, pending notification of next of kin. 

The Stuart Air Show opening day nighttime air show and dirty flight suit party were canceled Friday because of the crash. Air Show officials are hoping to reschedule the events for after Saturday's air show. The rest of of the weekend's events will resume as planned, Air Show officials said in a statement. 

This was the first fatality at the Stuart Air Show in its 30-year history, officials said. 

The crash happened about 1:10 p.m. at Witham Field airport, on runway 30 near the Martin County Golf Course. The airport has been closed since the crash, Snyder said about 3:30 p.m. 

Air Show officials have not determined whether the show will open at its scheduled 5 p.m. start time, but cannot open until the airport reopens. 

“It was in its practice routine and it went nose down into the runway,” said Chris Kammel, bureau chief of Martin County Fire Rescue EMS. 

Fire Rescue personnel staged at the airport for the air show witnessed the crash. They immediately responded and extinguished the flames quickly, he said. 

Witnesses outside the airport reported seeing black smoke after the crash. The plane was fully engulfed in flames, Snyder said.  

"There was nothing that could have been done” to save the pilot because of the damage, said Kevin Herdon, Martin County Fire Rescue deputy fire chief. 

Snyder said the plane was a Grumman Mohawk military plane.

Peggy Mooney, 67, afternoon manager for the Martin County Golf Course, said she saw the smoke. The golf course is just east of the airport.

“I didn’t know what was going on,” she said. ”We were afraid it was the air (show) because they’ve been flying around.”

Students at J.D. Parker Elementary in Stuart were at the airport earlier in the day on a field trip, but had already left before the crash, Martin County School District spokeswoman Jennifer DeShazo said.

The scene was turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.  

Officials have not decided whether the Stuart Air Show will go on as scheduled.

Story and video ➤ https://www.tcpalm.com

STUART, Florida — The Martin County Sheriff's Office says one person died when a plane crashed at the Stuart Air Show on Friday afternoon.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said they're investigating the crash of a Grumman OV-1 Mohawk.

The FAA said the Mohawk, with only the pilot aboard, crashed on the approach end of Runway 1 at Witham Field, located at 2011 SE Airport Rd., around 1:15 p.m.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said the victim is an adult male. It's unclear what caused the plane to go down.

"Fire Rescue personnel were already on the scene and had extinguished the flames which, by all appearances, had fully engulfed the airplane," said Sheriff Snyder at a news conference on Friday afternoon.

Officials said Witham Field is currently closed until further notice, meaning no aviation activity, until local and federal investigators complete their investigation.

The Stuart Air Show, which was was supposed to start at 5 p.m. Friday, has been canceled for Friday night.

"There will be no aeronautical activity for the Friday night Air Show tonight," said George Stokus, the assistant Martin County administrator. "It does appear, based on weather and the incidents that were involved right now, that the fireworks as well as the Dirty Flight Suit Party will not be occurring today."

Officials at the Stuart Air Show released this statement:

"Due to an unfortunate incident today, the Audi Stuart Air Show's night time air show and TD Bank Dirty Flight Suit Party have been cancelled for this evening, Friday, November 1, 2019. We are working to reschedule this event for after tomorrow's airshow, Saturday, November 2, 2019. At this time, the remainder of the weekend's event will resume as planned. If you purchased a Friday General Admission ticket, those tickets will be honored on Saturday or Sunday. If you have a ticket for TD Bank's Dirty Flight Suit Party, stay tuned to our social media channels and your email, as we will be providing updates as soon as we can.

f you purchased a Friday General Admission ticket, those tickets will be honored on Saturday or Sunday. If you have a ticket for TD Bank's Dirty Flight Suit Party, stay tuned to our social media channels and your email, as we will be providing updates as soon as we can. Thank you for your understanding."

A photo posted to social media by MCSO shows the aircraft on the grass at Witham Field with its wings smashed and metal debris scattered around it.

A separate photo from the area shows a cloud of thick, black smoke rising into the sky.

"I saw a gray bomber fly down, and literally within seconds, it just kind of caught my breath because he flew so far down that I thought, there is no way they could have pulled up," said Natalie Evans, a witness. "It just kind of shocked me, stunned me. I didn’t hear a crash and I waited just a little bit and I saw smoke. That part was very upsetting."

According to the Stuart Air Show website, a Grumman OV-1 Mohawk is scheduled to perform at the event.

A Grumman OV-1 Mohawk is a "twin-engine turboprop armed military observation and attack aircraft, designed for battlefield surveillance and light strike capabilities and was intended to operate from short, unimproved runways in support of United States Army maneuver forces," according to the Stuart Air Show's website.

Sheriff Snyder said this type of aircraft was in production from 1959 to 1970.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first plane crash the Air Show has ever had," said Sheriff Snyder.

The Stuart Air Show tweeted on Friday they've "had an incident involving one of our aircraft. All local and federal agencies are on site and investigating so that we may ensure the safety of our airshow before we continue."

Story and video ➤ https://www.wptv.com

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando

February 17, 2017: Aircraft on landing, gear collapsed. 

Date: 17-FEB-17
Time: 02:45:00Z
Regis#: N10VD
Aircraft Make: GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model: OV-1
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
City: JACKSONVILLE
State: FLORIDA