Friday, June 26, 2020

Sonex Light Sport, N620AK: Fatal accident occurred June 25, 2020 in Centerville, Davis County, Utah

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 did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah

Location: Centerville, UT
Accident Number: WPR20LA196
Date & Time: 06/25/2020, 1254 MDT
Registration: N620AK
Aircraft: KOSTRAZEWA ANDRE Sonex Light Sport
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On June 25, 2020, at 1254 mountain daylight time, a Sonex Light Sport, experimental amateur-built airplane, N620AK, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Centerville, Utah. The pilot-in-command and the pilot/owner were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

A witness, who resides about 3 miles north-northwest of the accident site, reported that while washing his vehicle at his residence, he witnessed a small, white, low-wing airplane traveling from west to east and on the north side of his home. The witness opined that the airplane appeared to be at a normal altitude at the time, and that he heard a "backfiring" sound, which he said did not sound normal. The witness mentioned that he continued to watch the airplane as it flew east until it went out of site. Only later did the witness learn that the airplane he observed was the same one which was involved in the accident.

A second witness reported that while driving southbound on an interstate highway, he observed the accident airplane traveling northbound not more than 100 ft above the ground. Shortly thereafter, he observed the airplane in a hard banking turn to the right. It then nosedived into the ground where it burst into flames.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site reported that the airplane had impacted an open field with its right wing before it came to rest upright on a fence about 30 yards north of the initial impact site; the engine had separated from the airplane during the accident sequence. The cabin and cockpit section of the airplane had been consumed. All components necessary for flight were accounted for at the accident site.

The wreckage was recovered to a secured storage facility for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: KOSTRAZEWA ANDRE
Registration: N620AK
Model/Series: Sonex Light Sport
Aircraft Category:Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Jason Sorensen
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SLC, 4227 ft msl
Observation Time: 1254 MDT
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 4273 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / 16 knots, 350°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 10773 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Bountiful, UT (BTF)
Destination: Bountiful, UT (BTF)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage:Destroyed
Passenger Injuries:1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire:On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 40.779167, -111.895833

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.



Andre Kostrzewa, age 72, passed away from injuries sustained in an airplane crash in Centerville, Utah on June 25, 2020.

Andre was born in Poland on November 16, 1947 to Peter and Otylia Kostrzewa, and grew up in a little town outside of Warsaw. He spent part of his young adult years as an electrical technician and as an outspoken activist against the communist regime. He made the hard decision to leave everything he knew and fled Poland, traveling around Europe for 2 years until 1982, where at the age of 35 he immigrated to the United States of America as a political refugee. He first settled in Idaho where he had a daughter with his first wife. He then relocated to Utah where he settled down and lived with his love of 24 years, Thu Thi Nguyen, until his death.

Andre was a very driven individual, best described as being an entrepreneur and inventor. He pursued his interests with vigor, never letting go of his vision until he could see it to completion. Andre did not know a stranger and found a friend in almost everyone he met. Which meant he met a lot of friends as he enjoyed traveling and had an extensive career as a long-haul truck driver, enabling him to meet many people in all corners of our beautiful country. Andre’s true passion though was in aviation and after coming to America he obtained his private pilot’s license. Andre dreamed, breathed, lived and talked about everything related to airplanes and flying. He enjoyed building model airplanes which eventually began a hobby in building kit planes in his garage. His first kit was an ultralight which never quite left the ground, but the thrill of the experience initiated a drive to build something bigger and better. He eventually went on to complete two separate single engine experimental airplanes, the latter of which claimed his life.

Andre is survived by his wife Thu; daughter Tracy (Adam) Wright; granddaughters Aliya, Avery and Karly; siblings Edward (Helena) Kostrzewa, Regina (Roman) Czerederecki; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; and brother Adam Kostrzewa.

A Memorial Gathering will be held Wednesday, July 1st from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Rd, Taylorsville, Utah. The family asks that no memorial contributions be made.



(KUTV) — A retired deputy with the Davis County Sheriff's Office died Monday due to injuries sustained in a small plane crash last week.

Lt. Jason Sorensen, a paramedic and pilot for Intermountain Life Flight, was in the plane with 72-year-old Andre Kostrzewa, of Salt Lake, when it went down in Centerville on Thursday. The cause of the crash is unknown.

Kostrzewa died at the scene and Sorensen was transported to the hospital with critical injuries.

"Unfortunately, the injuries and burns sustained in the crash were insurmountable and eventually claimed his life," the Davis County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "Sorensen spent his life saving others and his efforts will continue after life, with the donation of his organs to others in need."

“Davis County Sheriff’s Office is hurting today," Sheriff Kelly Sparks stated in a press release. "Jason was universally loved. He had a huge impact on the lives of many people in Davis County and around the state. Jason was an important part of our Sheriff’s Office family and we truly mourn his loss."

We send our love and comfort to his wife, children, and family. We also express our gratitude for the compassionate care he has received from loved ones, medical professionals, and even strangers during his greatest time of need.

“On behalf of our entire Intermountain Life Flight family, we send our heartfelt prayers and thoughts to Jason’s family during this difficult time," Pamela Moore, executive director of Intermountain Life Flight, stated.

"We are so saddened by Jason’s passing. Jason was a terrific and dedicated paramedic, pilot, and public servant, and an even better husband, father, friend, colleague, and person. We will miss him terribly. Jason was a member of our Intermountain Life Flight team and family for 15 years. During that time, Jason demonstrated his professionalism, commitment, and caring for the people who we served and cared for on a daily basis. Jason will always be a member of our Life Flight family. We will carry his memory and the impact of his wonderful life forward as we continue to do the important work that Jason dedicated his life to, and the people who he worked so hard to help.”

Funeral details will be announced no later than next week, the sheriff's office said.

Charitable accounts have been established in honor of Sorensen:

America First Credit Union: Jason Sorensen Charitable Account #9116393

Davis County Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #6: daviscountyfop.firstresponderprocessing.com


https://kutv.com






CENTERVILLE, Utah — One person is dead and three others are injured after a small experimental plane crashed in Centerville Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday night, Centerville Police identified the man who died as 72-year-old Andre Kostrzewa—the plane's owner—of Salt Lake City.

The crash occurred shortly before 1 p.m. near Legacy Highway and Parrish Lane.

“The description by the witnesses stated that it was coming down, losing elevation quickly and it banked hard to the right and then hit the ground," said Lt. Zan Robison, Centerville City Police Department.

Two men who witnessed the crash and stopped to help suffered burn injuries and smoke inhalation.

“Obviously they are very heroic to stop, I would call them heroes to stop and get injured themselves trying to render aid to people they don’t have any idea who they are," Robison said.

Centerville Police said officers with their department and Farmington's police department moved the victims to a nearby parking lot, where they were met by medical personnel.

A medical helicopter then took Kostrzewa and his 47-year-old male passenger to University of Utah Hospital. Kostrzewa died at the hospital and his passenger was listed in critical condition.

Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Nick Street said the plane may have been on fire on the way down, according to witnesses.

The aircraft caught fire, which spread to about two acres of the field where the plane went down.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

https://www.fox13now.com


CENTERVILLE, Utah, June 25, 2020 (Gephardt Daily) — Officials have identified a 72-year-old man killed in a small plane crash in the Centerville area of Davis County Thursday afternoon.

The plane’s owner and pilot, 72-year-old Andre Kostrzewa of Salt Lake City, was pronounced deceased at the hospital while his 47-year-old male passenger was listed in critical condition, said a news release from Centerville Police Department Thursday evening.

The experimental airplane with two occupants crashed in an empty field at 1950 North just west of Legacy Parkway in Centerville at 12:54 p.m., the news release said. The crash caused an approximate 10-acre fire.

“Witnesses pulled two victims from the burning wreckage,” according to the news release.

“Centerville and Farmington police officers moved the victims from the burning field and transported them to a nearby parking lot where they were met by medical personnel. The victims were then flown by air ambulance to the University of Utah Hospital.”

Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Nick Street told Gephardt Daily the crash occurred in an area in which remote control model planes are flown.

Street said some of those who pulled the two from the fiery plane were burned, and were treated on the scene for their injuries.

The Centerville Police Department investigated the crash scene. The case will be referred to the National Transportation Safety Board, who will investigate the cause of crash. The NTSB were not available to respond to the scene.

https://gephardtdaily.com











CENTERVILLE — Two bystanders are being credited with pulling two people out of a burning plane that crashed near Centerville on Thursday.

Authorities confirmed the plane’s owner, 72-year-old Andre Kostrzewa of Salt Lake City, was pronounced dead at the hospital. A 47-year-old male passenger is in critical condition.

Sometime before 1 p.m., the small plane crashed west of the Legacy Parkway in a field near Tippetts Lane, according to Centerville police. Drivers on the parkway saw the craft come down, and two people rushed from their cars to rescue the pilot and passenger trapped inside the burning wreckage, said Centerville Police Chief Paul Childs.

“Time is of the essence to get people out of fire, and those two individuals would have risked their own lives to pull those people out and save them,” Childs said.

The two occupants of the plane were moved from the burning field to a parking lot, where a medical helicopter transported them to the University of Utah Hospital, Centerville police said. The two bystanders who helped pull them to safety were also taken to a hospital with burns and smoke inhalation.

The crash sparked a small brush fire that burned about 10 acres, according to officials. Multiple trucks were called in to quickly douse the flames, Childs said.

“The fire starting was a concern, several fire units responded,” Child said. “You obviously don’t want a fire to spread because there are homes not far from here.”

The cause of the crash will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration. According to the flight tracking application FlightAware, the two-seater plane was last seen in Bountiful at 12:10 p.m. and was supposed to land in Ogden at 12:48 p.m.

“Witnesses described the aircraft as just losing elevation and banking hard,” Childs said. It’s rare for the department to find itself responding to such accidents, he added.

https://www.deseret.com

11 comments:

  1. "Life Flight Paramedic In Critical Condition After Plane Crash"
    https://ksltv.com/440321/life-flight-paramedic-in-critical-condition-after-plane-crash/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Previous Accidents and Incidents

    2013-03-18 - N670AK Mustang 2 - flip on Landing
    "The 66-year-old pilot, Andre Kostrzewa, was in the process of landing the plane when it flipped and crashed, South Davis Metro Fire Deputy Chief Jeff Bassett said."
    https://www.standard.net/pilot-walks-away-from-plane-crash/article_1b71916d-d02d-5856-aa28-bc2563037a26.html

    1993-08-03 - N6852H Cessna 172 - 40-mile taxi after emergency landing on I-80 - Wendover UT
    https://www.deseret.com/1993/8/4/19059467/pilot-s-wife-was-miffed-after-slow-trip-on-i-80

    https://www.asias.faa.gov/apex/f?p=100:18:::NO::AP_BRIEF_RPT_VAR:19930803027559I

    ReplyDelete
  3. ^^^ I now have officially seen it all. And who needs flying cars since that guy just showed a run of the mill Cessna can travel down a freeway... forever. After experiencing a few alternator failures I always carry a head mountable flashlight and a portable radio but he was above such planning either...

    ReplyDelete
  4. https://www.mcdougalfuneralhomes.com/obituary/andre-kostrzewa

    https://kutv.com/news/local/retired-deputy-dies-after-small-plane-crash-in-davis-county

    ReplyDelete
  5. Notice how the wings are in fairly good shape but fire consumed the cockpit. Why is that? It is because the poly fuel tank is located in the cockpit, behind the instrument panel.

    Think about the burn injuries sustained by the occupants and rescuers. If the design had located fuel tanks in the wings, less harm would have been done to all. And this is not the first one to release fuel into the cockpit in a crash.

    Sonex builders/owners: Time to move the tank out of the cockpit, add the pump and valving required; stop burning up those who crash or those who try to extract crash survivors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One reason I won't fly a plane that has fuel tank in the cockpit. Flying with a fuel tank in your face, or behind your head is dumb idea. This accident could have been prevented if the guy just landed straight ahead instead of attempting impossible turn.

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  6. It isn't clear that there was a fire before or after the accident. The leading edge crush damage on both wings indicates the airplane stalled and fell straight down, or at least at a very steep angle. Would wing tanks have ruptured in this case? I don't know. Not stalling the airplane over an open field would have certainly helped with the outcome but maybe those power lines had something to do with what happened.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fire around a plane from ruptured wing tanks is less hindering than a tank that releases gasoline directly inside the cockpit. When rescuers are able to be on scene immediately, it would be helpful not to have a gasoline soaked cockpit fire going on like this one.

      It does seem like the pilot must have been reacting to something impeding his planned landing point to be banking late like that.

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    2. Right wing stall and wing drop more likely, got too slow. Never going to end nice at low altitude.

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    3. Enthusiasm for aviation doesn't compensate for obvious lack of ability to safely operate and fly an aircraft. The builder/pilot lost his pilot license because he failed an FAA 609 checkride. The FAA gets involved when pilots demonstrate poor decision making while involved with accidents or incidents. He should have listened to his first wife.

      Delete
  7. I love pilot error, it thins the hers and clears the sky for me.

    ReplyDelete