Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
https://registry.faa.gov/N19AS
Location: Round Rock, TX
Accident Number: CEN20LA256
Date & Time: 07/01/2020, 1300 CDT
Registration: N19AS
Aircraft: Cessna 320
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On July 1, 2020, about 1300 central daylight time, a Cessna 320 airplane, N19AS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Round Rock, Texas. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Preliminary flight track data showed that the airplane departed from the Rusty Allen Airport (RYW), Lago Vista, Texas, about 1220, and proceeded east by Thorndale, Texas. Once near Thorndale, the airplane executed a turn to the north and the flight track data terminated.
According to a witness who was driving on ranch to market road 1431 (RM 1431) near Round Rock, she observed the airplane flying low and "erratically." She observed flames coming from the left engine. Another witness who lives in Round Rock, reported that the airplane was "sputtering" and "popping" as it flew over his home.
The airplane came to rest on a northeast heading in a wooded area about 0.75 miles west of the intersection of RM 1431 and interstate 35. The airplane sustained fire damage and was fragmented. A Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector documented the accident site and the wreckage was recovered to a secure location for a future examination of the airframe and two engines.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration:N19AS
Model/Series: 320 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: KGTU, 787 ft msl
Observation Time: 1756 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 12 knots / , 200°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 2800 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Lago Vista, TX (RYW)
Destination: Lago Vista, TX (RYW)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: In-Flight
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 30.559444, -97.704722 (est)
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
David Bonorden
David Bonorden, 58, of Cedar Park, died after the Cessna 320 he was flying crashed in a wooded area about half a mile west of I-35 near FM 1431.
DPS said the plane caught fire when it crashed. Bonorden was the only occupant.
A witness said the plane was falling from the sky and appeared as if it was going to make an emergency landing on FM 1431 before it crashed into trees and burst into flames.
According to Flightaware, the plane took off from Lago Vista’s Rusty Allen Airport and was bound for Coupland, Texas.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
https://www.kvue.com
David Bonorden
Round Rock Police Department tweeted it is assisting the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office after a small plane crash was reported off Farm to Market Road 1431 near Interstate 35 around 1 p.m. The Texas Department of Public Safety says it and the Round Rock Fire Department also responded.
“The Cessna 320 Skyknight crashed and caught on fire in a wood area north of Ranch Road 1431 approximately half a mile west of Interstate 35,” DPS wrote in a statement.
The City of Round Rock tweeted Westbound lanes of FM 1431 west of I-35 are temporarily shut down.
Odie Cavazos and his son Josh witnessed the plane take a nose dive towards the wooded area. They captured video as they searched for survivors.
“This is not something you’re prepared to deal with. I know that my dad and my family, we will get over it, we will get through this,” said Josh Cavazos.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board says it will conduct the investigation and will be assisted by the FAA. The NTSB says it doesn’t yet know if there were issues with the aircraft and that the possibility that weather played a factor will be explored. The NTSB says it will have a preliminary report in a week.
https://www.kxan.com
“This is not something you’re prepared to deal with. I know that my dad and my family, we will get over it, we will get through this,” said Josh Cavazos.
ReplyDeleteGlad he feels that way - wondering if he gave a second thought to the pilot's family ?
Good point. All Josh Cavazos did was rush to the airplane immediately after it crashed and was still burning. He and his father were hoping to find survivors and render aid. They could both use a good scolding from you.
DeleteSomeone clearly does not know the psychological effects of the would-be rescuers who realized they could do nothing. It goes without saying the family of the deceased pilot is suffering traumatically. Does the emotional trauma of those who attempt a rescue in any emergency to no avail mean nothing? And if you don't believe that is real, ask a first responder about the worst part of his or her job.
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