Thursday, May 14, 2020

Beech F33A Bonanza, N711JA: Fatal accident occurred May 12, 2020 near Tampa North Aero Park (X39), Wesley Chapel, Pasco County, Florida -and- Incident occurred January 27, 2017 at Clearwater Airpark (KCLW), Pinellas County, Florida

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 Entities: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama 
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas 


Location: Land O Lakes, FL
Accident Number: ERA20LA179
Date & Time: 05/12/2020, 1125 EDT
Registration: N711JA
Aircraft: Beech F33
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On May 12, 2020, about 1125 eastern daylight time, a Beech F33A, N711JA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Land O Lakes, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The airplane was based at Clearwater Air Park (CLW), Clearwater, Florida. Earlier during the day of the accident, the pilot flew the airplane uneventfully from CLW to Tampa North Aero Park (X39), Tampa, Florida and was returning to CLW at the time of the accident. Runway 32 at X39 was 3,541 feet long, 50 feet wide, and consisted of asphalt.

According to witnesses at X39, the pilot performed an engine run-up near the beginning of runway 32 and the engine sounded normal. The pilot then taxied onto the runway for departure, but as soon as the engine reached full power, it began to sound abnormal, rough, and/or lean. The pilot then reduced engine power and taxied to runway 14, performed another engine run-up and the engine sounded normal. However, the engine again began to run rough when it reached full power for takeoff. The pilot reduced the engine power and taxied to the beginning of runway 32. He performed a third engine run-up and the engine sounded normal. As the engine reached full power, it began to run rough again, but the pilot continued the takeoff roll. The airplane travelled more than half the distance of the runway before it lifted off, "barely" cleared trees at the end of the runway and made a left turn. One of the witnesses radioed the pilot and advised that he had a rough running engine, the pilot replied "ya, returning," followed by "going down."

Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest upright in the backyard of a vacant residence about 1/2 mile west of the departure end of runway 32. All major components of the airplane were accounted for and a postcrash fire consumed most of the cockpit, cabin, and right wing. The left wing had separated during the impact and was also located in the backyard of the residence, north of the main wreckage.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N711JA
Model/Series: F33 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Logical Choice Aviation N711JA Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ZPH, 89 ft msl
Observation Time: 1135 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 12 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 17°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / , 50°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Land O Lakes, FL (X39)
Destination: Clearwater, FL (CLW)

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: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 28.223611, -82.386944

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.


Thomas Saxon

May 12, 2020









May 12, 2020

Thomas Saxon and Robert Schupbach both loved flying planes. They also loved jumping out of them. So what if everyone else thought they were crazy, as Schupbach assumed — it’s what made he and Saxon good friends.

“He made an excellent partner — even though he was much bigger than me, we were able to maintain our fall rate together, just because so many times we jumped together,” said Schupbach, who met Saxon through a skydiving club about five years ago. "He made me feel safe, and I made him feel safe.”

Soon after the two became friends, Schupbach remembered, he asked his skydiving buddy to become a co-owner of his Beech F33A Bonanza. The plane required expensive maintenance, Schupbach said, but they could handle it between the two of them.

Saxon, 61, died Tuesday morning when the Beech F33A Bonanza crashed into a backyard in Wesley Chapel. Though the plane came down in the well-populated Grand Oaks subdivision, it missed houses and residents. No one else was injured.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration went to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board, which publishes the results of investigations into plane crashes, has yet to release a preliminary report. Neither agency has publicly determined the cause of the accident. The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner’s Office on Wednesday identified Saxon as the pilot.

Flight data, tracked by the website FlightAware, show that the plane safely completed a 14-minute flight from Clearwater — where Schupbach said the plane was based — to Tampa North Flight and Rental Center, just west of Interstate 75 in the Wesley Chapel area. It landed at 9:53 a.m. Tuesday. The plane took off again at 10:40 a.m., first heading north and then east before circling back toward the airfield.

It crashed 12 minutes later, just a few thousand feet from the airfield.

The FAA classified the damage as “substantial.” Images and footage broadcast by WFTS-Ch. 28 showed flames and smoke rising from the debris. The Beech F33A Bonanza wings appeared to be shorn off.

Robert Katz, a flight instructor and veteran pilot in Texas who closely tracks plane crashes across the country, said what he could see of the crash’s aftermath made him suspect corrosion had damaged the plane, causing the wings to come off. It’s an issue Katz said he’s seen before in older airplanes in coastal communities, where the nearby saltwater encourages corrosion.

“It makes it easy for the wings to snap off — in what was a perfect flying weather day," he said. “Everyone in that neighborhood is lucky to be alive.”

Schupbach said he had no idea why the plane crashed.

“The maintenance was excellent,” he said. "The plane was kept up — this is why I took Tom in as a partner in the first place.”

Ongoing maintenance had actually caused the plane to stay on the ground for much of the past year, Schupbach said. That included the installment of new navigation equipment, he said, as well as an annual inspection.

Schupbach didn’t know much about his friend’s personal life, he said — they mostly talked about flying and skydiving. He said Saxon was retired and owned some rental properties in Madeira Beach, where he also lived. He was a proud Marine veteran, Schupbach said, and had the branch’s insignia on his parachute container.

Saxon’s wife, Cindy, declined to comment on Wednesday. Thomas Saxon served as a Madeira Beach city commissioner in the late 1990s, according to stories in the then-St. Petersburg Times. He made a living running more than two dozen veterans centers across the southeast, according to one of those stories.

Schupbach said Saxon just felt comfortable in the sky.

“We are a different breed," Schupbach said. "We had that in common.”

https://www.tampabay.com

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida 

January 27, 2017:  Aircraft gear collapsed on landing. 

Date: 27-JAN-17
Time: 14:45:00Z
Regis#: N711JA
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: BE33
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: CLEARWATER
State: FLORIDA

January 27, 2017

January 27, 2017


January 27, 2017

Piper PA-22-150, N4454A: Accident occurred May 11, 2020 at Fayetteville Municipal Airport (KFYM), Tennessee -and- Incident occurred April 28, 2018 at Richard B. Russell Airport (KRMG), Rome, Floyd County, Georgia








Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Nashville, Tennessee

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

 
Location: Fayetteville, Tennessee
Accident Number: ERA20CA185
Date & Time: May 11, 2020, 19:00 UTC 
Registration: N4454A
Aircraft: Piper PA22 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot reported that he was performing touch and go landings. On his third landing, he knew there was a crosswind from his left side, so he touched down with the left main landing gear first. When the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane started to veer off to the left, so he corrected with right rudder and the airplane pulled hard to the right. The pilot then saw a ditch on the right side of the runway, so he applied "hard left rudder" to purposefully put the airplane into a ground loop so the airplane would not go off the runway and into the ditch. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear fractured and folded under the fuselage.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right main landing gear tube fractured, and that the fracture surfaces did not display corrosion. The right wing rear spar and the lower longeron were substantially damaged. Examination of the flight controls and brakes showed no evidence of any preaccident anomalies.

At the time of the accident a left crosswind component of between 9 and 17 knots prevailed.

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 directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Environmental issues Crosswind - Effect on operation
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Landing-landing roll Landing gear collapse

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 29, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 5, 2019
Flight Time: 234 hours (Total, all aircraft), 42 hours (Total, this make and model), 166 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 36 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 
Registration: N4454A
Model/Series: PA22 150 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1956 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 22-3787
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel 
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: February 19, 2020 Annual 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2144.4 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 150 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: FYM
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 18:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 17 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 330° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 30.25 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Fayetteville, TN (FYM)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Fayetteville, TN (FYM) 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 18:00 UTC 
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Fayetteville Muni FYM 
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 983 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 02
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5900 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and go

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 35.060554,-86.563888(est)

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

April 28, 2018:  Ground looped.

Date: 28-APR-18
Time: 14:15:00Z
Regis#: N4454A
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA24
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: ROME
State: GEORGIA

Super Cub, N39SC: Incident occurred May 12, 2020 in Anchorage, Alaska

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska

Aircraft departed, smoke in cockpit and returned to land and discovered a melted battery.

https://registry.faa.gov/N39SC

Date: 12-MAY-20
Time: 00:57:00Z
Regis#: N39SC
Aircraft Make: EXPERIMENTAL
Aircraft Model: SUPER CUB
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: ANCHORAGE
State: ALASKA

Loss of Lift: Let L-33 Solo, N355BA; accident occurred May 11, 2020 near Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO), Snohomish County, Washington











Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines, Washington 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Arlington, Washington
Accident Number: WPR20CA151
Date & Time: May 11, 2020, 12:53 Local 
Registration: N355BA
Aircraft: Let L 33 SOLO 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of lift 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The glider pilot reported that while on final approach to land, the ground speed decreased and the glider descended faster than expected. Unable to reach the runway, he diverted to a gravel area to land out. The glider landed hard, and during the landing roll he heard a loud bang that was later identified as a pothole.

The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the glider 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 loss of lift while on final approach which resulted in a hard off-airport landing.

Findings

Environmental issues Thermal lifting - Effect on operation
Aircraft Altitude - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing Loss of lift (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown Hard landing
Landing-landing roll Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial; Student 
Age: 58, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Center
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: BasicMed Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 19, 2017
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 4561 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4 hours (Total, this make and model), 15 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Let
Registration: N355BA
Model/Series: L 33 SOLO No Series
Aircraft Category: Glider
Year of Manufacture: 1999 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 
Serial Number: 990506
Landing Gear Type: Tandem
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: May 8, 2020 Annual 
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines:
Airframe Total Time: 814.35 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer:
ELT: 
Engine Model/Series:
Registered Owner:
Rated Power:
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: KPAE,606 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 12:53 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 198°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility:  10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 350° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Arlington, WA (AWO)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Arlington, WA (AWO) 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 12:21 Local 
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Arlington Muni AWO
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 141 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 34
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5332 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Straight-in

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 48.160831,-122.158889 (est)

Mooney M20E Super 21, N480Y: Incident occurred May 10, 2020 at Morristown Municipal Airport (KMMU), Morris County, New Jersey

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Teterboro, New Jersey

Aircraft landed and gear collapsed.

Lauschke Aviation Inc

https://registry.faa.gov/N480Y

Date: 10-MAY-20
Time: 18:50:00Z
Regis#: N480Y
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20E
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: MORRISTOWN
State: NEW JERSEY

Fuel Exhaustion: Cessna 402, N4661N; accident occurred May 09, 2020 near Henry County Airport (KHMP), Hampton, Georgia




Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Hampton, Georgia
Accident Number: ERA20CA176
Date & Time: May 9, 2020, 15:13 Local 
Registration: N4661N
Aircraft: Cessna 402 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

Analysis

According the commercial pilot and a flight instructor rated check pilot, they were conducting their first long-duration, aerial observation flight in the multiengine airplane, which was recently acquired by the operator. They departed with full fuel tanks, competed the 5-hour aerial observation portion of the flight, and began to return to the destination airport. About 15 miles from the airport, the left engine fuel warning light illuminated. Within a few seconds, the right engine stopped producing power. They attempted to restart the engine and turned the airplane toward an alternate airport that was closer. The pilots then turned on the electric fuel pump, the right engine began surging, and soon after the left engine stopped producing power. They turned both electric fuel pumps to the low setting, both engines continued to surge, and the pilots continued toward the alternate airport. When they were about 3 miles from the airport, both engines lost total power, and they elected to land on a highway. When they were a few feet above the ground, power returned briefly to the left engine, which resulted in the airplane climbing and beginning to roll. The commercial pilot pulled the yoke aft to avoid a highway sign, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with trees and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Although both pilots reported the fuel gauges indicated 20 gallons of fuel remaining on each side when the engines stopped producing power, the flight instructor noted that there was no fuel in the airplane at the time of the accident. In addition, according to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, both fuel tanks were breached and there was no evidence of fuel spillage.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A dual total loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion.

Findings

Aircraft Fuel - Fluid management

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute Fuel exhaustion
Emergency descent Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown Abrupt maneuver
Landing-flare/touchdown Collision during takeoff/land

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor 
Age: 70,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: July 1, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: December 18, 2019
Flight Time: 7330 hours (Total, all aircraft), 11 hours (Total, this make and model), 7300 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 75 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 22 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial; Private 
Age: 26, 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): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 27, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 10, 2018
Flight Time: 1096 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5.9 hours (Total, this make and model), 934.2 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 272.7 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 23.3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 5.9 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 
Registration: N4661N
Model/Series: 402 C 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1978 
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 402C0019
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 3
Date/Type of Last Inspection: February 27, 2020 Annual 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 6850 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 17081 Hrs at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C126 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: TSIO-520 SER
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 325 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: HMP,882 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 2 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 15:15 Local 
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 320° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 30.21 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C / -1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Atlanta, GA (FFC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Atlanta, GA (FFC) 
Type of Clearance: VFR flight following
Departure Time: 09:21 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Henry County Airport HMP
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 882 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 24 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5500 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor 
Latitude, Longitude: 33.375831,-84.297225 (est)
 




Mooney M20R Ovation, N16RM: Incident occurred May 10, 2020 at Las Cruces International Airport (KLRU), Doña Ana County, New Mexico

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aircraft landed gear up.

https://registry.faa.gov/N16RM

Date: 10-MAY-20
Time: 00:50:00Z
Regis#: N16RM
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20R
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: LAS CRUCES
State: NEW MEXICO

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, N4474K: Incident occurred May 08, 2020 at Destin Executive Airport (KDTS), Okaloosa County, Florida

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Alabama and NW Florida

Aircraft landed and veered off runway into the grass.

https://registry.faa.gov/N4474K

Date: 08-MAY-20
Time: 20:54:00Z
Regis#: N4474K
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 210
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: DESTIN
State: FLORIDA

Flight Control System Malfunction/Failure: Titan Tornado S, N318WH; accident occurred May 09, 2020 near Haskell Airport (2K9), Oklahoma







Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Haskell, Oklahoma 
Accident Number: CEN20LA173
Date & Time: May 9, 2020, 06:45 Local
Registration: N318WH
Aircraft: Titan TITAN TORNADO S 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Flight control sys malf/fail 
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Flight test

Analysis

The student pilot departed on a flight in a kit-built airplane to test the winglets he had recently installed on the airplane’s stabilator, which were intended to eliminate the airplane’s uncommanded yaw. The flight was the airplane's first winglet test flight away from the airport traffic pattern and at a higher altitude. The student stated that during the flight, he decreased the pitch attitude to level off at 2,000 ft above ground level and the airplane suddenly vibrated aggressively and it "felt like the tail was thumping." He decreased the engine power, but the thumping and vibrating continued, so the pilot pitched the airplane down for an off-field emergency landing. Before he was able to land, the airplane rolled inverted and descended into the trees, resulting in the separation of the right wing.

Postaccident examination revealed that the stabilator control horn had fractured due to overstress and separated from the push-pull tube. According to an airplane kit manufacturer engineer, winglets added to the stabilator produce flutter. Based on the evidence, it is likely that the winglets led the stabilator to flutter, which overstressed the stabilator control horn and resulted in the control horn’s failure.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The student pilot/builder’s addition of winglets to the stabilator, which resulted in flutter and overstress failure of the stabilator control horn.

Findings

Aircraft Horizontal stabilizer - Capability exceeded
Aircraft Horiz stab misc structure - Design
Personnel issues Modification/alteration - Student/instructed pilot
Aircraft (general) - Attain/maintain not possible
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Student/instructed pilot

Factual Information

On May 9, 2020, about 0645 central daylight time, an experimental Titan Tornado S airplane, N318WH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident about 3 miles north of Haskell Airport (2K9), Haskell, Oklahoma. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 test flight.

The student pilot stated that the airplane had experienced uncommanded yaw on previously flights which he was trying to eliminate. After some research and a conversation with the airplane kit manufacturer, he installed vortex generators. The vortex generators did not eliminate the yaw, so he installed makeshift winglets on the stabilator, which were made from ½ inch plywood and aircraft speed
tape. He did not ask the airplane kit manufacturer about the use of winglets on the stabilator, nor was he required to.

The student pilot conducted a test flight with the makeshift winglets and the uncommanded yaw was eliminated. Since the winglets proved successful, he created new winglets out of composite material, then attached them to the stabilator with glue and rivets. He completed 3 to 4 test flights with the new winglets and remained in the traffic pattern for all of the test flights. The airplane maintenance logbooks did not contain any entry for the winglets because the pilot was still conducting test flights and was not ready to have a mechanic sign off on the installation.

The student pilot stated that on the morning of the accident, he intended to complete the first winglet test flight away from the airport and at a higher altitude than the other test flights. He departed from 2K9 and climbed about 600 feet per minute to 2,000 ft where he intended to level off. He stated that the airplane flew really well with no anomalies noted at that point. As he decreased the pitch attitude, the airplane suddenly vibrated aggressively and it "felt like the tail was thumping." He decreased the engine power to slow the airplane down and descend in altitude, but the thumping and vibrating continued. He pitched the airplane down for an off-field emergency landing. Before he was able to land, the airplane rolled inverted and descended into the trees.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the airplane was found in a densely wooded area with the right wing separated and significant impact damage to the entire airplane. The stabilator control horn was found fractured and disconnected from the push-pull tube.

A postaccident examination of the stabilator control horn revealed that it fractured due to overstress from gross mechanical deformation. The part also exhibited impact damage from the stabilator being actuated from control stop to control stop during the flight.

The airplane kit manufacturer engineer stated that winglets added to the stabilator would change the balance of the control surface and cause flutter. The stabilator is installed with a counterweight calibrated specifically for the stock stabilator. He had never seen anyone add winglets to the stabilator before and he hoped that a builder would contact him before adding winglets. He would tell a builder not to add winglets because it would alter the balance on the control surface.

History of Flight

Enroute-climb to cruise Flight control sys malf/fail (Defining event)
Emergency descent Loss of control in flight
Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Student 
Age: 33, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: None None 
Last FAA Medical Exam: June 18, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 162.3 hours (Total, all aircraft), 33 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Titan
Registration: N318WH
Model/Series: TITAN TORNADO S Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2015 
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special) 
Serial Number: S12XXXC0HK0546
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: April 26, 2020 100 hour 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1140 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 230 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: 912 ULS
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 100 Horsepower
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Dawn
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMKO,610 ft msl 
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 06:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 131°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /
Wind Direction: 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /
Altimeter Setting: 30.29 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / 4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Haskell, OK (2K9) 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Haskell, OK (2K9) 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 06:30 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: HASKELL 2K9
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 588 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 35.864166,-95.655555(est)

















Wagoner County Sheriff's Office
Deputies respond to plane crash South of Coweta, pilot flown to area hospital

On 05-09-2020 Wagoner County E-911 Dispatch received information of a plane crash South of Coweta in the area of East 205th and State Highway 72. Wagoner County Deputies Lt. E Crockett, E Patrick, B Sieg, D Clark, and Sgt. J Halfacre responded to investigate. Wagoner County Deputies were dispatched at 0825 hours and a deputy was on scene in minutes coordinating with Wagoner County Emergency Management and area first responders.

As additional first responders arrived, Deputy Sieg, Crockett, Patrick, and Clark all proceeded to the scene of the plane crash to assist the victim. Yocum Trucking allowed first responders to company golf carts and 4-wheelers to gain access to the crash site. Responders had to traverse muddy fields and heavy foliage to access the airplane crash site. Deputy Sieg relayed GPS coordinates continuously to Wagoner County E-911 Dispatch to direct first responders. Air Evac 83 responded to the scene to transport the victim due to his significant injuries. Wagoner County Emergency Management responded with ATV vehicles to allow access to the crash site.

The pilot sustained injuries in the crash and was transported by Air Evac 83 to a local area hospital for treatment. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating the crash in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane had taken off from the Haskell Airport before having unknown issues and crashing into a rural area of Wagoner County.

The Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Heath Underwood and his Wagoner County Emergency Management team, Stone Bluff Fire Department, Coweta Fire Department, Muskogee County EMS, Haskell Fire Department, Haskell Police Department, Air Evac 83 (Muskogee), Yocum Trucking, Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for their assistance.