Thursday, July 02, 2020

Evektor-Aerotechnik SportStar, N820NG: Fatal accident occurred July 01, 2020 at Leeward Air Ranch Airport (FD04), Marion 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 Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

https://registry.faa.gov/N820NG

Location: Ocala, FL
Accident Number: ERA20LA234
Date & Time: 07/01/2020, 1030 EDT
Registration: N820NG
Aircraft: Evektor Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On July 1, 2020, about 1030 eastern daylight time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar, N820NG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Leeward Air Ranch Airport (FD04), Ocala, Florida. The sport pilot was fatally injured. The light sport airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to local law enforcement officials, the pilot was returning to her home airfield following a morning flight to Williston, Florida. A witness reported that the airplane was landing on runway 18; however, it was higher than normal on final approach. The airplane touched down "quite a way" down the runway and bounced twice. The airplane then banked to the left and went out of sight at the left side of the runway. Another witness observed the airplane touch down on the nose wheel. It then bounced, flipped, and landed upside down.

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The wreckage was found inverted and there was no fire. The fuselage and both wings were structurally damaged.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Evektor Aerotechnik
Registration: N820NG
Model/Series: SPORTSTAR No Series
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: KOCF, 87 ft msl
Observation Time: 1051 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 11 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 24°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2800 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 320°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Williston, FL (X60)
Destination: Ocala, FL (FD04) 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 29.092500, -82.031944 (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.


Ellen LeViere Navolio

Ellen LeViere Navolio, 78, of Leeward Air Ranch, Ocala, Florida, formerly of Zelienople, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly on  July 1st, 2020 in Ocala, Florida.

She was the daughter of the late Ellen Elluinger Miller and late Donald (Chummy) LeViere.

Ellen was a 1960 graduate of Zelienople High School and a retired employee of the Kentucky Department of Insurance. She enjoyed flying (becoming a pilot at 73 years old) and ballroom dancing. She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her friends and family.

Ellen is survived by her soulmate, Richard Zeitler, of Inverness, FL; her cousins, Elaine (Ed) Wolford, of Zelienople, PA, Mary Ellen (Andy) Maslaney, of Hayes, VA, Jacque (Mike) Gray, of Fombell, PA, Judi (Steve) Dragun, of Pittsburgh, PA, David (Michelle) Elluinger, of Zelienople, PA, and Bette (Howard) Wenk, of Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her cousin, Christine Thomas.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on July 19th, 2020 at the Zelienople Community Mausoleum, Zelienople, Pennsylvania, where she will be laid to rest.


Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Boylan Funeral Home, Inc., 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople, PA 16063. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com



Marion County Sheriff's Office

The deceased person in yesterday’s crash has been identified as 78-year-old Ellen Navolio.





Marion County Fire Rescue

At 10:31 MCFR units were dispatched to a plane crash located at Leeward Air Ranch, located on SE 72d Ave, Ocala. The 911 caller reported that a small aircraft crashed while attempting to land. He could see that that pilot was inside the cockpit. Crews from MCFR Belleview Station 18, Spruce Creek Station 30 and Silver Springs Shores Station 17 were assigned to the call.

District Captain #3 was the first MCFR unit to arrive on scene at 10:38am, reporting a small plane upside down with the pilot inside. Unfortunately the pilot was declared deceased at that time. Firefighters on scene mitigated a fuel leak on the airplane, securing it until the plane wreckage is removed.

MCFR turned the scene over to Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were called in to investigate.

Landing Gear Not Configured: Volmer VJ-22 Sportsman, N59262; accident occurred June 27, 2020 in Erie, Michigan








Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

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

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: 


Location: Erie, MI
Accident Number: CEN20CA254
Date & Time: 06/27/2020, 1700 EDT
Registration:N59262 
Aircraft: Volmer VJ22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear not configured
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis

The pilot reported he had departed from a paved runway in his amphibious airplane. After takeoff, he was momentarily distracted by communications with air traffic control and did not ensure the landing gear was retracted. After a short local flight, he prepared to make a water landing on a lake. However, he was unable to locate the water landing checklist in the airplane and completed the checklist from memory. During the process, he inadvertently "skipped over" verifying the landing gear was retracted. When the airplane touched down on the water, he was unable to prevent it from nosing over. Photographs of the airplane taken during recovery from the lake showed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that could have contributed to the accident.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to ensure that the amphibious airplane’s wheels were retracted before attempting a water landing, resulting in a nose over during touch down. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a checklist available to the pilot.

Findings

Aircraft Main landing gear - Incorrect use/operation
Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Pilot
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Personnel issues Use of checklist - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing Landing gear not configured (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown Nose over/nose down


Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 50, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/21/2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/02/2019
Flight Time: 789 hours (Total, all aircraft), 102 hours (Total, this make and model), 703 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 22 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Volmer
Registration: N59262
Model/Series: VJ22 No Series
Aircraft Category:Airplane 
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built:Yes 
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: F-2
Landing Gear Type: Amphibian; Hull
Seats:2 
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/25/2020, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 1 Hours
Engines:1 Reciprocating 
Airframe Total Time: 274 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT:Not installed 
Engine Model/Series: O-290-D2
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 135 hp
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: TOL
Distance from Accident Site: 80 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1500 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 10°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 190°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.76 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 20°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Toledo, OH (TOL)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Erie, MI (None)
Type of Clearance:None 
Departure Time:1635 EDT 
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 41.776389, -83.446944


A pilot reportedly escaped serious injury when his single-engine plane crashed into Lake Erie today near the Toledo border.

Multiple fire departments were called to assist - but soon given the all clear - after a small plane went into Lake Erie this afternoon.

“The individual rescued himself,” Coast Guard Chief Nicholas Sawka of the Detroit Sector said.

The accident happened about 5 p.m. near the Ohio-Michigan state line, in the area of Woodtick Peninsula and Lost Peninsula.

Luna Pier Fire Department, LaSalle Township, Morin Point Fire Department, Monroe Community Ambulance and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit and Station Toledo were among the agencies called or put on standby after the call.

The fire departments were cancelled after announcements that the pilot got into a private boat and was making arrangements to retrieve the aircraft. It was partially submerged in shallow water, according to reports.

Sawka said the aircraft was towed later in the evening to Lost Peninsula Marina.

https://www.monroenews.com

Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer, N48X: Incident occurred June 28, 2020 in Burlington, Skagit County, Washington




Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle, Washington 

Aircraft crash landed in river under unknown circumstances. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N48X

Date: 28-JUN-20
Time: 01:07:00Z
Regis#: N48X
Aircraft Make: LAKE
Aircraft Model: LA-4-200
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 91
City: BURLINGTON
State: WASHINGTON

Piper PA-32R-301T Saratoga II TC, N315AM: Fatal accident occurred June 27, 2020 in Zavalla, Angelina County, Texas

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; Houston, Texas
Piper Aircraft; Vero Beach, Florida

https://registry.faa.gov/N315AM 

Location: Zavalla, TX
Accident Number: CEN20LA248
Date & Time: 06/27/2020, 0153 CDT
Registration: N315AM
Aircraft: Piper PA32R
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On June 27, 2020, about 0153 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R airplane, N315AM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at a private airstrip near Zavalla, Texas. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to air traffic control information, the airplane departed David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH), Spring Texas, at 0023 and arrived overhead the airstrip at 0059. During the next 54 minutes, the airplane maneuvered near the airstrip between 350 and 1,300 ft above ground level (agl), with a groundspeed ranging from 65 to 143 knots. The airplane was last recorded at 350 ft agl and 94 knots ground speed.

The airplane impacted trees 670 ft north of the southwest oriented runway threshold and came to rest 375 ft southeast of the initial impact. A post-crash fire ensued. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N315AM
Model/Series:PA32R 301T 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KJAS, 213 ft msl
Observation Time: 0155 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 24 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 26°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , 150°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 600 ft agl
Visibility:  7 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.1 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Houston, TX (DWH)
Destination: Zavalla, TX (PRIV) 

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: Unknown
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 31.187500, -94.340833 (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.

James Duke VanLue, 40, of Tomball died June 27th, 2020, in Zavalla. Mr. VanLue was born June 20, 1980, in Tomball. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home. 

  
One person is dead following an airplane crash that is believed to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, east of Zavalla, not far from Lake Sam Rayburn.

Sergeant David Hendry of the Texas Department of Public Safety at Lufkin said the crash occurred at around 2:00 as the aircraft was attempting to land on a private airfield just east of State Highway 147.

According to Hendry, the Piper PA-32R-301T Saratoga II TC, which was piloted by James Duke VanLue, 40, of Tomball, apparently struck trees on the north side of the airfield. However, what caused the crash is not known and the incident is under investigation by officials of the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Reliable sources in the aviation community say VanLue left David Wayne Hooks Airport in Tomball at or around midnight on Friday in a Piper PA-32R-301T Saratoga II TC with plans of heading to the private field near Lake Rayburn. However, he never arrived and it was not until after noon on Saturday before the wreckage was found.

Hendry said VanLue was pronounced dead at the scene by an Angelina County Justice of the Peace.

https://www.kjas.com