Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Cessna 182S Skylane, N518CR: Incident occurred December 15, 2020 at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (KDVT), Maricopa County, Arizona

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Aircraft incurred a propeller strike after veering off taxiway. 


Date: 15-DEC-20
Time: 00:09:00Z
Regis#: N518CR
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 182
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 91
City: PHOENIX
State: ARIZONA

Rockwell Turbo Commander 690, N231AV: Incident occurred December 15, 2020 at McCall Municipal Airport (KMYL), Valley County, Idaho

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise, Idaho

Aircraft on departure roll veered off runway and the nose gear collapsed.

Teton Leasing LLC


Date: 15-DEC-20
Time: 23:20:00Z
Regis#: N231AV
Aircraft Make: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL
Aircraft Model: 690B
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: MCCALL
State: IDAHO

Rans S-12XL, N449JP: Fatal accident occurred December 15, 2020 near Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport (KPIL), Cameron 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 Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas 


Location: Port Isabel, TX
Accident Number: CEN21LA088
Date & Time: December 15, 2020, 23:00 Local 
Registration: N449JP
Aircraft: RANS S12XL
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On December 15, 2020, about 2300 central standard time, a Rans S-12XL, N449JP, was located and involved in an accident near Port Isabel, Texas. The uncertificated pilot, who was the airplane owner, and a flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight.

An alert notice was issued due to the airplane being overdue. The airplane was located after about ½ mile south runway 35 at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, Port Isabel, Texas. The airplane was resting in a nose-down attitude, and all airplane components were at the accident site. The wing and empennage control surfaces were intact. There was no evidence of fire.

There were no witnesses that reported seeing the accident.

The airplane wreckage has not been recovered and is awaiting recovery at the time that this preliminary report was written.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: RANS 
Registration: N449JP
Model/Series: S12XL 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PIL 
Observation Time: 15:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0.5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C /16°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / , 40°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3400 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.8 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Port Isabel, TX (PIL)
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 26.159381,-97.350071 (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.

Grover Cleveland Abel, Jr.

Grover Cleveland Abel, Jr. passed away on December 16, 2020.

He was born in 1943 in Houston, Texas to Grover and Julia Abel. He attended Poe Elementary, Lanier Middle School and Lamar High School all in Houston, Texas. Grover graduated from the University of Texas in 1965. He owned and sold for G. C. Insurance Agency until sale in 1983. Grover also owned Las Llanes Ranch until 2010. He was an avid explorer and outdoorsman until his death.

He is survived by his wife Linda Wright Abel, his eldest Son: Christopher Bryan Abel (Kristen Jones Abel), and youngest Son: Jeffrey Steven Abel (Beth Kelly Abel). Grandchildren: Travis Abel, Patrick Abel (Sons of Chris), Maxwell Abel, and Carter Abel (Sons of Jeffrey).

He was preceded in death by his father: Grover Cleveland Abel, Sr., Step-Father: Meyer Lurie, and Mother: Julia Chavez Abel Lurie.

In lieu of flowers, the Abel family asks that donations may be made to the following: NAACP, Wounded Warriors, or the ACLU.

No services will be held at this time.

You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Grover Cleveland Abel, Jr. at: www.thomaegarza.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas.

Kai Uwe Wulff


Kai-Uwe Wulff, PhD
1969-2020

Successful serial entrepreneur, mentor to multitudes, and citizen of the world, PhD Kai-Uwe Wulff, died in a tragic airplane accident in Bayview, Texas on December 15, 2020, along with Grover Abel, of Bayview, Texas. Kai will best be remembered for his ability to challenge and change the status quo, his indomitable spirit and drive, and his desire to effect change for the betterment of humanity.

Kai Wulff was a serial entrepreneur, with a world vision to use business principles for the good of global citizens. Kai worked hard and played hard, giving his time and energy to all hosts of activities across the globe, from his service in the German Luftwaffe special forces and a successful computer company in Germany, the turn-around of The African Safari Club in Kenya, to the market altering creation of Kenya Data Networks, and further successful fiber network companies in Uganda and Ghana for Google, and the business plan for Google’s Loon project. Although a tireless globe trotter, since 2015, from his home in Harlingen, Texas, Kai invested in a variety of ventures, including the establishment of Wulff-Aviation, flight school, being a life-long passion. His innovative spirit, his indomitable drive and his exacting intellect are hallmarks of this irreplaceable man of action and kindness in our midst.

Although he never complained, Kai, for all his accomplishments, struggled with Crohn's a lifelong genetic disease, he felt a looming expiration date on his life, and instead of squandering his days in self-pity, he pushed himself and those around him to great accomplishments, with his tireless will, and voracious intellectual appetite. Kai leaves behind a towering legacy of achievements, while at the same time a gaping hole in our lives.

Kai is survived by his son Nils Wulff, (Brownsville, TX), former wife Michaela Wulff, his mother Ursula Wulff in Kaiserslautern, Germany (Kai's Birthplace); sisters Heike Wulff-Meyer, Anke Wulff and children, and his life partner Shea Williamson and furry babies Jed and Molly Williamson.

BAYVIEW — Two men were killed after the Rans S-12XL plane which they were flying crashed as it approached landing at a remote air strip late Tuesday night, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper said Wednesday.

Grover Abel, 78, of Houston and Kai Uwe Wulff, 51, of Brownsville were killed after Abel’s N449JP aircraft crashed as it tried to land at the Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport at about 11:58 p.m. Tuesday, Lt. Christopher Olivarez and family members said.

“The cause of the crash is an unknown at this time,” Olivarez stated in a press release.

Troopers, state game wardens and sheriff’s deputies found the bodies of Abel and Wulff, his flying instructor, in a field near the airport outside of Bayview, Olivarez and family members said.

“It was a Rans S-12XL plane that crashed on landing,” Jeffrey Abel, Abel’s son from Houston, said after arriving in Harlingen. “He was an avid outdoorsman. It’s just shocking.”

Bill Wright, Grover Abel’s brother-in-law in Abilene, said Abel was taking his first flight in the Rans S-12XL.

“They had taken off from an airport on his first flight and he was coming in for a landing,” Wright said. “Evidently, it crashed on approach to the landing.”

The Federal Aviation Administration was investigation the crash, Olivarez said.



It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Kai Uwe Wulff. Kai, 51, the first CEO of the revolutionary Kenya Data Networks aka (KDN), was one of the pioneers who helped set up high-speed data networks. KDN, a member of the Sameer Investment Group of Companies, is a full service, data communications carrier licensed by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) in January 2003 as a Public Data Network Operator. 

CIO East Africa spoke with one of KDNs founders over the great loss of Kai. “We met at work. Kai was like my elder brother,” said David Owino. “We rolled out the wireless network, built a lot of fibre and changed a lot of things. When we came in, landlords were not aware of KDN. They thought that it was only Telkom Kenya who laid down cables. We rolled out to connect buildings and customers with fibre optic cable. We were the first to do Mombasa to Ntororo.” Funded by Naushad Merali, Owino says that “It was a very new concept. Investors were very sceptical, and the business model wasn’t very clear to many people.”

It was here that Kai shone brightly. His hard-nosed courage, celebrates Owino, was exactly what was required in the industry along with the courage to try new things. “He was making promises to shareholders and I kept the promises. He would ask me first and we troubleshoot. In fact, some of the things Kai and I were trying then I now see Facebook implementing.”

On his LinkedIn page, Kai described himself thus. “Detail-oriented without losing sight of the big picture, analytical and methodical with insightful critical thinking to strategize solutions in addressing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness or resolve process and people-centric work issues even under stress.” He was a man of many first.

 First to introduce full “build to order” PCs in 1985
– First PC manufacturer with a three-year unconditional warranty
– Implemented lean production innovations in car manufacturing
– Oversaw implementation of Novell/IBM Mainframe seamless connectivity in LAN and WAN environment
 Developed new yield management in charter airlines
– First airline with full “build your own meal” in every class

Kai proved to be so brilliant at his job that he presented a plan to the investment group that with an increase of the total investment profile to $4 million, the company could be revived with a new market strategy. He did this by re-building KDN from start-up phase to its renowned status as the leading carrier of carriers in East Africa within four years. He established KDN as a leader in commercial leased lines, frame relay and metro ethernet-based services in Kenya. Kai planned and secured vendor financing, overseeing the laying of over 5,000 miles of fibre cables in Nairobi and other major cities/towns. We have him to thank for the first fibre backbone in East Africa and the first Metro Cloud in Africa.

That is only part of it. When Liquid Telkom came a-knocking, KDN sold 51 per cent of its equity to them for $85 Million along with an earn-out to ALTECH, successfully returning $80 million to shareholders, in less than four years while retaining 49 percent of the business. “Kai would ask me what I thought, and I would say, ‘we can take a shot at this’ and I would get money and he would do it. By the time KDN was being sold, we were only second in profitability only to Safaricom. Of course, they were at a whole other level. If they were 90 per cent, we were at 55 percent and then there was everyone else. Celtel was making losses. Access Kenya made Kshs 200 million in a year and that was what we were making in a month.” The valuation of the company increased to over $240 million in 2009 when valued independently for Earn-Out calculations. Thanks to KDN’s singular CEO, the total return to initial shareholders was $236 million in less than five years.

KDN, an investment by Sameer Investment, was started with the intention of selling it as an exit strategy. But Owino says “We were investing in it assuming it wasn’t going to get sold. But then we got a really good offer and we thought, considering the fact that we started out with Kshs 4 million, Kshs 7 billion was not bad at all.”

Kai, he says, “reached some serious heights. He really changed the landscape in terms of infrastructure. The current Liquid Telekom network was built with money from our customers. In fact, in his LinkedIn, he talked about how we went to Europe and China to beg for money to modernise the infrastructure.”

Owino says Kai, a German Airforce man (1989-1994), a visionary with over 30 years’ experience in the industry, was exceptional because of his speed of execution, adoption of new ideas and ability to dare to dream outside the box. His most definitive quality being his conviction and the courage to try new things. After KDN, the pair consulted for Google. DO you want to know how we ended up with Google in Africa? Kai talked them into it. He convinced Google to roll out fibre in Africa. He became the Access Field Development Director (2012-2015) after their consultancy ended.

“Kai was an obstinate German. He could really be a pain and when I mentioned it he would say it was his job to be a pain. He was straight shooting.” Their friendship, despite, or perhaps in spite of themselves, worked. They were able to materialize great feats and they believed in each other. “The loss of Kai is great not just to the people who knew him, but to the industry as well. When he died, he was consulting on AI stuff (he was a strategic advisor with Volt AI) in the US.”

It was not strange for Kai to fly. He enjoyed it and flew on weekends. “The first time he flew me I got into the plane and asked him if it was a Volkswagen Beetle. It was that small and the door…. He had to reassure me that it wouldn’t pop open mid-flight. And he would flip it and let it drop and I would feel like my brain was going to come off.”

At the time of his death, Kai was teaching Grover Abel from Houston how to fly a craft glider. “I spoke to his wife yesterday. Kai has to be the only person I know who would teach a 78-year-old man how to craft glide! It is so him.” The pair was declared dead at the scene where Abel’s N449JP aircraft crash-landed at the Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport at about 11.58 pm. It is reported that DPS Troopers, Texas Game Wardens and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office located the aircraft in a field within the airport property.

Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Challenger, N55168: Fatal accident occurred December 16, 2020 in Bossier City, Louisiana

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; Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

Location: Bossier City, LA
Accident Number: CEN21LA089
Date & Time: December 16, 2020, 04:39 Local 
Registration: N55168
Aircraft: Piper PA28 Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On December 16, 2020, at 0439 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N55168, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bossier City, Louisiana. 

The student pilot and passenger were fatally injured. 

The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The flight originated from Shreveport Downtown Airport (DTN), Shreveport, Louisiana, during night, instrument meteorological conditions.

Security video and records show the airport pilot controlled lighting (PCL) was activated at 0412 and an airplane departed Rwy 14 at 0417. 

Radar data began tracking the airplane at 0418 with a transponder code of 1200. 

The airplane flew an irregular flight path to the east and maneuvered over Barksdale Air Force Base (BAD) for about 20 minutes.

Shreveport (SHV) air traffic control contacted the BAD tower controller and informed him there was traffic squawking 1200 and flying between 500’ and 1000’ near the base. 

The BAD tower controller said that he turned up the runway lights at BAD to full brightness and attempted to contact the airplane on the radio but did not receive a reply.

Radar data indicated the airplane’s altitude varied between about 600 and 1800 ft mean sea level during the flight and showed the airplane in a left descending turn before the radar data ended at 0439.

The airplane impacted remote, wooded terrain on BAD property, resulting in separation of the left wing, partial separation of the right wing, and crushing and deformation of the fuselage forward of the empennage.

According to the student pilot’s most recent flight instructor (CFI), he issued the pilot a local traffic pattern solo endorsement on November 21, 2020, with limitations that he was not to fly without first calling the CFI to review weather and NOTAMs.

The CFI said he had explained to the pilot that his solo endorsement did not afford him the right to carry passengers.

The pilot did not contact the CFI prior to the accident flight.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 
Registration: N55168
Model/Series: PA28 180 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held:None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: IMC 
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBAD,166 ft msl
Observation Time: 05:36 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 4°C /2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / , 340°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 600 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.03 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Shreveport, LA (DTN)
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: Unknown
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal 
Latitude, Longitude: 32.506187,-93.639911 (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.  

Jet Andrew Montgomery
January 15, 2002 - December 16, 2020


Burial Date December 20, 2020
Funeral Home Rose-Neath Shreveport Marshall St.
Cemetery Rose-Neath Cemetery
Church First Baptist Church-Bossier

A Celebration of Life for Jet Andrew Montgomery will be held on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 2810 E Texas St, Bossier City, LA. A private burial will immediately follow at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Dr. Brad Jurkovich.

Jet was born on January 15, 2002 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Jason and Christy Montgomery and passed away Wednesday, December 16, 2020 in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Jet lived life full blast and his light always shined bright. Jet was a freshman at Louisiana Tech University and a graduate of Airline High School. He had a magnetic personality, infectious smile and an incredibly positive attitude. He loved people and never missed an opportunity to say “I love you” to those he cared about. In his 18 years, he experienced and accomplished more than most of us do in a lifetime. He was passionate about flying, enjoyed cooking, dreamed of traveling and loved a beautiful sunset.

Jet is preceded in death by his grandparents, Leroy and Millicent Montgomery and great-grandparents, John and Gladys McCollister. He is survived by his parents; grandparents, William and Janet McCollister; great-grandmother, Mary Martin; aunts, Karen Hoell and husband, Jason and Kim Hand and husband, Brad; uncles, Bill McCollister and wife, Mindy and Darren Montgomery and wife, Tammi; cousins, Annabelle Wood and Jacob Hoell and other extended family.

Honoring Jet as pallbearers will be William Brual, Brandon Latcha, Trey Maxwell, Kyle McConathy, Craig Ross, Jr. and Brandon Wendrock.


Jonathan Cole Harris
May 4, 2001 - December 16, 2020


Burial Date December 21, 2020
Funeral Home Rose-Neath Bossier City
Church St. Jude Catholic Church

A Mass of Christian Burial honoring the life of Jonathan Cole Harris will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 21, 2020 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 4700 Palmetto Road, Benton, Louisiana. Officiating will be Fr. Karl Daigle, and concelebrant Fr. John Bosco Uwamungu. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday, December 20, 2020 at Rose-Neath Bossier Chapel, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana. Interment will immediately follow the service at Plain Dealing Cemetery in Plain Dealing, Louisiana.

Jonathan Cole Harris, “Jon Cole”, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at the age of 19 in Bossier City, LA.

Jon Cole was born May 4, 2001 in Bossier City, LA. He attended Apollo Elementary School, Greenacres Middle School, and Airline High School. After graduating from Airline in 2019, Jon Cole attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA for one year where he was an active member of Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity and transferred to Northwestern Louisiana Technical Community College to pursue a career in welding. When Jon Cole was not attending school, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was a lifelong baseball fan who played from T-ball through high school and hockey fan who played several years for the Junior Mudbugs. He even participated as the mascot, Lil’ Bugger for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, being outside, watching baseball games, and spending time with his girlfriend, Hannah Gaspard and best friend, Cole Denler. He was a country boy at heart who enjoyed all outdoor activities and loved his pearl snaps and boots. Jon Cole will be remembered as someone that was always willing to lend a hand to a stranger. He had a kind soul, an infectious smile and a personality that lit up every room he walked in. He had a child-like faith in God, and we can confidently say he is walking the streets of heaven with our Lord.

He is preceded in death by his grandmother, Carol Sue Craig Harris Heifner, and his grandfather, Jerry Wayne Weems. He is survived by his parents, Robert Scott Harris and Dawn Weems Harris; sister, Sydney Nicole Harris; grandfather, Jim Heifner and wife, Bettye Heifner, grandfather, Bob Harris and wife, Leila; grandmother, Lessie Weems; aunts and uncles, Britt McMillian, Ashley Heifner McMillian, Rob Heifner, Lisa Perron Heifner, Rusty McGaugh, Tracy Harris McGaugh, Melanie Harris, Mario Vega, Angela Harris Vega, Terrance Douzart, Melisa Harris Douzart; cousins, Maggie McMillian, Molly McMillian, Dylan Heifner, Ethan Heifner, Cassey Dumas Simons, Shelby Harris Lee, Dominic Vega, Levi Vega, Terran Douzart, and Desmond Douzart; extended family; and his beloved labrador, Beaux.

Honoring Jon Cole as pallbearers will be Justice Blythe, Dawson Cranford, Cole Denler, Trevor Durbin, Ryan Francis, Christopher Lutterman, Michael Mosura, Travis Poston Jr., Craig Ross Jr., and Matthew Salinas.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Keegan Arthur, Hunter Lorenzen, and include all the brothers of the Gamma Psi chapter of Kappa Alpha Order.

The family suggests memorials in Jon Cole’s honor may be made to the Jon Cole Harris Memorial Scholarship, 139 Whatley Dr., Natchitoches, LA 71457; St. Jude Catholic Church, 4700 Palmetto Rd, Benton Road, LA 71006 or Dream Hunt Foundation, 315 Deer Crossing, Stonewall, LA 71078.


Airmen from the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire department answer phones and coordinate search and rescue efforts after a civilian light aircraft crash at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, December 16, 2020. Airmen from the 2nd SFS, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, 2nd Medical Group, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and local authorities worked in conjunction to locate and effectively respond to a civilian light aircraft crash on the east side of Barksdale.


Tech. Sgt. Joseph McCoy, Tech. Sgt. Eric Hill, 2nd Security Forces Squadron flight chiefs, and Master Sgt. Tamieka Morgan, 2nd SFS defense force operator, search for a route to a crash site at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, December 16, 2020. Airmen from the 2nd SFS, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, 2nd Medical Group, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and local authorities worked in conjunction to locate and effectively respond to a civilian light aircraft crash on the east side of Barksdale. 


Staff Sgt. Robert Bieber, 2nd Security Forces base dispatch operator, and Staff Sgt. Brianne Davis-Robertson, 2nd SFS evaluator, pinpoint coordinates of a crash site at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, December 16, 2020. Airmen from the 2nd SFS, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, 2nd Medical Group, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and local authorities worked in conjunction to locate and effectively respond to a civilian light aircraft crash on the east side of Barksdale. 


Staff Sgt. Brianne Davis-Robertson, 2nd Security Forces Squadron evaluator, answers phones and coordinates search and rescue efforts after a civilian light aircraft at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, December 16, 2020. Airmen from the 2nd SFS, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, 2nd Medical Group, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and local authorities worked in conjunction to locate and effectively respond to a civilian light aircraft crash on the east side of Barksdale.
 

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, Louisiana  --  Airmen from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, 2nd Medical Group, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and local authorities worked in conjunction to locate and effectively respond to a civilian light aircraft crash on the east side of Barksdale, December 16, 2020.

At approximately 4:45 a.m., December 16, 2020, local air traffic controllers lost radar contact with the aircraft over the east side reservation of Barksdale. The installation was notified by the Federal Aviation Administration at 5 a.m., and first responders were dispatched for a search with intent to rescue operation.

Personnel from the base, with assistance from Bossier Sheriff’s Office authorities, located the aircraft and two deceased passengers at approximately 8:25 a.m. The scene was secured and the incident is under further investigation.

“We intend to support these families as best we can, support the investigation as best possible, and then try to move on here in this holiday season knowing that the community is going to be hurting a little bit from the loss of individuals from the local area,” said Col. Mark Dmytryszyn, 2nd Bomb Wing commander.

After rescue attempts were made and the scene was deemed safe, a host of emergency response units from both Barksdale and the local area moved in to aid in the investigation.

The investigation, now coordinated between the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, is ongoing and has the full support of the 2nd Bomb Wing and base agencies.


Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office
December 17, 2020

OFFICIAL Release of Names of Deceased in Plane Crash on BAFB

Bossier Sheriff's Office has been in close contact with officials at Barksdale Air Force Base and the Bossier Parish Coroner’s Office and is now able to release the names of the two persons who died during the aircraft crash on the east reservation of Barksdale Air Force Base early Wednesday morning.  Bossier Parish Coroner's Office confirms the deceased are Jet Andrew Montgomery, 18, of Bossier City, and Jonathan Cole Harris, 19, of Bossier City.  Next of kin have been notified. Any queries about the crash should be directed to the 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs office of BAFB at (318) 456-1015 or 2BW.PA@us.af.mil.  The Federal Aviation Administration and/or National Transportation Safety Board will take over the investigation.

John Cole Harris

Bossier City, Louisiana-- KTBS is learning more about the pilot involved in the plane crash at Barksdale Air Force Base. According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) online database, the pilot, 18-year-old Jet Montgomery, was prohibited from carrying passengers while operating a plane.

Montgomery was certified June 10th, 2020. The passenger, was 19-year old John Cole Harris.

The Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Challenger aircraft crashed early Wednesday morning just before 5 a.m. Air traffic controllers lost radar contact with the aircraft, that’s when the FAA was notified. They were pronounce dead at the scene.

KTBS contacted the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). They say they are investigating the accident. However, they have not sent an investigator to the scene at this time. According to Keith Holloway, Public Affairs Officer for the NTSB, he says, “What we’re going to do is work with the FAA, who is going to document the scene and examine the aircraft who will then provide that information for an NTSB investigation.”  Holloway says a preliminary report will most likely be available in about 12 days, with possible delays due to the holidays.

KTBS spoke with the plane’s registered owner according to the FAA registry, Jeffrey Smith. Smith said he had been in talks with Montgomery’s family, particularly his father, within recent months to sell the plane. He says he just sold the plane to Montgomery’s father within the past two months. Smith says a temporary registration should have been in place, but the FAA has not finalized the new owner’s information in their database.

The community mourned the loss of the Airline High School graduates. Shreveport’s Buttercups Cupcakes held a fundraiser to raise money for the teen’s funeral expenses. All of the profits from Thursday will be go towards funeral costs. The owner of the bakery is Jet Montgomery’s aunt.

How the Rawlins Municipal Airport (KRWL) figured in the wildfire


2020 was challenging for Wyoming communities. The year began with ambiguous announcements about employment and economy. The winter quickly segued into pandemic concerns and panics

Then forest fires started in California, Oregon and Washington, followed by those in Idaho, Utah, Montana, Colorado and, ultimately, Wyoming..

As the wildfire gained ground, the Rawlins Municipal Airport/Harvey Field was a continuous stream of fire-fighting helicopter traffic flying in with water bags dangling below. It was headed by Laurel Wright, the U.S. Forest Service Aviation Operations Manager for the U.S. Department of the Interior water drop operation.

Wright, who was born in Casper and now lives and is based in Idaho, is a trained firefighter and helicopter crew member. She said she loves in a technical sense what she does her associated work environment. She described her frequent travel to assorted fire and environmental assignments which offer a birds’ eye panorama of the beauty of natural environments. She called that a little compensation for being absent from home for much of the time.

“The adventure substituting for a conventional 9 to 5 desk duty is good, too,” she said. She added that absence from the comfort of home and the inherent danger of the job develops personal focus, leadership abilities and personal relationship skills.

Wright introduced Wilson Wetzel, a UH1-1 water-dropping helicopter assigned to work the Seminoe Mountains Bradley fire. Wilson flies for Withrotor Aviation, out of Lakeview, Oregon.

Like Wright, Wilson flies frequently over the plains, forests and mountains throughout the western half of the U.S. Accompanying Wilson was Kyle Witham, Withrotor senior pilot, who also worked the Bradley fire. Withrotor Aviation operates the ubiquitous “Huey” — Bell UH-1H, a Sikorsky S-61A and Sikorsky UH-60A. These two “birds” are a Black Hawk prototype and the military version in civilian feathers.

Why so many stops in Rawlins?

The answer was given in one word: fuel.

During fire suppression, water is picked up near the fire. Fuel is not a natural feature in the boondocks. Helicopter and support personnel and equipment must follow the fire, as much as is practical. With a need to frequently refuel, the helicopter support crew has two options. Bring a fuel truck to the helicopter or bring the helicopter to the fuel truck.

Rawlins has limited off-runway/taxiway paved parking. This fact often forced the fuel trucks to approach through the grass as helicopters landed off the pavement.

For water transport, the smaller helicopters used a long tether with a bag. The pilot lowered the bag into a body of water.

(The lip of the bag is weighted to tip and sink the bag. The higher capacity helicopters dip a hose attached to a pump that fills a large bag or an internal tank. The pump allowed the pilot to take water from a shallow source.)

These water drop helicopters are operated single-handed by the pilot. The pilot flies, navigates, tends the water catchment and drop. The reason is for safety. Piloting a firefighting water-drop aircraft is not an easy or safe occupation.

On the fire-fighting scene, another hazard that pilots must avoid is the ever-present sightseer. Fires attract public interest, just as street accidents attract curious passers-by. Sightseers can get themselves in harm’s way or pose a workplace safety hazard that creates an attention distraction that pilots and other operators must avoid.

The ongoing improvements and expansion at the Rawlins Municipal-Harvey Field airport proved very valuable for firefighting staging and support.

The current $8,000,000 or so airport improvements made (and make) the Rawlins airport more than a simple convenience for the visiting air and support crews.

“Airport facilities like those found here in Rawlins are key to supporting aerial firefighting operations,” said Wilson. “These facilities provide a safe and clean environment to base both rotor wing and fixed wing aircraft.”

She went on to say that the airport facilities provided a hard, level, flat surface that made day-to-day operations much easier than had they been forced to operate from a field or other area that was not as developed as the airport.

Wilson also stated that airport security including the fences, gates, and passcodes systems were a huge benefit, as it mitigated the risk of theft or tampering of the aircraft while there was no one at the helibase.

“The infrastructure including water and sewage allowed our crews to keep the aircraft and support equipment cleaned to our standard,s as well as provide a sanitary means of accommodating biological needs,” she said. “As a helicopter aerial firefighting operator, we really appreciate being able to operate from an airport environment.”

Another advantage of utilizing an airport like Rawlins Municipal it provides an area for takeoff and landing that is free of flight hazards such as power lines, towers, etc. since airports have already mitigated those flight hazards prior to us even arriving. At some helibases based away from airports, there may be significant flight hazards that could sneak up on a pilot after a long day out working on a fire.

A larger ramp space or more taxiways to accommodate these helicopters currently forced to overflow into the brush would be a great benefit to the helicopter firefighting operations conducted out of this airport.

Community Updated on Possibility of Second Seaplane Company Coming to Eastie’s Shores, Massachusetts

Cape Air Senior Vice President Andrew Bonney repeatedly told the community at numerous public meetings that the takeoff and landing area in the waters off Eastie would be restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration to only Cape Air operations.

The takeoff and landing base approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and United States Coast Guard just off the Hyatt Boston Harbor Hotel, explained Bonney, would be restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration to only Cape Air operations.

“This is a private, restricted sea base,” said Bonney earlier this year. “So you wouldn’t have to worry about other carriers using the area.”

Well, it seems that statement was not entirely true as a second air carrier is looking to join Cape Air in running seaplanes from Boston Harbor to New York City. 

When Cape Air was seeking neighborhood support for their plan, residents in Jeffries Point feared that allowing Cape Air to land seaplanes off Eastie would open a floodgate for other seaplane carriers to start using the landing area. Once assured by Bonney that Cape Air would be the only carrier using the landing zone, residents started to warm up to the idea. 

However, Tailwind Air CEO Alan Ram said while he couldn’t speak for Bonney or Cape Air President Dan Wolf, having one seaplane company monopolize a landing area in the Harbor would never be considered by the Federal Aviation Administration. 

“What I can say is that each seaplane operator has to individually apply to the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to use the waterway,” said Ram at a Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association meeting Monday night. “It would obviously be anti-competitive for the Federal Aviation Administration to award a monopoly to the first company that comes through the door. So each application is looked at individually and I think that’s what they (Cape Air) meant in that their application was exclusive to them as ours is for us. So just because we’re approved, doesn’t mean anyone else is automatically approved. And the same thing went for Cape Air.”

A look into Federal Aviation Administration approvals for the water landing area shows Tailwind, as well as Cape Air, were both granted the right to use the harbor for seaplane operations.

At Monday night’s meeting, Ram said Tailwind has proposed a plan for seaplane service from Boston Harbor to New York City, similar to Cape Air’s service. 

“What we’re proposing is roughly a four time daily and weekday departure and arrival from Boston Harbor to the Manhattan seaplane base at East 23rd Street in the East River,” said Ram. “This is an existing facility that’s been in use for a long time. In low visibility conditions, the airplanes will not operate which means not only bad weather, but we do not operate before dawn and we do not operate after dusk.”
 
Tailwinds has two bases, one in Westchester New York and another in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “We have been operating seaplanes in and out of New York City for about seven years,” said Ram. “We have a very stable and experienced management team and company’s core management team has been together nearly that entire time. We have a great team of pilots, dispatchers and maintainers and are up to nearly 30 employees.”

Like Cape Air, Ram said Tailwind will be using the Cessna Caravan for seaplane operation to and from New York and the cost of a one-way trip between the two cities will be between $295 and $495

Why a helicopter is circling south Minneapolis for 3 days

More than 40 arrested in police operation that required helicopter over Minneapolis


Police have finally revealed the reason why a State Patrol helicopter was circling over south Minneapolis last week.

Minneapolis PD said that the chopper was used as part of an operation alongside the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Violent Offender Task Force to crack down on the recent carjacking crime wave.

It resulted in 41 felony level arrests, the recovery of seven stolen vehicles, and five guns.

It comes following a 320% increase in reported carjackings compared to 2019, with 391 reported in Minneapolis so far in 2020.

The operation happened in the area where 355 of those carjackings took place, with suspects typically approaching drivers, starting a conversation, and then stealing purses, cellphones, wallets and vehicles, sometimes at gunpoint.

MPD also said that with the aid of the helicopter, police were also able to make 9 gross misdemeanor arrests and confiscated a pipe bomb.

The use of the chopper occasioned much comment from those living in south Minneapolis, with police initially tight-lipped about the reasons it was being used over the course of the three-day operation.

Pay raise OK'd for airport's director: Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field (KLIT), Little Rock, Arkansas

The top executive at the state's largest airport was given a 3% raise Tuesday, boosting his annual salary to $236,900.

Bryan Malinowski, the executive director since June 2019 at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field, also received a $15,000 bonus and contributions equal to 5% of his salary to his two retirement accounts.

The additional compensation came after the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission met privately for less than 45 minutes to conduct Malinowski's first annual performance review at its final monthly meeting of the year. The vote was unanimous from the seven-member body.

He was scheduled to receive his first performance evaluation in June, but the commission decided to delay it because of the coronavirus pandemic, which sent airline travel plummeting worldwide.

Passenger traffic at Clinton National remains down sharply from its pre-pandemic levels, as is airport income. Clinton National, although under city control, received no general revenue from city government.

Absent the pandemic, the raise or bonus might have been larger, said Gus Vratsinas, the commission chairman.

"We reviewed Bryan's performance and, to a person, we were very pleased with the leadership and the direction the airport's taking," Vratsinas said after the meeting. "We're trying to be prudent. He deserves something because under these trying times, we're persevering at the airport.

"We did give him what I consider a modest increase in his salary, which is parallel to what we gave all the other employees; a bonus; and contributed to his retirement accounts."

The raise was in line with what the executive director at Northwest Arkansas National Airport, the state's second largest airport, will receive starting Jan. 1. Aaron Burkes also is scheduled to receive a 3% pay increase, taking his annual salary from $225,000 annually to $231,750.

Neither Malinowski nor Burkes draw as much as Malinowski's predecessor.

Ron Mathieu's salary received a 3% boost in March 2019 to $235,994.65. He also received a $45,000 bonus. Two months later, he took the top job at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Alabama for a $300,000 annual salary.

Vratsinas said no set formula is used to determine the bonus, which is common at other airports and often based on a matrix using passenger and income levels.

The top executive at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, for example, drew a base salary of $511,568 in 2019 and was awarded a $183,295 bonus, based on a complicated formula that includes airport revenue, passenger traffic and other goals, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

"It's sort of market driven and based on how the airport is doing," Vratsinas said. "With this covid, it's probably going to be a chore for the next year, year and a half."

While Malinowski got a raise and bonus, to say 2020 has been difficult is an understatement.

Last month, the commission adopted a 2021 operating budget totaling $24.4 million, which is $12.4 million smaller than the $36.8 million budget the commission adopted for 2020. Clinton National forecasts it will finish this year with a $23.9 million operating budget.

The revenue has fallen almost in concert with the drop in passengers. Through the first 11 months of 2020, the airport saw 892,098 passengers, a 56.6% fall from the 2.2 million the airport saw in the same period last year.

Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N739LS: Hard Landing


















HOURS estimated from logbooks or other information - not guaranteed or warranted.


Several of the logbooks are Xerox copies.             

AIRCRAFT: 1978 CESSNA 172N N739LS, s/n: 17270633, Tach 4830.5 

ENGINE: Lycoming O-320-H2AD, TSN 6689.5, TSOH 2690.5               

PROPELLER:  McCauley 1C160/DTM, TT 2690.5                       

EQUIPMENT:   

Garmin GNS430
Garmin GTX327
Garmin GNS430
Garmin GMA340
King KX165

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:  On 07/13/20, the aircraft experienced a hard landing resulting in the damages being sustained to the aircraft.

LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT: Beegles Aircraft Service, Greeley, Colorado

REMARKS:  Several of the logbooks are Xerox copies.                            

Insurer reserves the right to reject any and all bids. 

Salvage is as is/where is. 

The posting information is the best to our knowledge. 

An inspection of the salvage is highly recommended. 

LOGS ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO BE ACCURATE OR COMPLETE.

WARRANTY:  There is no warranty, express or implied for the information provided herein or the condition, useability, workability, operability or marketability of the aircraft salvage.  All times are approximate and the logbooks and aircraft should be inspected by each bidder BEFORE BIDDING. Failure of the bidder to view the salvage or wreckage, or confirm any information provided is NOT grounds for a claim or withdrawal of bid after bid closing date.)