Friday, December 18, 2020

Aviation workers should be among the essential workers vaccinated, lobbyists say

(WASHINGTON) -- It will take up to 8,000 Boeing 747 freighters to distribute COVID-19 vaccines across the globe - and lobbyists are calling for aviation employees to be considered essential workers in vaccination campaigns.

In a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a coalition of lobbyists and unions asked for the group to “prioritize” frontline aviation workers in the next phase of vaccination.

“Aviation workers are also frontline workers who either encounter the traveling public frequently or are required to perform our work in close proximity to our colleagues and require us to be onsite,” the letter said. “While our employers have implemented multiple layers of protection for the well-being of the traveling public and employees, the very nature of these jobs exposes the aviation workforce to risk similar to other frontline workers.”

ACIP's proposed guidelines say transportation workers could be included in the next round. The coalition stressed aviation employees should be vaccinated after healthcare workers and vulnerable populations.

“We are not asking for aviation workers to be on top of the list, but we need governments to ensure that transportation workers are considered as essential when vaccine roll-out plans are developed, Alexandre de Juniac, director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association of the world’s airlines, said in a press release.

Airlines for America, an industry trade organization that represents major U.S. airlines, said because carriers are being called upon to distribute the coronavirus vaccines “it is critical that our employees are on the job and ready to assist.”

The Airports Council International (ACI), a global trade association representing airports worldwide, echoed this, saying airport workers are “frontline staff” who are in daily contact with the traveling public, and the aviation industry is key to “driving the recovery from the pandemic through the movement of essential goods, including, of course, the vaccines.”

“As the global roll-out of vaccines commences, it is clear that the most vulnerable in our society and those key healthcare workers who are doing so much to keep us all safe and healthy are prioritized for vaccination,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. “As this crucial group is vaccinated, it is then important for other key groups are prioritized to receive the vaccines so they can support a global recovery from the pandemic.”

“Air transportation will be essential to fight back against the virus and return to normal, even if it is a new normal,” the letter said.

Texarkana Regional Airport (KTXK) seeks grant for second airline


TEXARKANA, Arkansas - Texarkana Regional Airport is hoping to boost services by adding a second airline with a direct flight to Houston.

The airport board is trying to get a federal grant for $880,000 to help with startup costs. However, the community needs to come up with $97,000 in matching funds to even be a contender.

Airport administrators say they've gotten a few financial pledges from area businesses, but they only have a couple more weeks left to collect letters of support. The airport currently has one commercial flight destination to Dallas - Fort Worth.

Airport Director Paul Mehrlich said he's spoken to several airlines, and at least one is interested in offering flights to Houston.

Mehrlich didn't disclose which airline, but he said community support is the only way to make this deal happen.

"We're trying to get that all together and show that not only we at the airport want it. But the people of Texarkana and the surrounding area want this flight too," said Mehrlich.

The deadline for the grant application is mid-January.

If the airport is selected, the airport could have two flights a day to Houston by early as next November. The last time the Texarkana airport had a route to Houston was in 2008.

Decades-old promise from former student finally takes flight for 88-year-old Gary, Indiana, educator

Henry Jones, 88, of Gary, waves from the back seat of a Piper Warrior piloted by Otho Lyles III, on the left, and Tony Rose on December 9th. 2020.



Tony Rose, of Valparaiso, is a retired teacher and a licensed pilot for more than 20 years who now teaches aviation for Region Flyers.


Henry Jones looked out his tiny window of the Piper Warrior. He smiled through his light blue face mask and squinted his eyes when the aircraft took off into the bright December sky.

Once the plane reached its cruising altitude, about 4,000 feet, the 88-year-old retired teacher glanced over to the co-pilot and wandered off into vivid clear memories from their past.

In 1962, Otho Lyles III was a fourth-grade student at Banneker Elementary School in Gary. Jones was Lyles’ first male teacher in school. He would later become a second father in his life.

Lyles’ father was a prominent business owner in the Steel City who also took flying lessons. He would invite his son to join him on a few flights. Young Otho never forgot the feeling of flying into the heavens on two wings and a blessed prayer.

This first experience of air flight, at any age, is best captured in a quote that’s wrongly attributed to Leonardo da Vinci: “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return.

Jones experienced similar feelings of wonderment when he took flying demonstration lessons as a much younger man in college, thanks to the GI Bill. He hoped to continue those lessons to someday earn a pilot’s license, but he couldn’t afford the time or money while working as an educator for more than 40 years.

Still, he never forgot the feeling of taking off and seeing the world from an aerial perspective.

The years peeled away. Jones kept teaching and also kept in touch with Lyles’ family. Jones learned that his bright, attentive former student had earned his wings as a licensed pilot. This pleased Jones to no end. He always had such a great respect for the thrill of air flight. He couldn’t believe his former student possessed this hard-earned privilege.

Whenever Jones would see Lyles, he told him, “I’d like to fly with you someday.”

Lyles, a former member of the Gary Airport Authority Board, promised to make it happen. Someday.

Tony Rose was a student teacher when he first met Lyles, a senior at the same Gary school. The two men kept in touch through the years, later working together in local radio. Rose, who now lives in Valparaiso, is a product of the Gary schools and a retired teacher. He’s also a licensed pilot for more than 20 years who now teaches aviation for Region Flyers.

Lyles, who lives in Arizona, recently contacted Rose with an idea that’s been tapping him on the shoulder for decades. He asked Rose if he could help him finally fulfill his promise to Jones, whom Rose had never met.

Earlier this month, Lyles planned on driving to Gary to help his sister move. While in the area, he hoped to visit with Jones and drive him to the Porter County Airport, where Rose would be waiting with a Piper Warrior airplane. Rose was happy to co-pilot his friend’s old promise.

On a bright and clear Wednesday, the two men helped Jones into the back seat of the aircraft, a small plane designed for general aviation and flight training. It’s a low-wing plane, meaning its wings are attached toward the bottom of the fuselage rather than the top, similar to a Cessna 172, which Lyles once owned.

The two pilots settled into their seats. Jones, in the back seat, adjusted his headset so he could communicate with them. They took off without a hitch. It was a smooth 30-minute flight.

They flew over the Lake Michigan shoreline and across Northwest Indiana, near the outskirts of the city where they once learned about life and teaching and piloting. Jones proudly pointed out landmarks and highways below on the ground.

He was born in Mississippi, schooled in Memphis, but Gary has been his home for most of his life. Seeing it from the sky is so much more enthralling than from the ground. It can be like seeing your entire life from a heightened vantage point.

Jones wandered off again into his clear-as-day memories. He remembered Lyles, who’s now 68, as a young boy and a young man. He recalled their later chats at family get-togethers.

“When are we going up?” Jones would ask with a smile.

“Someday,” Lyles would reply with a chuckle.

And now here they were, flying together through the friendliest of skies at an airspeed of 110 knots.

“Finally,” Jones told me.

“The experience is something to appreciate for the rest of my life,” he said. “It makes me feel like the work I did as a teacher and mentor was not forgotten by this young man. It’s so rewarding to be remembered by former students.”

Rose said, “As a retired teacher, I found it heartwarming that a former student would drive for over two days from Phoenix to Gary to fulfill a promise to his old teacher.”

Lyles said. “I just didn’t want to let him down, even after all these years. Plus, I wanted to finally get this off my conscience.”

After the plane landed, Jones told me, “Otho never forgot his promise to me. And I guess I never forgot it, either. Just like I’ll never forget this airplane ride.”



Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, N6978W: Accident occurred December 18, 2020 near Tampa International Airport (KTPA), Hillsborough 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; Tampa, Florida 

LaGrand Aviation LLC


Location: Tampa, FL
Accident Number: ERA21LA081
Date & Time: December 18, 2020, 13:22 Local
Registration: N6978W
Aircraft: Piper PA28 
Injuries: 3 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On December 18, 2020, at 1322 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N6978W, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida. The flight instructor and two student pilots were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The instructor and two student pilots departed Tampa International Airport (TPA), Tampa, Florida around 0900. The airplane landed and was refueled at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida, about 25 nm northeast of TPA, and departed for TPA around 1307.

Review of preliminary air traffic control (ATC) communications revealed that the airplane was cleared to land on runway 1R at TPA. About two and a half minutes later, the instructor radioed, “78W, we’re declaring an emergency. We’ve got an engine failure. We’re gonna try and make it.” No additional communications were received from the flight. Video surveillance footage from a nearby business showed that that airplane yawed left immediately before striking a utility pole and wires in a business parking lot about .6 nm from the runway threshold. The airplane exploded upon impact with the power lines, spun counter-clockwise, and fell to the ground.

The airplane came to rest upright next to the parking lot. Photographs provided by first responders revealed that most of the wings and fuselage were consumed by fire. The empennage remained intact, but the forward section of the horizontal stabilator and vertical stabilizer exhibited thermal discoloration. In addition, the right horizontal stabilator was bent up about midspan. The engine remained partially attached to the firewall and the cowling was consumed by fire. The propeller remained attached to the engine and the spinner was impact crushed aft.

The wreckage and engine were recovered and will be examined.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 
Registration: N6978W
Model/Series: PA28 140 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
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: KTPA,11 ft msl
Observation Time: 12:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 14°C /-1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 5 knots / , 20°
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.3 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Zephyrhills, FL (KZPH)
Destination: Tampa, FL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Serious 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: On-ground
Total Injuries: 3 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 27.955283,-82.52836 (est)  



Danay PĂ©rez, left, listens to Jorge Lugo, center, talk about the small plane that made a fiery crash in the Westshore area on Friday next to coworker Miguel Montero, right. Three men survived the crash, and Lugo said he dragged a badly injured survive away from the burning wreckage.

 


TAMPA, Florida — A small plane lost engine power Friday and attempted to make an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport — but didn’t make it.

Instead the Piper Cherokee 140 crashed in an industrial area about a mile from the airport, west of Jefferson High School.

The single prop plane knocked down a power pole and power lines as it came down. The fiery wreckage came to rest at the corner of W Nassau Street and N Ward Street about 1:24 p.m.

Smoke filled the air over the Westshore area and Tampa police said it received a flood of 911 calls reporting the crash.

Three men were seriously injured in the crash, officials said. The plane was engulfed in flames when a Tampa police officer arrived soon after the crash. The three men onboard had already made it out of the plane and were taken to the hospital.

But no one on the ground was injured and no buildings were damaged, either.

“It’s amazing. It’s miraculous,” said Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Jason Penny. “Any other adjectives you want to use to describe what happened here.”

Jorge Lugo said he heard a loud bang and then lost power at his workplace, Sonic Transportation and Logistics at 5002 W Nassau St.

He ran outside to see a ball of fire and three injured men who had already made it out of the wreckage.

“When you see people on fire, your instincts really just kick in,” the 38-year-old said. “You don’t even think.”

Lugo said he jumped over a line of bushes and ran over to help. The men were all in shock and suffered from burns. One appeared to be badly injured, his pants on fire and unable to use his legs. Lugo said he dragged him a safe distance away from the burning plane.

Some bystanders thought they were far enough away, but Lugo didn’t, fearing the plane could explode.

The Piper Cherokee’s airport of origin and its destination were not known. Earlier that day the plane stopped at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport to refuel, a city official said, then took off again.

When the plane lost engine power, officials said the pilot radioed the Tampa International control tower and declared an emergency. Airport fire crews started preparing for a possible crash landing. But the plane ended up going down about a mile short of the airport.

Lugo said he talked to one of the survivors to make sure he didn’t pass out before medical help arrived. He said the man told him that there was a student pilot onboard and also said the engine failed while they were in the air.

Officials did not release the names of the three men aboard the plane. The men are ages 58, 24 and 23. All suffered second- to third-degree burns, officials said, and so far two have been diagnosed with broken bones.

The men were reported to be in critical but stable condition at Tampa General Hospital.

Utility crews spent the rest of Friday repairing power lines to restore power to the buildings affected by the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration could not be reached for comment.






TAMPA, Florida - A small plane radioed to Tampa International Airport about an in-flight engine failure this afternoon, then crashed just south of the runway, injuring three people.

According to police and airport officials, the Piper Cherokee was heading to Tampa from Zephyrhills when the pilot asked to make an emergency landing just after 1 p.m.  Rescue crews staged along the runway in anticipation.

"That plane never came, at least not to the grounds of the airfield," Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Jason Penny said.

Instead, a column of smoke began rising about a mile to the south. The plane had clipped a power pole and crashed at North Ward Street and West Nassau Street, just short of the airport’s secondary north-south runway. 

The view from SkyFOX moments later showed the small white plane on fire as crews worked to douse the flames.

All three men aboard the plane -- ages 58, 24, and 23 -- had climbed out of the wreckage as the first Tampa police officer arrived on scene; they were taken to the hospital in critical, but stable, condition.

Police say all suffered second- to third-degree burns, while two also suffered broken bones. The third victim was still being evaluated.

The only damage on the ground appeared to be some downed power lines at the crash site.

"It’s amazing, it’s miraculous, any other adjectives you want to use to describe what happened here because there was no damage and no injuries to anyone on the ground, minimal damage to property in the area and TECO is out here fixing that already," Penny offered.

Federal officials will take over the investigation into the cause of the crash.

 

A small plane crashed Friday afternoon near Tampa International Airport.

According to Tampa Fire Rescue, it happened around 1:23 p.m.

There were three men on board the Piper Cherokee, and officials say they were all outside the plane by the time the first Tampa Police officer arrived at the scene. All three were rushed to the hospital as trauma alerts with second to third degree burns. Two suffered broken bones.

No one on the ground was hurt.

“It’s amazing. It’s miraculous…There were no injuries to people on the ground, minimal damage to property in the area,” Tampa Fire Rescue Spokesperson Jason Penny said during a news conference.

He explained that the pilot had radioed a distress call to air traffic control, and fire rescue personnel were staged on the runway in anticipation of an emergency landing.

An airport spokesperson said the plane had taken off from Zephyrhills.

The crash happened less than a mile from the airport, not far from two schools – Jefferson High School and Roland Park Magnet. Hillsborough County Schools told Spectrum News neither school will be disrupted.

Tampa Fire rescue says the plane struck a power line, and several outages were reported. TECO shut off power to the surrounding area while crews make repairs.

Electrician Leonardo Dominguez shot video and you can hear him say he's willing to risk his life to rescue the people inside that plane.

“We need to go see if anybody needs help,” he said.

“Wow, wow, wow, they got them out already."

"Oh, they got them out?" 

Dominguez says other witnesses pulled the men from the burning plane just in time.

"Oh, they're heroes. One more second and they would've been dead because that flame was getting bigger by the second, and it was popping and electricity was falling in there. They're blessed I would say,” he said.

Witness Steven Oliver said he saw the men who were in the plane and they were badly burned and injured. 

"There were three other guys off to the side and they were just on the ground. They were unconscious and one had a lot of blood all over him and people were tending to them,” Oliver said.

Dominguez says it looked like the pilot was trying to land on Ward Street North when he clipped some power lines.

“He was trying to get it right dead center, and once he lost a little bit of control that was it,” he said. “He hit that line and that was the explosion right there. It's a blessing though that they didn't die and that it didn't hurt anybody else. It could've been a lot worse." 

Police said the men are 58, 24 and 23 years old. They are listed in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital.

The NTSB has been notified and will take over the crash investigation.

 



TAMPA, Florida — Three men were taken to the hospital as trauma alerts following a fiery small plane crash Friday afternoon in Tampa.

Tampa Police said the crash happened at N Ward Street and W Laurel Street, which is near Tampa International Airport and several hotels. 

Tampa Fire Rescue said three men were on board the small piper aircraft, which was heading toward TPA. No one on the ground was injured.

But the three passengers aboard the aircraft are said to have suffered from second to third-degree burns in the crash, according to the Tampa Police Department. Officers also say two of the men have multiple broken bones. All are reported to be alert at this time.

Tampa Fire's Jason Penny said crews were already stationed on a runway at the airport after the plane's pilot radioed the tower to say the aircraft was having an emergency, which turned out to be emergency engine failure ahead of the crash, according to officers.

Penny said it's not yet known what was happening with the plane leading up to the crash.

Tampa Fire said a Tampa police officer was stationed nearby and was the first person on the scene following the crash. The officer was able to see the three men on board exit the plane before it became fully engulfed in flames.

"It's amazing, it's miraculous," Penny said, noting that it's a good sign the three men were able to walk away from the crash.

Emily Nipps with Tampa International Airport said based on Flight Aware information, the plane was coming from Zephyrhills. She also said the plane is a Piper Cherokee 140.

As it crashed, Tampa Fire said the plane hit some power lines and pulled a power pole close to the ground. Penny said TECO is now on scene making repairs to the lines. No buildings were impacted in the crash.

The crash investigation is now being handled by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Forgery allegations against Spirit Aerosystems


WICHITA, Kansas (KAKE) - The head of the local Machinists Union says someone from Spirit Aerosystems forged his signature and he's threatening legal action.

The signature in question, allegedly from the head of the union Cornell Beard, appears at the bottom of a Wednesday announcement of the company’s end of year Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) payment.

A lot of union members were upset by the COLA announcement and, in Facebook posts, blamed Beard and the union for not negotiating better for them.

Thursday, Beard posted a response letter to Facebook saying he became aware of the announcement Wednesday afternoon and knew neither he nor anyone else at the union had signed off on it.  He believes the signature was copied and pasted.

Beard wrote, “To verify, while I kept the Local Lodge on the line, I called Spirit HR.  I spoke with Arlene, who did verify this is what happened…She also stated that when she finds out who forged my signature on this document, they will be terminated.”

On Facebook some union members pointed out that on the announcement the lower left corner of the C in Cornell appears to be cut off.

Beard says the company promised to retract the announcement and apologize, but that, at the time he wrote the letter, he had not yet seen a retraction.

“For this reason, I have decided to take legal action against the company for forging my signature to a document without my permission or knowledge,” Beard wrote.

Local criminal attorney Ian Clark deals with many forgery cases.  He says that based on the announcement and the letter as posted to Facebook, this case could qualify as defamation of character.

“That requires certain specific elements. One is that the facts as reported are false. Then that they were published. I think that's pretty obvious at this point that that occurred. And that, then, a damage to the person's reputation or financial interest occurred,” Clark said.  “Certainly, I think that his reputation may have been called into question by all the people that look up to him to lead that organization.”

Thursday afternoon Spirit sent KAKE News a written statement saying:

“Spirit AeroSystems values our relationship with the IAM, its leaders and its members. A message was sent to Spirit employees represented by the IAM that the Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) communication was solely provided by Spirit AeroSystems.”



Mooney M20K, N231NK: Incident occurred December 17, 2020 near Barwick Lafayette Airport (9A5), Walker County, Georgia

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

Crashed in a field three (3) miles northeast of Barwick Lafayette Airport due to engine failure.


Date: 17-DEC-20
Time: 21:52:00Z
Regis#: N231NK
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20K
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: LAFAYETTE
State: GEORGIA





















AIRCRAFT: 1979 Mooney M20K N231NK, s/n: 25-0222, Current Total Time: 1904 

*THE AIRFRAME DATA TAG HAS BEEN REMOVED*

ENGINE: Continental TSIO-360-GB1  S/N 309228  TT 1,904   SMOH 214     

PROPELLER:  McCauley 2A34C216, s/n: 796042, TT 1904

EQUIPMENT:  
Garmin GNS 430
King KY 197
King KT 76C
King KN 53
Garmin GMA 340
(2) Garmin G5s
3M Stormscope
Garmin GFC 500 Auto Pilot

DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT:   On 12/17/20, N231NK made an emergency landing in a cow pasture after an engine failure. Fuel exhaustion was the suspected cause but that has not been confirmed.  There was not a catastrophic engine failure.

DAMAGE:  The damage includes, but may not be limited to: 

-The McCauley two blade propeller sustained damage to both blades

-Due to the propeller strike, the Continental TSIO-360 will require a tear down inspection

-The left and right nose gear doors were damaged

-The left and right cowl flaps were damaged

-There are several antennas mounted to the belly that were damaged

-There is a total of 7 belly sheet metal panels that were damaged

-The aerodynamic flap hangar covers were damaged

-The pitot tube and its mounting plate were bent

-The lower engine cowl will require repair

-There is some structural damage to the nose section of the aircraft

LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT:  Gann Aviation, Lafayette, GA

WARRANTY:  There is no warranty, express or implied for the information provided herein or the condition, usability, 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.)

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

REMARKS: 
*THE AIRFRAME DATA TAG HAS BEEN REMOVED* 

*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

Read more here: http://www.avclaims.com

Lancair 320, N79BC: Incident occurred December 17, 2020 at Kerrville Municipal Airport (KERV), Kerr County, Texas

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

Experienced a hard landing causing the nose gear to collapse. 


Date: 17-DEC-20
Time: 18:38:00Z
Regis#: N79BC
Aircraft Make: LANCAIR
Aircraft Model: 320
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: KERRVILLE
State: TEXAS

Mooney M20TN Acclaim, N278SB: Incident occurred November 26, 2020 at Hampton Roads Executive Airport (KPVG), Norfolk, Virginia

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia

Landed Runway 10 with the landing gear retracted.


Date: 26-NOV-20
Time: 00:00:00Z
Regis#: N278SB
Aircraft Make: MOONEY
Aircraft Model: M20TN
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: NORFOLK
State: VIRGINIA

Extra EA-300, N102JK: Fatal accident occurred December 17, 2020 near Bourland Field Airport (50F), Parker 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; Irving, Texas

Rockstar Aviation LLC

Location: Aledo, TX 
Accident Number: CEN21LA091
Date & Time: December 17, 2020, 16:29 Local 
Registration: N102JK
Aircraft: EXTRA FLUGZEUGPRODUKTIONSUND EA 300/L 
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On December 17, 2020, about 1629 central standard time, an Extra EA300 airplane, N102JK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Aledo, Texas. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to a pilot flying an RV4 and data derived from Mode S transponder signals, the EA300 departed about 1609 from Bourland Field (50F), near Cresson, Texas. About 1614, the RV4 departed 50F to rejoin with the EA300 and the two airplanes proceeded to fly in loose formation between 2,400 and 3,200 ft mean sea level (msl).

About 1625, the two pilots coordinated to separate. The RV4 descended to the southeast toward 50F for landing, while the EA300 climbed to the northwest for aerobatic maneuvers. The last Mode S derived data of the EA300 occurred at 1628:20 as the airplane descended through about 4,300 ft msl.

About 3.5 miles northwest of 50F, the airplane impacted terrain with a wings level, nose down attitude and a low forward groundspeed. The tail section was twisted slightly left of the fuselage and both wings were crushed downward. Initial examination did not reveal any anomalies with the flight control system. The airplane was recovered for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: EXTRA FLUGZEUGPRODUKTIONSUND
Registration: N102JK
Model/Series: EA 300/L 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
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: KGDJ,778 ft msl 
Observation Time: 16:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C /-1°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 120°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Cresson, TX (50F)
Destination: Cresson, TX (50F)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Latitude, Longitude: 32.6164,-97.6403 (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.

John Michael "Yeti" Schriever

It is with profound sadness that the family of Lieutenant Colonel John Michael "Yeti" Schriever announce that he passed away on December 17, 2020, doing what he loved, flying. He was born on September 7, 1972 in Columbus, Ohio to John "George" and Barbara Schriever. After graduating from Abilene Cooper HS, Mike attended Texas A&M University. From there, he became a proud alumnus of the Air Force Academy.

Mike's career in the Air Force started with pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Del Rio, TX. From there, he went to Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ, and flew A-10s. He was stationed to Osan AFB, Korea, before returning to Davis-Monthan AFB. Mike was transferred to Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX, as a Flight Instructor for the T-38s. It was also where he met Rebecca "Becca" McBride. In 2004, he transitioned to the Air Force Reserves and joined the A-10s in 303d Squadron, at Whiteman AFB, Knob Noster, MO. He received many military honors and was stationed all over the world, including many tours in Afghanistan. On July 23, 2010, Mike and Rebecca "Becca" McBride were married in Kansas City, KS. In 2014 he was also hired as a commercial airline pilot for Delta Airlines.

Mike will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Rebecca "Becca" Schriever; children: Alex, Julie, and Jake; mother, Barbara Schriever; brother, Doug and wife, Kelly; niece and nephew, Becky and Luke; and uncles, aunts, cousins, and extended family.

He was preceded by his father, John "George" Schriever; grandparents, Andrew and Daisy Elizabeth "Bette" Koy; and grandparents: John Frederick and Rebecca Schriever. Mike was well known for his loud and boisterous personality, loyalty, quick wit, generosity, patriotism, and epic story telling. His charisma was magnetic and made him seem larger than life. He made lifelong friendships with people from all walks of life. He loved being around people and left his mark on every single person who met him.

A man of many talents and interests, Mike loved his Dallas Cowboys, Aggies, rock and roll, movies, airplanes, dirt bikes, BBQ, welding, singing and entertaining others, travel, music, wakeboarding, mountain bikes, guitars, video games, and all things technology, just to name a few.

Mike packed a lot of living in 48 years. The best parts of him will always remain within the good memories and love by his family and friends.

A Celebration of Mike's Life will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2021, at 2:00p p.m., at the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department, 111 Concorde Circle, Cresson, Texas.
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A 48-year-old Cresson pilot was killed in a small-plane crash.

The body of John Michael Schriever was found in his wrecked plane Thursday night in a remote Parker County pasture about four miles northeast of the Hood County line. 

Schriever flew his private plane from Bourland Field on Cresson's far east side. He and his family were residents of Bourland Field Estates. 

Concerned family members called Cresson Fire Chief Ron Becker about 6 p.m. when Schriever did not return after taking his plane for a flight, Becker said. 

One of the Cresson firefighters who flies from Bourland Field was joined by two fellow firefighters who went up in another plane as part of the search.  

They were able to detect a faint signal from the downed aircraft plane's emergency locator transmitter.  Firefighters on the ground followed directions from the firefighters in the plane to the wreckage. 

Becker said he was proud of the department's efforts to locate the plane, which was found less than two (2) hours after the initial call. 

"For that wreckage to be found that quickly in that type of terrain in the dark was just amazing." Becker said. 

The Federal Aviation Administration, according to its preliminary report, could not determine why the plane crashed, Becker said. 

The crash was 3.3 miles northwest of the north end of the Bourland Field runway, the fire chief said.  

Survivors include his wife and three children, said Becker, who lives just two houses away.

Becker visited them about a week ago and said Schriever was considering joining the fire department. 
 
Just after 6 PM last night we were notified of a missing aircraft.  

Within an hour three (3) of our members were airborne and located signals from an aircraft emergency locator transmitter.  

Twenty four (24) Cresson firefighters and Parker County ESD 1 personnel joined the search on ground. 

In less than two (2) hours, in the dark, in the cold, in a rural pasture far from paved roadways one of our neighbors was able to locate the plane based on information from our members in the air. 

We are so sorry to one of our neighboring families for the loss of their family member.

Cresson Volunteer Fire Department

ALEDO, Texas (CBDFW.COM) – Volunteer Cresson firefighters alongside other first responders recovered a body from the wreckage of a Extra EA-300 that crashed in a pasture far from paved roadways near Aledo.

It happened on December 17th just after 6 p.m.

A search team found the plane in the dark after locating the aircraft emergency locator transmitter.

The Federal Aviation Administration will release the tail number of the aircraft after investigators verify it at the accident site. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

The National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will determine the probable cause of the accident.

Neither agency identifies people involved in aircraft accidents.

Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3) considering new airport operator


WADSWORTH,  Ohio — A new operating company could be brought on at Wadsworth Municipal Airport as negotiations between the city and current building leadership continues.

On Tuesday, City Council approved a first reading of legislation opening the airport operator slot to bids. As it stands, that would still need to pass two more readings before an actual bidding process is started.

City Public Service Director Robert Patrick said talks with the current operating company, Flight Services of Wadsworth, will go on as the city weighs whether to seek other options at 840 Airport Drive.

"We extended the agreement we have with the operator of the airport back in July through the end of January," he told council. "That's so we could have discussions and understand the operations and needs down there and, possibly, come to a resolution. If not, we've known it would have to go out to bid."

Patrick said Flight Services of Wadsworth is paid $4,941 per month under the current agreement.

"We do have some time left but we have to get this done and have a new agreement but it's also very important for council to get this (request for proposal) out before Christmas so folks can respond."

At-Large Councilman David Williams asked why the issue wasn't brought before council sooner.

"This is an issue that's been going on for six months now," he said. "I just got this legislation 52 minutes before the meeting started. On short notice, I had time to make a quick call to another airport to get a feel of what they're doing. We haven't had an airport commission meeting in 20 months and we haven't talked about this at public ways (committee)."

Williams suggested the legislation be put on second reading rather that passed on emergency, which fellow council members agreed with.

"If a renewal can't be worked out and a bidding process begins, the negotiations we're working on would, at that point, cease," Patrick said after the meeting. "We're tying to work out financial stuff in these talks (with the current company) and what expectations are as far as times of operation."