Sunday, February 21, 2021

Piper PA-32RT-300T Turbo Lance II, N10KV: Fatal accident occurred February 20, 2021 near Cullman Regional Airport-Folsom Field (KCMD), Cullman County, Alabama

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; Alabama and NW Florida
Lycoming; Williamsport, Pennsylvania 
Piper; Vero Beach, Florida 


Location: Vinemont, AL
Accident Number: ERA21FA133
Date & Time: February 20, 2021, 17:48 Local 
Registration: N10KV
Aircraft: Piper PA32RT
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On February 20, 2021, about 1748 central standard time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, N10KV, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near the Cullman Regional Airport (CMD), Vinemont, Alabama. The pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to airport surveillance video the airplane took off from runway 2 about 1740, made one touch-and-go landing at 1746, then impacted terrain at 1748. Witnesses reported that the flight was part of a sales transaction between the pilot who owned the airplane, and the passenger who was the potential buyer. The pilot held a flight instructor rating and included 5 hours of free flight instruction in the airplane's sales advertisement. The pilot stated to first responders that the airplane “lost power,” he succumbed to his injuries 2 days after the accident.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted a wooded area on a residential property, at an elevation of 930 ft mean sea level (msl). The wreckage debris path was about 350 ft long and oriented on a magnetic heading of 130°. The airplane came to rest inverted, a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage; however, all major structural components of the airplane were located
within the debris field.

The flap selector handle was observed in the first detent position consistent with a 10° flap setting. Flight control cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit controls to the respective control surfaces for the stabilator and rudder. The aileron cables remained attached to the forward cockpit chain segment and were continuous to the bellcranks in each wing. The turnbuckle at the center of the forward aileron chain segment and the turnbuckle in the center of the aileron balance cable were both fractured at their midpoints. The fuel selector valve was found in the “OFF” position.

The engine was partially separated and sustained impact and fire damage. No crankcase anomalies were noted. The engine rotated smoothly by manually turning the propeller hub. All three of the propeller blades remained in the propeller hub and attached to the crankshaft propeller flange. Continuity was confirmed throughout the engine and thumb compression was attained on all cylinders.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N10KV
Model/Series: PA32RT 300T 
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: CMD,960 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C /-9°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 30.38 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Vinemont, AL 
Destination: Vinemont, AL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.266174,-86.864702 (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.

Obituary for Frederick Dawson Holloway

Frederick Dawson Holloway, age 74, of Cullman, passed away on Monday, February 22, 2021, at UAB Hospital . He was born June 14, 1946, to Ray and Edith Holloway.

He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Kristi Rae Higgs; two brothers; and one sister.

Survivors include his wife, Diane Freeman Holloway; daughters, Traci Jo (Steve) Richter, Tara Kay (Chris) McSwain, Tori Anne (Rod) Huffman, and Tiffany Lynn (Scott) Adcock; stepson, Joshua Harrison (Aubrey) Freeman; grandchildren, Kayla (Mat) Burke, Kannon Richter, Remi Richter, Brandon Buchanon, Lauren Buchanon, CJ McSwain, Kinley Holloway, Tyler Poland, Samantha Lazenby, Carter Huffman, Max Huffman, Luke Thomas, Thomas Freeman, Sarah Freeman, Elizabeth Freeman, Anna Freeman, and Daniel Freeman; two great-grandchildren; six sisters; and one brother.
=======

Frederick Dawson Holloway of Cullman, known locally to friends as “Noah,” died as a result of injuries he sustained in the plane crash Saturday, Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick said Tuesday.

The crash happened around 5:45 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area about a half mile west of the airfield and claimed the life of pilot John T. Sigman Sr., 70, of Dyersburg, Tennessee. Holloway was the aircraft’s other occupant and suffered serious injuries in the accident.

Kilpatrick said Sigman’s family members had informed authorities that Sigman had come to Cullman with an interest in potentially purchasing the aircraft. Officials will disclose the aircraft’s ownership once the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has examined its records in detail, said Airport Manager Ben Harrison. 

Harrison said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The plane was a small single-engine craft housed at the airport, where Saturday’s flight originated.




Cullman County Regional Airport Manager Ben Harrison, left, and Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick provide an update on the plane crash that claimed the life of a Tennessee man Saturday, February 20, 2021. Noah Holloway, of Cullman, suffered serious injuries in the crash.

    
Authorities have identified the two men involved in Saturday’s fatal airplane crash near Cullman Regional Airport. The crash claimed the life of a Tennessee man, and left the other man, a local resident, seriously injured.

At a Sunday press conference, Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick identified the deceased crash victim as John T. Sigman Sr., 70, of Dyersburg, Tennessee.

Kilpatrick said Sigman’s family members had informed authorities that Sigman had come to Cullman with an interest in potentially purchasing the aircraft. Officials will disclose the aircraft’s ownership once the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has examined its records in detail, said Harrison. Sigman’s remains will be examined by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

The second victim, Frederick Dawson Holloway of Cullman, was the aircraft’s other occupant. Known locally to friends as “Noah,” Holloway suffered serious injuries in the accident, though officials offered no additional updates about his condition on Sunday. Kilpatrick said Sunday that Holloway was the passenger at the time of the crash, and that Sigman was the pilot.

Harrison said more information about the crash, including the make of the aircraft and additional details about its history, will be coordinated with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, both of which had investigators on site at the airport Sunday. The plane was a small single-engine craft housed at the airport, where Saturday’s flight originated.

The crash occurred at approximately 5:45 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area about a half mile west of the airfield.

Harrison thanked local emergency workers who responded at the scene Saturday, including Vinemont, West Point, and Cullman fire departments; as well as the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, the Cullman Police Department, Cullman EMS and Cullman EMA, Air Evac Lifeteam, Alabama State Troopers, the Cullman County Coroner, the FAA, and airport staff.


Cullman Regional Airport General Manager Ben Harrison, left, and Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick, right, addressed the media Sunday regarding Saturday night's plane crash near the airfield. 

   


SOUTH VINEMONT, Alabama – One person was killed and another critically injured in a plane crash a half mile west of Cullman Regional Airport at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday.

Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick on Sunday identified the victim, who was the passenger, as John T. Sigman, Sr., 70, of Dyersburg, Tennessee.

“The family said he was coming down here looking to purchase that aircraft,” said Kilpatrick, who said the body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy.

Cullman Regional Airport General Manager Ben Harrison identified the injured party, the pilot, as Frederick Dawson “Noah” Holloway, local to the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has identified the aircraft as a Piper PA-32. The plane went down in a wooded area and caught fire, according to a statement from the FAA.

Said Harrison, “I can’t thank the responding agencies enough. Vinemont Fire, West Point Fire, Cullman Fire, all of them did a great job helping. Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and Cullman Police Department, Cullman EMS and Cullman EMA, along with Air Evac, State Troopers, Cullman County Coroner…the FAA was here last night, and then our airport staff. Everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do to start the chain of events as we work through this investigation.”

Harrison said it will be late Sunday or even Monday before more information can be released.



Airport Manager Ben Harrison on the Piper PA-32-260 crash that claimed the life of one person on February 20, 2021.
~

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Memphis, Tennessee

September 27, 2020:  Aircraft experienced engine issues and made an emergency landing at a decommissioned airfield. 


Date: 27-SEP-20
Time: 20:00:00Z
Regis#: N36711
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA28
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: LEXINGTON
State: TENNESSEE

1 comment:

  1. It has been reported by local news media that the other occupant (Mr Holloway) has died while hospitalized at UAB hospital in Birmingham.
    https://www.cullmantimes.com/news/plane-crash-claims-life-of-second-victim/article_b89b853e-75f3-11eb-ae76-5b581d040949.html

    ReplyDelete