The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Enfield, Connecticut
Piper Aircraft; Vero Beach, Florida
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Forza Management Company
Accident Number: ERA21LA122
Date & Time: February 2, 2021, 16:45 Local
Registration: N221ST
Aircraft: Piper PA46
Injuries: 3 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On February 2, 2021, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-46-350P, N221ST, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Leicester, Massachusetts. The commercial pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that the airplane was on approach to runway 11 at Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), Worcester, Massachusetts. During that time, “a little ice” began to build up on the wings and he activated the deicing system (boots) twice upon entering clouds. The elevator then began to shake and become ineffective. In an effort to avoid a stall, the pilot applied forward yoke control and the airplane contacted a tree and came to rest upright in the front yard of a residence about 3 miles from the runway 11 threshold.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper Registration: N221ST
Model/Series: PA46 350P
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: ORH, 1009 ft msl
Observation Time: 16:42 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: -1°C /-3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 13 knots / 21 knots, 20°
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 1100 ft AGL
Visibility: 5 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.32 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Vineyard Haven, MA (MVY)
Destination: Worcester, MA (ORH)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 42.276667,71.959444 (est)
Emergency crews responding to the area of Moose Hill Road on snowmobiles shortly before 5 p.m. found a plane that had crashed near the Spencer-Leicester line, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson confirmed.
“First thing I thought of was, ‘It’s getting dark quick,” Deputy Fire Chief Matt Tebow said. “If this thing is out in the middle of the woods it’s gonna change our whole rescue effort.”
The three victims were extricated from the wreckage and taken to a local hospital, according to the Spencer Fire Department. There was no word on their condition. The dog was unharmed.
Tebow said one of them was able to walk away from the wreckage and search for help.
The other two were rescued by some passing snowmobilers.
“There were some local kids in the area that were snowmobiling in the area that happened to see what was going on and came and helped us out,” the deputy explained.
The harsh weather and wilderness proved to be a challenge for the rescuers.
“The guys, by the time they got up to the wreckage, they were spent, they were tired,” Tebow said. “They were walking through snow drifts up there up to their knees. Thank god for the snowmobilers in the area who helped us out.”
The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known.
Tebow said it was fortunate the crash happened in a remote area.
The FAA and state police are assisting local authorities with the investigation.
Icing?
ReplyDeletelisten to the liveatc archives. The radio communication sounded normal with BDL approach and ORH tower cleared the aircraft to land about 6.5 nm miles out on the rnav 11 approach. The last two transmissions from the pilot were about 90 secs after the landing clearance in which the pilot reported a problem then after a pause he said he had a lot of ice. The ORH special atis at 2142Z, information lima reported overcast 1100, 5 sm, temps -1/-3, wind 020 at 13 gusting 21 AND light freezing rain.
ReplyDeleteThe ADS-B data shows him getting as slow as 59 kts and then a steep descent began with a maximum vertical speed of -4200 fpm reducing to -1088 fpm towards the end of the data stream.
So glad all 3 made it out with non life threatening injuries. The pilot appeared to regain control in time to fly it all the way into the crash.
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a1e65a&lat=42.271&lon=-72.083&zoom=11.8&showTrace=2021-02-02
multiple pireps existed at the same time, for light and mod ice. For altitudes similar to his initial approach.
ReplyDelete