The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Location: Rhine, GA
Accident Number: ERA21FA355
Date & Time: September 12, 2021, 09:30 Local
Registration: N390PE
Aircraft: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On September 12, 2021, about 0930 eastern daylight time, an American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, N390PE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rhine, Georgia. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code
of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
A witness, who was a friend of the pilot reported that the pilot told him that he felt nauseous while practicing aerobatics earlier on the day of the accident. The pilot landed at a private airstrip and then subsequently departed to fly to a nearby field where the witness was located. While the witness was in the field, the pilot “buzzed” him and flew around for a second pass. During the second pass, the pilot descended the airplane below the tree line and started an aileron roll; however, about halfway through the roll the pilot stopped the maneuver, and the airplane flew straight into the trees at full engine power.
The airplane came to rest oriented on a magnetic heading 220° and all major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The fuselage from the firewall to the empennage revealed accordion crush and impact damage. The instrument panel and cockpit were destroyed by impact damage. Both wings were separated from the fuselage, the horizontal stabilizers and vertical stabilizer remained attached to the empennage; however, they all displayed damage consistent with impact. Flight control continuity was observed from the flight control surfaces to the flight controls within the cockpit. Initial examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller was splintered and broken. Fresh cuts consistent with propeller slash marks were noted on several trees at the accident site. The airplane was recovered for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT
Registration: N390PE
Model/Series: 8KCAB
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file
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: KEZM,303 ft msl
Observation Time: 09:30 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 16 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C /18°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.23 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Rhine, GA
Destination: Rhine, GA
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 32.000466,-83.179821 (est)
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.
RHINE, Georgia — A sunflower field off of Highway 280 is where Sheriff Brian Robinson says Jake Boney took his final flight on Sunday night.
Robinson has been in office for almost a year now.
He says so far, a fatal plane crash from over the weekend is one of the toughest calls his crew has responded to.
Robinson says a friend identified the pilot as Jake Boney, a 30-year-old known widely in the area for flying his plane as well as a crop duster.
"I've known him since he was a child. He was an all-around good guy, he had way more friends than I probably will ever have, but he was just the type of person that he was charismatic, everyone wanted to be around him," he said.
Robinson says hundreds of people showed up to the scene Sunday night, to comfort family.
He says Boney was involved in another crash last September in Hawkinsville.
"They just went through this last year about this time, he had a crash and he survived it. The family's reliving this and they're devastated."
Robinson says his office is cooperating with the FAA on their investigation.
RHINE, Georgia — The pilot killed in a plane crash in Dodge County late Sunday previously survived a crash in neighboring Pulaski County.
According to Dodge County Sheriff Brian Robinson, a single-engine plane crashed in a wooded area just outside of Rhine on Highway 280.
He identified the pilot as Jake Boney.
Boney crashed in Pulaski County almost a year ago to the day on September 3, 2020. In that crash, he was making a turn when the wing of his plane hit a tower.
Part of the tower came down and went down in a cotton field. He was airlifted from the scene.
Low Altitude Operation/Event: Ayres Thrush S2R-H80, N30529; accident occurred September 03, 2020 in Hawkinsville, Pulaski County, Georgia
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Dawson Brothers Spraying Service Inc
Accident Number: ERA20LA306
Date & Time: September 3, 2020, 08:46 Local
Registration: N30529
Aircraft: THRUSH S2R-H80
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Low altitude operation/event
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial application
Analysis
The commercial pilot reported that, while spraying a field during his first agricultural application flight, he flew the airplane over the field east and west and was blinded by the sun. For the next application, he decided to fly north and south over the field, so the sun was not in his eyes. The airplane was operating normally, and he finished spraying the field. He remembered that he was supposed to spray another field to the east, but he could not remember anything after that. The airplane was found resting in the field. The airplane and a 150-ft-tall antenna tower located on the east edge of the field were substantially damaged, and a portion of the tower structure was found entangled with the right wing. The pilot was seriously injured. Review of astronomical data indicated that the sun at the time of the accident in relation to the tower location was almost due east. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna tower while maneuvering during an agricultural application flight while flying directly toward the sun.
Findings
Personnel issues Monitoring environment - Pilot
Environmental issues Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) - Effect on operation
Environmental issues Glare - Effect on personnel
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Low altitude operation/event (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 29,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: October 25, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: May 16, 2020
Flight Time: 2610 hours (Total, all aircraft), 200 hours (Total, this make and model), 2503 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 300 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 90 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: THRUSH
Registration: N30529
Model/Series: S2R-H80
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted (Special)
Serial Number: H80-108
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: May 3, 2020 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 10500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo prop
Airframe Total Time: 2884.99 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: General Electric
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: H80-100
Registered Owner: R
ated Power: 800 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: K48A,270 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 11 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 08:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 45°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 260°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C / 35°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Hawkinsville, GA (PVT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Hawkinsville, GA
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 32.195278,-83.47583(est)
Ag flying is extremely demanding of the pilot, with systems to closely monitor to insure crops get evenly sprayed, flying the airplane at or near max weight and usually very close to stall. Obstacles and other inflight hazards ( birds, visibility ) add to the level of difficulty.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I hold agricultural pilots with the highest respect, no matter if they are flying crops or pleasure. I can’t think of a more professional and talented pilot to meet and learn from.
Apparently Mr Boney met a set of circumstances in his personal airplane that led to this crash. It’s my instinct that with his background, this crash posed circumstances that even the most talented pilot couldn’t overcome. I would hate to be presented what he had to deal with.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends. The aviation community has lost a valuable pilot and from what I read, a fine individual.
News article says he was flying night time passes over a field with a friend standing outside to watch and the engine stopped.
ReplyDeletehttps://wgxa.tv/news/local/reports-middle-georgia-pilot-dead-after-second-crash-in-a-year
The accident plane was not the pilot's 1969 Cherokee Arrow registered to his name that he shows in a November 2016 Facebook post. Here is a 2016 photo of the Champion 8KCAB Xtreme Decathlon he was flying at the time of the crash:
https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001237386.html
Specifications:
https://www.americanchampionaircraft.com/xtreme-decathlon
Nice May 2021 news interview with video of him flying:
https://wgxa.tv/news/local/local-pilot-back-in-the-cockpit-after-surviving-plane-crash-in-pulaski-county
Do Ag pilots actually get insurance? I never thought about it before.
ReplyDeleteAg pilots can work for an applicator as one of their employees or a pilot can own the business. Insurance for the aircraft and pilots employed by a business are talked about here:
Deletehttps://www.agairupdate.com/how-much-does-it-cost/