The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
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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.
KINGMAN, Arizona - A Nevada pilot was killed in a plane crash at the Triangle Airpark in White Hills, Arizona on Saturday, according to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Las Vegas, Nevada
Lycoming Engines; Phoenix, Arizona
Van's Aircraft; Aurora, Oregon
Location: White Hills, Arizona
Accident Number: WPR22FA100
Date and Time: February 19, 2022, 13:28 Local
Registration: N787NV
Aircraft: MOYNIHAN RICHARD D VANS RV7A
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On February 19, 2022, about 1328 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-7A airplane, was destroyed following an inflight-break up near Triangle Airpark, (AZ50), White Hills, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Recorded Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that the airplane departed Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU), Boulder City, Nevada, about 1315 and ascended to about 5,500 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane traveled east south-east over mountainous terrain for about 28 miles and made several wide 90-degree turns. The radar data showed that airplane began a rapid descending turn near Triangle Airpark, in the area where the main wreckage was located.
Security video captured the airplane in a steep nose down spiral before it impacted terrain. Several pieces of aircraft structure were seen falling from the airplane as it descended to the ground.
The airplane was relocated to a secure facility for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: MOYNIHAN RICHARD D
Registration: N787NV
Model/Series: VANS RV-7A
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: KBVU,2202 ft msl
Observation Time: 13:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 23 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C /-9°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 50°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Boulder City, NV (BVU)
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 35.715546,-114.482
RICHARD D. MOYNIHAN
July 3, 1949 February 19, 2022
~
Richard D. Moynihan was born in California July 3, 1949. He was the third-born of six children and grew up in Pomona, CA where his father practiced dentistry. He attended Pomona Catholic High School. Rich then graduated on to San Jose State University and married his high school sweetheart Marie in 1971. He joined the Navy and entered pilot training. During this time, he and Marie moved around the country, living in Pensacola, Corpus Christi and Alameda making friends and connections every place they went. Once he completed his service in the Navy, he was hired by Hughes Air West and Rich, Marie and their new baby boy Brian settled in Boulder City. A couple years later, they added a baby girl Melissa to the family and they were complete.
Rich and Marie loved living in Boulder City and developed a community of lifelong friendships. Eventually Hughes Air West merged with Republic, then Northwest Airlines and finally Delta. Sadly, Rich lost Marie in 2004, but was lucky to find a second love through the crafty matchmaking skills of some lovely Boulder City friends and married Evelyn in 2009.
Rich retired from Delta in 2010 and has been living it up ever since. He finally finished his RV-7 and flying it became his passion and favorite hobby. He was never as happy as he was flying his zippy little plane. He loved going to his hangar, working on his plane, rebuilding his Porsche 356 as well as a VW Thing.
Rich could fix anything! The breadth of his skills and knowledge were unmatched. He also loved the community of pilots and staff at the airport and enjoyed serving on Boards at the BC airport.
Rich also relished his retirement by traveling to many places around the world with Evelyn, cruising with his Porsche club, spending summers in Tahoe and visiting often with his three grandsons, Owen, Brady and Rory. Rich loved teasing people, the more he teased you, the more he loved you.
Rich loved life and led a very happy and full one. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Dodd; son, Brian Moynihan; daughter, Melissa McCool (Moynihan); son-in-law, Sorren McCool; grandsons, Owen McCool, Brady Moynihan and Rory Moynihan; stepdaughters, Dena (Tito) Jimenez, Devon Dodd, Zoe Dodd and Tracy Brewer; stepgrandsons, Max, Sebastian and Zach; brothers, Bob, Jeff and David; and sisters, Libby and Theresa. Mass will be at 10 a.m., Fri., March 4, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 1399 San Felipe Dr, Boulder City, NV 89005. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choosing in Richie's name, spend time with your families, find a passion and enjoy your life to the fullest.
Mohave County Sheriff's Office -
AIRCRAFT CRASH - WHITE HILLS
On Saturday (2/19) at 1:30 PM, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received multiple calls of a plane crash at the Triangle Airpark in White Hills. Deputies responded to the location and observed the single engine Cessna and debris scattered at the airpark close to Highway 93.
The pilot and sole occupant of the plane was deceased on scene and has been identified as Richard Dennis Moynihan, 73 of Boulder City, NV.
The scene was secured and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were notified and will be conducting the investigation. This investigation is ongoing.
Deputies say the crash happened at 1:30 p.m. on February 19. When authorities arrived to investigate, they found the remnants of a experimental amateur-built Vans RV-7A airplane and debris scattered around the airpark.
The pilot, identified as 73-year-old Richard Dennis Moynihan, died at the scene. He was a resident of Boulder City, Nevada and was the only one in the plane.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating.
Triangle Airpark is about 45 miles northwest of Kingman.
The ADS-B track ends abruptly in relatively level flight at 147 knots and 5375 MSL pressure altitude almost directly over where the wreckage was found and around the reported time of the accident: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=aaabc7&lat=35.708&lon=-114.499&zoom=13.7&showTrace=2022-02-19&trackLabels×tamp=1645302490
ReplyDeleteThis suggests some sort of catastrophic inflight structural failure that severed power to the ADS-B transmitter and also caused the aircraft to plummet straight down.
More info on the crash: https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/friends-remember-local-pilot-killed-in-arizona-plane-crash/
Rest in peace, Captain Moynihan: https://obituaries.bouldercityreview.com/obituary/richard-moynihan-1084489434