National Transportation Safety Board accident number: WPR22FA216
Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff.
Date: 18-JUN-22
Time: 21:55:00Z
Regis#: N3835U
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 336
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Flight Crew: 1 fatal
Pax: 0
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: INITIAL CLIMB (ICL)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
City: PORTERVILLE
State: CALIFORNIA
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.
Track, to the extent it was captured:
ReplyDeletehttps://flightaware.com/live/flight/N3835U/history/20220618/2146Z/KPTV/L%2035.99753%20-119.03893
Looking at the fellows Instagrams…it looks like that bird was very recently painted.
ReplyDeleteGood video of the repaint: https://youtu.be/-jgl4d8SXC4?t=62 Based on this guy's youtube channel, he likely had 3 or 4 GoPros running when the accident happened. RIP :(
DeletePhoto of scene:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.yourcentralvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2022/06/Porterville-Aircraft2.jpg
N3835U in happier days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAqng09M_7o&ab_channel=SullivanVanWay
ReplyDeleteGood flying to a lake bed in this other video:
Deletehttps://youtu.be/ruoJKryLdrg?t=315
Sad to see another life lost, likely to be another event where having two engines wasn't assurance for maintaining control and continuing on successfully with one engine out.
ReplyDeleteThere is a psychology to acceptance of the reality that light twins will often only get the plane to the scene of the accident on one engine remaining. Maybe it's rationalization bleedover from the fact that a boat with two engines makes it home with one out, or misapplication of what is understood from twin airliner ability to do better than light twins, or the legacy of television setting the stage by mass exposure to positive representations of light twins in those Sky King shows of yesteryear.
From a reliability perspective, a twin has twice the opportunity that an engine or system elements serving an engine will fail compared to a single. It is counter-intuitive, but with the known poor one-engine performance of light twins, this requires that condition and upkeep of each engine in a light twin must produce reliability that is twice as good (unclear how to measure this) as a single engine aircraft in order to have parity between those aircraft.
Aging light twins that fall into a lower price point can lure people to take them on who aren't planning to spend big bux aggressively upgrading and maintaining the aircraft. Some may rationalize that having two engines "covers" the circumstance where one engine quits, or worse yet makes it okay to begin a flight in spite of an engine that "has been acting up lately".
Light twin pilots should resist thinking that their one engine out capabilities can produce the same outcome as a twin engine boat or modern airliner.
Spot on! I agree completely
DeleteAn old 336, fixed gear Skymaster, is not a good performer! The later 337 is a much better airplane.
ReplyDeleteSad to see. I'm guessing the pilot in the videos is the is the same as the unfortunate victim in the accident?
ReplyDeleteCondolences to family and friends!
Very sad. I was enjoying watching him flying the Beaver around Bakersfield on YouTube. God-speed Sully!
DeleteThis guy was killed by the printshop, and they are currently being sued for causing this accident. I have heard horror stories about this particular paint shop. They recently spend a lot of time and resources building their brand ambassador network... if anyone was paying attention they had a young lady join their ambassador team, although unlike their other ambassadors she was certified A&P AI and worked for them as a mechanic for a few months while they restored her plane. I hear from a source that she was so unhappy with their maintenance due to dishonesty, disorganization, and safety concerns that she said would NEVER publicly endorse them... she had several calls with FAA while she was there and even considered taping an N number on her plane and just leaving before it was finished. I wouldn't have noticed this but someone pointed it out... apparently they have total lack of morals and even more lack of qualified employees. I wish I knew young lady personally to get the full story. I would Never take a plane to this shop.
ReplyDelete