Investigator In Charge (IIC): McCarter, Lawrence
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Location: Russell, Pennsylvania
Accident Number: ERA22LA312
Date and Time: July 14, 2022, 19:40 Local
Registration: N6116U
Aircraft: FLIGHTSTAR INC FLIGHTSTAR II SC
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On July 14, 2022, about 1940 eastern daylight time a Flightstar II-SC, N6116U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Shield Farm Airport (5PA6), Russell, Pennsylvania. The non-certificated pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot and passenger began the takeoff roll on runway 4, a 1,650 ft long turf runway with an upward slope. A witness reported that the airplane turned left toward the trees immediately after takeoff and did not appear to be climbing. The airplane passed through the trees then disappeared. The passenger who was seated in the right seat stated, “We tried to make it over the trees, and we hit a tree. It didn’t climb like it normally does.”
The airplane impacted the top of the trees about 300 ft north of the runway, then descended into a creek bed at an elevation of about 1,230 ft where it came to rest on its left side.
Examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane's left wing was fractured, and the fuselage exhibited substantial damage to the pilot’s side. Two of the three propeller blades were severed near the hub. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. The fuel tank contained about 3 gallons of fuel, and there was fuel in both carburetor bowls with no evidence of water or foreign debris.
The wreckage, which included a video camera that was mounted on the airplane’s left wing was retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: FLIGHTSTAR INC
Registration: N6116U
Model/Series: FLIGHTSTAR II SC NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
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: BFD,2150 ft msl
Observation Time: 19:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C /11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 350°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.14 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Russell, PA
Destination: Russell, PA
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:41.929796,-79.046059 (est)
Flightstar IISC crashed under unknown circumstances.
Date: 14-JUL-22
Time: 01:32:00Z
Regis#: N6116U
Aircraft Make: FLIGHTSTAR
Aircraft Model: ULTRALIGHT
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: SERIOUS
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 91
City: RUSSELL
State: PENNSYLVANIA
WARREN, Pennsylvania — When an aircraft crashes in the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board is the entity tasked with investigating.
The NTSB is conducting an investigation into the crash of an ultralight last Thursday in Pine Grove Township.
“We did open an investigation into this accident on July 14,” NTSB Spokesman Peter Knudson said Monday. “We assigned an investigator to it.”
The agency conducts about 1,200 investigations into aviation accidents each year.
“Thankfully, the majority of these are non-fatal,” Knudson said.
Its resources can be spread pretty thin, so the agency did not put its boots on the ground in Warren County last week.
Knudson said the agency focuses more resources on more serious, including fatal, crashes,
For cases like the crash in Russell, “We rely on the FAA to help us on-scene,” he said.
“A single-engine Flightstar II crashed near Russell, Pa., around 8 p.m. local time July 14,” FAA Public Affairs Specialist Steven Kulm said. “There were two people on board. The FAA is investigating.”
Information about the condition of the pilot, who was taken from the scene by emergency helicopter, is not available.
An investigation results in the determination of the probable cause of the accident, Knudson said.
Exactly when that determination might be passed down depends on the circumstances and complexity of the crash.
According to the NTSB website, the timeline for reporting the results of such an investigation could be long.
“Roughly two weeks after an accident, a preliminary report will be issued,” according to NTSB. “The preliminary report will contain factual information collected on scene. It will not have a cause.”
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the publication of a probable cause could take “one to two years,” according to the website.
RUSSELL, Pennsylvania — One person was flown to the hospital and another was treated at the scene after an ultralight plane crashed Thursday evening in Pine Grove Township.
The crash was reported around 7:30 p.m.
Two men were inside the plane touching the ground and lifting off on a private airstrip in the township when the passenger told the Times Observer “something happened” with the aircraft.
The passenger said, “We tried to make it over the tress and we hit a tree. It didn’t climb like it normally does.”
After striking a tree, the ultralight plane crashed into a creek bed, near Big Four Road and the Conewango Creek. The aircraft landed on its side and had to be turned upright to extricate the pilot.
Both men were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
The pilot of the plane was transported to the Russell Volunteer Fire Department and later airlifted to a hospital. The severity of his injuries was not known, though the passenger said he was conscious and talking before being taken away.
Responding agencies include Russell firefighters, EmergyCare, Warren County Public Safety and the Pennsylvania State Police. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified.
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