Scoda Super Petrel LS, N892SP: Fatal accident occurred October 02, 2022 in Perma, Sanders County, Montana

National Transportation Safety Board - Accident Report Number: WPR23LA001

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Helena, Montana 

Aircraft struck powerlines and crashed into Flathead River. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N892SP 

Date: 02-OCT-22

Time: 16:17:00Z

Regis#: N892SP

Aircraft Make: SCODA AERONAUTICA

Aircraft Model: SUPER PETRELL

Event Type: ACCIDENT

Highest Injury: FATAL

Total Fatal: 1

Flight Crew: 1 Fatal  

Pax: 0

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)

Operation: 91

City: PLAINS

State: MONTANA

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.

Sanders County Montana Sheriff's Office - 

On October 2, 2022 around 08:45 hours, the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office received the report of a plane crash. It was reported the crash was located east of the Perma bridge, in the Flathead River. 

Upon further investigation, it was determined that the plane struck the power lines causing the crash. 

The Plains - Paradise rural fire district deployed their water rescue team. The team removed the occupant of the plane as well as, a Good Samaritan who swam out to the plane. Both were turned over to EMS for medical treatment. The pilot was flown to Kalispell.

Personnel from Sanders County Sheriff's Office, Tribal Law Enforcement, Tribal Fish Wildlife and Game, Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District, Plains Community Ambulance, Hot Springs Fire and EMS, Dixon QRU, Mission Valley Power, Montana State Fish Wildlife and Parks responded.

This crash is under investigation by the NTSB.

FLATHEAD RIVER, Montana — According to a Facebook post by the Sanders County Sheriff’s Office a plane crashed into the Flathead River east of Perma bridge around 8:45 this morning (10/02/22).

The sheriff's office determined the cause of the crash to be the plane striking power lines.

The Plains - Paradise rural fire district deployed their water rescue team and were able to get the pilot out of the plane. Where the pilot was then turned over to EMS and flown to Kalispell. The Sanders County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to MTN that the pilot succumbed to their injuries once flown to Kalispell.

Personnel from Sanders County Sheriff's Office, Tribal Law Enforcement, Tribal Fish Wildlife and Game, Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District, Plains Community Ambulance, Hot Springs Fire and EMS, Dixon QRU, Mission Valley Power, Montana State Fish Wildlife and Parks responded.

This crash is under investigation by the NTSB.

https://www.kpax.com

Dixon Rural Fire Department -

Shout out to the professionals from Plains Rescue and Hot Springs Fire for the incredible job of rescuing the pilot from the river today.  It's refreshing to know what agencies have the equipment and training to pull this off. 

Aero Designs Pulsar XP, N204BH: Incident occurred September 25, 2022 at Big Bear City Airport (L35), California

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California

Aircraft on landing, veered off runway and ran into a hangar. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N204BH

Date: 25-SEP-22

Time: 16:30:00Z

Regis#: N204BH

Aircraft Make: AERO DESIGNS

Aircraft Model: PULSAR XP

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: MINOR

Flight Crew: 1 Minor Injuries

Pax: 0

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)

Operation: 91

City: BIG BEAR

State: CALIFORNIA

Cessna 150M, N3051V: Incident occurred September 23, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Aircraft experienced engine issues and landed on a road. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N3051V

Date: 23-SEP-22

Time: 18:13:00Z

Regis#: N3051V

Aircraft Make: CESSNA

Aircraft Model: 150

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Flight Crew: 1 No Injuries

Pax: 0

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)

Operation: 91

City: PHOENIX

State: ARIZONA

Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser, N4017M: Incident occurred September 21, 2022 in Purkeypile, Alaska

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska

Aircraft experienced a mishap near Mystic Pass. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N4017M

Date: 21-SEP-22

Time: 05:35:00Z

Regis#: N4017M

Aircraft Make: PIPER

Aircraft Model: PA12

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: UNKNOWN

Flight Crew: 1 Unknown Injuries

Pax: 1 Unknown Injuries

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)

Operation: 91

City: PURKEYPILE

State: ALASKA

Thorp T-18 Tiger, N18NH: Accident occurred September 25, 2022 at Astronaut Kent Rominger Airport (KRCV), Del Norte, Rio Grande County, Colorado

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado

Aircraft crashed in a crosswind during landing and flipped over. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N18NH

Date: 25-SEP-22

Time: 20:00:00Z

Regis#: N18NH

Aircraft Make: EXPERIMENTAL

Aircraft Model: THORP T-18

Event Type: ACCIDENT

Highest Injury: MINOR

Flight Crew: 1 Minor Injuries 

Pax: 1 No Injuries

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: SUBSTANTIAL

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)

Operation: 91

City: DEL NORTE

State: COLORADO

Zenith CH-701 Stol, N4058G: Incident occurred September 25, 2022 at Marion Airport (C17), Linn County, Iowa

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines, Iowa

Aircraft on landing, lifted up in the air by a large gust of wind and hit the runway hard. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N4058G

Date: 25-SEP-22

Time: 15:00:00Z

Regis#: N4058G

Aircraft Make: ZENITH

Aircraft Model: CH 701

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Flight Crew: 1 No Injuries 

Pax: 0

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: MINOR

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)

Operation: 91

City: MARION

State: IOWA

Cessna 172L Skyhawk, N4240Q: Incident occurred September 24, 2022 in Topeka, Kansas

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas

Aircraft bounced multiple times during landing, veered off runway and incurred a propeller strike.  

Wichita Flight Training LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N4240Q

Date: 24-SEP-22

Time: 21:31:00Z

Regis#: N4240Q

Aircraft Make: CESSNA

Aircraft Model: 172

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Flight Crew: 1 No Injuries 

Pax: 0 

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: MINOR

Activity: INSTRUCTION

Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)

Operation: 91

City: TOPEKA

State: KANSAS

Piper PA-60-700P Aerostar, N711TL: Incident occurred September 25, 2022 at Central Kentucky Regional Airport (KRGA), Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville, Kentucky

Aircraft landed gear up. 

https://registry.faa.gov/N711TL

Date: 25-SEP-22

Time: 23:05:00Z

Regis#: N711TL

Aircraft Make: PIPER

Aircraft Model: PA60

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Flight Crew:  1 No Injuries 

Pax: 0

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)

Operation: 91

City: RICHMOND

State: KENTUCKY

AgustaWestland AW139, N811TA: Accident occurred September 24, 2022 at Houma–Terrebonne Airport (KHUM), Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Rotorcraft declared an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit and partial loss of engine control, made a hard landing, went off runway and gear collapsed. 

ERA Helicopters LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N811TA

Date: 24-SEP-22

Time: 23:11:00Z

Regis#: N811TA

Aircraft Make: AGUSTAWESTLAND

Aircraft Model: AW139

Event Type: ACCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Flight Crew: 2 No Injuries

Pax: 4 No Injuries 

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: SUBSTANTIAL

Activity: ON DEMAND

Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)

Operation: 135

Aircraft Operator: ERA HELICOPTERS

Flight Number: ERA811

City: HOUMA

State: LOUISIANA

Six occupants of the helicopter that made a hard emergency landing at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport Saturday night seemed to escape serious injuries, an air traffic controller said.

The AugustaWestland AW139, tail number N811TA, was returning from an offshore location, said Adam Morgan, Bristow Group's director of global communications and marketing.

The aircraft has Era logos. Bristow and Era merged in 2020.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration incident report, the crew "declared an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit and partial loss of engine control, made a hard landing, went off runway and gear collapsed."

The AugustaWestland AW139 helicopter which crash landed at Houma-Terrebonne airport, Saturday, September 24. The aircraft is owned by Bristow. Bristow and ERA merged in 2020.

The report lists the damage as "substantial."

Andy Cook, air traffic manager for the Houma Tower, said two of the occupants were pilots. He couldn't speak about the incident itself because it's under investigation but said after the event a medic told him everyone was going to be OK.

Those injured were taken to the hospital by Acadian Ambulance. The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and Bristow.

The flight route of N811TA before it made an emergency landing at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport, Saturday, at 6:11p.m.

Flightaware.com is a website that will show a map of an aircraft's flights and lists the times. It shows 811TA departing the Houma-Terrebonne airport at 10:51 a.m. and arriving at the offshore location at 11:49 a.m.

It later logs 811TA departing the location at 5:24 p.m. and making its return trip. The website last logs the helicopter around 6:10 p.m. near Galiano.

https://www.houmatoday.com

Vashon Ranger R7, N151VR: Incident occurred September 27, 2022 at Glendale Municipal Airport (KGEU), Maricopa County, Arizona

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Aircraft taxiing onto the runway to begin takeoff roll, left main gear sheared off and ground looped. 

Air Medical Services LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N151VR

Date: 27-SEP-22

Time: 21:58:00Z

Regis#: N151VR

Aircraft Make: VASHON AIRCRAFT

Aircraft Model: RANGER R7

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Flight Crew: 1 No Injuries 

Pax:  0

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)

Operation: 91

City: GLENDALE

State: ARIZONA

Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP, N262TA: Fatal accident occurred October 01, 2022 in Hermantown, Saint Louis County, Minnesota

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances into a home.

https://registry.faa.gov/N262TA

Date: 02-OCT-22

Time: 01:28:00Z

Regis#: N262TA

Aircraft Make: CESSNA

Aircraft Model: 172

Event Type: ACCIDENT

Highest Injury: FATAL

Total Fatal: 3

Flight Crew: 1 Fatal 

Pax: 2 Fatal

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: INITIAL CLIMB (ICL)

Operation: 91

City: HERMANTOWN

State: MINNESOTA

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. 

The Schmidt family released the following statement on the crash:

“We are heartbroken by the untimely and devastating loss of three beautiful souls, Alyssa, Matt and Tyler. Deeply devoted family members, Alyss and Matt had infectious spirits and were wholly selfless in their approach to lie. Most importantly, they were best friends who enjoyed each other’s company while taking many adventures together. Alyssa spent considerable time teaching the future generation with an uncanny ability to connect with all on an individual level. She consistently lit up a room and always made sure everyone was having a good time. Matt viewed life from a glass half full perspective and made sure to take full advantage of every opportunity. He frequently lent a helping hand to those most in need. Both have made an indelible impression on the world and will live forever in our hearts and memories. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends and our community. We kindly ask that everyone respect our privacy during this extremely difficult time.”

Schmidt Family

From left, Alyssa Schmidt and her brother Matthew Schmidt.

The wreckage of a plane that crashed minutes after taking off from the Duluth International Airport on Saturday, killing the pilot and two passengers, is on its way to the Twin Cities for a partial reconstruction and examination by aviation experts. 

Aaron McCarter, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, told MPR News that the remnants of the plane were hauled away Monday afternoon as part of the effort to determine the cause of the crash. The wreckage will be examined in south Minneapolis starting Tuesday morning. 

The Cessna 172 went down and hit a home in Hermantown, about two miles southwest of the airport, late Saturday night. The pilot, Tyler Fretland, 32, of Burnsville, and two passengers, siblings Alyssa Schmidt, 32, of St. Paul and Matthew Schmidt, 31, of Burnsville, died in the crash.

The plane struck the roof of a home and broke apart in the yard. No one on the ground, including two people who were inside the home, was physically injured.

The NTSB’s McCarter said representatives of the aircraft manufacturer and its engine maker and other officials will join his probe into the crash, although he said there was no immediate indication of a mechanical problem before the crash.  

McCarter said the plane took off in Duluth at about 11:10 p.m. on Saturday and crashed about 7 minutes later, apparently during the plane’s initial climb. “It was a very short flight,” he said. “They never got established on their route to down South St. Paul.” 

McCarter did say that the weather was less than ideal at the time of the crash, including a low cloud ceiling and precipitation.

“I wouldn't say it was hazardous weather. I would say it was low visibility and in mist, and it was a very dark night,” he said.

He said the control tower at the Duluth airport was staffed at the time. 

McCarter said the initial indication was that the weather may have imposed instrument flight rules, rather than the less-complicated visual flight rules. He said Fretland, the pilot, had a commercial pilot’s license and was instrument rated for flying aircraft. Fretland also filed a flight plan, indicating his destination in the Twin Cities. 

McCarter said investigators will be looking at many factors — about the plane, the pilot and the weather conditions — as they try to determine what caused the plane to crash.

The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district said Monday that Alyssa Schmidt, one of the passengers who died, had been teaching second grade at Echo Park Elementary School of Leadership, Engineering and Technology in Burnsville. She had been with the district since 2014, and previously taught kindergarten and third grade.

“We are deeply saddened over the tragic loss of three lives, including an incredibly talented young teacher who positively impacted students every day,” the district said in a statement. “District 196 and the Echo Park school community are focused on supporting staff, students and families through this sudden and difficult loss.”

The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report about 10 days after the start of an investigation, which may offer more details. It’s issued after a full examination of the wreckage, a complete analysis of the weather, and interviews with any air traffic control personnel or witnesses who may have details on the incident, as well as other relevant information. 

A full report on the crash is likely to be finished in about a year. 

https://www.mprnews.org

Tyler Fretland

HERMANTOWN — Three Twin Cities area residents were killed late Saturday night when the small airplane they were flying in crashed into a home and yard just south of Duluth International Airport.

Hermantown officials said Sunday afternoon that Alyssa Schmidt, 32, of St. Paul, and her brother, Matthew Schmidt, 31, of Burnsville, Minnesota, were passengers in the plane, while Tyler Fretland, 32, of Burnsville, was the pilot. All three died in the crash.

Two occupants in the house, Jason and Crystal Hoffman, were not injured in the crash that happened Saturday just minutes before midnight.

"I’m still not sure what to think. It doesn’t seem real, at all. We’re just lucky. The loss of life is heartbreaking. At the same time we’re grateful for making it through this," Jason Hoffman said, recalling the crash on Sunday morning.

According to Hermantown Communications Director Joe Wicklund, the Hermantown Police Department was notified by the airport's control tower that a small airplane had left radar and was believed to have crashed. The control tower advised the last location on radar was 1 to 1.5 miles south of the airport.

Police and fire departments from surrounding agencies responded to the area and located the wreckage of a Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP plane in the 5100 block of Arrowhead Road. The airplane hit the second floor before coming to rest in the backyard of the property.

The plane took out much of the second floor of the home at 5154 Arrowhead Road. Pieces of the plane, and damaged vehicles that were parked in the yard, were strewn across the backyard. The largest intact piece of the Cessna appeared to be the tail section. Wicklund said the occupants of the small brick house were upstairs when the crash occurred and were unscathed.

"I remember waking up to a very loud explosion and my wife screaming," Hoffman said. "The first thing I thought was that the furnace exploded."

  

It wasn't until he fumbled through the darkness and dust to get a flashlight that Hoffman noticed an airplane wheel next to his bed and realized it was a crash.

Neighbors quickly responded to the scene and warned the Hoffmans not to move yet as there were live power lines around the home. The couple found their cat unharmed in the basement and eventually left the home when the dust and rubble became overpowering.

The crash apparently caused extensive power outages in the area but Minnesota Power reported no customers without power at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Hoffman believes the house may be a total loss. He and his wife have lived there for seven years since moving from Worthington, Minnesota.

"This was actually the first house we saw when we came into town. My wife and I said to each other, we need to live there, and ended up buying it, amazingly," Hoffman said. "It was kind of like a storybook tale that we found it and fell in love with it so quickly."

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are performing an investigation, authorities said. 

  

Additional information will be released in concert with the NTSB.

  

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com