Floria Hakimi posted this picture to Instagram two hours before the plane crashed with the caption, 'Flying out to LA'.
Nasim Ghanadan
Lara Shepherd and pilot husband Scott.
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Long Beach, California
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Long Beach, California
Continental Aerospace; Mobile, Alabama
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Santa Ana, California
Accident Number: WPR18FA211
Date & Time: August 5, 2018, 12:29 Local
Registration: N727RP
Aircraft: Cessna 414
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Injuries: 5 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation
Analysis
The pilot and four passengers were nearing the completion of a cross-county business flight. While maneuvering in the traffic pattern at the destination airport, the controller asked the pilot if he could accept a shorter runway. The pilot said he could not, so he was instructed to enter a holding pattern for sequencing; less than a minute later, the pilot said he could accept the shorter runway. He was instructed to conduct a left 270° turn to enter the traffic pattern. The pilot initiated a left bank turn and then several seconds later the bank increased, and the airplane subsequently entered a steep nose-down descent. The airplane impacted a shopping center parking lot about 1.6 miles from the destination airport.
A review of the airplane's flight data revealed that, shortly after entering the left turn, and as the airplane’s bank increased, its airspeed decreased to about 59 knots, which was well below the manufacturer’s published stall speed in any configuration.
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engines revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the turn, which resulted in an exceedance of the aircraft's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
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 adequate airspeed while maneuvering in the traffic pattern which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent spin at a low altitude, which the pilot was unable to recover from.
Findings
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Airspeed - Not attained/maintained
Aircraft Angle of attack - Capability exceeded
Factual Information
History of Flight
Maneuvering-low-alt flying Aerodynamic stall/spin (Defining event)
Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
On August 5, 2018, about 1229 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 414 airplane, N727RP, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Santa Ana, California. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight.
A review of the John Wayne-Orange County Control Tower (SNA) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) audio revealed that the pilot contacted SNA tower at 1225, and reported the airplane was at an altitude of 1,700 ft. The controller instructed the pilot to make right traffic for runway 20R. The pilot acknowledged the instruction and the controller then asked the pilot if he could accept runway 20L and informed him the runway was 2,850 ft long. The pilot responded that he was unable to land on runway 20L. Subsequently, the pilot was instructed to hold over the South Coast Plaza, a local VFR holding point, and to conduct left 360 turns for sequencing. Less than a minute after denying the original response to land on runway 20L, the pilot responded that he could accept runway 20L for landing. The controller then instructed the pilot to accomplish a left 270° turn and cross directly over the tower at or above 1,300 ft, for left traffic to runway 20L. The pilot acknowledged the instruction.
About 23 seconds later, the controller instructed the pilot to “climb back up to 1,300 ft or above.” Four seconds after the instruction the pilot stated, “emergency, emergency, emergency.” A review of audio transcripts, flight data, and a discussion with an ATCT who witnessed the event, were all consistent with the pilot’s emergency transmissions being made during the start of the steep nose-down descent. No further transmissions were received by the pilot.
A review of flight data provided by the airplane’s Appareo Stratus 2S ADS-B device showed at 1929:10 (all times given as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the airplane was at 96 knots and an altitude of 960 ft msl. Shortly thereafter, the airplane began a left turn. Initially, the airplane’s left bank increased to about 15°; about 10 seconds later, the left bank increased to about 30°. At 1929:15, the airspeed was 91 knots, and the altitude was 955 ft msl. At 1929:20, the airspeed was 85 knots and the altitude was 950 ft msl. The airplane continued the left turn and at 1929:25, the airspeed was 73 knots, the altitude was 894 ft msl, and the roll rate was increased to over 40° of bank; over the next few seconds, the bank increased to nearly 90°. The airplane began to descend, and the vertical speed was about -1200 ft per min (fpm). From this time forward, the airplane’s descent rate increased rapidly. At 1929:27, the airspeed was 62 knots, the altitude was 765 ft msl, and the vertical speed was about -2,300 fpm. At 1929:30, the airspeed was 66 knots, the altitude had decreased to 499 ft msl, and the vertical speed was about -4,400 fpm. The last recorded data point was at 1929:33, when the airspeed was 59 knots, the altitude was 292 ft msl, and the vertical speed about -5,250 fpm.
Multiple witnesses, near the accident site, observed the airplane enter the left bank turn and shortly thereafter, they observed the bank increase and the airplane descend towards the ground at a steep angle.An Air Force pilot said that it looked “like the onset of a spin.” Another pilot holding on the taxiway at SNA, said that this “was the classic stall and spin.”
The airplane came to rest in a shopping mall parking lot and struck several vehicles before coming to rest upright about 35 ft from the entrance of a store.
Observation of online video of the accident airplane showed it in a steep vertical nose down descent, while rotating to the left.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 53,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: October 20, 2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 980 hours (Total, all aircraft), 120 hours (Total, this make and model)
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age: Male
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
Passenger Information
Certificate:
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s):
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s):
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
The pilot began flying the accident airplane in January 2017. In the 6 months before the accident, the pilot flew the accident airplane on 14 flights (not including the accident flight) for a total flight time of about 43 hours.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N727RP
Model/Series: 414 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1973
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 414-0385
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 26, 2017 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 6350 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3963.6 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: TSIO-520-NB
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 325 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
The airplane was modified in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SE4327SW, which allowed for operation of 325 horsepower at 38 inches manifold pressure at 2,700 rpm. The airplane was also modified IAW STC SA09971SC-D by installation of Hartzell three-bladed constant speed PHCC3YF-2UF propellers.
Airplane Stall Speeds:
The airplane’s Pilot’s Owner’s Manual (POH) listed the stall speeds. The speeds were listed in mph and were converted to knots for a better comparison with the flight data. At the gross weight of 6,350 pounds, with gear and flaps up, and no bank angle, the stall speed is 81 knots, at 20° of bank, 84 knots, at 40° of bank, 96 knots and at 60° of bank, 121 knots. With the gear extended, 15° of flaps, and no bank angle: the stall speed is at 80 knots, at 20° of bank, 83 knots, at 40° of bank, 91 knots, and at 60° of bank, 114 knots. (Note: The Airplane Flight Manual Supplement for the STC only listed stall speeds for a gross weight of 6,510 pounds. For stall speed at and below 6,350 pounds, the original Pilot’s Operating Manual would be referenced).
The airplane’s POH landing performance table indicated that the landing distance with wing flaps 45° would be sufficient for the use of runway 20L.
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSNA,56 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 12:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 136°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 210°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.86 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No
Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Concord, CA (CCR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Santa Ana, CA (SNA)
Type of Clearance: Unknown
Departure Time: 10:20 Local
Type of Airspace: Class C
Airport Information
Airport: JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT-ORANGE COUN SNA
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 56 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 20L IFR
Approach: None Runway
Length/Width: 2887 ft / 75 ft VFR
Approach/Landing: Traffic pattern
Runway 20L was 2,887 ft long and 75 ft wide.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 4 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 5 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 33.696109,-117.884445(est)
The airplane impacted a parking lot about 1.6 miles northwest of SNA. The wreckage was contained within an approximate 150 ft debris trail. The first piece of identified wreckage was the left-wing tip which was located about 90 ft from the main wreckage. The last piece of identified wreckage was the right-wing tip which was located about 60 ft from the main wreckage.
The initial impact point (IIP) was a depression in the asphalt. About 12 ft from this depression was a crater about 3 ft long, 2 ft wide and 6 inches deep. A propeller blade from the left engine was separated from the hub and found in the crater. Several left-wing fragments were found near the IIP. The aileron trim actuator, which was located in the left wing, separated from the wing upon impact, and was observed in the parking lot near the IIP. The aileron trim cables were observed separated, consistent with tension overload.
The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, right engine, right wing, and empennage. The fuselage was slightly canted to the left. The empennage was mostly separated from the fuselage but remained attached by the control cables. The front of the aircraft and cabin area was destroyed during impact. The cabin door remained attached.
The inboard section of the left wing was separated from the fuselage at the wing root. Furthermore, the left engine, left flap and left main landing gear, remained attached to this inboard wing section.
The right wing remained partially attached to the fuselage. The right wing section outboard of the nacelle was separated and was found within the debris path. The right aileron remained attached at the inboard connection.
The right engine impacted into an unoccupied parked vehicle. The vehicle was then displaced by about 65 ft from its original location. The right propeller separated at the hub and was found inside the aft section of the vehicle. Additionally, a few other unoccupied vehicles were struck by the airplane debris.
The empennage remained partially attached to the fuselage. The vertical stabilizer remained attached to the empennage and was relatively intact. The rudder remained attached to the vertical stabilizer and the rudder trim was near the neutral position. The leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer sustained impact damage. Both elevators remained attached to their respective horizontal stabilizer. The elevator trim was observed near the neutral position.
Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit area to each respective flight control surface, except for the left aileron, which had separated. Aileron flight control cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the control surfaces bell crank through cable separations that exhibited tensile overload. Rudder and elevator flight control cable continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the control surface bell cranks, through cable separations that exhibited either tensile overload or were cut by investigators to facilitate recovery.
Examination of the flap motor revealed that the left and right flap chains had 7.5 links from the sprocket, consistent with about a 10° flap setting.
The landing gear actuator was observed in the extended position. Brake assembly parts were observed in one of the impact craters. Additionally, impact markings and damage sustained to the main landing gear assemblies were consistent with the gear in the extended position.
The airplane was configured with the following fuel tanks: left and right main tanks (located at the wing tips), left and right auxiliary tanks (located in the wings outboard of the nacelles), and right wing locker (located in the right nacelle behind the engine).The left fuel selector handle was observed between the left main and left auxiliary tanks, and the right fuel selector handle was observed between the right main and right auxiliary tanks. The pointer tip of the left fuel handler selector was fractured. The left and right fuel selector cables were stretched during the separation of the wings outboard of the nacelles and the left and right control arms were pulled beyond the off position. The fuel selector valves were substantially damaged by impact and unable to be functionally tested. The only fuel tank not breached
was the right auxiliary tank.
During the examination, about 2.5 gallons of fuel were drained from the tank. The fuel was observed to be blue in color and clear of contaminants. The airplane was refueled on the morning of the accident flight; the main tanks were topped off and the right auxiliary tank was not refueled since it was full, and the left auxiliary tank received about 15 gallons. The fuel load was sufficient for the flight.
Left Engine
Impact damage to Cylinder’s Nos. 2, 4, and 6 were noted. Cylinder’s Nos. 4 and 6 rocker box covers were separated. Manual rotation was attempted by using a hand tool but was unable to be accomplished. A borescope inspection of the cylinders revealed normal operational conditions. Both magnetos were separated from the engine but remained attached to the ignition harness. The magnetos sustained impact damage but when manually rotated, spark was observed at all leads. The oil sump sustained extensive
crush damage. The top spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal worn out wear signatures when compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug comparison chart. The fuel flow divider lines were attached at all cylinder fuel injectors.
Examination of the fuel pump revealed no anomalies. The turbocharger remained attached to its respective housing. The turbocharger blades were observed bent.
Cylinder Nos. 1 and 3 were removed and eventually rotation was confirmed. The remaining cylinders were also removed, and the crankcase was disassembled. No thermal damage was observed, and all bearings displayed normal wear. The crankshaft and camshaft were also removed, and no anomalies were noted.
The oil filter was removed and cut open. The filter folds were clear of contamination.
Right Engine
The No. 6 cylinder sustained impact damage. The No. 6 rocker cover was separated. Both magnetos were separated from the engine but remained attached to their respective ignition harness. All spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal worn out wear signatures when compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug comparison chart. The fuel flow dividers lines remained attached at all cylinder fuel injectors. Examination of the fuel pump revealed no anomalies.
Both magnetos were manually rotated, and spark was observed at all leads. The turbocharger remained attached to its respective housing. The turbocharger blades were observed bent.
All six cylinders, crankshaft, and camshaft were removed, with no anomalies noted.
The oil filter was removed and cut open. The filter folds were clear of contamination.
The crankcase was disassembled, and no thermal damage was observed. The bearings displayed normal wear and no anomalies were noted.
Propeller examination
The propeller examination revealed that both propellers showed signs of rotation and there were no indications that either propeller was at or near the feathered position. Leading edge gouging, chordwise/rotational scoring, blade bending, and twisting were observed on both propellers, which is consistent with rotation. Overall, the damage to both the left and right propellers was similar and consistent with a power on, symmetric condition, at the time of impact.
Cockpit/Cabin Observations
The cockpit area sustained substantial impact damage and most instrumentation was damaged and unreadable. The throttles were near the idle/aft position and the mixture and propeller controls were full forward.
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engines revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
Orange County Sheriff-Coroner, Santa Ana, California, conducted an autopsy of the pilot. The pilot’s cause of death was multiple traumatic blunt force injuries.
Toxicology testing performed at the FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs.
=============
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Accident Number: WPR18FA211Date & Time: 08/05/2018, 1229 PDT
Registration: N727RP
Aircraft: Cessna 414
Injuries: 5 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Business
On August 5, 2018, about 1229 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 414 airplane, N727RP, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground in a shopping mall parking lot in Santa Ana, California. The private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Category III Aviation Corporation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight departed Buchanan Field Airport (CCA), Concord, California, about 1022 and was destined for John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA), Santa Ana, California.
A review of the SNA Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) audio tape revealed that the pilot established contact with the control tower controller when he was west of the airport descending to 1,700 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot was told to expect right traffic to runway 20R. The controller then queried the pilot to determine if he could accept runway 20L, and the pilot responded that he was unable to land on runway 20L. The controller then instructed the pilot to hold over the South Coast Plaza, a local holding point for aircraft operating under visual flight rules (VFR), and to conduct left 360oturns for sequencing. When the accident airplane arrived at the holding point, the pilot responded that he could accept runway 20L for landing. The pilot was then instructed to continue his turn to accomplish a left 270° turn and to cross mid-field at or above 1,300 ft msl, for left traffic to runway 20L. The pilot acknowledged that instruction. The controller then instructed the pilot to climb to 1,300 ft msl.
A review of the preliminary radar data showed that at 1228, the airplane was about 1-mile northwest of SNA, traveling eastbound at an altitude of about 1,000 ft msl. The airplane began a left turn and the last radar return was recorded at 1229. At this time, the airplane was descending through an altitude of about 494 ft msl.
Multiple witnesses near the accident site observed the airplane enter the left bank turn and shortly thereafter, they observed the bank angle increase and the airplane descend towards the ground at a steep angle. During the descent, the pilot transmitted "emergency" three times. The airplane did not recover from the descent and collided with several vehicles in a shopping mall parking lot before coming to rest upright about 35 ft from the entrance of a major store.
Examination of the accident site by the National Transportation Safety Board investigators revealed that that all major components of the airplane were located throughout the 150 ft long debris path.
The airplane wreckage was recovered to a secure storage facility for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N727RP
Model/Series: 414 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSNA, 56 ft msl
Observation Time: 1953 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 18°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / , 210°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.86 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Concord, CA (CCR)
Destination: Santa Ana, CA (SNA)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 4 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 5 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 33.696111, -117.884444 (est)
"It just banked, he turned and it just came straight down," witness Alex Perkins said.
The victims all worked for a Northern California real estate consulting firm and were on their way to a real estate conference in Orange County, reports CBS News correspondent Mireya Villarreal. Some of them were related to each other. It happened on a busy weekend shopping day in a highly-traveled retail area with a large mall just a block away.
Cellphone video shows the chaotic scene just after the plane crashed in an Orange County parking lot, smashing into a car. The car was unoccupied.
"Fortunately, that person was inside the store shopping at the time of impact," Orange County Fire Authority's Tony Bommarito said.
Nearby shoppers said the fixed-wing aircraft made a sputtering noise as it dropped head-first to the ground. The FAA said the pilot, identified as Scott Shepherd, declared an emergency just before the crash.
Shepherd was the owner of a San Francisco real estate consulting firm, Category III Aviation Corp. The coroner identified the other victims as Lara Shepherd, Floria and Navid Hakimi, and Nasim Ghanadan. The plane had taken off from Concord, heading for John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana just about one mile from the crash site. Floria posted a photo to Instagram about two hours before the crash with the caption, "Flying out to LA." The plane she was boarding appears to have the same markings as the one that crashed.
"It does look like it came down pretty abruptly," Bommarito said, adding, "There's a small impact zone."
Federal investigators are now trying to determine why the plane went down so close to its final destination.
"I don't know anything about what this pilot did or what he was thinking but it could have been much more tragic ... The fact that there was no injuries on ground is a miracle in itself," Bommarito said.
The pilot had many years of experience. According to a records search, his license was renewed last year.
Story and video ➤ https://www.cbsnews.com
A local employee, who requested anonymity, recounted the incident. “I looked up and saw the plane turning left and making a weird noise and thought, ‘What the hell is happening?'” the witness said. “Then it began nosediving, fast, and then it hit the car. After it hit, there was no explosion or fire.”
The sheared Cessna lay scattered across the asphalt. The rear of the red Chevrolet sedan hit by the plane was crushed. The car’s owner had parked minutes before the crash and was inside shopping at Staples, according to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA).
Many witnesses expected there to be an explosion and kept their distance, but no explosion came. Typically, the 100 octane fuel in a Cessna is highly combustible, according to the OCFA. Fire authorities investigating the crash have said that the lack of fire or explosion was surprising.
Alex Perkins was walking into Staples when he heard a loud sputter from the planes engine and saw the Cessna drop from the sky. Perkins, a former paramedic, saw two of the plane’s passengers on the ground and ran to help. Perkins checked the pulses of the two men, but no heartbeat registered. He then looked inside the Cessna and saw that the man in the pilot’s seat and the two passengers in the rear of the plane were all deceased.
The pilot, Scott Shepherd, along with the four passengers–Navid Hakimi, Floria Hakimi, Nasim Ghanadan, and Lara Shepherd- left Concord at 10:23 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. All five worked together at Union Pacific Real Estate in Danville, and were en route to a real estate conference in Southern California. According to Union Pacific, Scott Shepherd was an experienced pilot.
“This is an absolute tragedy,” said Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi. “This is an extremely busy parking lot and it’s a miracle that nobody on the ground was hurt in the crash.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is heading the investigation into the crash, and expects to release a preliminary report within one to two weeks. Following the initial report, the NTSB says a full report will be released within 12 to 24 months. Sunday’s tragic crash is the second fatal one related to John Wayne this year, and is the airport’s third major incident of 2018.
On January 28, a single engine Beech airplane piloted by a 24-year-old man was forced to fly underneath an overpass of the 55 freeway and land on the northbound Del Mar exit. Fortunately, nobody was injured.
Two days after the January 28 incident, another crash from John Wayne ended tragically. Shortly after leaving John Wayne, a small helicopter crashed into a home in Newport Beach. Three of the passengers aboard the helicopter were killed, while two sustained serious injuries.
Private aircraft crashes and incidents are unsurprisingly frequent at John Wayne Airport. Since 2010, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) reports 21 confirmed minor incidents with aircraft landing at John Wayne Airport. Each of the 21 confirmed minor incidents involved small private aircraft similar to the Beech that landed on the freeway, and the Cessna that crashed on Sunday.
These are sad, but unsurprising statistics given the number of private flights out of John Wayne. According to Deanne Thompson, spokesperson for John Wayne, roughly 70 percent of the airport’s flights are from private general aviation aircraft.
“There have been 26,643 total landings in June of 2018,” Thompson said. “General aviation flights [private planes] made up 69.8 percent of landings. Last year, we served 10.6 million passengers, and this year we’re on track to surpass that. But most of those passengers fly commercially, and those flights make up only 30 percent of our flights.” According to FAA data, Santa Ana was the 40th busiest passenger traffic airport in the country in 2016, and the sixth busiest airport in California.
Witnesses and authorities speculate that Sunday’s fatal crash likely had to do with a problem with the engine. Many believe the plane ran out of fuel, and point to the sound of the engine and the lack of fire as evidence. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association data on the Cessna 414, a well equipped Cessna with six passengers and luggage could fly for about two hours. The NTSB, FAA, and OCFA have all opted not to comment on the cause of the crash, and say that the preliminary report will provide more information.
Until then, our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.ocweekly.com
Officials on Monday identified five people killed after the small plane they were on the day before crashed in a Santa Ana parking lot.
Authorities said the Cessna 414 aircraft—registered to a San Francisco real estate firm—went down at 12:28 p.m. on Sunday at the parking lot of a Staples store in the 3900 block of Bristol Street, about two miles away from its destination, John Wayne Airport.
The plane left the Buchanan Field Airport in Concord at 10:23 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at the Santa Ana airport at 12:30 p.m., according to FlightAware.com.
"The pilot declared an emergency, however, he did not state the nature of the problem," Albert Nixon, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said at a news conference on Monday.
The victims include Navid Hakimi, 32, of Los Angeles; Floria Hakimi, 62, of Danville; Nasim Ghanadan, 29, of Alamo; Scott Shepherd, 53, and Lara Shepherd, 42, both of Diablo, according to the Orange County Coroner. There were no other passengers on the plane.
Scott Shepherd piloted the aircraft, the coroner said. Public records show he lived in the same home as Lara Shepherd.
The same address was also listed for Floria and Navid Hakimi. Social media posts suggest they were mother and son.
Ghanadan worked as a real estate consultant who lived in the Bay Area.
The crash did not ignite a fire, and nobody on the ground was hurt.
Matt Robinson, an aviation expert with the Southern California Safety Institute, said the minimal evidence of a post-crash fire suggests there was minimal fuel on board at the time.
The driver of a car struck by the aircraft was shopping inside Staples at the time, according to O.C. Fire Authority. Three other vehicles were hit, NTSB said.
"I was working and I hear a loud thud," said Christian Tornero, who worked at a store in the area. "I thought it was like a semitruck that just tipped over or something."
A woman shopping nearby said it sounded like a truck was running something over until she saw the plane.
"There was just nothing left and you could smell the gas," Kathy Hayden said.
According to O.C. Fire Authority, a group of firefighters having lunch across the street jumped on their truck and rushed to the scene after one of them heard screaming.
"And somebody — one of the patrons — yelled, and they looked up and saw the plane coming down towards the parking lot," agency spokesman Steve Concialdi said.
All of the victims were declared dead at the scene, according to O.C. Fire Authority.
The mangled aircraft remained at the parking lot on Monday morning as officials worked on determining the cause of the crash.
Federal transportation investigators are looking at factors such as the pilot's level of experience, whether there was enough fuel on board, or if there was an engine failure and how any of that may have contributed to the deadly crash.
NTSB said it expected to have a final report in 12 to 18 months, but will issue a preliminary report much sooner — possibly as soon as next week.
Story and video ➤ https://ktla.com
The Orange County coroner’s office on Monday identified the victims as Scott Shepherd, 53, of Diablo; Lara Shepherd, 42, of Diablo; Nasim Ghanadan, 29, of Alamo; Floria Hakimi, 62, of Danville; and Navid Hakimi, 32, of Los Angeles.
Scott Shepherd, who was flying the Cessna 414, declared an emergency before the plane crashed in the parking lot of a Staples office supply store in the 3800 block of Bristol Street, near the South Coast Plaza shopping center, officials said.
The pilot did not specify what the emergency was, according to Albert Nixon, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. Investigators have not determined what caused the crash.
Witnesses said they saw the plane turn before it suddenly began to dive toward the shopping center. Video taken by people on the ground and posted on social media shows a crumpled airplane with two broken sections and at least one body outside the aircraft.
The plane struck a red Chevrolet sedan that was parked in the shopping center and damaged three other vehicles, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. No one on the ground was injured.
Lara Shepherd, Floria Hakimi and Ghanadan were all Realtors with Pacific Union International, the eighth-largest real estate brokerage firm in the country, according to the company’s website. Lara’s husband, Scott, was also a real estate developer in the Bay Area, according to her profile on the Pacific Union website.
The Shepherds have two children, according to Lara’s profile on the real estate site.
Pacific Union International, which is largely focused on the Bay Area and Northern California, began doing business in the Los Angeles area earlier this year.
FAA records show that the airplane was owned by Category III Aviation Corp., a real estate consulting firm in San Francisco, and was bound for John Wayne Airport, which is about a mile from the crash site. An FAA spokeswoman could not say where the flight departed from.
Category III Aviation Corp. did not respond to a request for comment.
On Monday morning, National Transportation Safety Board investigators snapped photos of the wreckage strewn across the parking lot directly in front of the Staples store. Officials are expected to move the wreckage from the shopping center on Monday to continue their investigation.
Witnesses and fire officials said there was no explosion when the plane slammed into the ground.
“We looked up to see the plane falling nose first,” Ella Pham, 20, of Santa Ana, said Sunday. “We really didn’t think it was a plane at first due to no crashing noise, but as soon as we saw people running from across the street we went to go check it out.”
“It was so heartbreaking just seeing the plane crumbled into pieces,” she said.
The lack of an explosion on impact has raised questions about whether the plane had ran out of fuel. On Monday, National Transportation Safety Board officials said it was too early to tell and that they would look more into the crash.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.latimes.com
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Five people were killed when a small plane they were in crashed Sunday afternoon in a Santa Ana parking lot near South Coast Plaza.
Family members identified one of the victims killed as Nasim Ghanadan, who is a realtor at Pacific Union in the East Bay and was on the flight for work. They said she was 29 years old.
A spokesperson for Pacific Union says that all of the passengers on the flight worked for the company.
Ghanadan's biography on the company's website says, "Nasim's clients appreciate her honesty, tenacious work ethic, strong negotiation skills and cheerful spirit."
The crash occurred at 12:28 p.m. in the 3800 block of Bristol Street, a spokesperson for the Santa Ana Police Department said, adding that no one on the ground was injured.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna 414 aircraft declared an emergency before slamming into the parking lot.
The plane struck at least one unoccupied vehicle, whose owner was elsewhere shopping at the time.
"Nobody on the ground was injured, so I don't know anything about what this pilot did or what he was thinking, but it could have been much more tragic. This is a Sunday afternoon, and we have people shopping, so the fact that there are no injuries on the ground is a miracle in itself," said Capt. Tony Bommarito, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority.
The crash site is just north of the popular South Coast Plaza shopping mall and a few blocks northwest of John Wayne Airport, which was the pilot's destination.
The plane is registered to the San Francisco-based real estate company Category III and had left Concord, according to an FAA database.
The identities of the other victims have not yet been released.
Bommarito said responding firefighters did not encounter any flames in the wreckage.
Crews were working to clean up spilled fuel at the location. Meanwhile, Bristol was closed between Sunflower Avenue and Callen's Common.
The cause of the incident will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://abc7news.com
The family of the victim said that it received a call from a sheriff's department notifying relatives that Ghandan had died in the crash, though the family did not clarify which sheriff's department contacted the family.
Ghanadan worked for a real estate company called Pacific Union in Danville, California. The flight originated in nearby Concord, California.
Authorities confirmed that all five people on board were adults and that all five people on the plane died in the crash. No one on the ground was injured in the crash.
The pilot of the plane declared an emergency, but the flight was unable to reach nearby John Wayne Airport and crashed into an Orange County parking lot in front of a Staples store at approximately 12:30 p.m.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash, with the FAA providing assistance.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.nbclosangeles.com
The plane crashed in the parking lot of a Staples office supply store in the 3800 block of Bristol Street, fire authority spokesman Stephen Concialdi said.
OCFA Capt. Tony Bommarito said the plane struck an unoccupied parked vehicle.
"Fortunately, that person was inside the store shopping at the time of the impact," Bommarito told reporters during a news conference. “I don’t know anything about what this pilot did or what he was thinking, but it could have been much more tragic.
“This is a Sunday afternoon and we had people shopping so the fact that there were no injuries on the ground is a miracle in itself,” he added.
The pilot of the Cessna 414 declared an emergency before the plane crashed into the parking lot of a shopping center, about a mile from John Wayne Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Officials have not released the identities of the five who were killed.
Witnesses said they saw the plane turn before it suddenly began to dive into the shopping center. Video footage taken by those on the ground and posted on social media shows a crumbled airplane with two broken sections and at least one body outside the aircraft.
A dashcam on a vehicle captured the moment before the plane dove near Sunflower Avenue and Bristol Street.
Ella Pham, 20, of Santa Ana, said she and her boyfriend were leaving the parking lot to go to South Coast Plaza when they noticed the aircraft.
“We looked up to see the plane falling nose first,” she told the Los Angeles Times. “We really didn’t think it was a plane at first due to no crashing noise, but as soon as we saw people running from across the street we went to go check it out.
“It was so heartbreaking just seeing the plane crumbled into pieces.”
Pham said there was no explosion, a detail that fire officials also noted during the news conference.
“A lot of people tried to help until they saw that it was hard to get inside the aircraft but by the time people stepped away, firefighters and police were there,” she said.
FAA records show the fixed-wing airplane was owned by Category III Aviation Corp., a real estate consulting firm in San Francisco, and was bound for John Wayne Airport.
“We do not have confirmation on a departure airport at this time,” said Arlene Salac, an FAA spokeswoman.
The company did not respond to a request for comment.
The FAA will investigate and the National Transportation Safety Board will determine the cause of the accident.
The crash came about a year after a twin-engine airplane burst into flames as it crash-landed on the 405 Freeway just a few miles away after taking off from John Wayne Airport. Video showed the aircraft bursting into flames and a tall plume of black smoke rising into the air. A husband and wife, who survived, were pulled from the aircraft by an off-duty firefighter from Avalon.
