Investigator In Charge (IIC): Hicks, Ralph
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Jennifer Viteritto; Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida
Location: Orlando, Florida
Accident Number: ERA22LA395
Date and Time: September 1, 2022, 17:00 Local
Registration: N43RG
Aircraft: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 42
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
On September 1, 2022, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 42 NG, N43RG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Orlando, Florida. The private pilot was fatally injured, and a flight instructor was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The local, instructional flight was to originate at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), Orlando, Florida. The flight instructor reported that he and his student checked the weather and determined that there was a small area of precipitation, about 2 nm wide, over Orlando International Airport (MCO), which was slow moving, and would be in the vicinity of ORL after their departure. The flight taxied to runway 7 and performed pre-takeoff checks at taxiway A7. During this time, the weather deteriorated, with wind gusting to 40 knots and visibility dropping to zero. They elected to hold in place rather than attempt to taxi back to the ramp. Shortly thereafter, the wind gusts increased to about 60 knots. The airplane’s left wing lifted, and the airplane rolled to the right. The flight instructor attempted to shut down the engines, and the airplane rolled over, inverted.
An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. Structural damage was noted on both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Diamond Aircraft Industries
Registration: N43RG
Model/Series: DA 42 NG
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: IMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KORL,104 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:08 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C /19°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Wind
Speed/Gusts, Direction: / 49 knots,
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1600 ft AGL
Visibility: 0.25 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Orlando, FL
Destination: Orlando, FL
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 28.54386,-81.33903 (est)
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.
Aircraft taxiing for departure and flipped over due to a wind gust.
Date: 01-SEP-22
Time: 21:00:00Z
Regis#: N43RG
Aircraft Make: DIAMOND
Aircraft Model: DA42
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Flight Crew: 1 Fatal
Pax: 1 Minor
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 91
City: ORLANDO
State: FLORIDA
Alfa Ekele
Military Pilot
Instructor Pilot, DA-40NG Nigerian Air Force
1. Planned and conducted activities for balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time, providing students with opportunities to observe, question and investigate.
2. Conducted on-the-job combat training classes and live missions and demonstrated principles, techniques, procedures, and methods of military flying.
3. Selected curriculum and instructional aid to increase student pilots' understanding of core concepts.
4. Planned and executed attack missions on terrorism infested regions, employed necessary ordnance to save lives of civilians.
Aircraft Accident Investigator Nigeria Air Force
1. Reported results of investigations with written observations and photographs and produced final reports.
2. Managed aircraft accident scene investigations by collecting evidence, performing fingerprinting, and taking videos and photos of scenes.
3. Cordoned off scenes to protect evidence and prevent unauthorized access.
4. Removed evidence from crime scenes, including clothing fibers, hair and samples for in-depth analysis.
Flight Safety Officer 401 Flying Training School
1. Responded to emergency situations in most efficient, effective ways possible.
2. Conducted regular inspections of facilities to check compliance with fire, hazard, and safety guidelines.
3. Examined hazardous incidents and accidents to uncover causes and provided corrective actions.
4. Created and implemented programs, policies and procedures designed to effectively reduce or eliminate injuries and hazards in workplace.
5. Held safety training and traffic safety instructional courses which led to marked improvements in safety culture across personnel groups.
6. Created and compiled safety training procedures into manuals to disseminate to staff members.
7. Provided leadership of Air Force Training Command with strategic and tactical advice to advance or resolve pilots' compliance cases.
Instructor/Combat Pilot (L-39ZA Albatros) Flying Training School
1. Planned and conducted activities for balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time, providing students with opportunities to observe, question and investigate.
2. Conducted on-the-job combat training classes and live missions and demonstrated principles, techniques, procedures and methods of military flying.
3. Selected curriculum and instructional aid to increase student pilots' understanding of core concepts.
4. Planned and executed attack missions on terrorism infested regions, employed necessary ordnance to save lives of civilians.
A Florida Institute of Technology student was identified as the person killed earlier this month at the Orlando Executive Airport after wind gusts of 60 mph flipped a twin-engine plane he was in, university officials said.
The deadly incident was caused by a microburst as severe weather descended on the airport September 1 as the Diamond DA42 NG Twin Star was waiting on the taxiway. A second person was injured, airport officials reported.
Investigators from the NTSB are investigating the incident involving the airplane.
The Florida Tech student was identified as Alfa Ekele, a Nigerian national who was working on a master's degree in administration of applied aviation safety at the university’s College of Aeronautics. The incident was not related to Ekele's work at the school in Melbourne, university officials confirmed.
"Alfa was dear to many, and anyone who knew him was impacted by his faith and pursuit of God, genuine love for his family, contagious smile, generosity and impeccable work ethic," said Maureen Namukasa, a doctoral student in aviation sciences and Alfa's friend.
"He was a passionate pilot who excelled in all his classes and was on the path to working in civil aviation," she said.
Judith-Ann Jarrette, director of the airport, told media outlets that the twin-engine aircraft had taxied out on Runway 7 when winds from severe weather moving into the area flipped the aircraft upside down. The Orlando Fire Department responded to the site. A federal investigation is ongoing.
Ekele is survived by his wife, Precious Ekele, and two children. Florida Tech will hold a public memorial service for Ekele at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the All Faiths Center on campus.
ORLANDO, Florida - The owner of a Cessna 182H Skylane that flipped over yesterday at Orlando Executive Airport says they're stunned by what happened, and just trying to figure out their next steps. FOX35 is still working to learn more details about the victims of yesterday's accident.
Cell phone video showed the powerful storm blowing through Orlando on Thursday. Pilot Remy Colin often flies out of Orlando Executive Airport, and says his plane wasn't one that flipped, but his crew scrambled to secure their gear.
"They saw the radar, and they started putting things away. They were lucky, they had zero damage. They had one hangar door that caved in, came off the rails. That was the extent of their damage," said Colin.
Airport officials said the severe weather came through around 5:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. A Cessna 182H Skylane and a Diamond DA42 NG Twin Star both flipped over.
The Cessna 182H Skylane was empty, but the Diamond DA42 NG Twin Star had two people inside it. One of them died, and the other was left seriously injured.
Colin said he was surprised that it happened.
"Jets don't move much. Those things are heavy. It would take 80-90 mph winds to start moving those things," said Colin.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Greater Orlando Aviation Authority are investigating the deadly accident.
FOX35 spoke with the Cessna 182H Skylane owner who didn't want to be identified.
She said they're shocked by what happened, but have insurance to cover the damage. She said the plane is a total loss. Colin says the weather took everyone by surprise.
"That was not a normal thing, yesterday was not a normal thing," said Colin.
