The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Indianapolis, Indiana
Lycoming Engines; Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Piper Aircraft; Vero Beach, Florida
Location: Kokomo, IN
Accident Number: CEN20LA401
Date & Time: September 20, 2020, 10:57 Local
Registration: N8213X
Aircraft: Piper PA32
Injuries: 3 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under:
On September 20, 2020, about 1057 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-301 airplane, N8213X, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Kokomo, Indiana. The pilot, and 3 passengers were fatally injured. One passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.
According to the airplane owner, the pilot was a volunteer that was flying the airplane for a fundraising event for charity at Glenndale Airport (8I3), Kokomo, Indiana. The morning of the accident, he offered to take three other volunteers that had been providing marshalling assistance on a flight around the area. It was the pilot’s first flight of the day. The pilot flew the airplane for the event the whole day prior with no issues and was familiar with the approach.
According to a witness, who was taxiing his airplane about 1,000 ft from the approach end of the runway, the airplane appeared low on approach. He noted the flaps were extended and the engine was running. He saw the airplane’s nose-gear and the right main landing gear clip the utility pole. The airplane then yawed to the right and “cartwheel over on itself.” The witness stated it did not appear the airplane tried to regain altitude to climb over the power lines before impact. The airplane came to a rest inverted in a corn field below the power lines. The airplane immediately caught fire upon impact with the ground.
The utility pole was about 79 ft in height and was located about 570 ft north of the runway end. The utility line was demarcated with an orange, ball-like marker. The runway has a 20:1 approach slope to a 292 ft displaced threshold.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N8213X
Model/Series: PA32 301
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
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: OKK,830 ft msl
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 8.73 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 17°C /4°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 12 knots / , 100°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.46 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 2 Fatal, 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 Fatal, 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 40.529342,-86.170822 (est)
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
Liam & Reece Kelly
Liam Patrick Kelly, 17, and Reece David Kelly, 15, of Carmel, passed away as the result of a plane crash on Sunday, September 20, 2020 in Kokomo.
Liam was a senior at Westfield High School. He loved airplanes and had applied to the Air Force Academy to fulfill his dream. Liam cleaned airplanes to pay for flying time and was a member of the Flying Squirrels for 4 years. In 2017, he traveled with his mother on a medical mission trip to Haiti. Liam was a member of the National Honor Society & French Honor Society.
Reece was a sophomore at Westfield High School where he previously participated in the school band. He was also a member of the Flying Squirrels for 2 years. Reece wanted to follow his brother, Liam, into the Air Force Academy.
Both boys babysat, mowed lawns, and were always willing to help out. They enjoyed helping their grandparents with landscaping, mulch, and whatever else needed done. Liam & Reece were members of Grace Church and were really involved in small groups and Grace Kids Camp as volunteers. They participated in cross country, track, karate, Cub Scouts, and swim club. Both Liam & Reece enjoyed horseback riding and vacations with their family. The Kelly Family participated every year in the Broad Ripple Drumstick Dash, along with many other road races.
Reece & Liam are survived by their parents, Patrick & Kesha Kelly; grandparents, Robert & Shirley Kelly, and Dave & Dawn Hughes; great-grandmother, Marian Hughes; aunts & uncles, Robert & Karen Kelly, David & Sunday Hughes, Michael & Tara Hughes, and Nathan & Dr. Brandy Hughes; cousins, Megan Kelly, Jena Myers, Jacob Myers, Kylie Hughes, Hudson Myers, Kaiden Hughes, Caleb Hughes, and Laura Hughes; and their loving dog, Charlie Kelly.
The boys were preceded in death by their infant sister, Olivia Kelly; great-grandparents, Walter Hughes, Mary & Garland Petty, Howard & Nellie Webb, Robert Kelly Sr., and Bernie Kelly; cousin, Robert Kelly; and their beloved dogs, Lucy & Bella.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 pm on Friday, September 25, 2020 at Grace Church, 5504 East 146th Street in Noblesville, with a celebration visitation from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Liam and Reece Kelly Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Westfield Athletic Booster Club, PO Box 495, Westfield, IN 46074 or drop it off at any First Merchants Bank branch. Please make checks payable to WABC, and list Liam & Reece Kelly in the memo line.
Jerral Alan “Jerry” Long
January 20th, 1957 - September 20th, 2020
Jerral Alan “Jerry” Long, 63, Kokomo, passed away at 11:30 am Saturday, September 20, 2020. He was born January 20, 1957, in Kokomo, the son of the late Richard & Jean (Holman) Long. On July 14, 1984, at Morning Star Church in Kokomo, he married Karen L. Smallwood who survives.
Jerry was a 1975 graduate of Taylor High School. He retired in March of 2018 from Delphi Automotive after 43 years of service as a project manager. Jerry was a member of the Commemorative Air Force, and the Glendale Flying Club. Aviation was his passion and hobby. He was also a member of SAWS where he helped build ramps for the handicap. He has been described as the human Swiss army knife, he could fix anything. Jerry enjoyed being a part of Morning Star Church and the Kokomo Great Banquet. He used his skills in financial matters to assist his church and local organizations.
Along with his wife Karen, Jerry is also survived by his daughters, Katie Long and Elizabeth Long; sisters, Jocelyn Fedak and Janet (John) Reecer, along with several nieces and nephews.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, September 25, 2020, at Morning Star Church, 2900 E. Markland Ave., Kokomo, with Pastor Greg Reed officiating. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10-1 pm Friday at the church. The family requests that masks be worn for the visitation and the memorial service. Memorial contributions may be made in Jerry’s memory to the Kokomo Rescue Mission or SAWS-Kokomo, PO Box 68831, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.
