The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Cirrus Aircraft; Duluth, Minnesota
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Cirrus Aircraft; Duluth, Minnesota
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Grover, Utah
Accident Number: WPR19FA154
Date & Time: May 24, 2019, 11:16 Local
Registration: N809SR
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Structural icing
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot departed on an instrument flight rules cross-country flight and climbed to a cruise altitude of 14,000 ft mean sea level (msl). About 30 minutes into the flight, he requested a climb to 16,000 ft msl. Radar data indicated that over the next several minutes, the airplane climbed to 14,500 ft, then began an increasingly rapid descent as its groundspeed decayed from about 111 knots (kts) to about 64 kts before radar contact was lost. Witnesses reported that they heard the airplane and looked up to see it descending nose down like a corkscrew before it impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
AIRMET Zulu for moderate icing conditions was valid for the area of the accident site at the time of the accident, and an atmospheric sounding supported the likely formation of moderate rime and mixed-type icing in the area. The sounding also indicated the potential for supercooled large droplet icing formation near the top of the cloud layer near 15,000 ft msl. Satellite imagery depicted cumulus and cumulus congestus type clouds with vertical development over the flight track and accident site, and weather radar imagery depicted the airplane entering an area of light-to-moderate intensity echoes just before radar contact was lost. Immediately before and after the accident, two other aircraft operating at similar altitudes reported encountering light clear to mixed icing conditions. The pilot had received preflight weather information containing the relevant forecasts and advisories. In addition, the airplane was equipped with a TKS ice protection system, but it was heavily fragmented during the accident sequence and the investigation was unable to determine if the system was activated or working at the time of the accident.
It is likely that, during the last minutes of the flight, the airplane encountered moderate-to-severe icing conditions, which adversely affected the airplane's handling characteristics and likely resulted in a loss of control.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's encounter with moderate to severe icing conditions during cruise flight, which resulted in structural icing and a subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue a flight route through known moderate to severe icing conditions.
Findings
Environmental issues Conducive to structural icing - Effect on operation
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Personnel issues Decision making/judgment - Pilot
Environmental issues Conducive to structural icing - Decision related to condition
Factual Information
History of Flight
Enroute Structural icing (Defining event)
Enroute-change of cruise level Loss of control in flight
Enroute-change of cruise level Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
On May 24, 2019, about 1116 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N809SR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Grover, Utah. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The airplane departed Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), Moab, Utah, about 1042. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot contacted air traffic control, opened his instrument flight rules flight plan to Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Las Vegas, Nevada, and was assigned a cruise altitude of 14,000 ft mean sea level. About 1111, the pilot requested to climb to 16,000 ft msl; this was the last communication from the pilot. The airplane climbed from 13,900 ft to 14,500 ft at an average rate of 300 ft per minute and an average groundspeed of 111 knots. Shortly thereafter, the airplane's average groundspeed was 95 knots. The airplane then descended from 14,500 ft to 14,000 ft at an average rate of 833 ft per minute and an average groundspeed of 81 knots. The descent then increased to 2,000 ft per minute at an average groundspeed of 64 knots. Radar contact was lost at 1116.
Witnesses reported to law enforcement that they heard the airplane, then looked up and saw it nose down, descending like a corkscrew. The airplane descended behind a hillside and shortly thereafter, they heard an explosion and saw smoke.
Data recovered from the airplane's Avidyne multifunction display revealed that the engine was producing power until the time of the accident and that cylinder head and exhaust gas temperatures, fuel flow, oil temperature, and oil pressure values were consistent throughout the flight.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 66, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
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: August 15, 2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 930 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cirrus
Registration: N809SR
Model/Series: SR22 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 2129
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: April 16, 2019 100 hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 36 Hrs
Engines: Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2672 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental Motors
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-550-N
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 310 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: HVE,4463 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 30 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 10:55 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 62°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 170°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Moab, UT (CNY)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Las Vegas, NV (HND)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 10:42 Local
Type of Airspace: Unknown
The National Weather Service issued AIRMET Zulu, valid for the area of the accident site about the time of the accident, for moderate icing conditions between around 7,000 ft to 9,000 ft up to 21,000 ft msl. The High Resolution Rapid Refresh numerical model sounding over the accident site depicted a freezing level of 9,755 ft msl and a supported layer of clouds with bases at 10,860 ft msl with tops near 15,000 ft msl; this cloud layer had a greater than 90% probability of producing moderate rime-to-mixedtype icing. The sounding also indicated a mean vertical motion varying from 8 to 14 meters per second, which would enhance the growth of supercooled large droplet formation near the top of the cloud layer. The sounding wind profile supported a high probability of moderate turbulence due to strong vertical wind shear within the cloud environment.
The GOES-17 visible imagery depicted cumulus to cumulus congestus clouds with vertical development over the flight track and accident site, which would also support the formation of larger supercooled water droplets, and vertical motion in the clouds, which would enhance the icing potential. Weather radar imagery depicted several small areas of light-to-moderate intensity echoes of 25 to 35 basic reflectivity values (dBZ) scattered over the area, with most of the echoes within 25 miles of the radar site in the range of 10 to 15 dBZ, or very light intensity. When overlaid with the airplane's flight track, imagery indicated that just before radar contact was lost, the airplane passed through one of these small cells with a maximum intensity of 25.5 dBZ.
Immediately before and after the accident, two other aircraft operating at similar altitudes reported encountering light clear-to-mixed icing conditions.
The pilot filed an instrument flight rules flight plan through ForeFlight before departure and received a corresponding route briefing, which included a description of the conditions and provided the advisory regarding potential icing conditions along the route of flight.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.174446,-111.24861
The airplane impacted remote mountainous terrain. The debris field was about 330 ft long and was oriented on a magnetic heading of 217°. The airplane was heavily fragmented and scattered perpendicular to a cliffside.
Flight control continuity was established throughout the airframe. The elevator and rudder controls were continuous. The aileron control cable was fracture separated at the control panel and the aileron actuation pulley. Both fractures were consistent with overload. The airplane’s TKS icing protection system, which was not certified for flight into known icing, was found fragmented and scattered throughout the debris field.
The engine was separated from the airframe and came to rest about 211 ft from the initial impact crater. Several components were fracture separated from the engine and scattered throughout the debris field. The crankcase exhibited impact-related damage; there were no signs of catastrophic engine failure. The crankshaft was bent just aft of the propeller flange. The crankshaft gear displayed normal operating signatures. All six cylinders remained attached to the cylinder bays; the right-side cylinders exhibited more damage than the left side cylinders. Borescope examination of the cylinder bores, piston faces, and valve heads displayed normal operating signatures. The fuel pump was removed from the engine and the driveshaft was rotated; residual fuel pumped through the line. The upper and lower spark plugs exhibited normal operating signatures. The oil filter was removed from the engine and cut open; no metallic material was noted. The propeller assembly remained attached to the engine and the three blade shanks remained attached to the hub.
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Office of the Medical Examiner from the Utah Department of Health, Taylorsville, Utah performed an autopsy of the pilot and determined the cause of death to be "multiple injuries".
The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot with positive results for cetirizine which is not considered a hazard to flight safety.
============
Accident Number: WPR19FA154
Date & Time: 05/24/2019, 1122 MDT
Registration: N809SR
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22
Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On May 24, 2019, about 1122 mountain daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N809SR, impacted terrain about 6 miles southeast of Grover, Utah. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to Tierra Grande Aviation LLC, and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the accident site, and the flight was operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight departed Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), Moab UT about 1042 and was destined for Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Las Vegas, Nevada.
Witnesses reported that they heard the airplane and when they looked up, they observed it nose down descending like a corkscrew. The airplane descended behind a hillside; shortly thereafter they heard an explosion and saw smoke rise from the area.
At 1055 the Hanksville Airport (HVE), Hanksville, Utah, located about 30 miles northeast of the accident site reported wind from 170o at 6 knots, clear skies, 10 statue miles visibility, temperature 15o C, dewpoint 2o C and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury. A high Resolution Rapid Refresh numerical model over the accident site depicted a freezing level at 9,755 ft, and supported broken to overcast clouds with bases near 3,300 ft agl and tops to 15,000 ft.
The airplane was removed to a secure location for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cirrus
Registration: N809SR
Model/Series: SR22 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: HVE, 4463 ft msl
Observation Time: 1055 PDT
Distance from Accident Site: 30 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C / 2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 170°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Moab, UT (CNY)
Destination: Las Vegas, NV (HND)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: On-Ground
Total Injuries: 2 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.174444, -111.248611
Lynn Ann Anderson Simonsen and her husband Christian Clinton Simonsen.
Christian Clinton Simonsen
February 4, 1953 - May 24, 2019
Born in Gilroy, California
Resided in Morgan Hill, California
Christian Clinton Simonsen, born February 4, 1953 in Gilroy, CA, passed away in a plane crash in Grover, UT on Friday, May 24, 2019, along with his wife, Lynn Ann Anderson-Simonsen. Chris and Lynn were on their way home to Morgan Hill, CA after visiting several National Parks in Utah and visiting with Christian Jr., Jen, and Leandra in Salt Lake City.
Chris was preceded in death by his brother, Wade Simonsen, brother-in-law David Perez, mother Elizabeth (Rhodes) Simonsen, father Harry C. Simonsen, and by his adoptive mother Bonnie L. Simonsen. Chris is survived by his 2 sons, Christian Jr. (Jennifer) of Salt Lake City, UT and Dan (Tiffany) of Frisco, TX; step-daughters Karri Becker of Fargo, ND, Jodi Satterlee of Reno, NV, Hannah Anderson of Morgan Hill, CA, Cailey Anderson of Arcatia, CA; granddaughters Presley, Skylar, and Leandra; brothers Eric Simonsen and Sean Simonsen (Michele); sisters Laurie Perez and Jean Alkire (Randy Beaver). He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews: Anthony and Steven Perez (Laurie), Nathaniel and Julia Lierly (Jeanne), Keith Simonsen and Kelly Benshoof (Wade), Sean and Valerie Simonsen (Sean), and Melody and Laura Simonsen (Eric). He leaves behind Uncle Ed and Sandy Johnson, Ruth Johnson, step-brother Ed Thorp, and cousins Christopher Linthurst, Jennifer Linthurst, Christie Gamble, Judy Guardino, Paul Corbin, and Patty Lua.
Chris leaves behind many beloved colleagues from his work and his Saturdays on the golf course with his golf buddies. He was married to Karen Simonsen of Frisco, TX, the mother of his children, and to Lynn Anderson of Morgan Hill, whom he had married March 13, 2018. He was born in Gilroy, CA but spent his adolescence growing up in Stillwater, MN, where, with his brothers Eric and Wade, he found his passion for fishing and science. After graduating from high school at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, MA, Chris went to Stanford and then the University of Utah, where he earned a PhD in Molecular Biology. After graduation, Chris began his career with Genentech and worked with many of the Bay Area’s leading scientists over the years. He also worked for Invitron, Aragen, Sierra BioSource, Serologicals Corp, and most recently, Alector. Over the past 3 years, Chris lived with Lynn and Hannah and Cailey in Morgan Hill. A fisherman who loved his summer trips to Alaska with the boys and the occasional Simonsen female family member. Chris enjoyed spending the Christmas holidays with Lynn and her daughters in Hawaii, and liked that it was becoming a tradition. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
A Memorial Service will be held Friday, June 7, 2019 at 11:00A.M at LIMA-CAMPAGNA-JOHNSON FUNERAL HOME, 17720 Monterey Street, Morgan Hill, followed by a reception and celebration of Chris’ life to be held at Mama Mia’s Gilroy. Donations to Moreland Little League may be made in lieu of flowers.
http://www.limacampagnamortuaries.com
Lynn Ann (Heldt) Anderson Simonsen
July 13, 1969 - May 24, 2019
Resident of Morgan Hill
On Friday, May 24, Lynn Ann Anderson Simonsen and her husband Christian Clinton Simonsen were involved in a tragic accident when the small plane Chris was piloting went down in Wayne County Utah. Lynn and Chris had only been married a little over a year but their love for each other was evident to all who knew them. In the last year they had visited Alaska, Europe, Las Vegas, Disneyland and Hawaii. They loved snorkeling, cooking and going on long bikes rides together in Morgan Hill where they lived.
Lynn was born in Long Island, NY and moved to San Jose, CA in 1974. She received her Masters degree in Molecular Biology from San Jose State University. Jane Goodall was Lynn's childhood idol. It was because of Jane's work that Lynn became interested in biology.
Lynn loved her job as a scientist and had worked side by side with Chris for over 15 years, most recently at Alector. Although her love for Chris was strong, her heart and soul were her daughters Cailey Marie Anderson and Hannah Angela Anderson. She was very proud of her girls and raised them with an abundance of love and time. She was loved by all their friends and always welcomed them with a smile. She was an awesome mom, a wonderful daughter, a cherished sister and a best friend to many.
Lynn is survived by her parents Robert and Margie Heldt, siblings and their spouses Karen and Barry Braverman, Bob Heldt, Jr. and Karen Kramer and Michael and Allison Heldt, as well as nieces Samantha, Chelsea, and nephews Ben, Matthew, Alex and Eric. She is also survived by her ex husband John Anderson, many aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors.
A Memorial for Lynn and Chris Simonsen will be held Saturday June 15th at 11:00am at the Lima-Campagna-Johnson funeral home in Morgan Hill. In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a donation, please consider the Jane Goodall Institute: https://www.janegoodall.org/donate/
WAYNE COUNTY, Utah, May 30, 2019 (Gepharpt Daily) — Officials have identified a husband and wife who died in plane crash that occurred late Friday morning in the Grover area of Wayne County.
The pilot of the Cirrus SR22 GTS was identified as Christian C. Simonsen, and the passenger was identified as his wife, Lynn Ann Anderson-Simonsen of Morgan Hill, California, said a news release from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
A previous news release said Wayne County Sheriff’s officials were dispatched to Miner’s Mountain Road in the Grover area on a report of a single-engine plane crash at about 11:22 a.m.
The sheriff’s office requested Wayne County EMS to respond and had WCSO Search and Rescue on standby, according to the news release issued by WCSO Friday afternoon.
Witnesses reported that they heard an explosion and saw smoke after the plane disappeared from their view.
Upon arrival at the crash site, WCSO saw a “large debris field and fire were present throughout the area,” the news release states.
Two occupants of the aircraft were found deceased at the site, the sheriff’s office said; they were the only people aboard.
The Medical Examiner’s Office went to the scene and conducted an investigation.
The remains of the deceased were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board as well as an investigator from the aircraft manufacturer.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://gephardtdaily.com
WAYNE COUNTY, Utah, May 24, 2019 (Gepharpt Daily) — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fatal plane crash that occurred late Friday morning in the Grover area of Wayne County.
At about 11:22 a.m., the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Miner’s Mountain Road in the Grover area on a report of a single-engine plane crash.
The sheriff’s office requested Wayne County EMS to respond and had WCSO Search and Rescue on standby, according to a news release issued by WCSO at 5:34 p.m. Friday.
Witnesses reported that they heard an explosion and saw smoke after the plane disappeared from their view.
Upon arrival at the crash site, WCSO saw a “large debris field and fire were present throughout the area,” the news release states.
Two occupants of the aircraft were found deceased at the site, the sheriff’s office said. It appeared that they were the only people aboard.
The Medical Examiner’s Office went to the scene and conducted an investigation.
The remains of the deceased were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation.
The cause of the crash is as yet unknown and is under investigation by the NTSB.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://gephardtdaily.com
GROVER, Wayne County — Two people died when the plane they were in crashed in a rural area Friday morning, officials said.
Emergency crews received a report from someone who said they saw a single-engine plane crash near Miner's Mountain Road in Grover shortly after 11:20 a.m., according to Wayne County spokeswoman Kassidee Brown.
Wayne County Sheriff's deputies came across large debris field and fire near the area reported. They found what appeared to be two occupants in the plane and both were dead, Brown added.
Their names and ages weren't immediately released.
In a statement, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the plane was a Cirrus SR22 and it crashed under "unknown circumstances."
The FAA is handling the investigation into the crash. An official from the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office was also dispatched to the scene, Brown said.
Friday's crash is the second fatal Utah aviation crash in the past 7 days. Last Friday, a Utah couple was killed when the helicopter they were in crashed into mountainous terrain in Utah County. The cause of that crash is also under investigation.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.ksl.com
GROVER, Utah — A small plane crashed Friday in southern Utah, killing both people on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a crash of a Cirrus SR22 aircraft in Grover, the board announced on its official Twitter page shortly after 5 p.m.
The crash happened around 11 a.m. near Miner’s Mountain Road, according to a press release from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. First responders found a debris and field fire at the site and two people deceased.
Witnesses saw the aircraft disappear from their view, heard an explosion and saw smoke, then called 911 to report it.
Grover is located between Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://fox13now.com
Wayne County Sheriff's Office
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Friday May, 24th 2019, at approximately 11:22am Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Miner’s Mountain Road in the Grover area. The reporting party called 911 to report they had witnessed a plane crash.
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office requested Wayne County EMS and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue are on standby.
Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received further information that it was a single engine aircraft.
Witnesses stated the aircraft disappeared from their view; they heard an explosion and saw smoke.
Upon Wayne County Sheriff’s Office arrival at the crash site, a large debris field and fire were present throughout the area.
There appeared to be two occupants in the aircraft, both were found deceased.
The investigator for the medical examiner’s office responded to the scene and conducted his investigation.
The remains of the occupants will be transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.
