Monday, May 24, 2021

Fatal Plane Crash On Church Grounds - Engine Failure?

LABELLE, FL. -- The National Transportation Safety Board has released a report on the fatal crash, killing the Canadian pilot, Michael Stockton and leaving a passenger, James Mullen with serious injuries May 6, 2021 at 3:20 p.m. The twin engine Ted Smith Aerostar 600 landed at the Church of the Good Shepard in Port LaBelle.

From the preliminary report: 

"Preliminary radar data revealed that the airplane departed La Belle Municipal Airport (X14) about 1500. The radar track showed the airplane in a cruise profile on a westerly track about 3,500 ft and 170 knots groundspeed until it was about 5 miles east of X14, where it began a decelerating descent. The airplane continued its descent and slowed before the target disappeared about .5 miles east of the accident site, when at an altitude of about 200 ft and a groundspeed of 110 knots. 

"A witness reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector that she was travelling eastbound in her car when the airplane appeared immediately in front of her at treetop height travelling westbound. The airplane was in a wings-level attitude and she heard no engine sound. It appeared that the propellers were not turning, and the landing gear was down. The witness believed the airplane would land on the road she was travelling on, when it turned slightly right, struck the top of a tree and then struck the ground in a flat, nose-right attitude, before it continued into trees and a memorial garden on the church property where it came to rest. The witness said that she was familiar with airplanes because her brother operated a flight school, and she had “several hours” of flight experience but no pilot certificate. 

"A doorbell camera that was located about 500 ft east of the accident site captured the airplane as it passed overhead at low altitude. The engine sound was smooth and continuous as it passed into and out of the camera’s view. Seconds later, the sounds of impact were heard. 

"The pilot-rated passenger reported that he was the proprietor of an aircraft maintenance facility at X14, and that the pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane brought it to the shop for a 100-hour inspection. He said as they began work on the airplane, they found discrepancies that required more work than originally anticipated. The pilot/owner wanted everything corrected and asked that the shop go ahead and perform a “full annual inspection” on the airplane, which they did. The work was completed almost 1 month prior to the pilot’s arrival to pick up the airplane on May 6, 2021. 

"When asked about the overall condition of the airplane, as well as its handling and performance, he said, “It was a nice airplane. A little on the older side, but a nice airplane.” The passenger said that he flew the airplane a “couple of times” while it was at his shop and that he “turned everything on” and all the systems and components worked as designed. The passenger said that the pilot reported that he had not flown the airplane “for a long time” and asked if they could go for a flight and he agreed. The passenger said they went for a short flight, returned, serviced the airplane with 130 gallons of fuel, and then departed again. 

"He was asked how the pilot performed on the preflight, engine start, taxi, takeoff, and the flight and he responded, “He seemed thorough… he was good.” The passenger reported that he had no memory of the accident flight. He further stated that he typically conducted familiarization and test flights east of the La Belle Airport “over by Lake Okeechobee” where the terrain was mostly rural and sparsely populated."

The preliminary report ended saying "The right engine was retained for further examination." The left engine and other equipment were  allegedly working appropriately, from a reading of the report. It usually takes many more months before a final NTSB report is issued.

Participating in the NTSB report were Investigator In Charge (IIC) Rayner, Brian; Additional Participating Persons: Mike Childers, Lycoming Engines, Williamsport, PA; Daniel Sullivan, FAA FSDO; Miramar, FL

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