Cherokee Down New Garden PA, 1 Fatal

Len Lanetti

Cleared for Takeoff
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
1,199
Location
Malvern, PA
Display Name

Display name:
Lenny
Link to the story in the "Daily Local News" (local newspaper)

http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16489842&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6

Picture of the post crash aircraft can be found here (this is the landing page, changes daily).

http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.asp?brd=1671

Accident occurred about 1pm local time, weather was good VFR. From TV reports last night the pilot/owner (now deceased) owned the aircraft for about a month...also from the news last night pilot credited for good airmanship for not causing more harm by missing nearby homes. To me it looks like he clipped trees while en-route to a field. Non pilot eye witness cite "explosions" which I think might be the engine backfiring as another witness recounted that he saw flames coming from the exhaust. From the news and the paper it sounds like he was trying to return to the airport but given the average accuracy of the press I don't know if that is true or not.

Len
 
Ah, the Daily Local News...

Channel 6 reported last night that the pilot experienced some kind of difficulty after t/o and reportedly attempted to return to the airport.
 
Tragic anyway you look at it. Guy was supposedly an accomplished pilot Ret. AirForce. He dies and his son walks away. On a holiday yet. :( Last year it was Chester County on the news all the time. Sigh
 
Sad story for sure!
Prayers for the family during this difficult time!
 
Len Lanetti said:
Follow up article in the paper today. Story appears on the front page, big headline, above the fold but not much in the way of hard data. Aircraft identified as a Cherokee 140.

http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16493995&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=6

Whether or not it was the case in this accident, it is usually very hard NOT to try to return to the nearby airport of origin, even when it is not doeable. I think it may be especially hard for an owner/pilot of an aircraft going down at low altitude to make the proper decision of looking ahead for the softest spot and getting that groundspeed down to just above stall before coming in as flat as possible, regardless of invisioned off field LDG damages to their aircraft.

To counteract this strong and deadly force, a good piloting disipline on every takeoff is to be seriously looking towards where one would land off field until a critical, PRE-DETERMINED return-to-the-airfield altitude has been reached in no uncertain terms -usually at or above 500 AGL or thereabouts for most small planes. Until that altitude is attained, there is simply no way the pilot should even consider the attempt of a gliding course reversal back to the RWY.
 
Last edited:
Data from initial FAA NTSB accident report.

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 15507 Make/Model: PA28 Description: PA-28 CHEROKEE, ARROW, WARRIOR, ACHER, D
Date: 04/16/2006 Time: 1745

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
City: AVONDALE State: PA Country: US

DESCRIPTION
ACFT CRASHED AND BURNED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES INTO A SWAMPY AREA, THERE WERE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD, ONE WAS FATALLY INJURED AND ONE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AVONDALE, PA

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 2 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA

Departed: TOUGHKENAMON, PA Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: TOUGHKENAMON, PA Flt Plan: VFR Wx Briefing:
Last Radio Cont:
Last Clearance:

FAA FSDO: PHILADELPHIA, PA (EA17) Entry date: 04/17/2006
 
Back
Top