LOW COUNTRY double trouble
Two planes have crashed within two weeks at the Johns Island Airport near Charleston, SC.
- The first crash involved a Cessna 310. It crashed and killed the pilot (sole occupant), one mile North of the airport on March 21, 2020 at 1900.
- The second was on April 9, 2020. ATC lost radar contact with the light sport aircraft around 2100hrs. The plane crashed in a wooded area just off the runway killing both on board.
Cessna 310 N8080M
NTSB Preliminary Investigation
By Patrick Phillips | March 21, 2020 at 8:11 PM EDT - Updated March 22 at 12:16 AM
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) -
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash of a small plane near the Charleston Executive Airport on Johns Island Saturday night.
FAA spokesperson Arlene Salac said a Cessna 310 crashed one mile north of the airport at 7 p.m.
“The pilot was attempting to land in Charleston when the accident occurred,” she said.
The aircraft departed from Rocky Mount Airport in North Carolina and was headed to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport in Florida, she said.
The pilot was the only person on the plane, Salac said.
Shortly after 7 p.m., multiple agencies responded to a call of a downed small aircraft near the airport, Charleston International Airport spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
Coast Guard crews confirmed they found a small Cessna crashed in the wood line.
https://www.live5news.com/2020/03/22/large-police-presence-reported-johns-island-airport/
NTSB Premliminary report:
On March 21, 2020, about 1859 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310I, N8080M, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Charleston, South Carolina. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. On March 18, 2020, the pilot departed Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida and landed at South Jersey Regional Airport (VAY), Mount Holly, New Jersey, about 2030. The airplane remained on the ramp until March 21, 2020, when the pilot departed VAY for ZPH. The pilot landed at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport (RWI), Rocky Mount, North Carolina about 1630 for fuel and then continued the flight to ZPH on an instrument flight rules flight plan. A review of preliminary air traffic control communications and radar data revealed that, about 1852, the airplane was en route to ZPH at an altitude of about 8,000 ft mean sea level (msl). About that time, the pilot told Charleston approach that the airplane was experiencing a loss of engine power and he needed to land immediately at the nearest airport. The Charleston approach controller gave him vectors to Charleston Executive Airport (JZI), and then asked the pilot which engine he was having problems with. The pilot told him "should be my left but having problems with both engines." The Charleston approach controller provided vectors to the pilot for runway 9 at JZI and radar contact with the airplane was lost about 1/4-mile northwest of the approach end for runway 9 about 1859. A witness in the Charleston area stated he was on his patio when the airplane flew directly overhead. He said it sounded like "the engine was revving fast to slow as if it was having fuel problems." He said the airplane sputtered on and off for 15-20 seconds and then he could no longer hear the airplane. Another witness stated he was in his backyard when the airplane flew over and sounded like it was having issues. It "seemed to stall and then rev back up" several times, as if the airplane "was running out of fuel." Page 2 of 3 ERA20LA132 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane was inverted, and fuel was on the ground around the airplane. The fuel was consistent with 100 low lead aviation fuel. Examination of the wreckage by a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator revealed that both wings were fractured off by impact forces with the trees. Both the main and auxiliary fuel tanks were breached. The fuel selector valves were in the auxiliary fuel tank position. The airplane was equipped with Garmin GTN-750 and G500 multi-function display units, which were removed and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders laboratory for data download. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Airframe Info
Manufacturer: Cessna
Model: 310I
Year built: 1964
Aircraft Type: Fixed wing multi engine
Number of Seats: 6
Engines: 2
Engine Type: Reciprocating
Engine Manufacturer and Model: Cont Motor I0-470 SERIES
N8080M Johns Island, SC
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LS1 Lightning Sport Plane
Arion Lightning LS1 N81DJ
NTSB Preliminary Investigation
On April 9, 2020, about 2100 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Arion Aircraft LLC Lightning LS-1 airplane, N81DJ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Mount Pleasant Regional Airport-Faison Field (LRO) Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The pilot and the flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot, who had recently purchased the airplane, and the flight instructor departed Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina about 2015. A review of preliminary air traffic control (ATC) communications and radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that after departure from runway 36 at MYR the airplane climbed and turned left enroute to LRO, about 65 nautical miles away. After climbing to an enroute altitude of about 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) the pilot requested flight following services from ATC. About 15 miles from LRO, the pilot requested a descent into LRO which was approved; the pilot subsequently stated that they wanted to conduct a touch-and-go landing, and that they would be returning to MYR after completing the maneuver. The controller instructed the pilot to remain on their present transponder squawk code and approved a change to the LRO common traffic advisory frequency. There was no further communication with the pilot. The airplane entered descending left turn onto final approach to LRO runway 17; the last radar target showed the airplane at an altitude of 525 ft on final to the runway. About 8 minutes later, ATC was notified by local law enforcement that a witness had reported that they heard an aircraft engine "spool up and cut out" near the airport. The map in figure 1 shows the airplane's radar track in blue, and an inset depicting the accident site in relation to the runway and airport property. Page 2 of 4 ERA20LA150 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. Figure 1: Accident airplane's track represented by a blue line with altitude, heading and speed annotated. The inset shows expanded view of accident site in relation to the runway and airport property. A line service employee at MYR reported that the day before the accident flight the pilot and flight instructor completed a flight during the day. When they arrived back at MYR, they requested a fuel top off. The employee put 6.2 gallons of aviation fuel on board, which topped off both fuel tanks. No additional flights were flown until the accident flight the following evening. Another witness stated that on the evening of the accident, the pilot and flight instructor informed her that they would be conducting a night flight and they would return late. She reported that both pilots appeared to be in good spirits as they left the building, and that the airplane's departure from MYR appeared "normal." An FAA inspector examined the wreckage at the accident site and reported that the airplane impacted heavily wooded flat terrain about ½-mile south of the departure end of runway 17. The airplane struck the tops of 75 ft- to 90 ft-tall trees bordering the airport perimeter; several broken tree limbs, branches, and small pieces of fiberglass and plexiglass were found near the mature trees next to the perimeter security fence. The debris path beyond that point was about 250 feet long. The airplane was heavily fragmented during the accident sequence. Both wings were separated and were broken in multiple pieces; the main wing spar was separated from the wings in its entirety. All primary flight control surfaces were separated from their respective locations and Page 3 of 4 ERA20LA150 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. found along the wreckage path. The fuselage was heavily fragmented. The engine separated from the firewall but remained attached to the lower engine mounts and was covered by the engine cowling. A portion of the fixed pitch propeller remained attached to the propeller flange and engine. The spinner was crushed, and one propeller blade was fractured and separated near its root. Eighteen inches of the opposing blade remained attached to the flange and was cleanly broken. A 15-+inch-long section of propeller blade was found near the main wreckage and appeared intact outboard of the break. Flight control continuity could not be established due to the damage to all control surfaces, wings, empennage, and cockpit. Several flight control cables were found separated, and all of the separations displayed features consistent with overload. Continuity of the fuel system could not be confirmed. Both fuel tanks were breached, and the fuel selector valve was separated from the fuselage. The valve handle was found in the left tank position. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility and retained for further examination.
Authorities identify 2 men killed in plane crash near Mount Pleasant Regional Airport
· By Sara Coello scoello@postandcourier.com
· Apr 10, 2020
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the Arion Lightning LS-1 about 10:30 p.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
After a night of searching with federal agencies, Mount Pleasant rescuers found what remained of a small plane carrying two people that went missing Thursday night.
The pilot and passenger had died by the time first responders found the wreckage Friday morning, Charleston County Aviation Authority spokesman Spencer Pryor said.
Late Friday, the Charleston County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Glenn Lamb, 68, and Michael Gigliobianco, 70, both of Myrtle Beach.
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the Arion Lightning LS-1 about 10:30 p.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
FATAL SMALL PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATION
According to aviation statistics, 49 percent of fatal plane crashes and 44 percent of onboard fatalities take place during an airplane’s final approach to the runway or during landing.
Authorities will also investigate other potential factors such as pilot error, mechanical failure, and defective aircraft design and manufacturing. An attorney can work with authorities to determine what caused a wreck and the circumstances surrounding it.
Candice Bond, an experienced aviation attorney, said in cases such as this it is imperative to have an investigation conducted by a seasoned lawyer to protect the family of a victim’s rights.
“Small plane crashes are often complex and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Sanchez-Gordon. “An attorney can help a grieving family determine what the best steps to take after the crash are. Moving forward, a vigorously advocate for a client by hiring expert witnesses, locating witnesses to the crash, while working with investigating agencies. https://www.thelegaladvocate.com/news/breaking/glenn-lamb-killed-small-plane-crash-mount-pleasant-regional-airport
Aircraft
Summary
2009 ARION AIRCRAFT LLC LIGHTNING LS-1
Fixed wing single engine
(2 seats / 1 engine)
Owner: LAMB, GLENN
MYRTLE BEACH , SC, US
(Individual)
Airworthiness Class: Experimental
Serial Number: 42
Engine: JABIRU 3300 (4 Cycle)
Horsepower: 120
Weight: Less than 12,500lbs
Speed: Not defined
Mode S Code
052603527 / AB0757
Registration Details Status
Assigned
Certificate Issue Date: 2020-03-20
Airworthiness Date: 2010-04-30
Last Action Date: 2020-03-20
Expiration: 2023-03-31
Registry Source: FAA