Monday, September 7, 2015

3 killed after a fiery 1981 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza plane crash under unknown circumstances in Walkertown northeast of Smith Reynolds Airport (KINT), Winston Salem, North Carolina




1981 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza planes similar to the one that crashed

 


David Rolfe/Journal

Forsyth County Sheriff, fire, and rescue units responded to a small plane crash at the Vulcan East Forsyth Quarry south of Kernersville. Access to the quarry was shut down to all non-emergency traffic.
 







Posted: Monday, September 7, 2015 1:02 pm

By Danielle Battaglia danielle.battaglia@greensboro.com


Updated at 6:13 p.m.

HIGH POINT — Before a single engine plane crashed into a Forsyth County rock quarry killing the three people on board the pilot told the control tower at Piedmont Airport International Airport that he or she was disoriented and couldn't find the airport.

Peter Knudson, spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board, confirmed that the pilot who flew a Beechcraft A36 from Sarasota, Fla. to PTI contacted the control tower right before crashing into the Vulcan Materials East Forsyth Quarry at 2866 Highway 66 near Kernersville Monday.

"The pilot was talking to air traffic controllers on approach into Greensboro and indicated he was having trouble," Knudson said. "The pilot reported being disoriented and was having a difficult time locating the airport."

He crashed right afterwards.

Kevin Baker, the airport's executive director, confirmed the control tower's communication with the pilot.

"What sounds like happened is the pilot was unable to tell the tower what the problem was but said they had a problem and within the next few moments is when the crash occurred," Baker said.

Knudson said the passengers died during the accident.

"It (the plane) immediately went up in flames," said John McCollum, a telecommunicator with Forsyth EMS.

The victims names have not been released.

Knudson said the agency yields to local authorities to release that information.

Knudson said an investigator with the NTSB will arrive at the crash site to investigate Tuesday. The initial investigation should three days with a report available in 10 days, but the full investigation won't be completed for nearly 12 months.

HIGH POINT — Three people died after a single engine plane crashed into a rock quarry in southeastern Forsyth County Monday afternoon, WGHP (Fox 8) reported.

Peter Knudson with the NTSB confirmed to the TV station there were three people on the flight that traveled from Sarasota, Fla. to Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro Monday.

The victims names have not been released.

The airport's executive director Kevin Baker said the pilot communicated with the airport's tower right before crashing.

"What sounds like happened is the pilot was unable to tell the tower what the problem was but said they had a problem and within the new few moments is when the crash occurred," Baker said.

Forsyth EMS began receiving calls about the crash, which happened at the Vulcan Materials East Forsyth Quarry located at 2866 Highway 66 South near Kernersville, at approximately 12:06 p.m.

"It immediately went up in flames," said John McCollum, a telecommunicator with Forsyth County EMS.

The National Transportation Safety Board posted on Twitterfeed the agency was investigating the crash which involved a Beechcraft A36.

Updated at 3:30 p.m.

HIGH POINT — Right before a plane crashed into a rock quarry in southeastern Forsyth County the pilot contacted the control tower at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro to report an emergency.

The airport's executive director Kevin Baker confirmed the pilot's communication with the tower before the crash.

"What sounds like happened is the pilot was unable to tell the tower what the problem was but said they had a problem and within the next few moments is when the crash occurred," Baker said.

Calls about the crash, located at the Vulcan Materials East Forsyth Quarry located at 2866 Highway 66 South near Kernerserville, came into Forsyth EMS at approximately 12:06 p.m. Monday.

It wasn't clear how many people were on the plane.

"It immediately went up in flames," said John McCollum, a telecommunicator with Forsyth County EMS.

Baker and investigators weren't sure if the plane planned to fly into the airport or if he took off from the airport prior to the emergency.

No other details were immediately available.

KERNERSVILLE — Paramedics and investigators are responding to a single engine plane crash that happened in Kernersville shortly after noon Monday .

Paramedics don't know how many people were on board the plane.

"It immediately went up in flames," said John McCollum, a telecommunicator with Forsyth County EMS.

The crash happened at Vulcan Materials East Forsyth Quarry located at 2866 Highway 66 South in Kernersville.

Telecommunicators with both Forsyth County EMS and Piedmont Triad International Airport confirmed the pilot contacted the Federal Aviation Administration tower at the airport before crashing.

Neither knew the nature of the pilot's communication.

"I've heard reports that he (the pilot) contacted our tower to try and land but I can't verify that right now," said Kevin Baker, the airport's executive director. "We're still trying to figure out what went on."

It's unclear whether the plane took off from the airport or was in route to Greensboro prior to the crash.

No other details were immediately available.



Date:07-SEP-2015
Time:12:06
Type:Silhouette image of generic BE36 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
1981 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza
Owner/operator:Central Penn Aviation Academy Inc
Registration: N36HT
C/n / msn: E-1986
Fatalities:Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Walkertown NW of Kernersville, Forsyth County, NC -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Private
Departure airport:Sarasota/Bradenton Intl (KSRQ)
Destination airport:Piedmont Triad Intl (KGSO)
Narrative:
The plane crashed under unknown circumstances in Walkertown northeast of Smith Reynolds Airport (KINT), Winston Salem, North Carolina, and was destroyed by fire. The three occupants onboard the airplane received fatal injuries.
Sources
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=179357 http://myfox8.com/2015/09/07/plane-crashes-in-forsyth-county/
http://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/small-plane-crashes-in-forsyth-county/article_06f52327-f01f-5a24-9a5e-6f5ada113ea7.html
http://www.wfmynews2.com/story/news/local/2015/09/07/single-engine-plane-crashes-forsyth-county/71840136/
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N36HT/history/20150907/1208Z/KSRQ/KGSO
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N36HT