MEC&F Expert Engineers

Monday, June 22, 2015

PILOT KILLED IN FIERY CRASH OF A SHORT S312 TUCANO T MK1 PLANE NEAR VENTUCOPA, CALIFORNIA




Titanic James Horner plane crash_00000825

The debris field from the crash was scattered across a roughly 1-acre area in a dry riverbed. 

The aircraft caught fire on impact, and the flames spread to the surrounding vegetation

JUNE 22, 2015

VENTUCOPA, CALIFORNIA

The pilot of a two-seat training plane died in a crash near Ventucopa Monday morning, officials said.

The incident was reported about 9:30 a.m. along Quatal Canyon Road, about two miles from Highway 33.

Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the pilot was the only person in the plane, described as a single-engine S312 Tucano MK1.

The crash sparked a brush fire in the area that burned about one acre and there was a large debris field, Ventura County Fire Capt. Mike Lindbery said.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Los Padres National Forest officials also responded to the incident.

The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the crash.

Lindbery said the area is near where Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern counties meet. He described the area as being remote and surrounded by agriculture and grassland.

“There’s a lot of fields and open highway,” Lindbery said.



Date:
22-JUN-2015
Time:
09:30
Type:
Owner/operator:

Registration:

C/n / msn:

Fatalities:
Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:
0
Airplane damage:
Catastrophic
Location:
Santa Barbara County, SE of Ventucopa, CA - http://aviation-safety.net/database/country/flags_15/N.gif  United States of America
Phase:
Unknown
Nature:
Unknown
Departure airport:

Destination airport:


Narrative:

The aircraft impacted brush terrain in the upper Cuyama Valley southeast of Ventucopa, California. The airplane was partially consumed by the post-impact fire and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injuries.

Sources: 
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=177199 http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/crews-respond-to-report-of-plane-crash-fire-near-ventucopa_83293633 http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Cuyama-Aircraft-Crash-Brush-Fire-309071951.html#
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/MMS_results.aspx?Mmstxt=8100527&Statetxt=CA&conVal=0&PageNo=1


///-------------///



Titanic James Horner plane crash_00000825


Plane registered to 'Titanic' composer crashes 01:03

Story highlights

  • A small plane belonging to Horner crashed Monday in California
  • Horner's assistant says he died in the crash; "We have not heard from him," his lawyer says
  • Horner scored several blockbuster movies, including "Titanic," "Braveheart" and "Avatar"
Los Angeles (CNN)Academy Award-winning composer James Horner, known for his impressive body of work spanning multiple movie genres, is feared dead after a small plane belonging to him crashed in central California on Monday, killing the pilot. 

It is not known whether the 61-year-old Horner, best known for scoring the movie "Titanic," was the person flying the plane. 

But the Hollywood Reporter reported his death, attributing the confirmation to Sylvia Patrycja, his assistant. 

"A great tragedy has struck my family today, and I will not be around for a while. I would like some privacy and time to heal," Patrycja posted on her Facebook page. 

"We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent. He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road. Love Sylvia."

Horner's lawyer couldn't confirm his death, but said he hadn't heard from the composer since the crash. 

"He is an experienced pilot. He owns several planes. We have not heard from him," Jay Cooper told CNN.

Condolences pour in

Horner won two Oscars for his work on the 1997 James Cameron-directed "Titanic" -- earning best original dramatic score and best original song for the Celine Dion classic, "My Heart Will Go On."
He was nominated for Academy Awards 10 times and wrote the music for numerous blockbusters, including "Braveheart," "Apollo 13" and "The Amazing Spider-Man." He collaborated again with Cameron for 2009's "Avatar," the top-grossing film of all time.

Reaction to his reported death was immediate, with celebrities who worked with him posting condolences. 

"Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones," tweeted Ron Howard, who directed "Apollo 13."
Leona Lewis, who worked with Horner on the theme for "Avatar," said working with the composer "was one of the biggest moments of my life."
"He was such a kind soul, I'm so saddened," she tweeted.

Crash circumstances

The single-engine S312 Tucano crashed under unknown circumstances near Cuyama, about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara, on Monday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The debris field from the crash was scattered across a roughly 1-acre area in a dry riverbed, said Mike Eliason, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The aircraft caught fire on impact, and the flames spread to the surrounding vegetation, he said.

Firefighters who arrived on the scene were able to quickly put the fire out, but the occupant of the plane had died on impact, Eliason said. 

The pilot was the only person on board, the FAA said. 

The name of the victim will have to come from local authorities, the FAA said. CNN has reached out to Ventura and Santa Barbara counties for information, and left messages for Horner's agent. 

A person answering the phone at Horner's house asked for privacy, the Los Angeles Times reported.

More than 75 films

Horner was born in 1953 in Los Angeles, but he grew up in England, studying piano at London's Royal College of Music. He moved back to the U.S. to attend college, earning a music degree from the University of Southern California, and then his master's and doctorate from UCLA.

Horner composed music for more than 75 films, making his feature-film debut in 1982 in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." 

In addition to the accolades he earned for "Titanic," Horner won Grammy Awards for "Somewhere Out There" from "An American Tail" in 1987 and "Glory" in 1990. He also composed the music for such 1980s classics as "Field of Dreams," "Cocoon" and James Cameron's "Aliens" in 1986. 

Horner leaves behind a wife, Sarah, and two daughters. 

RIP.


/////////---------------///

ELDERLY PILOT KILLED IN A CZECH SPORT PIPERSPORT SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE CRASH IN PENDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA







JUNE 22, 2015

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) –

Authorities have identified the man killed in a single-engine airplane crash in Pender County Sunday.
According to State Highway Patrol, officials were notified around 11:15 p.m. Sunday about a possible plane crash near Highway 17 in Pender County. Preliminary information revealed that a plane took off from the Topsail Air Park around 3:30 p.m. Sunday en route to Albert J. Ellis Airport near Jacksonville.

Around 6:30 p.m., the pilot was reported missing after the flight was considered overdue.

Authorities with Pender and Onslow counties initiated a search for the missing aircraft. SABLE spotted the plane's wreckage around 10:30 p.m., about a mile from the Topsail Air Park.

State Highway Patrol officials say Dillard Powell, 89, of Cary died in the crash. 

FAA officials say the plane, a Czech Sport Aircraft AS Piper Sport, was registered out of North Topsail Beach in Onslow County.

Donna Crowler, a family friend of Powell's, told WITN that Powell was a World War II pilot and that his plane was recently serviced.

Crowler also says that Powell's wife planned to meet him at Albert J. Ellis Airport. Powell's wife waited overnight for him to arrive.

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board will address the accident during a press conference scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Surf City Fire Department.

The FAA says the flight did not receive air traffic control services, since none were required for the flight. NTSB, FAA, and State Highway Patrol officials are continuing their investigation.



Date:
21-JUN-2015
Time:
-15:30
Type:
Silhouette image of generic CRUZ model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Czech Sport PiperSport
Owner/operator:
Private
Registration:
N35EP
C/n / msn:
P1001059
Fatalities:
Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:
0
Airplane damage:
Unknown
Location:
Near Topsail Airpark (01NC), Holly Ridge, NC - http://aviation-safety.net/database/country/flags_15/N.gif  United States of America
Phase:
Unknown
Nature:
Unknown
Departure airport:

Destination airport:

Narrative:
Located subsequent to an ALNOT, the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) had impacted wooded terrain south of Topsail Airpark (01NC), Holly Ridge, North Carolina. The airplane sustained unreported damage and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injuries.
Sources:
http://www.wect.com/story/29377810/authorities-investigate-fatal-plane-crash-in-pender-county
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2015/06/22/ntsb-investigating-deadly-plane-crash-in-pender-county/
http://www.asias.faa.gov/pls/apex/f?p=100:96:::::P96_ENTRY_DATE,P96_MAKE_NAME,P96_FATAL_FLG:22-JUN-15,CZECH+SPORT
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=35EP

Sunday, June 21, 2015

THE DEADLY U.S. ROADS: 1 TEEN WOMAN KILLED, SEVERAL TEENS INJURED AFTER FIERY CRASH IN NORTHRIDGE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA




JUNE 21, 2015

NORTHRIDGE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

A 19-year-old woman died and several other young adults were injured after a fiery two-car crash in Northridge early Sunday, authorities said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department and units from the LAPD’s Devonshire Division responded to the fatal collision, which occurred at the intersection of Roscoe Boulevard and Lindley Avenue around 3:40 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

One of the vehicles erupted in flames following the crash, a desk officer with LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division said.

A total of five people — three females and two males — were initially said to be injured, some critically. One of the female victims later died, police said.

She has been identified by the L.A. County coroner’s office as 19-year-old Desirae Crystal Crittenden.

Authorities have not released the names of those injured in the collision, only stating that they were all between the ages of 18 and 21. Some were in critical condition, according to the desk officer, who did not provide a specific number.

No further details about the collision have been released. The cause of the crash remained under investigation.

The deadly U.S. Roads:  more than 34,000 people are killed every year and millions injured.  This is one of the highest death rates among developed nations at about 1 person in 10,000 dead each and every year. 

By contrast, about 15,000 people are killed every year by guns.

WORKER ELECTROCUTED TO DEATH AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE NEW PAPILLION PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, IN PAPILLION, NEBRASKA








JUNE 19, 2015

PAPILLION, NEBRASKA

A worker shocked Wednesday at the construction site of the new Papillion Public Works facility near 96th and Giles has died.

Forty-two-year-old Jeffrey Glup of rural Sarpy County was digging with a shovel in a trench when another worker operating a backhoe hit an electrical conduit. 

Glup was employed by TSI Mechanical of La Vista, which issued the following statement on Thursday:

"Jeff Glup, 42, an employee of TSI Mechanical, LLC, was fatally injured Wednesday afternoon about 2:30 p.m. on the Papillion Public Works construction site. Glup, who was a laborer, received a fatal electrical shock when he came in contact with a live electrical conductor while working in a trench installing a storm sewer drain.

At this time we cannot provide additional details as we are attempting to investigate all the facts involved. We are working with local and federal agencies in the investigation of this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and we share in the grief."

OSHA is investigating the incident.