Yikes, these guys were out at the campground an hour before they crashed. I wonder if alcohol was involved?
[This message has been edited by BaitShack (edited 6/1/2006 10:28a).]
quote:
On May 26, 2006, about 2005 central daylight time, a single-engine Aviat A-1B airplane, N166MA, was
substantially damaged following a loss of control while maneuvering at a low altitude near Edna,
Texas. The private pilot and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered
to Flying Farm Boys, Inc., and was operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions
prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal
flight. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near La Ward, Texas, at approximately
1925.
The first eyewitness was located at the Brackenridge Plantation Campground when she first observed
the airplane 'buzzing" the treetops above her location. The witness added that the airplane
continued to "buzz" back and forth above the treetops while someone hollered from the airplane on
each pass. The witness recorded the registration number (N-Number) from the airplane with the
intentions of reporting the low flying airplane to local authorities. According to the witness,
the airplane then flew northeast out over the lake and turned into the wind, as the airplane
appeared "to be almost hovering."
The witness continued by stating that the airplane then descended and appeared to dip its main
tires into the water several times as it flew in a southerly direction. The airplane then turned
around and flew "very low" back to the north before pulling nearly straight-up. The airplane
ascended for a short time before the nose dropped and the airplane started descending and spinning
in a clockwise direction. The airplane completed about three and a half turns before it impacted
the water. The witness further reported that she heard "no stalling out of the engine" and "no
unusual engine sounds" before the airplane impacted the water.
A second witness was inside his motor home when he first heard an airplane "buzz" the treetops.
After stepping outside, the witness repeatedly observed the accident airplane "buzz about ten to
fifteen feet" above the treetops. The witness reported that at the conclusion of each pass, the
pilot would perform a maneuver that resembled a "crop duster returning for another pass."
According to the witness, at one point the airplane turned into the wind and appeared to be
"sitting still and moving sideways."
The witness continued, that as the pilot was turning to make, what he assumed was another pass, the
airplane began to spiral downward in a clockwise direction. The witness further stated that before
impact the engine sounded "wide open." After the impact the witness rode out to the accident site
on a watercraft and attempted, along with another individual, to dive down to the airplane. He
reported that their rescue attempts were stopped after they received chemical burns from airplane
fuel in the water.
A third witness, a pilot, was inside his house, located approximately three fourths of a mile west
of the campground, when he heard an airplane fly low over his farm. Once outside he observed the
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accident airplane "buzzing" the campground and performing wingover type maneuvers. The witness
stated that on the airplane's last pass near the campground, he observed the airplane climb steeply
to an altitude of approximately 500-700 feet above ground level (agl), start a roll to the left,
and then enter a spin to the right. After approximately three spins the airplane disappeared from
his view. The witness estimated that the airplane was in the vicinity of the campground performing
low maneuvers for approximately 15-20 minutes.
The wreckage came to rest about 20 feet below the surface of Lake Texana, approximately 500 feet
east of the shoreline for the Brackenridge Plantation Campground. The Global Positioning System
(GPS) coordinates recorded at the shoreline adjacent to the accident site were 28 degrees 56.504
minutes North latitude and 096 degrees 32.2239 minutes West longitude, at a field elevation of
approximately 51 feet mean sea level (msl). The wreckage of the airplane was recovered and all
major components of the airplane were accounted for.
At 1951, the weather observation facility at Victoria Regional Airport (VCT), near Victoria, Texas,
located 24-nautical miles southwest from the accident site, was reporting the wind from 150 degrees
at 14 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 2,900 feet, temperature 82 degrees
Fahrenheit, dew point 69 degrees Fahrenheit, and barometric pressure setting of 29.80 inches of
Mercury.
[This message has been edited by BaitShack (edited 6/1/2006 10:28a).]
