A french friend of mine call Patric had an accident a few days ago in France with a Seneca or similar. Im afreid that he has died in that accident with other 5 people. Im trying to find out more information about what happend and also Im trying to get in contac with his family. If anyone has some information please get in contac with me.
Thank you very much.
ATC Watcher
2nd Jan 2004, 23:30
First sorry to hear this, my condoleances for the loss of your friend.
At the moment I cannot find anything on a Seneca, but I will check this on monday and post again.
The only last crash in france involving at least 5 deaths was a military Casa on a para jump about 10 days ago.
more on : http://www.liberation.com/page.php?Article=166154
I will check on monday Thank you
If I get more information about the accident, I will make you know. I getting consused because the last thing I have been told was that the accident was in the States
Bye
concordino
4th Jan 2004, 03:58
peb,
I am a friend of Patrice and i can confirm the news :sad:
here is the preliminary NTSB accident report :
NTSB Identification: LAX04FA077
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, December 24, 2003 in Avalon, CA
Aircraft: Piper PA-34-200T, registration: N3747U
Injuries: 5 Fatal.
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.
On December 24, 2003, about 1020 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-34-200T, N3747U, impacted mountainous terrain while flying the missed approach portion of the VOR/DME approach to Catalina Airport (AVX), Avalon, California. Long Beach Flying Club was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot/certified flight instructor (CFI), the commercial pilot under instruction (PUI), and three passengers sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The instructional cross-country flight departed Long Beach (LGB), California, about 0954 en route to Avalon. Day instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 22.35 minutes north latitude and 118 degrees 25.09 minutes west longitude.
Approach control cleared the airplane for the VOR/NDB-B approach to AVX, and told the pilots to contact AVX UNICOM. The pilots established radio contact with the UNICOM operator, who advised them that the weather was: wind from 120 degrees at 4 knots; ceiling 100 feet overcast; and visibility 1.25 statute miles. AVX UNICOM received no other radio communication from the accident airplane.
The Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) reviewed recorded radar data and noted a track identified with the flight's assigned 4711 transponder beacon code. Recorded radar data from the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) indicated that after the airplane took off from Long Beach, it climbed on a southerly course until passing the shoreline at a mode C reported altitude of 2,900 feet mean sea level (msl). The airplane continued climbing to a maximum reported altitude of 4,100 feet msl. The airplane continued south until passing the Santa Catalina VORTAC (SXC) (very high frequency omni-directional radio range, tactical air navigation). It then started to descend and turned northbound to start the VOR/DME-B approach. The radar track shows the airplane turning to the south and establishing the approach on a heading of 172 degrees. The airplane continued to descend to the published minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 2,100 feet msl and leveled off.
The accident airplane crossed the missed approach point (MAFPI) at the MDA of 2,100 feet msl. The missed approach point is 2.8 nautical miles from the SXC VOR. The SXC VOR is located on top of Mount Orizaba at an altitude of 2,090 feet msl.
The published missed approach procedures were: at the missed approach point climb from 2,100 feet msl to 3,200 feet msl, continue to fly 172-degree course, and hold at the SXC VOR.
The radar track showed that the airplane maintained an altitude of 2,100 msl from before the missed approach point until the first identified point of contact (FIPC).
The FIPC was 870 feet northeast of the SXC VOR, and was about 15 feet below the mountain ridgeline.
The debris path was 350 feet long and on a magnetic heading of 190 degrees.
The wreckage has been recovered for further examination.
I have PM'ed you a contact that might help you contact his family.
Safe flying
C
Thank you very much your help.