Christian Oliver: Family and pilot dead

[rigpiggy]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/speed-racer-actor-christian-oliver-2-daughters-killed-in-caribbean-plane-crash/ar-AA1mwgxs

Anyone know what kind of aircraft.
https://www.stvincenttimes.com/robert-sachs-new-jersey-native-dies-bequia-plane-crash/

Looks like a Viking!

[treadigraph]

Definitely a Viking.

[TowerDog]

Definitely a Viking.

A Bellanca Viking, the wooden wing spar plane.:ooh:

l

[Ranger One]

"Robert Sachs, also known as Bob Sachs, co-owned Dive Bequia, a scuba tour company in Port Elizabeth, with his wife, Cathy."

Damn that's the guy who taught me to dive over 20 years ago :-(

[1southernman]

A Bellanca Viking, the wooden wing spar plane.:ooh:

l
As I recall the Viking had an AD (40 yrs ago) on the built up wood, fabric covered wing for possible rot...Had tube and fabric fuse/tail feathers (horizontal had an airfoil and struts under)...Also came in a turbo version...Plush interior...Very slick and fun airplane...

[1southernman]

Not meant as gallows humor or disrespect but that cabin plush interior, boxy shape, night lighting and close quarters reminded me of a coffin...In spite of this I still enjoyed quite a few hours in it :)

[treadigraph]

Not meant as gallows humor or disrespect but that cabin plush interior, boxy shape, night lighting and close quarters reminded me of a coffin...In spite of this I still enjoyed quite a few hours in it :)
A development of the Cruisair I think.

[1southernman]

I think Cruisemaster 14-19-2 was a tailwheel and had triple vert tail..I worked part time as CFI in early 80's at a FBO/Bellanca dealer ...Remember seeing one getting worked on but didn't fly it...

[TowerDog]

As I recall the Viking had an AD (40 yrs ago) on the built up wood, fabric covered wing for possible rot...Had tube and fabric fuse/tail feathers (horizontal had an airfoil and struts under)...Also came in a turbo version...Plush interior...Very slick and fun airplane...

Yeah, there was some problems with the Vikings.
I worked for an FBO in Florida who specialized in service and repairs of the Vikings. I was one of the guys who took them up for test flights before delivery to the customers.
Nice flying airplane, but not sure about the wooden wing spars..

[jeepjeep]

Witness reports:
1. The plane made an unusual sound when taking off. "The noise corresponded to that of a vehicle having difficulty generating enough power to go up a hill."
2. The plane appeared to have stalled immediately after beginning its climb.

[treadigraph]

I think Cruisemaster 14-19-2 was a tailwheel and had triple vert tail.

Tailwheel and a main fin with two small end-plate style fins on the tailplanes. Nice looking kites. Does seem to have been developed into the Viking around 1960.

[1southernman]

A funny about the AD...The wing , which was sheeted with wood and with fabric over it, made for rivet free slick srfc... The entry (rh) side had a big patch of black friction surface...During a local flt heard a loud rip sound and felt a bump from the entry side...First thought was oh sh-t the AD...Took a peek over there saw the friction surface gone...On the ground found out that it had been replaced and obviously wasn't properly cured?...

[punkalouver]

I got checked out on a 14-13-3A Cruisemaster many years ago. After the excitement of getting the chance to fly a triple tail aircraft, I was disappointed to discover that this was one of a short run of Cruisemasters made by Inter-Air, which acquired production rights in 1962, and built them with a conventional tail(had a very strange location for the gear and flap handles).
Aviation photographs of Registration: C-FMCD : ABPic (https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/C-FMCD)

One has to be careful when chartering these GA operators. I went to the Caribbean last year and having some extra time, chartered a twin engine aircraft to St. Vincent. The pilot turned out to be very weak on his IFR skills, behind the aircraft, and needed some assistance from me on procedures. The aircraft has only two fuel guages for four fuel tanks and I did put some trust in him for the flight. It was only after we got back that it was discovered that there was a lot less fuel on board than what he thought was on board(why is the aircraft taking on so much fuel). Obviously, we had enough though. An unknown flight had happened prior to ours and it was assumed that a higher fuel level was still onboard. It is difficult as a passenger, unaware of fuel system operation with a non-obvious fuel quantity system like this to quickly check and see how much fuel is on board.

As for the Bellanca crash, there is brief video at this link of the impact. Definitely out of control.
Christian Oliver, two young daughters killed in Caribbean plane crash (usatoday.com) (https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2024/01/05/speed-racer-actor-christian-oliver-two-young-daughters-killed-in-caribbean-plane-crash/72123044007/)