Witnesses Report Hearing "Popping" Noise From Plane's Engine

It probably wasn't anything mechanical. That's the NTSB's preliminary finding in the crash of a Glasair II-S FT (file photo of type, below) into a house in Roseville, CA last week.

The crash claimed the lives of the 49-year old pilot, Patrick O'Brien as well as his passenger, 43-year old James McIsaac, and the only person who was in the house at the time, 19-year old Christopher Musil.

The NTSB preliminary report quotes witnesses who say the Glasair approached the house at about 200-feet AGL, then performed a couple of high-angle banking turns before becoming inverted and diving into the two-story home. Other witnesses said the aircraft was performing aerobatics and may have just completed a loop before crashing.

"I look up and I see this airplane, going really low over my house and then just doing like a little loop and just goes into the house," said witness Leonardo Gutierrez to Sacramento television station News 10.

Below is the complete text of the NTSB Preliminary Report.

******

NTSB Identification: LAX06LA110
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, February 12, 2006 in Roseville, CA
Aircraft: Carpenter BJ/Carpenter SA Glasair II-S FT, registration: N540FT
Injuries: 3 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 February 12, 2006, about 1130 Pacific standard time, an experimental Carpenter BJ/Carpenter SA Glasair II-S FT, impacted a house in Roseville, California. The private pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was destroyed in the ensuing post-impact fire. The pilot, a private pilot certificated passenger, and one person inside the house were fatally injured. There were no other ground injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed Lincoln Regional Airport/Karl Harder Field (LHM), Lincoln, California, about 1115. A flight plan had not been filed.

According to witnesses in the area, the airplane had been seen earlier that morning performing aerobatics in the area.

One witness, located at the golf course indicated that he saw the airplane make a 65-degree bank, and then made a "massive" bank in the other direction. The airplane went inverted and dove into the house. Witnesses noted that the airplane was no higher than 200 feet above the ground when they observed it in flight. They also reported hearing a popping noise coming from the engine.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the site. He reported that the airplane was destroyed in the post-impact fire. He also indicated that there were no obvious mechanical malfunctions noted with the engine, and that the propeller blades showed evidence of chordwise scratching and S-bending.

The airplane was recovered and placed in a secure facility pending further investigation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov