Investigation Continues Into Takeoff Stall/Spin Mishap
NTSB investigators have discovered the pilot of a Beechcraft
Baron 55 involved in an April 18 accident during takeoff from the
Adirondack Regional Airport in New York had two separate identities
-- and wasn't properly rated to operate a twin-engine aircraft.
As ANN reported, airport
officials and state police initially identified the pilot as Scott
E. Thomas... but the NTSB report identifies the operator of the
plane as Philip W. Cook. Both identities are linked to a single
Saranac Lake address.
According to the NTSB report "membership cards, credit cards and
medical consultations found in the wreckage, along with the pilot's
website and friends, identified the name of the pilot as Thomas.
However, there were no Federal Aviation Administration airman or
medical records linked to that name."
But, under the second name, the report said "the pilot held a
commercial pilot certificate with single engine land, and
instrument-airplane ratings. He also held a flight instructor
certificate, for airplane single engine, which expired on June 30,
1978. The pilot's latest FAA second class medical certificate was
issued on November 20, 1981, and at the time, the pilot claimed
3,000 hours of flight experience."
Airport Manager Chris Kreig said he only knew the pilot by one
identity, according to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise.
"I have only known him as Scott Thomas," he said.
Kreig said he'd only met Thomas a few times and the airport
doesn't ask pilots for their licenses, nor does it check their
medical records.
"It's not my responsibility to check," he said. "The onus is on
the individual to make sure those things are up to date."
Three witnesses had very similar statements about what happened
to the Baron that night.
According to the report, the airport manager stated that just
when the airplane became airborne after taking off, "it made a
"rather abrupt climb," and shortly thereafter, started an "abrupt
left hand climbing turn." As the airplane "came up, the nose passed
through the horizon, the nose dropped, the left wing dropped," and
the airplane entered an "abrupt" dive. The airplane was in a bank
angle in "excess of 90 degrees, left wing low" as it disappeared
behind a tree line. The manager did not believe the airplane ever
climbed above 500 feet."
A veteran line service technician reported the aircraft
"attained a "nose-high configuration, and peaked at 300-400 feet."
Once it peaked, it rolled to the left, "and sorta did a barrel
roll." The witness then saw the top of the airplane as it descended
"nose straight down" into some trees.