Four Onboard Killed As Plane Goes Down During Go-Around
ANN REALTIME UPDATE
02.23.06 2300EST: Aero-News has confirmed the Columbia 400 that
went down in Virginia Wednesday night was a factory-built,
certified aircraft -- making the latest accident the third
involving a certified Lancair (later, Columbia)
aircraft.
The FAA database shows two Columbia aircraft registered to
Homeowners Title LCC. It is not yet clear which of those airplanes
-- 350RP or 400WX -- may have been involved in the accident.
Aero-News reported in October
2005 on the first-ever loss of a certified Columbia
airplane, also a 400, that went down in southern California.
Weather conditions at the time of that accident were poor, as they
were Wednesday night in Virginia. A week later, another Columbia
was lost in a night flight over mountainous terrain. All the
accidents appear to be operator-error, and no airframe or systems
failures are suspected as causal in any of the reported accidents
documented, thus far.
Original Report
There are no survivors in the downing of a Columbia 400
(described, inaccurately, as a Lancair 400 in media reports)
Wednesday night as it was attempting to land at Stafford Regional
Airport in Virginia.
The single-engine plane (file photo of type, below) went down
after an aborted landing attempt at approximately 11:40 pm
Wednesday night. Investigators believe the pilot veered off into
trees following a go-around. The wreckage was found Thursday
morning approximately 500 yards from the airport.
Killed in the crash were pilot Richard Potter, 49; Albert "Buck"
Jacoby, 56; Graham Green III, 57; and Michael Pappas, 47. All four
men were from the Frederickburg area. Authorities believe the men
were heading home from Winston-Salem, NC after watching the Wake
Forest/Clemson men's basketball game.
State police Sgt. F.L. Tyler told the Associated Press the
aircraft had originally attempted to land at Shannon Airport in
Fredericksburg, about 12 miles away, but was turned away because of
inclement weather at that airport. Heavy fog enveloped the area
Wednesday night, and hindered recovery efforts throughout
Thursday.
Potter was flying under an IFR flight plan, said FAA spokeswoman
Arlene Murray.
The Associated Press reports the aircraft was registered to
Homeowner Title LLC. State records obtained by the AP show Potter
is listed as the company's principal owner.