UK Photographer Steven Fletcher Lost In Takeoff Accident

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 01.26.09 1120 EST: Officials have released the identities of the two people involved in Sunday morning's takeoff accident of a Remos GX light sport aircraft at Sebring Regional Airport (SEF) in Florida.

Steven E. Fletcher, a freelance aviation photographer based in the United Kingdom, was killed when the aircraft apparently lost control and impacted the airport's south ramp, adjacent to Runway 18 at SEF, at around 7:45 am EST Sunday. As ANN reported, the accident aircraft was part of a two-ship formation taking off from the runway; the first aircraft had already departed, but quickly returned and landed back on 18 after the second plane went down.

Fletcher on assignment to the US Sport Aviation Expo for British aviation magazine Today's Pilot, and was presumably on a photo shoot when the accident occurred.

The pilot, Mike Kostelac, was airlifted from the scene to a Tampa hospital, in critical condition. Lt. Tim Lethbridge with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office told Highlands Today Kostelac's condition had stabilized as of Monday morning.

Kostelac is the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Remos, and was among the company's employees exhibiting the recently-upgraded Remos GX at the sport aviation show. The accident aircraft, N9GX, was one of two aircraft on display under the company's large tent display throughout the Sport Aviation Expo (shown at center). The Remos display was closed throughout Sunday, the last day of the show.

"We are overwhelmed with this loss and our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to the victim's family," said Remos CEO Michael Meirer. "We will provide full co-operation with the authorities as they seek to determine the cause of this tragedy."

Paul Hamblin, group editor-in-chief of Key Publishing, expressed his sorrow to Fletcher's family, friends and colleagues. "He was a very popular aviation photographer who was very well respected, experienced and known throughout the world of aviation," Hamblin told the Rutland and Stamford Mercury.

"He had done this many times before and knew exactly what he was doing. Everyone is stunned and shocked and very sad as Steve was a popular guy and will be missed by everybody."

Investigators with the FAA were on scene Sunday, and were joined Monday morning by their colleagues at the National Transportation Safety Board. No official statement about the possible cause of the accident has been released.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 9GX        Make/Model: LSA       Description: LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT
  Date: 01/25/2009     Time: 1258

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: SEBRING   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS
  FATALLY INJURED, SEBRING, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KVRB 251253Z 00000KT 9SM CLR 04/08 A3019

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL  (SO15)                   Entry date: 01/26/2009

FMI: www.remos.com