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.