Impact With Plane's Wing Sent SUV Into Tree
Two people were killed Sunday when their small sport-utility
vehicle was struck by a Piper PA-18 Super Cub as it attempted to
take off from a private airfield in the Florida panhandle.
The Tallahassee Democrat reports Dennis Boyle and Carmen
Langston, both 56, were riding in the vehicle alongside the Cub,
flown by Carmen's husband Paul "Mac" Langston, 54. The aircraft's
left wing hit the SUV, sending it into a tree; the plane did not
take off, and neither Mac Langston nor his passenger, 27 year-old
Marissa Walton, were injured.
The accident occurred at 3 pm EST Sunday on the Ayavalla
Plantation, known in the region for hosting a number of wildlife
conservation events. The 20,000 acre plantation sports a small,
grass airstrip and hangar.
Investigators are determining why the Jeep was so close to the
aircraft. Walton is the girlfriend of the Langston's son, Cody, who
was also at the airfield... as was Boyle's wife, Robin.
Those who knew the victims said the Boyle and Langston families
are very close, and often socialize together at the plantation.
Both victims in the Jeep were actively involved in local
philanthropic causes.
"Tallahassee lost two very fine people and parents (Sunday),"
said Mark O’Bryant, president and CEO of Tallahassee Memorial
Healthcare. "This is a very sad day for all of us."
Though likely not causal to the accident, the fact the airstrip
at Ayavalla is not registered with the Department of Transportation
has attracted some interest in local media reports. Florida state
aviation manager Bill Ashbaker notes while the airstrip is
technically out of compliance with state law, there is no fine or
penalty for not being registered.
"(The regulation) is really in place to make sure that if a
person wants to do these activities, it is in compliance with the
local zoning," Ashbaker said. "If a person wants to operate their
vehicle on their private property we don't get involved."
A preliminary report from the NTSB is expected by early next
week.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 2424A
Make/Model: PA18 Description: PA-18
Super Cub (L-18C, L-21, U-7)
Date: 02/01/2009 Time: 2045
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury:
None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: TALLAHASSEE State: FL Country:
US
DESCRIPTION
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF, A JEEP DROVE UP TO THE AIRCRAFT AND
THE WING OF THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE JEEP. THE JEEP CRASHED INTO A
TREE FATALLY INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT
TAKE OFF
INJURY DATA Total
Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Grnd:
Fat: 0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
WEATHER: 1953Z 15009 10 SM FEW 043 BKN 070 14/07 3017
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase:
Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL
(SO15)
Entry date: 02/02/2009