Mooney Fatality, Bartow, FL.

[mike_elliott]

Today, we lost 2 of ours in a fatal crash in Bartow Fl. We *think* we know the unfortunate people.

More will be posted I am sure.

RIP.

 

[MooneyMitch]

So sad for the families and friends left behind. 

[StevenL757]

** sigh **

https://www.theledger.com/news/20200213/confirmed-2-dead-in-bartow-plane-crash

[steingar]

I had a sinking feeling in my gut, but it turns out this isn't the aircraft I had in mind.  Still quite a tragedy. RIP for the deceased.  Always frustrating waiting for the authorities to figure out what happened.

Edited February 14, 2020 by steingar

[Urs_Wildermuth]

Aviation safety net has some links on this accident... horrible.

 

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/232931

[ArtVandelay]

Looks like a resident of Spruce Creek, we have a few here from there.

[mike_elliott]

He and his wife were from Spruce Creek. They used to be regulars at the Florida lunch group, but lately have been doing formation flying with the group from Spruce Creek. Both were pilots.

Edited February 13, 2020 by mike_elliott

[chriscalandro]

I think it’s safe to say fuel starvation was a factor. The tanks clearly ruptured and it was reported that there was no fuel spillage. 

[ArtVandelay]

They’ve been identified as Bonnie and Dennis Powell.

[Davidv]

2 hours ago, chriscalandro said:

I think it’s safe to say fuel starvation was a factor. The tanks clearly ruptured and it was reported that there was no fuel spillage. 

If I’m looking at the map correctly it happened on what would be short final for runway 23.  Winds are out of 230 right now (not sure about the morning or if they were arriving/departing).

Wishing the best for their families...

[ArtVandelay]

If I’m looking at the map correctly it happened on what would be short final for runway 23.  Winds are out of 230 right now (not sure about the morning or if they were arriving/departing).
Wishing the best for their families...

23 was the active, I listen to the tower archive, but they never checked it, probably on IFR since ceilings were 2300’.

[MATTS875]

Very sad. Prayers for the family. 

[Davidv]

48 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:

23 was the active, I listen to the tower archive, but they never checked it, probably on IFR since ceilings were 2300’.

Looks like they flying VFR since I checked the approach archive (120.65) and didn't hear them either.  Also nothing filed on Flightaware...

Edited February 14, 2020 by Davidv

[irishpilot]

Indeed very sad. When information is available, we will discuss the cause and how to learn from this tragic event.

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[bonal]

Terrible terrible news. Expect it will be quite some time before we know the whole story. Just sucks when these things happen to our fellow flyers. Prayers out to all that were in their lives.

[Hector]

Very sad!!! I think I met them during a Florida lunch group meet up.


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[skydvrboy]

This one hits hard.  I listened to the liveATC and thought I recognized the voice of the lead pilot.  Sure enough, I checked the registration and confirmed it was his plane.  After landing he called the tower and said "We are looking for a Mooney that should have been following me in."  Tower replies "Yeah, we are too." 

[RLCarter]

29 minutes ago, skydvrboy said:

This one hits hard.  I listened to the liveATC and thought I recognized the voice of the lead pilot.  Sure enough, I checked the registration and confirmed it was his plane.  After landing he called the tower and said "We are looking for a Mooney that should have been following me in."  Tower replies "Yeah, we are too." 

Was the Mooney NORDO?

[carusoam]

Prayers,

-a-

[skydvrboy]

11 hours ago, RLCarter said:

Was the Mooney NORDO?

No, but when flying formation, only the lead aircraft communicates with ATC.  The Mooney can be heard twice, once when checking in on frequency and once when directed to extended trail.  Lead makes the call and everyone else responds in order "Lake 2, Lake 3, Lake 4".

[steingar]

Did the destination airport have cheap gas?  I've been known to go light into airports that did, in order to fully reap the rewards.  That said, I've never gone light enough that I didn't have a VFR reserve.

[bradp]

Another thing to consider is fuel burn when flying formation is typically 30% or so higher than in typical cruise. 

[ArtVandelay]

No, but when flying formation, only the lead aircraft communicates with ATC.  The Mooney can be heard twice, once when checking in on frequency and once when directed to extended trail.  Lead makes the call and everyone else responds in order "Lake 2, Lake 3, Lake 4".

Thanks for the clarification, I didn’t understand what was going on.

[ArtVandelay]

Did the destination airport have cheap gas?  I've been known to go light into airports that did, in order to fully reap the rewards.  That said, I've never gone light enough that I didn't have a VFR reserve.

Yes, one of the least expensive.

[steingar]

Just now, ArtVandelay said:

Yes, one of the least expensive.

Thank you.  That adds some insight.  I bet they were light to get cheap fuel, and perhaps they pushed it a bit.  When you're low and slow you don't have a lot of time to react.  Still a horrible tragedy.  My heart's out to their community.  I know how I felt when I thought this was a friend of mine.