'Mercy Flight' Crashed On IFR Approach To Airport

A mission of mercy and personal favor for a pilot's ailing friend ended in tragedy November 7, when a Partenavia P68C crashed during a nighttime approach to Florida's Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) in low IFR conditions.

The Gainesville Sun reported pilot Andrew Ricciuti,  was killed when the plane impacted a wooded area less than a mile from Runway 29 at GNV. Also lost in the crash were Gordon Bennett Taylor, 51, and his wife, Barbara Taylor, 52.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the accident, Ricciuti received a late evening phone call from Gordon Bennett Taylor, who was on an organ transplant waiting list. Taylor told the pilot a possible organ was available in Gainesville, and that he'd have to get there quickly for surgery the following morning.

The pilot then spoke with the owner/operator of the Partenavia, which was registered to Key West Aviation in Key West, FL. The company owner agreed to cover a scheduled trip for Ricciuti that morning, so he could fly Taylor and his wife to Gainesville. The owner also told the pilot he wouldn't charge the Taylors for the trip, as it was a favor to Ricciuti.

The P68C departed Key West at 0037 EST on November 7, on an IFR flight plan to Gainesville. As the plane approached GNV, Ricciuti contacted an FBO employee at the airport, who advised the pilot visibility was low due to fog, and he could not see the terminal lights from the FBO.

When asked about possible alternates, the employee told Ricciuti he did not know which airport was closer, Leesburg or St. Augustine. After clicking the pilot-operated runway lights at GNV to the highest setting, Ricciuti elected to continue the approach to Gainesville.

"According to preliminary data from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control (ATC), Jacksonville Center cleared the flight for the "ILS RWY 29" approach at GNV about 0240," the NTSB report states.

"About 10 miles from GNV, the pilot was instructed to contact the local common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) as the control tower at GNV was closed. Radar contact was lost with the accident airplane about 0245. The last recorded radar target was about 1.25 miles east of GNV, at 400 feet mean sea level."

Rescuers found the wreckage at approximately 0700 that morning, approximately 3,575 feet from the runway 29 threshold. All three persons onboard were killed in the crash, and ensuing fire.

Investigators noted the plane's flaps were retracted. No mechanical anomalies with either of the aircraft's two piston engines were immediately evident, though examiners did note the throttles on both engines were in the full open position.

The reported weather at GNV at the time of the accident was calm winds, with visibility 1/4 mile in fog and vertical visibility 100 feet.

FMI: Read The Full NTSB Preliminary Report