Heat Possible Factor In Accidents That Claimed Two, Injured
Four
It's quite possible
Thursday, August 30 will become known as Black Thursday to people
in Cameron Park, CA. Two separate accidents occurred the same day,
within about six hours of each other at Cameron Airpark (O61).
The first accident occurred about 6:30 am and involved a couple
flying a Kitfox, according to the Sacramento Bee. The man and a
woman onboard were bound for Idaho when the plane went down shortly
after takeoff, said Deputy Phil Chovanec.
Witnesses reported seeing the couple crawl out of the plane.
They were taken to a local hospital and authorities reported both
were in stable condition Thursday.
The second accident didn't end quite so well. A Beechcraft A36,
carrying four people bound for Ensenada, Mexico, went down about
six hours after the first accident... and also just after takeoff.
It went down about 200 yards north of the runway in an open field,
according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Ian
Gregor.
El Dorado County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Kevin House said the
Beechcraft bounced several times prior to impact with a hill. The
plane's structure then broke apart. Two of the persons onboard were
killed.
Authorities aren't clear on the causes of either accident, but
are certain they are not connected.
Bob Petersen, commander of the Sheriff's Department's air
squadron, speculates heat may have been a factor.
"It's not just the altitude," Petersen said. "As temperature
goes up, the air gets thinner."
The aircraft may not have been able to generate enough lift due
to high density altitudes at the , he said.
"It's just a strange coincidence," House said. "We never had two
crashes in the same day."
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#:
96KL Make/Model:
EXP Description: KITFOX
Date: 08/30/2007 Time: 1330
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
Serious Mid Air: N
Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: PLACERVILLE State: CA Country:
US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, NEAR
PLACERVILLE, CA
INJURY DATA Total
Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 Fat:
0 Ser:
2 Min:
0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Grnd:
Fat: 0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
WEATHER: METAR KMHR 301355Z 15006KT 10SM SCT080 22/11 A2991
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase:
Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SACRAMENTO, CA
(WP25)
Entry date: 08/31/2007
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 1098F
Make/Model: BE36 Description: 36
Bonanza
Date: 08/30/2007 Time: 1935
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
Fatal Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: CAMERON PARK State: CA
Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON DEPARTURE AND CAME TO REST INVERTED,
THERE WERE FOUR
PERSONS ON BOARD, ONE WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THREE
SUSTAINED SERIOUS
INJURIES, CAMERON PARK, CA
INJURY DATA Total
Fatal: 1
# Crew: 4 Fat:
1 Ser:
3 Min:
0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat:
0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
# Grnd:
Fat: 0 Ser:
0 Min:
0 Unk:
WEATHER: METAR KMHR 301945Z 19008KT 10SM SCT100 38/13 A2989
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase:
Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SACRAMENTO, CA
(WP25)
Entry date: 08/31/2007