2 Fatalities at Transylvania, Monday

[Johnny C!]

Hey gang.
 I had debated to put a note here about
the plane crash here in the wings forum,
but Troy must have thought I may have
been onboard when he found out it was
an Arion Aircraft Lightning, which he new
a good friend of mine was building.

Duane had hired Rick to fly off the 40
hours, and then help Duane get current
for his light sport ticket. Duane still had
not solo'd the aircraft.

Contrary to the news articles, they had
been out for 2 hours. On their return they
announced in normal tones mid-field
cross-over, downwind, base & final, with
no apparent issues. They struck a large
tree with the left wing root about 30'
off the ground on final. There was an
obvious impact crater & the airframe
came to rest just a few feet from there
& 1230' from the numbers, but apparently
directly on proper runway heading. Another pilot
who is an EMT who had been at the crash
sight stated he thought they probably died
instantly. Winds were light & variable.
NTSB hasn't released an official statement
about a possible cause. I personally suspect
the wind direction changed & the resulting
tail wind caused a sink/stall that there weren't
able to react fast enough to overcome.

Duane made lots of good suggestions & helped
to clarify several issues for me as I made the
decision to by a Just kit, engine & avionics
choices. And I helped him as offten as could
when he needed an extra hand or a sounding
board. He was very knowledgable about all
aspects of home building.

Below is a cut paste from the news website
article, and a video link.

Duane was a good friend. Both of them
will be missed by many people.

Stay safe people...



On Tuesday morning, the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office released the names of the two men who
died in Monday's plane crash in the county.

They are 59-year-old Duane Sorenson, of Pisgah Forest, and 63-year-old Richard Norton of Brevard.
Jan McDougald, with the F.A.A., was on the scene this morning photographing the wreckage.

She and county officials spent time sorting through debris.

The single-engine experimental plane crashed Monday afternoon, around 4:30, in the Penrose Community.

According to Kevin Shook, Transylvania County's EMS Director, the plane crashed just off the runway of the
Transylvania County Airport -- on the west side of the airport on private property. Authorities said the plane
was not in the air long.

News 13 spoke with Cindy Jameson, the woman who called 911 about the crash.
She said she saw the plane hit the ground.
Jameson said the plane turned as though it was heading towards the airport.
She said it rocked and "just went straight down."
Jameson said it all happened so quickly.

Authorities said they expect to remain on the scene for most of the day, but that
they also expect to wrap up the scene today.

By: Courtney WardTransylvania Plane Crash 6/9/09

WLOS Video on this page...

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[Johnny C!]

I learned today that the prop had no
circular score marks. It's thought they
had extended their base leg past 9, to make
a downwind for 27 after they were told by
the manager that winds had shifted favoring
27. It's thought that by trying to milk it in to 9,
they stalled it.

Rick had once said it had really strange stall
characteristics...

I still can't believe their gone...

[rmullins]

I'm really sorry to hear about the loss of your friends. I have lost a couple of friends in the 30 years I've been hang gliding. Unfortunately when we take more risk when we take to the air, but it's the fact that these people are not content to watch tv, go shopping at the mall, and want more out of life that makes them such interesting people and and joy to be around. It sure hurts when we lose them, and the passage of time helps, but our lives are richer from having known them.


Helen Keller
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.”

[Johnny C!]

Thanks Rick.

Well put.

John