NTSB Report: Witnesses say plane's nose 'dropped' before fatal crash near Colonial Beach

Witnesses report seeing the nose of an experimental plane drop before it crashed in Colonial Beach, Va., killing a father and son onboard. The reports were part of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary investigation report released on Thursday.

According to the NTSB report, on June 7, at 10:15 a.m. EDT, an experimental Vans RV-6 aircraft (registration N835BC) was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Colonial Beach, Va. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.

A witness to the accident stated he was a lifelong friend of the passenger, and the passenger’s son, the pilot. He stated the pilot and his father flew to his house on June 6 from Wilmington, N.C. The airplane landed at a neighbor’s house on a 1,700-foot-long grass runway.

They went night fishing and on the morning of the accident, the witness dropped them off at the airplane. The pilot told him they would fly to Tappahannock Airport in Tappahannock, Va., to fill up with fuel before returning to Wilmington. The witness then returned to his house.

About 30 minutes later, while standing in his driveway, the witness heard the airplane flying overhead. He watched the aircraft as it made two circles around his house. The airplane was in a “very steep” or “knife edge” tight circle on the second circle, only about 100 ft above the ground. The nose of the airplane dropped, and the aircraft impacted the ground beside his driveway almost vertically. He further stated that the engine sounded like it was “running well” the entire time.

A second witness, the neighbor, stated that the pilot and his father previously flew to his runway about six times over the last couple of years.

The neighbor further stated that on the morning of the accident, he noticed the airplane circling his neighbor’s house while he was driving, so he stopped his truck to watch it.

The airplane made a couple of circles around the house and some up-and-down maneuvers. On the last circle around the house, at an altitude of 100 ft, the airplane was in a tight circle knife edge turn. The airplane was “not going very fast” and the nose of the airplane dropped down about 20°. It then dropped to 80° and the airplane impacted the ground vertically next to the driveway.

The accident site was located between a driveway and a cornfield. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude, the NTSB said in their report. A post-crash fire consumed most of the airplane.

The fuselage, instrument panel, cabin, seats, and inboard wings were all consumed by fire. All the accessories were fire damaged and mostly melted.

The NTSB will continue to investigate the accident and release a final report in the future.

Fatal plane crashes in Virginia for 2023:

June - Preliminary report released on Cessna jet crash in Virginia

March - Preliminary report investigating plane crash in Hillsville, Va., released by NTSB

February - NTSB releases preliminary report on plane crash in Rockingham County, Va.

January - NTSB report shows pilot and passenger were in plane “not to be flown”

Condor Aviation takes delivery of new Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft

Textron Aviation has delivered a Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to the Yurok Tribe’s Condor Aviation that will assist in performing large-scale environmental restoration projects.

The special missions Grand Caravan EX aircraft will increase the tribe’s capacity to evaluate long-term natural resource management decisions and quantify the effects of climate change, Textron said in a company press release.

The Yurok Tribe will use aerial imaging equipment and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems aboard the Cessna aircraft to create extremely accurate three-dimensional maps of the earth’s surface. This will help the tribe collect a broad range of data regarding terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Yurok officials said data collected by the aircraft will significantly enhance their ability to holistically restore salmon-spawning streams.

“We employ LiDAR data and high-definition aerial imagery to maximize the efficacy of our efforts to rebuild biologically diverse ecosystems and repair fire-damaged forests in Northern California,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers. The Yurok Tribe is the most populous federally recognized tribe in California.

The new Grand Caravan EX joins a Cessna Turbo Skylane already in service with Condor Aviation. In addition to tribal projects, Condor Aviation, in conjunction with the Yurok Fisheries Department’s technical team, provides precision mapping and high-resolution imaging services to a wide range of clients from California to Alaska.

The Cessna Caravan platform has seen more than 3,000 aircraft delivered that are certified in 100 countries with nearly 24 million flight hours amassed worldwide since the aircraft was introduced. The aircraft offers an impressive output of 867 horsepower and a rate of climb of 1,275 feet per minute.

Preliminary report released on Cessna jet crash in Virginia

On June 4, about 3:32 p.m. EDT, a Cessna Citation 560 jet (registration N611VG), was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Montebello, Va., killing a pilot and three passengers onboard. On Wednesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report detailing the plane’s flight that day.

According to the NTSB report, the Cessna Citation jet departed Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee at 1:13 p.m. EDT on June 4 destined for Long Island Mac Arthur Airport in New York. A single pilot and three passengers were aboard the plane.

A review of preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control audio recordings revealed that the pilot contacted the Atlanta Center controllers shortly after takeoff, and reported climbing through 9,300 feet to 10,000 ft. The controller then subsequently cleared the flight to flight level 230 (23,000 ft) and the pilot read back the clearance.

At 1:22 p.m. EDT, the pilot was handed off to another controller with Atlanta Center. The pilot subsequently contacted the controller, advising that the airplane was maintaining flight level 230 (23,000 ft). The controller cleared the flight to flight level 290 (29,000 ft) and the pilot read back the clearance.

At 1:25 p.m. EDT, the controller cleared the airplane to flight level 340 (34,000 ft) and the pilot readback the clearance. At this time the airplane was about 28,000 ft.

At 1:28 p.m. EDT, the controller amended the prior altitude clearance, instructing the pilot to stop the climb at 33,000 ft for crossing air traffic. The pilot did not respond to the amended clearance, the airplane continued the climb to 34,000 ft and leveled off. No further radio transmissions from the pilot were received for the remainder of the flight, despite repeated attempts to contact the pilot.

The Cessna jet arrived over Long Island Mac Arthur Airport at 2:32 p.m. EDT at 34,000 feet. After passing over the airport, the aircraft made a 180-degree turn and continued to fly without responding to air traffic controllers.

According to a North American Aerospace Defense Command statement, at about 3:20 p.m. EDT the airplane was intercepted by U.S. fighter aircraft. The pilot was unresponsive to several radio transmissions, intercept flight maneuvers, and flares dropped by the fighters.

The plane then entered a rapidly descending right spiral descent into the terrain at 3:22 p.m. EDT. The aircraft impacted mountainous and forested terrain a short distance from where the spiraling descent was observed.

During the examination of the terrain, trees, and wreckage found at the accident site, “all were consistent with a high velocity, near vertical descent,” the NTSB said in their report. “The wreckage was extremely fragmented, scattered around a main crater, and evidence of a post-impact fire was observed.”

According to recent maintenance inspection records, the airplane, as of May 2023, was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder (CVR), however, at the time of this publication, a CVR had not been located.

The airplane was owned and operated by Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc. in Florida.

The wreckage was recovered from the accident site and retained for further examination. A final report will be issued in the future. 

Aircraft leasing company Avolon orders 40 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes

International aircraft leasing company Avolon has ordered 40 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. Boeing announced the order at this week’s Paris Air Show.

"We are confident in the long-term demand from our customers for the 737 MAX, and this order extends our delivery pipeline out to 2030," said Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon. "The transitioning of the global fleet to more fuel-efficient new-technology aircraft is a priority for our industry, and we are looking to play a leading role by supporting airlines achieving their sustainability objectives."

The 737 MAX will provide Avolon's customers with greater flexibility across their network while reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes they replace. Each airplane will save up to 8 million pounds of CO₂ annually compared to the airplanes it replaces.

Boeing officials said the order demonstrates the popularity of the 737-8 aircraft.

"Avolon has a long-standing relationship with the 737 MAX program and took delivery of the 1,000^th 737 MAX last year,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We look forward to building on this strong relationship with a key leasing partner as they grow their Boeing portfolio of airplanes."

This order was previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website.

The 737-8 model, seating 162 to 210 passengers depending on configuration and with a range of 3,500 nautical miles, is the market's most versatile single-aisle airplane, capable of operating profitably on short and medium-haul routes.

Boeing customers have placed more than 1,000 orders and commitments for the company's new commercial airplanes since July 2022. This includes over 750 737 MAX airplanes, reflecting the value of the family's versatility and commonality.

Air India finalizes order for up to 290 Boeing jets

Boeing and Air India announced Tuesday they have finalized an order for up to 290 new Boeing jets and expanded services. The two companies held a signing ceremony at this week’s 2023 Paris Air Show to celebrate the historic purchase of Boeing's market-leading single-aisle and widebody jets to renew and expand Air India's fleet.

The order, which includes 190 737 MAXs, 20 787 Dreamliners and 10 777X jets with options for 50 737 MAXs and 20 787 Dreamliners, is Boeing's largest order in South Asia.

A comprehensive set of aviation services will also enable Air India to sustainably expand its operations in South Asia's rapidly growing aviation market. Over the next 20 years, South Asia is expected to more than triple its in-service fleet from 700 to 2,300 airplanes to meet passenger demand.

The companies announced in February that Air India had selected these Boeing models to serve its strategy for sustainable growth.

Arianespace signs agreement with three small satellite launch services

European-based launch service provider Arianespace announced Monday that it has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Dark, Orbex, and PLD Space to work on a possible collaboration to answer its customers’ special needs.

Arianespace believes small satellite launch service providers can complement the company’s portfolio to provide innovative technologies and services to new customers.

“The small satellite market is booming,” Arianespace said in a company press release. The company said that the small-class launcher market is made of always more diverse requirements and solutions, some of them in very specific orbits. “Even if the majority of this market can be satisfied by ride-share flights on Ariane 6 and Vega C, micro and mini launchers can complement Arianespace's portfolio.”

The company is getting ready to perform its last Ariane 5 launch this week and replace it with the upgraded Ariane 6 booster.

Dark

Dark is a French company developing a multi-mission platform able to launch up to 300 kilograms in Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 500 kilometers. Their solution is based on an air-launched rocket integrated under a plane, thus enabling launches from airports. Dark's maiden flight is targeted for 2028.

A similar air-launched rocket service, Virgin Orbit, recently closed its doors. Starting in 2017, the company was sold for parts after declaring bankruptcy in April.

Virgin Orbit, launched by billionaire Richard Branson, used a Boeing 747 aircraft to air-launch their small satellite launcher. Only four of its six flights were successful.

Orbex

Orbex is a European company based in Scotland, developing a micro launcher called Prime, with a reusable first stage, that will offer dedicated and rideshare launch opportunities to satellites weighing up to 200 kilograms targeting a Low Earth Orbit. This launcher is equipped with 3D-printed rocket engines that use renewable bio-propane fuel to limit carbon emissions. Orbex operates from Sutherland Spaceport in Scotland. Prime's maiden flight is targeted to take place in late 2024.

California-based start-up company Relativity Space was the first to launch a 3D-printed rocket. The company says their Terran 1 rocket, launched on March 22, was 85% 3D-printed. The vehicle reached a few technical milestones during launch but never reached Earth orbit.

PLD Space

PLD Space is a Spanish company, developing the MIURA 5 micro launcher, based on a reusable Lox/kerosene first stage which enables dedicated rideshare and piggyback launches for its customers. This vehicle is ideally positioned for small satellites ranging from CubeSats to payloads weighing up to 540 kilograms, and deploying these in SSO at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers. PLD Space targets launches from Huelva in Spain and from the French Guiana Space Center. MIURA 5 maiden flight is targeted for late 2025.

The MoU between Arianespace and the three small launch providers establishes the terms and conditions of the various avenues of cooperation, all based on a non-exclusivity basis.

Date set for final Ariane 5 rocket launch

Arianespace is planning to launch an Ariane 5 rocket next week that will place two satellites in space, one for Germany and one for France.

Designated Flight VA261, this will be the 117th and last mission using an Ariane 5. The launcher will be replaced by the new European heavy launcher Ariane 6.

The German satellite, Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit, is for the German Space Agency. The second payload, SYRACUSE 4B, is for the French Armament General Directorate.

The launch is planned for 5:28 p.m. EDT on Friday (June 16).

Both satellites will be placed into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit approximately 30 minutes after liftoff.

For this launch, Arianespace will serve, for the first time, the German Space Agency on behalf of the German Government by orbiting the Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit, as well as the French Ministry of Defence, owner of the SYRACUSE 4B satellite.

The Heinrich-Hertz-Mission is the first dedicated German telecommunications satellite-based mission that will be used to conduct research and test new technologies. The mission is managed by the German Space Agency on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and with the participation of the German Federal Ministry of Defence. The Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit was mainly developed and built by OHB System.

SYRACUSE 4B will provide better telecommunications services for the French military. The satellite will work in conjunction with SYRACUSE 4A, already in orbit, to connect armed forces when deployed. The satellites will also support North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations.

The SYRACUSE 4B and SYRACUSE 4A satellites were developed by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space.

The June 16 launch will be the 347th launch for the European-based launch service provider Arianespace. Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit and SYRACUSE 4B will be the 1,152nd and 1,153rd satellites to be launched by Arianespace.