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Pilot error blamed in crash that killed Duluth man
Associated Press
April 2, 2004ERROR03
DULUTH - Federal investigators are blaming pilot error for a New Mexico plane crash nearly two years ago that killed a Duluth man.
John Edward ``Jack'' Swanstrom Jr., 58, died on May 28, 2002, when the Cirrus SR20 he was piloting crashed in a rugged mountain forest shortly after taking off from a ski resort.
Swanstrom was president of the former Diamond Tool and Horseshoe Co. in Duluth and the chief executive officer, general manager and owner of Swanstrom Tools USA Inc. in Superior, Wis.
In the final report released Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board said the probable causes of the accident included ``the pilot's decision to continue the flight into rising mountainous terrain.''
A contributing factor was the ``high density altitude.''
Density altitude - which is influenced by temperature, humidity and barometric pressure - is often different from the actual altitude above sea level. Investigators determined that the density altitude at the Angel Fire, N.M., airport was 1,754 feet higher than its actual elevation when Swanstrom took off.
The crash site is 1,351 higher than the airport in actual altitude, but had a density altitude nearly 1,700 feet higher when Swanstrom crashed. At 8,382 feet above sea level, the Angel Fire airport is the fifth-highest in the United States.
The lower air densities found at higher altitudes can lessen an airplane's performance by decreasing its wings' lift, its engine's power and its propeller's thrust.
``It eliminates some of the performance of the aircraft,'' said Keith Holloway, transportation safety board public affairs officer. ``You're not able to perform at the same level you would be able to if you were at a lower density.''
One witness reported that Swanstrom's plane flew overhead ``really low at a relatively slow airspeed.'' As Swanstrom neared the mountain, ``the plane got lower with every second, then started to sputter as it was trying to elevate higher.''
The safety board reported that while the engine suffered severe impact and fire damage, ``no anomalies were found that would suggest any engine problem prior to the accident.''
Swanstrom was traveling alone and returning from a business trip to Albuquerque, N.M., when he crashed.
He served 13 years as a Minnesota Air National Guard pilot and had logged 1,350 hours as a pilot, 100 hours in SR20s.
Associated Press
April 2, 2004ERROR03
DULUTH - Federal investigators are blaming pilot error for a New Mexico plane crash nearly two years ago that killed a Duluth man.
John Edward ``Jack'' Swanstrom Jr., 58, died on May 28, 2002, when the Cirrus SR20 he was piloting crashed in a rugged mountain forest shortly after taking off from a ski resort.
Swanstrom was president of the former Diamond Tool and Horseshoe Co. in Duluth and the chief executive officer, general manager and owner of Swanstrom Tools USA Inc. in Superior, Wis.
In the final report released Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board said the probable causes of the accident included ``the pilot's decision to continue the flight into rising mountainous terrain.''
A contributing factor was the ``high density altitude.''
Density altitude - which is influenced by temperature, humidity and barometric pressure - is often different from the actual altitude above sea level. Investigators determined that the density altitude at the Angel Fire, N.M., airport was 1,754 feet higher than its actual elevation when Swanstrom took off.
The crash site is 1,351 higher than the airport in actual altitude, but had a density altitude nearly 1,700 feet higher when Swanstrom crashed. At 8,382 feet above sea level, the Angel Fire airport is the fifth-highest in the United States.
The lower air densities found at higher altitudes can lessen an airplane's performance by decreasing its wings' lift, its engine's power and its propeller's thrust.
``It eliminates some of the performance of the aircraft,'' said Keith Holloway, transportation safety board public affairs officer. ``You're not able to perform at the same level you would be able to if you were at a lower density.''
One witness reported that Swanstrom's plane flew overhead ``really low at a relatively slow airspeed.'' As Swanstrom neared the mountain, ``the plane got lower with every second, then started to sputter as it was trying to elevate higher.''
The safety board reported that while the engine suffered severe impact and fire damage, ``no anomalies were found that would suggest any engine problem prior to the accident.''
Swanstrom was traveling alone and returning from a business trip to Albuquerque, N.M., when he crashed.
He served 13 years as a Minnesota Air National Guard pilot and had logged 1,350 hours as a pilot, 100 hours in SR20s.
