Package Express Crash

[CitationLover]

What happened with N865GB? Sounded like engine problems. Anyone know?

 

[uscpilot]

I talked to some of their pilots today. He was relativly new. There was 500' ceiling, and he dead sticked it to a stop with in 20' of a house. He walked away with only scratches.
There should be a story in the Charlotte Observer website.

 

[CitationLover]

the story there is just the typical "canned" plane crash story. thought maybe someone from package would know more. i know a mechanic there....but haven't been able to get ahold of him.

 

[Finfan]

Test

Test

 

[jaybird]

I know he was flying work for AirNet. Lab sample I think. Yuk. Glad he's OK though.

 

[Dr4uh60l]

I've heard a few things but I don't want to spread rumors from "unconfirmed sources". I'll see one of their other pilots tomorrow and get more details. The FAA preliminary report states an engine failure and hitting a powerline. Ceilings BKN 008--not a lot of time after breakout to do much, huh? If you walk away from that, you did a good job--even if the plane was destroyed.

 

[Freightdog75]

Plane was a PA32 N685BW. Engine $hit turning onto the localizer for 36R. Only guess's on what happened though(engine wise). Pilot's second day with the company......that sucks. He broke out (800 @ 2) in a residential, found a road quickly, clipped power lines on the approach, which ruptured one of the tanks, and landed. In the process of clipping the power lines, he sparked a fire. Plane burned, he walked away. Pretty d@mn impressive for a guy only 2 days in the plane. The engine got sent out this weekend to Lycoming and the Fed's are dealing with the shell and the pilot records as far as I know.

One of those crazy things..............I was flying that plane just about a month ago right before I left for the new job. Unbelievable. Thank God!

 

[Snakum]

Wow ... props to the guy.

I'd need clean underwear ASAP.

Minh

 

[wingnutt]

Wow ... props to the guy.

I'd need clean underwear ASAP.

Minh

yea, but ill bet the pilots seat cover was missing...prob sucked it clean up his @$$

 

[Dr4uh60l]

Here's the NTSB preliminary report:
On June 17, 2003, at 2239 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N685BW, registered to Race City Air LLC and operated by Package Express, collided with trees and power lines and caught fire during a forced landing in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The domestic cargo flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135 with an instrument flight plan filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Raleigh Durham International Airport, Raleigh, North Carolina, at 2125 on June 17, 2003.

The pilot was receiving air traffic control vectors for the runway 36R localizer at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, when he heard a loud noise and the engine lost power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and the pilot aligned the airplane with a road for an emergency landing. During the descent, the airplane struck trees and power lines, then collided with the pavement and caught fire. The pilot escaped through the cargo door, and the cabin was consumed by fire.