Ogden Hinckley Municipal Airport
A Plane Crash-Fly low or flying high that is the question
My son, Brian was standing on the tarmac in front of his hanger at the Ogden airport December 5, 2010, 5:57 p.m., when he saw a low flying single engine plane preparing to land with its wheels up. He knew he wouldn’t have time to warn the pilot over the radio so he jumped into a truck he was standing next to, and raced toward the spot where he the plane would be after it did a belly flop. Brian took pictures with his IPhone as he drove. When he arrived a few minutes later, he opened the door. The pilot appeared a bit dazed. Brian asked,
"Do you know your name?"
“Aaron Farr, What should I do?”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Did you shut off the gas?”
“No.”
“Shut off the gas and get out of the plane.”
The next thing Brian did was he called the Federal Aviation Association. The arie was sealed off for four hours. In and out going air traffic was prohibited for four hours, while the investigation took place. Estimated damage at the time was $7,500.00. Finally the plane a 180 Cessna was pulled off to the edge of the run way. Sky diving Ogden started up again continued jumping until dark. Brian later remarked. “I wish I would have thought to call Chanel 4 for the 10 PM interest story.”
The pilot was eighty year old Aaron Farr owner of Farr’s Jewelry. There was a little confusion still to be investigated, such as communication with the control tower, and a change in the normal flight pattern. Sometime later the Nation Transportation Safety Board blamed the pilot whose plane was damaged in a belly flop. In its investigation, the NTSB also determined visibility was diminished because of ground fog and that after being advised about the conditions by an air traffic controller, also had ignored his advice. The recorded air traffic control communications box revealed that the pilot got an update that weather conditions were deteriorating while he was en route to the airport. He was advised that visibility was a quarter mile less than the published approach minimums--the lowest a pilot can safely fly before determining it safe to land, and to try again later or land somewhere else. Also, Farr did not stabilize his airspeed or intercept the localizer once he was inside his final approach. He added that the controller gave him clearance and told him to climb to maintain 2,000. ft. "The next thing I remember is lying on the ground and having my clothes cut off. The NTSB report points out that another pilot flying under the same conditions choose to go to different airport. The fog was thick enough that evening to obscure the wreckage, even around the crash site, as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Residents have complained to the Roy and Ogden city councils about the airport as this was the fourth such crash in 11 years in a council meeting about a week after the crash, the residents' main point of concern was a runway that the airport expanded. When construction finished, it was closer to their homes, prompting planes to depart and land at lower altitudes closer to their homes.
The then Mayor Godfrey apologized for the stress the residents felt but explained that the FAA not the city, controls the airport. Mayor Joe Ritchie said he and City Manager Cris Davis have met with airport manager Royal Eccles, as well as with Ogden city officials, to discuss expanding the airport to increase commuter flights. Ritchie said he feels confident all involved have the best interest of safety for everyone in mind.
One man whose house was damaged in a previous crash took a different tact and thanked Roy City for keeping the public informed about the investigation.
The council also explained that the airport preceded the creation of the subdivisions.
Farr declined to comment on the report.
*10-21-2012 The first commercial jet left the Ogden airport today at 3 p.m. carrying 186 passengers to Phynix two days a week coming and going.
KARL WALLACE
To read more Karl Wallace short stories go to: karlwalacebblog.blogspot.com
A Plane Crash-Fly low or flying high that is the question
My son, Brian was standing on the tarmac in front of his hanger at the Ogden airport December 5, 2010, 5:57 p.m., when he saw a low flying single engine plane preparing to land with its wheels up. He knew he wouldn’t have time to warn the pilot over the radio so he jumped into a truck he was standing next to, and raced toward the spot where he the plane would be after it did a belly flop. Brian took pictures with his IPhone as he drove. When he arrived a few minutes later, he opened the door. The pilot appeared a bit dazed. Brian asked,
"Do you know your name?"
“Aaron Farr, What should I do?”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Did you shut off the gas?”
“No.”
“Shut off the gas and get out of the plane.”
The next thing Brian did was he called the Federal Aviation Association. The arie was sealed off for four hours. In and out going air traffic was prohibited for four hours, while the investigation took place. Estimated damage at the time was $7,500.00. Finally the plane a 180 Cessna was pulled off to the edge of the run way. Sky diving Ogden started up again continued jumping until dark. Brian later remarked. “I wish I would have thought to call Chanel 4 for the 10 PM interest story.”
The pilot was eighty year old Aaron Farr owner of Farr’s Jewelry. There was a little confusion still to be investigated, such as communication with the control tower, and a change in the normal flight pattern. Sometime later the Nation Transportation Safety Board blamed the pilot whose plane was damaged in a belly flop. In its investigation, the NTSB also determined visibility was diminished because of ground fog and that after being advised about the conditions by an air traffic controller, also had ignored his advice. The recorded air traffic control communications box revealed that the pilot got an update that weather conditions were deteriorating while he was en route to the airport. He was advised that visibility was a quarter mile less than the published approach minimums--the lowest a pilot can safely fly before determining it safe to land, and to try again later or land somewhere else. Also, Farr did not stabilize his airspeed or intercept the localizer once he was inside his final approach. He added that the controller gave him clearance and told him to climb to maintain 2,000. ft. "The next thing I remember is lying on the ground and having my clothes cut off. The NTSB report points out that another pilot flying under the same conditions choose to go to different airport. The fog was thick enough that evening to obscure the wreckage, even around the crash site, as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Residents have complained to the Roy and Ogden city councils about the airport as this was the fourth such crash in 11 years in a council meeting about a week after the crash, the residents' main point of concern was a runway that the airport expanded. When construction finished, it was closer to their homes, prompting planes to depart and land at lower altitudes closer to their homes.
The then Mayor Godfrey apologized for the stress the residents felt but explained that the FAA not the city, controls the airport. Mayor Joe Ritchie said he and City Manager Cris Davis have met with airport manager Royal Eccles, as well as with Ogden city officials, to discuss expanding the airport to increase commuter flights. Ritchie said he feels confident all involved have the best interest of safety for everyone in mind.
One man whose house was damaged in a previous crash took a different tact and thanked Roy City for keeping the public informed about the investigation.
The council also explained that the airport preceded the creation of the subdivisions.
Farr declined to comment on the report.
*10-21-2012 The first commercial jet left the Ogden airport today at 3 p.m. carrying 186 passengers to Phynix two days a week coming and going.
KARL WALLACE
To read more Karl Wallace short stories go to: karlwalacebblog.blogspot.com
