Light airplane crashlands in Chonburi, South African pilot killed

[BKKBike09]

It doesn't look like a stall. I don't know the stall characteristics of the CTLS but I'll go out on a limb and - given it's a modern LSA - shoot for them being benign, meaning it's not prone to sudden / excessive wing drop in a wings-level stall. It's hard to tell from the video but the approach looked normal for RWY 05 at Bang Phra. The published approach to 05 requires a steeper than normal glide slope because of the wire hazards: there are the big and very visible HT wires but also a second set that run alongside the railway line just off the threshold. There is a basic VASI (glide slope indicator) for 05 because of this, clearly visible in the video at this link:

 

 

Whatever happened, RIP to a fellow pilot and deepest condolences to his family and friends.

[balo]

15 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

heart attack or stroke

Could be a reason, the plane itself did not look damaged before it suddenly turned to the left. He was an experienced pilot so I do not think it was a pilot error. 

 

 

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

Where have you read that? Power lines could have been hit while falling, American airforce pilots hit the cables of a cable car at hundreds of metres , power lines in Chonburi are 3 yards over the road level, you think he was flying 3 metres over the road level?

Why did the power go out in the area then?I don’t mind idiots combing mountains and freezing to death or skiing across Antarctica self funded but once these hare-brained schemes endanger the public they should be banned! Power lines could have been hit by “Falling” ? What a redeculous post! The video evidence is in controversial proof! 

 

The only international aircraft allowed in Thailand should be from certificated airlines operating under their Corporate governance or Government (ie Thai Airways, Japan Airlines) , properly insured.

Not premature hobbyists in light aircraft. RIP anyway he miffed it and hit power lines due to inattention or incompetence, not on purpose. So called “drones” should also be banned.

 

 

 

[webfact]

CAAT officials probe cause of light-aircraft crash that took life of South African pilot

By Chamnan Jai-eua 
The Nation

 

 

Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) officials on Monday inspected the wreckage of a private light aircraft that had crashed in Chon Buri’s Sri Racha district on Sunday afternoon, causing a blaze that killed the 60-year-old pilot, Mike Romberg from South Africa, at the scene.

 

 

The turboprop crashed to the ground when it was about to make a landing at Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok’s small-plane airport in Tambon Bang Phra, with the pilot immediately engulfed in the ensuing fire.

 

Chon Buri police chief Pol Maj-General Nanthachat Supamongkol, Sri Racha precinct superintendent Pol Colonel Ruangsak Buadaeng and a CAAT team led by crash investigator Veena Nusadin inspected the sealed-off scene at 8.30am, and were seen checking the wrecked aircraft’s engine and taking measurements of a power pole. 

 

 

Sakrin Amaraporn, an official from the airport who took a video clip of the incident, said the small plane’s reserve jet-fuel container may have contributed to the fatal, fast-spreading fire. 

 

“It [the crash and subsequent blaze] happened very fast, bellowing out smoke as high as a three-storey building,” he said, adding that he and the victim’s friends were in a state of shock and grief over what had happened.

 

Nanthachat said that, while the deceased pilot’s body had been sent for autopsy at the Police General Hospital’s morgue in Bangkok, the investigation into the cause of the crash was ongoing and witnesses, including Romberg’s friends, would be interviewed. 

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30361404

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-01

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

What rubbish. There was no Turboprop, what are the propeller planes like Bangkok Airways that use an auxiliary power unit turbine like found on mines and power plants and helicopters to turn a propeller on jet fuel. Which is kerosene by the way!

Light aircraft have normal piston engines that run on special high octane gasoline not kerosene that would destroy any piston engine! There are light aircraft with Diesels and even electrics now from what I have seen on Yu tube but not common yet.

[ozfarang]

3 hours ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

2 hours ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

What rubbish. There was no Turboprop, what are the propeller planes like Bangkok Airways that use an auxiliary power unit turbine like found on mines and power plants and helicopters to turn a propeller on jet fuel. Which is kerosene by the way!

Light aircraft have normal piston engines that run on special high octane gasoline not kerosene that would destroy any piston engine! There are light aircraft with Diesels and even electrics now from what I have seen on Yu tube but not common yet.

 

The only international aircraft allowed in Thailand should be from certificated airlines operating under their Corporate governance or Government (ie Thai Airways, Japan Airlines) , properly insured.

Not premature hobbyists in light aircraft. RIP anyway he miffed it and hit power lines due to inattention or incompetence, not on purpose. So called “drones” should also be banned.

 

 

 

After reading your last 2 posts, you have convinced me that you knowledge of anything aviation is very limited and is BS to be quiet honest.

 

Google is your friend.

[ozfarang]

The link below has all the info on why this flight was transiting Thailand.

 

https://handiflight.com/en/

 

Excellent weather here today but a bizarre accident.I have flown from both airfields. He left Nok private airfield near Chiang Mai to fly to the Royal Thai Flying Club at Chonburi south of Bangkok. Just a few hours flying but he crashed on around 100 foot above the runway with a sudden left turn.Video shows a sudden controlled left turn before he hit cables 20ft agl.



Swiss disabled pilot Michael Charles Lomberg, 60, was flying one of three light aircraft belonging to a group of disability rights advocacy group called "Handiflight Around the World" lost his life today in a bizarre landing accident at Bang Phra,Chonburi.


 

[Rimmer]

Troll post removed

[Dap]

On 12/31/2018 at 9:49 AM, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

He hit the power lines and crashed Einstein!
Pilot error,purely. Who will compensate the Thai government for the results of this hate-brained scheme? American Air Force pilots hot dogging around Italy comes to mind, minus the deep pockets.

Wow! Totally uncalled for.

[Dap]

22 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

heart attack or stroke.

That could very well be.

[hotchilli]

On 12/31/2018 at 9:49 AM, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

He hit the power lines and crashed Einstein!
Pilot error,purely. Who will compensate the Thai government for the results of this hate-brained scheme? American Air Force pilots hot dogging around Italy comes to mind, minus the deep pockets.

Not so sure about that Einstein theory...

watching the video shows he was on normal approach then veered suddenly to his left.. the power cables were running parallel with the side of the road which is where he impacted !!!

[billd766]

7 hours ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

Why did the power go out in the area then?I don’t mind idiots combing mountains and freezing to death or skiing across Antarctica self funded but once these hare-brained schemes endanger the public they should be banned! Power lines could have been hit by “Falling” ? What a redeculous post! The video evidence is in controversial proof! 

 

The only international aircraft allowed in Thailand should be from certificated airlines operating under their Corporate governance or Government (ie Thai Airways, Japan Airlines) , properly insured.

Not premature hobbyists in light aircraft. RIP anyway he miffed it and hit power lines due to inattention or incompetence, not on purpose. So called “drones” should also be banned.

 

 

 

Try a little research before you post.

 

He was NOT a hobbyist but an experienced pilot.

 

Before he had a car accident he was in the South African Air Force and was also sent to

The National Test Pilot School at Mojave, USA. You don't get sent there if you are just a hobby pilot. He was also a test pilot with the SAAF and when he left he continued as a test pilot with Denel Aerospace.

 

More information in the second link.

 

What experience do YOU have in the Aerospace industry?

 

2 links for you.

 

http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/326143/sa-born-paraplegic-pilot-will-embark-on-round-the-world-flight-to-spread-message

 

https://handiflight.com/en/mike/?fbclid=IwAR1Di68MkscI8VOMRHKxPY4VoLtakCDa9lyeTdQFPOhcLbUiMDpQbaLxa7g

[Stargeezr]

What left engine? ,  single engine aircraft in the video, texaaust.

Geezer

[Guitar God]

I flew through power lines in Waco Texas in 1981 in a Grumman Cheeta. We were landing in a grass field and all the power poles had trees growing around them. The owner of the field we were visiting to look at a Goldwing never mentioned he had power lines in front of his field. 

 

Snapped the bottom wire with the nose gear, popped the middle wire over the vertical stabilizer. Only damage was to the boot on the nose gear and exhaust pipe, it pulled the pitot tube off the wing but we didn’t lose it. 

 

Didn’t know if we’d lost the nose gear until we landed. 

 

Quite lucky that day. 

[Basil B]

28 minutes ago, Guitar God said:

I flew through power lines in Waco Texas in 1981 in a Grumman Cheeta. We were landing in a grass field and all the power poles had trees growing around them. The owner of the field we were visiting to look at a Goldwing never mentioned he had power lines in front of his field. 

 

Snapped the bottom wire with the nose gear, popped the middle wire over the vertical stabilizer. Only damage was to the boot on the nose gear and exhaust pipe, it pulled the pitot tube off the wing but we didn’t lose it. 

 

Didn’t know if we’d lost the nose gear until we landed. 

 

Quite lucky that day. 

Very Lucky... 

 

Could you suggest some numbers for the next lottery?

 

Edited January 1, 2019 by Basil B

[natway09]

It does not look like engine failure but the video looks like an uncontrolled left turn which

could be many things, pilot error, winglet malfunction etc.

I doubt if we will ever find out... RIP fellow flier

[madmen]

Interesting there is a turbo version and even super charged version of the piper cub

[Janner1]

On 12/31/2018 at 4:45 AM, NCC1701A said:

heart attack or stroke.

Yes at last! reasoned speculation.

The pilot had long passed the power lines and veered sharp left off his straight line flight path.

The dropping of the nose which is natural during a turn and is usually corrected by the pilot was never attempted and the plane sank down and crashed hitting street power lines.

 

An autopsy may be able to discover if a heart attack occurred but my limited knowledge of autopsy procedure and discovery reasons that a stroke would not be, but I could be wrong.

 

RIP the pilot and condolences to any family.

[garyk]

Wow, nothing left of the aircraft. 

RIP

[Tug]

I agree with rimmer to low to slow left wing stalled rip

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

It doesn't look like a stall. I don't know the stall characteristics of the CTLS but I'll go out on a limb and - given it's a modern LSA - shoot for them being benign, meaning it's not prone to sudden / excessive wing drop in a wings-level stall. It's hard to tell from the video but the approach looked normal for RWY 05 at Bang Phra. The published approach to 05 requires a steeper than normal glide slope because of the wire hazards: there are the big and very visible HT wires but also a second set that run alongside the railway line just off the threshold. There is a basic VASI (glide slope indicator) for 05 because of this, clearly visible in the video at this link:
 
 
Whatever happened, RIP to a fellow pilot and deepest condolences to his family and friends.

I believe he hit the second lines clearly shown in the video. He had lots of forward speed so a aerodynamic stall or excellerated stall is not likely. Without a black box guess we will never know some GPS data may be available from anything on board like mobiles and gopros

Everything else I posted was completely accurate. So although I was wrong to characterize the pilots experience level as such it is a private non commercial venture and thus in the realm of hobbyist stunts. The benefit of such pursuits should be weighed against the danger posed to the public. I can’t help those who come on here with nothing better to submit than a little venom but sailing into a remote third word airport in an experimental aircraft isn’t like a airline flight in terms of safety and as obvious here where the strip is surrounded by low wires, possibly uncharted and hard to see.

RIP, South Effrikan!

[billd766]

2 hours ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

I believe he hit the second lines clearly shown in the video. He had lots of forward speed so a aerodynamic stall or excellerated stall is not likely. Without a black box guess we will never know some GPS data may be available from anything on board like mobiles and gopros

Everything else I posted was completely accurate. So although I was wrong to characterize the pilots experience level as such it is a private non commercial venture and thus in the realm of hobbyist stunts. The benefit of such pursuits should be weighed against the danger posed to the public. I can’t help those who come on here with nothing better to submit than a little venom but sailing into a remote third word airport in an experimental aircraft isn’t like a airline flight in terms of safety and as obvious here where the strip is surrounded by low wires, possibly uncharted and hard to see.

RIP, South Effrikan!

If I can find this on Google then an experienced pilot could find the information also and probably had far better information when he and his friends were in the planning stages of their flight.

 

A link to Bang Phra Airport.

 

http://www.thaiflyingclub.com/linkairportbangphra.html

 

A Link to the Vasi.

 

http://www.thaiflyingclub.com/images/linkTFCfiles/formVTBTvasi.jpg

[madmen]

I believe he hit the second lines clearly shown in the video. He had lots of forward speed so a aerodynamic stall or excellerated stall is not likely. Without a black box guess we will never know some GPS data may be available from anything on board like mobiles and gopros

 

Everything else I posted was completely accurate. So although I was wrong to characterize the pilots experience level as such it is a private non commercial venture and thus in the realm of hobbyist stunts. The benefit of such pursuits should be weighed against the danger posed to the public. I can’t help those who come on here with nothing better to submit than a little venom but sailing into a remote third word airport in an experimental aircraft isn’t like a airline flight in terms of safety and as obvious here where the strip is surrounded by low wires, possibly uncharted and hard to see.

 

RIP, South Effrikan!

Sailing into a 3rd world airport in an experimental aircraft is no different to first world. The flight dynamics are the same.

 

I would seriously doubt that obstructions into airports would not be marked on approach plates or charts . You may as well take it to the next step and say nav aids only work intermittently wich of course is nonsense.

 

We are talking life and death. You don't get a second chance in a plane [emoji574]

 

[balo]

 
We are talking life and death. You don't get a second chance in a plane [emoji574]
 

Unless your name is Captain Sully Sullenberger

[madmen]

Unless your name is Captain Sully Sullenberger

Without getting into aerodynamics to much it's far easier to land a passenger jet on a glassy lake than to fly a light aircraft through power lines

Sully had his gear up and only the shiny surface of the belly exposed. As the jet came in to land the wings compressed the air below over the lake allowing the plane to float until it bled off speed.

The passengers actually said it felt like A normal landing. Still it requires skill and scully nailed it.

A light plane is no match for power lines.

[billd766]

49 minutes ago, balo said:

 

 

Unless your name is Captain Sully Sullenberger

 

There are far too many instances of survivors from aircraft accidents to list from nose and main landing gear failure, runway over runs, brakes burnt out, running off the runway etc to list.

[peterrain]

RIP