Canadian Authorities To Investigate Fauquier County Plane Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA will let the Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigate Monday's plane crash because one plane is registered to an FAA employee and the other is an NTSB employee.
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The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will be investigating Monday's midair plane crash because the two planes involved are registered to federal employees.
The National Transportation Safety Board said today that the midair crash happened at about 4:21 p.m. A Piper PA-28, owned by Thomas R. Proven, 70, of Broad Run, and a Beechcraft BE-35 collided about five miles from the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport in Sumerduck, which is about 30 miles north of Fredericksburg.
Proven crash landed the Piper in a field and was transported to Mary Washington Hospital, where he was in good condition as of Tuesday morning. The BE-35 crashed in a wooded area and the plane caught on fire, killing both the pilot and passenger. Their identities have not been released. The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for making the proper identifications and death notifications, the NTSB said.
Proven is an FAA employee, according to the NTSB. The BE-35 is registered to James M. and Candace H. Duncan of Eagle Ridge Drive in Bethesda, Md., but it is not clear if they were in the plane at the time of the crash. One of the Duncans is an NTSB employee.
NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman consulted with FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta and they decided to ask the Transportation Safety Board of Canada to conduct the investigation.
"This accident hits especially close to home, with the involvement of an NTSB employee," Hersman said. "I'm grateful to TSB-Canada Chair Wendy Tadros for agreeing to conduct the investigation and the NTSB stands ready to support and assist them in any way we can."
NTSB investigator Paul Cox will serve as the NTSB's Accredited Representative to the TSB investigation. Chris Krepski, a media spokesman for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, said it has sent three investigators to the scene in southern Fauquier County.
JOSH
8:23 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
WHY ARE WE USING *CANADIAN INVESTIGATORS* ON SOMETHING THATS HAPPENED ON OUR SOIL..... THIS ISN'T ACCEPTABLE BY ANY MEANS, TO OUR OWN COUNTRIES CITIZENS..... WHEN WILL THE USA , START CONCERNING THEMSELVES WITH OUR OWN SITUATIONS, WITHOUT INVOLVING OUTSIDE INFLUENCE'S.....
Jim
8:38 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
If you read the article you would know why. They were both Federal employees, one of which was an extremely experienced airline pilot now working for the FAA, and the other apparently worked for the NTSB (who investigates accidents) He was also an experienced pilot, FAA Medical Examiner and was the chief NASA surgeon for at least two space shuttle missions. They don't want ANY impropriety.
Dan Telvock
9:35 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Jim is right, and also provided some additional detail, which I appreciate.
Jim
10:04 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012
And to further explain, The Pilot of the Cherokee is actually an accident investigator, who holds several certificates & type ratings. The passenger in the Bonanza was an experienced flight instructor. The instructor was giving the pilot a BFR (a flight review that is accomplished every other year to maintain flying privileges). Between the three people (all pilots) There was undoubtedly thousands of hours of flying experience.
Dan Telvock
8:58 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Jim, I could tell from the public records there was experience, but at the time I didn't know who was actually in the planes and only knew the registered owners had experience and a lot of it. What do you think happened?Is it true that many small airports don't have control towers so planes operate by looking out for each other and calling in their position on the radio? Very sad story and praying for the families involved.
G. Shanks
10:58 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Canadian TSB has a very good reputation and will ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. Canada and the USA work very closely together in a number of areas, military, customs and border patrol to name a few. Good neighbours and friends.
Eric
12:00 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
@JOSH did you even read the article before posting a dumbass response? The NTSB and FAA cannot investigate themselves to be neutral. They don't want collusion or bias in the investigation. Try to educate yourself first before replying.
Jason Atkinson
12:28 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Why is every stupid and blatantly flaming comment on here from a brand new account?.... Hmmm, some people clearly have no life but to troll on the internet I guess.
Dan Telvock
4:19 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Update: It has been confirmed that the two who died in the BE-35 are Paul Gardella, Jr., 57, of Burke, and James M. Duncan, 60, of Bethesda. Mr. Duncan was the pilot.
Condolences to all of the families involved, this is a very sad incident.