Three Survive Plane Crash When Pilot Deploys Parachute

[Paul]

A pilot and his two passengers are safe after their plane crashed in the woods near Childersburg Friday afternoon.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that at about 2:30 p.m., pilot Kerwin Day of Smyrna, Ga., told air traffic control his Cirrus SR-22 was in trouble.

"The pilot reported a problem with the aircraft at an altitude of about 7,000 feet, but we don't have any information about the destination yet. But, of course, air traffic always directs flights to the closest airport whenever there's a problem," FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.

The plane crashed in the woods. Aviation news reports said the pilot experienced severe icing on the airplane, causing a loss of control.

Day did something pilots in other aircraft cannot. He pulled a lever and deployed the SR-22's parachute system.

NBC13

 

[Paul]

NTSB Update:

NTSB Identification: ATL06LA035
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, January 13, 2006 in Childersburg, AL
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22, registration: N87HK
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.​

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On January 13, 2006, at 1601 central standard time (CST), a Cirrus SR22, N87HK, registered to Trench Shoaring Systems Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, had an in flight loss of control while climbing in instrument flight conditions in the vicinity of Childersburg, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight departed Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama, enroute to Orlando, Florida, on January 13, 2006, at 1544.

The pilot stated he obtained a full weather briefing before departing Birmingham using the Direct User Access Terminal computer system. Icing conditions were forecast between 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The pilot filed his flight plan for a cruising altitude of 7,000 feet. The pilot stated the airplane is not equipped with de-icing boots, and is not certified for flight into icing conditions. The pilot was not aware of the National Weather Service Airmet that was in effect from 1445 CST to 2100 CST. The advisory warned of occasional moderate to mixed icing-in-clouds and in-precipitation between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.

NTSB