Sad news! apparently he had an engine failure on initial climb and attempted to return to Santa monica.
More information on Paulo on the main page of airliners.net
http://www.latimes.com/news/printeditio ... 3886.story
General Manager of A.net dies in Marchetti SF-260 crash
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CSk3RampBOY
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Tubthumper
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Re: General Manager of A.net dies in Marchetti SF-260 crash
From a pilot at the field where it happened:
I was taxiing my WACO past where Paolo and his passenger were coming out of the Atlantic hangars. Paolo shot me a peace sign. A few minutes later I was on the ramp outside my hangar - two hangars east of the wash rack, just past the 4000-foot marker on Runway 21 - when I heard an airplane overhead sputtering. My first impulse was a gut reflex that cringed, "switch tanks!" It sounded like fuel starvation. My impression was that the airplane was at about 400 feet, though others felt he was lower.
The airplane may still have been sputtering when the pilot opted to attempt to return to the field instead of aiming for the golf course. This point might have some relevance, because it is possible that he thought he was developing some power when he made the decision to try to return to the field. In any event, even if the engine was still sputtering when he banked it, the engine quit almost simultaneously with the turn.
As soon as the airplane banked to the right, it stalled and began to spin. It was aimed directly at us, and the three of us on the ramp outside Hangar 314 ran. After a second of running I stopped and watched the impact. The Marchetti hit the infield either on the spinner or took it right under the chin. Fire followed a couple of seconds later. There wasn't an explosion; there was more of a conflagration. The heat was intense.
I arrived on the scene maybe 30 seconds after impact. The canopy had disintegrated. It was clear that the occupants were dead. They were not struggling in the fire. McCaughley and I tried to approach the airplane, but it was futile.
Some woman on the news said that she saw the airplane pitched up steeply. This is untrue. The airplane never had any appreciable nose-high attitude.
The worst part of this tragedy is that the airplane could have made it to the golf course.
I was taxiing my WACO past where Paolo and his passenger were coming out of the Atlantic hangars. Paolo shot me a peace sign. A few minutes later I was on the ramp outside my hangar - two hangars east of the wash rack, just past the 4000-foot marker on Runway 21 - when I heard an airplane overhead sputtering. My first impulse was a gut reflex that cringed, "switch tanks!" It sounded like fuel starvation. My impression was that the airplane was at about 400 feet, though others felt he was lower.
The airplane may still have been sputtering when the pilot opted to attempt to return to the field instead of aiming for the golf course. This point might have some relevance, because it is possible that he thought he was developing some power when he made the decision to try to return to the field. In any event, even if the engine was still sputtering when he banked it, the engine quit almost simultaneously with the turn.
As soon as the airplane banked to the right, it stalled and began to spin. It was aimed directly at us, and the three of us on the ramp outside Hangar 314 ran. After a second of running I stopped and watched the impact. The Marchetti hit the infield either on the spinner or took it right under the chin. Fire followed a couple of seconds later. There wasn't an explosion; there was more of a conflagration. The heat was intense.
I arrived on the scene maybe 30 seconds after impact. The canopy had disintegrated. It was clear that the occupants were dead. They were not struggling in the fire. McCaughley and I tried to approach the airplane, but it was futile.
Some woman on the news said that she saw the airplane pitched up steeply. This is untrue. The airplane never had any appreciable nose-high attitude.
The worst part of this tragedy is that the airplane could have made it to the golf course.
Re: General Manager of A.net dies in Marchetti SF-260 crash
Shocking pictures when you realize that they are still inside!
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Flight 714
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linecrew
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Re: General Manager of A.net dies in Marchetti SF-260 crash
Niteflyer wrote:Shocking pictures when you realize that they are still inside!
...I would say maybe even a bit too much. Kinda inappropriate.
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mcconnell14
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Re: General Manager of A.net dies in Marchetti SF-260 crash
terrible tragedy. my condolences go out to his family and friends.
I read somewhere late last night (hence why i cant find the link) that a witness from the nearby park said the marchetti may have gone through a flock of birds.. but after Tubthumper witness comments i doubt birds were the factors.
I read somewhere late last night (hence why i cant find the link) that a witness from the nearby park said the marchetti may have gone through a flock of birds.. but after Tubthumper witness comments i doubt birds were the factors.
