Cessna 337 Skymaster crash.

[Guy Paris]

N15EM

N.J. couple die after plane crashes off Maine

The Associated Press

Emergency workers have recovered the bodies of a New Jersey couple from the spot where a small plane crashed off the coast of Maine.

The Coast Guard launched a search after air traffic controllers from Brunswick Naval Air Station lost communications and radar contact with the plane at 1:07 p.m. Sunday, 18 miles east of Portland. Rescuers quickly focused on an area where a fuel sheen and debris field were spotted.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Holly Baker says the plane had been flying at 8,000 feet en route from Millinocket, Maine, to Caldwell, N.J. The Coast Guard says Edward and Maryann Mainardi were aboard the aircraft, a Cessna 337 Skymaster. FAA records indicate it was registered to a man in New Jersey.

Joining in the search was a Coast Guard falcon jet, along with vessels from the Coast Guard and state and local responders.

[WebMaster]

Here's the flight aware track.

[Skymaster337B]

I looked at the weather for the Portland area at the approximate mishap time. Weather at Portland was between OVC 19 and BKN 23, with a temp of 18C due point at 14C, 79% humidity but not raining at the time -- but did rain earlier and later in the day, most for this month so far. I couldn't find what the cloud tops were, but I'll take a guess and say two things. One, they were IFR at 8,000ft. Two, icing was very possible at 8,000ft using a standard lapse rate and the unequal heating of the ocean. Therefore, with no other facts before me, I will presume this mishap was caused by failure to maintain aircraft control or failure to avoid icing conditions, or both. This is a common theme in most GA accidents I read on the NTSB web site, with nighttime being the other factor not present in this mishap.

Although the NTSB database does not have this accident available yet, I look forward to what it will say and whether my presumptions are correct.

The take away from all this...fly VMC unless you have the equipment to fly IMC...radar, de-ice, and not just basic instruments and a VOR. I see IFR as a means to get me out of a situation rather than get me into one. I use IFR to get in or out of an airport, and into forecast VFR conditions. Flying solid IFR in airplanes without the radar or deice doesn't make much sense to me. I know some Skymasters have both...and that would be a wonderful thing; but I'll guess that most do not.

My prayers go out to their families, and to all of us who are still blessed to fly these wonderful machines.

[Guy Paris]

Here is the time hack for the subject aircraft.

All times are in Eastern time to prevent timezone crossing confusion. See flight status page for local times.

Time Position Ground
speed Altitude Facility
Eastern TZ Latitude Longitude kts Feet Location/Type
12:31PM 44.66 -68.68 175 10200 Boston Center
12:32PM 44.61 -68.62 170 10500 Boston Center
12:33PM 44.57 -68.60 164 10600 Boston Center
12:34PM 44.53 -68.56 164 10600 Boston Center
12:35PM 44.49 -68.53 169 10600 Boston Center
12:36PM 44.44 -68.51 174 10600 Boston Center
12:37PM 44.39 -68.49 182 11000 Boston Center
12:38PM 44.35 -68.49 168 11300 Boston Center
12:39PM 44.31 -68.52 163 11000 Boston Center
12:40PM 44.29 -68.57 161 10400 Boston Center
12:41PM 44.23 -68.50 136 9600 Boston Center
12:42PM 44.19 -68.50 158 9200 Boston Center
12:43PM 44.13 -68.52 174 8800 Boston Center
12:44PM 44.10 -68.56 173 8400 Boston Center
12:45PM 44.07 -68.61 179 8100 Boston Center
12:46PM 44.06 -68.68 174 8100 Boston Center
12:47PM 44.03 -68.73 174 8100 Boston Center
12:48PM 44.00 -68.77 167 8100 Boston Center
12:49PM 43.98 -68.82 161 8100 Boston Center
12:50PM 43.96 -68.87 161 8100 Boston Center
12:51PM 43.94 -68.93 161 8100 Boston Center
12:52PM 43.94 -68.97 161 8200 Boston Center
12:53PM 43.93 -69.04 161 8100 Boston Center
12:54PM 43.89 -69.10 156 8100 Boston Center
12:55PM 43.87 -69.15 161 8200 Boston Center
12:56PM 43.85 -69.19 166 8000 Boston Center
12:57PM 43.83 -69.25 158 8100 Boston Center
12:58PM 43.81 -69.30 158 8100 Boston Center
12:59PM 43.78 -69.34 164 8100 Boston Center
01:00PM 43.75 -69.39 169 8200 Boston Center

01:01PM 43.72 -69.43 163 8100 Boston Center
01:02PM 43.68 -69.46 144 8000 Boston Center
01:03PM 43.65 -69.51 137 8300 Boston Center
01:04PM 43.64 -69.56 143 7900 Boston Center
01:07PM 43.61 -69.69 154 8100 Boston Center
01:08PM 43.58 -69.73 179 8000 Boston Center

[Skymaster337B]

Where did you get the flight track data? Is it from a web site? If so, what is that web site and will it work for any flight within the USA?

I find it very interesting that the last few minutes of flight were erratic in altitude and speed. It doesn't look large enough to be a T-storm, but it certainly might show trouble with aircraft control...VFR in IMC conditions, etc.

[WebMaster]

Originally Posted by Skymaster337B

Where did you get the flight track data? Is it from a web site? If so, what is that web site and will it work for any flight within the USA?

I find it very interesting that the last few minutes of flight were erratic in altitude and speed. It doesn't look large enough to be a T-storm, but it certainly might show trouble with aircraft control...VFR in IMC conditions, etc.

http://www.flightaware.com

It allows you to track any IFR flight, and gives the option of seeing the kind of data you see above. Just enter the complete tail number, e.g. N37KC.

It feeds live from ATC, so you can track a flight in progress, and you can also track all flights by a kind of aircraft, C337.

It only tracks IFR flights, not VFR, even those on a VFR flight plan, or flying with flight following.

[Dale Campbell]

That is not true. I just flew to the SOAP meeting at Kalamazoo at 8500 ft west and returned home at 9500 ft and it tracked my every move VFR. I think if you are high enough and they deside to track you VFR or IFR it works. I think it is up to ATC and the data tracking facility equipment they have. Not all have it yet. Look at tail #N337DC that is me. Both days are there. Dale Campbell

[Guy Paris]

Originally Posted by Skymaster337B

Where did you get the flight track data? Is it from a web site? If so, what is that web site and will it work for any flight within the USA?

I find it very interesting that the last few minutes of flight were erratic in altitude and speed. It doesn't look large enough to be a T-storm, but it certainly might show trouble with aircraft control...VFR in IMC conditions, etc.

On the (flightaware site) click on the (TRAC LOG) (8) lines down if there and that's where it is located. (Heart attack, Carbon monoxide, Flight instrument failure, Weather)?

N15EM (registration) (photos)
MAINARDI EDWARD
LINCOLN PARK NJ

(1) Aircraft Cessna T337C Turbo Super Skymaster (twin-piston) (C337/G)
(2) Origin Millinocket Muni (KMLT)
(3) Destination Essex County (KCDW)
(4) Other flights between these airports
(5) Route CLOWW WITNY HFD V3 CMK V623 SAX
(6) Date Sunday, Jun 15, 2008
(7) Duration 2 hours 18 minutes

(8) Status Arrived 3 days ago (track log)

Scheduled Actual/Estimated
Departure 12:00PM EDT 12:29PM EDT
Arrival 02:31PM EDT 02:47PM EDT
Speed 175 kts
Altitude 10000 feet

[Skymaster337B]

I just red the NTSB report for this accident:

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...28X00942&key=1

It seems he flew into IMC with a known malfunctioning attitude indicator (failure to maintain aircraft control).

[WebMaster]

Why, Why would anyone do that???
If that was the cause, it is truly sad.