FAA Released the Audio Cassettes from Brackett Tower minutes before the airplane crash of Apache N4080P based out of Blue Diamond Aviation at Brackett Field and after the accident, includes air traffic control (ground and local) and telephone calls including 911 call to the fire department.

Dim lights

Audio cassettes had to be converted to MP3 before making this video.  This is still a work in progress and will be updated as time permits.  Video says 4/16/08 but thats zulu time.

Thank you to the FAA and especially to the Brackett Tower Air Traffic Control for their job.

BREAKING NEWS: 4/15/08 Appx 9pm:  Airplane Crashes in Frank G. Bonelli Park - Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas, CA near Brackett Airfield / Brackett Airport, La Verne, CA.  Bonelli Park is home of Raging Waters San Dimas.

Two patients transported via LA County Fire Helicopter to USC Medical Center. Twin engine plane crash, Piper Aztech. One critically injured. Only two people were on the plane.

Details and more photos below.... Also check back later.  Request has been made for the radio transmission prior to the accident.  These are expected by June 10th.

According to Ray Williams, a camper at Bonelli Park, he was on scene shortly after the crash. He stated that there was a small fire and the son sustained burns to his arm and leg.  Other reports stated that one had a broken arm and the other had a broken leg.  See below for an email from a father.

"Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says the twin-engine Piper PA-23 took off from Brackett Field at about 8:45 p.m. Gregor says the plane climbed erratically, made a left turn and crashed into a hill.

Gregor says the plane is owned by Blue Diamond Aviation based at Brackett Field." Fox News

UPDATE 4/25/08: Preliminary Accident Report released by NTSB. Confirms email from father. Report Below. Also included is emergency engine out procedures for this type of plane (not from NTSB). Freedom of information act request was placed with FAA today to obtain tower transmissions (Check back later). 

UPDATE 4/16/08 12:40pm: Visited the crash site. NTSB and FAA were on scene. Most of the media had left.  Confirmed it was N4080P. Received an email from the father of one of the occupants of the airplane "The pair in the plane that crashed there are not father and son. The pilot was an instructor and the other man (my son) was taking advance lessons. My son is a flight instructor himself and has begun a course to upgrade his license status. The instructor (name unknown) appears to have suffered leg injuries while my son is in surgery this morning to repair his arm. For reasons of privacy, I am withholding my son's name for the time being. Thank you. Tom"

UPDATE 4/16/08 10:44am: We have been notified that a crane has been ordered to remove the plane and should be arriving at 1pm.  Channel 7 is on scene.  Piper PA 23-160 with a possible registration number of N4080P built in 1959.

UPDATE 4/16/08 9:41am: Calls have been placed to check on status of the pilot and passenger, but all attempts have been unsuccessful. All reports so far have indicated that they will survive their injuries. If you have information regarding this, use the contact us button.  Check back later.

See the photo to the left for a picture taken during takeoff last year from Brackett Airfield.  The area is to the left of the normal take off pattern for Runway 26L.  Plane crash was located inside the campground area of Bonelli Park. That area is at the Northeast side of Bonelli Park.

Read more for a details of other plane crashes that happened in San Dimas.   The last plane crash at Bonelli Park two years ago was ruled as pilot error.  Plane crashes are rare in San Dimas and across the country, but they do get the media attention.  Statistics show that you are more likely to die in an automobile accident than an airplane crash. 

NTSB Preliminary Report Released for this last plane crash.

On April 15, 2008, about 2041 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-23-160, N4080P, impacted terrain in Bonelli Regional Park, San Dimas, California, following a loss of control during takeoff initial climb from runway 26L at Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California. The two commercial pilots sustained serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to, and being operated by, Blue Diamond Aviation of La Verne under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight that was originating when the accident occurred.

According to FAA records, the pilot seated in the left seat, who was acting as pilot-in-command, holds a flight instructor certificate with single and multiengine land ratings. During an interview conducted by a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot seated in the right seat reported that he recently obtained his flight instructor certificate with a single engine land rating. According to the right seat pilot, the left seat pilot had proposed that he give the right seat pilot instruction towards obtaining his multiengine instructor rating in the accident airplane. The purpose of the flight was for the left seat pilot to demonstrate the airplane to the right seat pilot.

During an interview conducted by a Safety Board investigator, the left seat pilot reported that the left engine lost power during the takeoff initial climb.

Air traffic control personnel in the Brackett Field Tower observed the accident and reported that after takeoff, the airplane entered an "erratic left turn" and crashed into the side of hill.

Examination of the wreckage by a Safety Board investigator revealed that the nose section was crushed, the right wing was displaced upward and aft, and the left wing attach points were separated and the wing was rotated to an inverted position. All engine controls, including mixtures, throttles and propellers, were found in the full forward position. The landing gear was in the extended position. Following the initial on scene examination, the wreckage was recovered to an aircraft salvage facility pending further examination.

Engine Out Procedures obtain from another similar airplane. (Note that the left engine controls the hydraulics and that the engine out procedure is to raise gear which is most likely hydraulic)

"Critical Engine – Conventional Twin.
The critical engine is the left one on this conventional twin. However, the left engine supplies hydraulic power to the hydraulic system, adding to the critical status.
- Hydraulic Pump Left Engine Only
- Hydraulic Hand Pump Center Console

ENGINE FAILURE AFTER LIFTOFF AND IN FLIGHT
If no usable runway remaining:
Directional Control MAINTAIN
Pitch Attitude ADJUST (For Airspeed & Climb)
Airspeed 95 mph
Mixtures FULL RICH
Propellers FULL FORWARD
Throttles FULL FORWARD
Wing Flaps UP
Landing Gear UP
Aux. Fuel Pumps ON
Identify DEAD FOOT/DEAD ENGINE
Verify RETARD THROTTLE (Inop. Eng.)
Propeller (Inop. Engine) FEATHER
Note: Feathering is unachievable below 700rpm due to mechanical feathering locks."