Fatal plane crash mystery

Mobile Register ^ | 04/14/04 | joe danborn

[My Dog Likes Me]

Federal investigators have determined that a single-engine delivery plane that crashed into Big Bateau Bay on Oct. 23, 2002, slammed into something 3,000 feet above the Mobile-Tensaw Delta moments earlier - they're just not sure what it was.

The highly unusual NTSB account points to unidentified red marks on the severely damaged nose and front belly of the plane as evidence that it hit another object in the air...

[Rebelbase]

"I think I saw a TV program years back, where drug dealers get really close to large aircraft in order to mask themselves on air traffic control radar"

I may be incorrect, but I thought air traffic control was dependent on an active trasnsponder an a plane. If the transponder is turned off the plane doesn't show up on their radar.

[snopercod]

There's a tethered radar blimp at Morgan City, La.

Is that near the crash site?

[leadpenny]

Depending on how the gain is set, there should always be a primary (no xponder) target.

[leadpenny]

Just browsing, eh? You found this month-old thread, post a couple of times and leave. The fact that you just signed on FR makes me suspicious.

[eastforker]

What I also find suspect is the pilot. I found no record of him either. It may exist but found no record of pilot license, drivers license or a death record.

[leadpenny]

Curiouser and curiouser. I didn't know you could find that on the web. Would the death certificate be in the jurisdiction where the plane crashed.

[eastforker]

SSA has a record of all deaths in US if you have a SSAN.

[leadpenny]

Something strange going on. I see Tedster is gone and now we have fly4grins. Someone jerking chains? The crash obviously happened but we're getting more questions than answers now.

[nepdap]

SSA has a record of all deaths in US if you have a SSAN.

Is this publicly accessible, and if so, how?

[flys4grins]

I don't think Tom had a nickname....at the time, I worked at Downtown Air Center, where he purchased fuel every night.
He always signed "Tom J Preziose."

[flys4grins]

Morgan City's about 5 hours away.....

[flys4grins]

I think JAX Center takes control around Monroeville, AL, which is about 60 miles NE of Mobile.

[flys4grins]

Sorry, didn't mean to leave... was at work this morning
when I found this sight. I'm sorry if I seem suspicious, but I want to find out what happened as much as everyone else....I fly around Mobile everyday, and I don't want whatever happened to him to happen to me!

[flys4grins]

CNN was down this week doing a story on the crash, and they flew out to scene with another pilot to take pictures.
I think they also interviewed the crash pilot's sister, and some other things. I'm not sure when they are going to air the segment.

[flys4grins]

Sorry....don't know who Tedster is....

[snopercod]

So much for that theory...

[leadpenny]

Sorry about that. I've been wrong more than once in assuming someone's credibility. Tedster seemed fine. Don't know what happened to him. May have registered under false pretenses, ie. previously banned. Again, welcome to FR.

This accident is an absolute mystery. Did you see the posts by eastforker ref the death cert. and pilot's license, etc.?

[eastforker]

Please tell me this sister has a name and if at all possible an address or some other tidbit of info you have on her or this pilot. There are alot of questions unanswered, thanks.

[My Dog Likes Me]

The wreckage was found just 7.7 miles from the airport. NTSB report says the pilot was in voice contact with Mobile ATCT Approach Control East Radar. "The only radar data available was a "snap shot" taken from the equipment at Mobile Regional Departure Control and NTAP data from Atlanta Center." He was only in the air for a few minutes.

JAX didn't seem to figure into the NTSB report.

[My Dog Likes Me]

Thanks for the CNN information. I'll keep my eyes peeled.