plane down in the Broads
 

Just heard from my mother that a plane just went down in front of LSP. Turned my scanner app on and Fire has found debris pile, no marine patrol on duty on the lake right now, they are on their way
My parents saw a flash and than a bang, thought it was fireworks, so something went very wrong.

From X formerly known as Twitter…

From my parent in LSP, they are more out to the east side of Welch. I am in Tyngsboro, so hearing second hand from them watching

Not Good
 

We witnessed the crash from our mainland home on Lake shore Rd. It made an awful noise on impact. We immediately called 911.

Based off the various flight apps…it looked like it was a Cessna 150 coming in from Rhode Island to Laconia….this is unconfirmed!

The crash occurred about 1000 yds directly in front (North) of Ellacoya State Park. One of our neighbors on Welch was the first responder.

Prayers to those involved….

Dan

Any update on survivors?

It sounds like they are just doing recovery. They have sent the standby ambulances back and Laconia boat also went back.
From when my parents said, flash and then a big bang, unless the person jumped out, doesn't sound like anyone could survive.
Again, I'm not there, just listening to FD and MP and PD on the scanner apps.

Just debris thus far….the impact was VERY bad….


Dan

Here is flight info and tracking…

I wonder if they lost situational awareness the haze/smoke. Much like JFK jr. It happens. Looks like they were turning. A graveyard spiral would make sense. I wouldn't want to be up there tonight unless I were on an instrument flight and shooting an approach. I doubt, the old C150 was even IFR certified. Not greatest day for VFR, we shall find out in a year when the NTSB is done. If they really hit the water at almost 4000ft/min chances of survival are very low/nil. RIP.

Cessna 150 is a 2-seater trainer/utility type. It's what I trained in. They usually have both VOR and ADB radio navigation equipment. This is adequate but some have 2 VOR, and now GPS is probably common.

I have been watching the search all morning and it looks like they may have found something as all search boats congregated around each other in one area then left. I would assume they removed the pilot and left the plane at this point. Please note this is just my observation and by no means confirmed but I certainly hope for the family’s sake this is true…

Dan

I heard they found the body of the pilot this morning. Very sad.

Earlier yesterday I thought I heard an amphibian taking off. When looked up I saw a Cessna (couldn’t tell what model, just a classic high wing Cessna shape) at what appeared to be several thousand feet up. It was pouring on the power and climbing out to the north. It turned +/- 180 degrees to the right and headed roughly toward Rattlesnake. I lost sight of it but, after the engine noise faded a little it just suddenly stopped. I thought it must be a student pilot being taken through stall training and let it go. I hope it wasn’t this guy Havener nh engine problems!


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I was up on Thursday, and the smoke was so thick it sooted up the airplane. Basically like flying in a cloud. Thankfully I was on an IFR flight plan. I think you might be on to something here. It looks like he was on the downwind for 26 at Laconia and just kept going over the lake. He could have had a medical issue too.

Someone just posted on X that he has been recovered.

The crash occurred at 7:42 PM. It was dark but clear, no fog.

Dan

We just got an email that the pilot was an owner here at Arcadia.

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So tragic. Apparently the pilot was from Bethel, Ct., my wife’s hometown.

Side scan sonar search
 

I was out today looking for it. Scanned for 4+ hours found nothing. Scan tracks attached. I come from a family of private pilots. My Dad had a Cessna Skyhawk 172 then later a Cardinal RG.

Bottom for the most part was smooth mud with some scattered bolder fields and some bright gravel patches. Very good conditions on the bottom overall for a sonar scan.

The odd arm-like extension in the scan track is due to me following a specific depth (60-70 feet) and this arm points at Welch Island. I followed that depth towards the north after my main scan. To the west there is a hump of sorts I worked around but will scan it too when I go back.

I am hoping the scan tracks will help Forum readers who know more than most about where it might be will help point me in the right direction.

If so please email me (info AT sonarsar.com). Any help would be great.

For the record once I find it I have no intention of diving it nor releasing its location-out of the question. All I am interested in is a scan of this plane on the lake floor.

Thanks.

You can Google the plane’s registration number and see the name of the plane’s owner, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he was the pilot.


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Has the plane been recovered yet?


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From my wife who is looking out, there is a large barge with a big tent on it, and an MP boat out there. So we are assuming that is happening right now. Guess they have been there since this AM.

Recovery
 

Here is a pic from my security camera at my home...

Took this heading home...I didn't get too close.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c032cbd59e.jpg

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Why would they use an excavator to recover the plane, isn't the water pretty deep there?

Has not been found yet.

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i saw his name is Ashe and he is from West Ossipee.

They may have a winch on the barge to pull the airplane up to the surface and the excavator can grab it and place it on the barge. When they get to the point of unloading the airplane at shore the excavator can be useful.

The excavator may have been on the barge where it was working and it was diverted to help in the recovery. The barges move pretty slowly. It may have been too time consuming to go to their base and unload it.

They may use float bags to get it to the surface and lift it aboard with the excavator.

Ah, that makes sense: thanks.

Correct that would be the procedure.... for pieces small enough for the excavator to safetly lift.... For any larger pieces they would float them with airbags, and then tow them somewhere to get them out of the water....

Plane Recovery
 

Looks like they got it....

They just published the pilot's name yesterday, which was a little strange given it was out there a few days ago.

Any accidental death is a tragedy, but the circumstances of this man's current life is exceptionally so. He, and his newfound partner, were winning at life.

https://www.wmur.com/article/robert-...crash/45449196

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I clicked on the link but it won’t let me read the article unless I subscribe to it.


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I can't open the union leader links either. The pilots name was Robert Ashe and he is from West Ossipee.

I've updated the link with a WMUR article.

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