On Saturday Sept. 5, 2009 at approximately 5:45 PM, Sullivan County 911 received a report of a sea plane crashing into the Swinging Bridge reservoir.
The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol unit responded to the scene, just off Starlight Road, in the Town of Thompson, and found a plane floating upside down in the water. The pilot and his passenger had gotten out of the aircraft on their own and were rescued by several pleasure craft that sped to the scene after witnessing the crash.
Sheriff’s Deputies interviewed witnesses who stated that the plane, a Cessna 180 equipped with pontoons, was attempting to take off from the lake when it did a forward somersault and landed in the water upside down. The pilot Robert Ripchick, 44, of Montgomery and his passenger Darla Fidanza, 33, of Pine Bush, suffered only minor bumps and bruises. The plane was towed to Swinging Bridge Marina where it was lifted out of the water by crane.
Lieutenant Paul Pratti of the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol had witnessed the plane make several take offs and landings on the water earlier in the day. “According to the witnesses, the engine sounded like it was really laboring on that last run and the plane couldn’t seem to get its nose up”, said the Lieutenant who praised the quick response of the private boaters in the area.
Sheriff’s deputies were assisted by the Monticello Fire Department and Mobile Medic who responded to the scene.
The FAA, NTSB and the DEC were notified of the accident.
(YWN Sullivan County News Team – 2009)
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Maybe the NTSB should re-visit their own Safety Recommendation A-83-6 for a possible cause. After three years of trying to convince the FAA about undetectable water in the fuel tanks of the Cessna 180 the NTSB felt an impasse had been reached. So the NTSB decided to close A-83-6 as (CLOSED UNACCEPTABLE ACTION). The NTSB walked away and pilots and passengers are still dying and it may be undetectable water in the fuel tanks that was never fixed. Whether undetectable water in the fuel tank was the cause of this crash or not the indicated design flaw still exists. How many more pilots and passengers have to die before the NTSB realizes how many general aviation fuel tanks hold water the pilot cannot positively detect during the pre-flight of the aircraft?