METHUEN — A pilot killed in a crash Monday afternoon was flying a kit plane and was possibly a member of a local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, according to a former vice president of the group.
Rich Snyder of EAA Chapter 106 said the pilot may have been a member, but he is awaiting official information before he can confirm this.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the craft was still in the Merrimack River, though the victim’s body was removed Monday, according to North Andover Deputy Fire Chief Graham Rowe. Authorities still are not identifying the victim of Monday afternoon’s crash into the Merrimack River.
The plane crashed near the border of North Andover and Methuen with initial recovery efforts led by North Andover authorities. A press conference was later held in Methuen.
Rowe said the plane was expected to be removed from the waters of the Merrimack River either Tuesday or Wednesday, with authorities including the Environmental Protection Agency eager to see it pulled from the water.
He said he assumes the plane will be removed by helicopter due to the shallowness of the water at the crash site. Divers secured the plane Monday.
While known as experimental aircrafts, kit planes are “every bit as good as regular brands,” according to Snyder. He said the plans are built by amateurs for educational and recreational purposes.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a Van’s RV-6A.
“They call it experimental but there are many, many of the aircraft flying,” he said.
While the planes are built by amateurs, they are reviewed by technical advisers, who have either built the airplane themselves or are well versed in the construction, said Snyder.
“They are checked out throughout the build by them,” he said.
When complete, the planes are reviewed by aviation inspectors designated by the FAA and then certified as airworthy.
“This aircraft I am sure went through the same thing,” he said.
Dick Knapinski, director of communications for the National Chapter of the EAA, said the plane involved in the crash, a Van’s RV-6A, is a standardized “very common kit.”
He said more than 12,000 Vans RVs have been built and are flying around the world. Knapinski called it a “very safe” and “stable design” that’s been around for more than 50 years.
Knapinski said the RV-6A is a slightly older model, though he added many are still being built today. He said even though the model may be older it is not less well equipped from a safety perspective, with gear including safety harnesses and landing gear designed to take an impact.
“They are a very well designed aircraft and one that is trusted by thousands of pilots who have built and flown them,” he said. “I have flown in a RV-6A and they are wonderful, very stable aircraft.”
After crashes, Knapinski said pilots look closely at accident reports and see if they can learn anything from the accident.
“That’s been a very effective measure because accidents in amateur-built aircraft have been reduced to historic lows,” he said.
He said there are less than 36 fatal accidents every year involving hobbyists.
Knapinski said the group has more than 300,000 members nationally.
According to Knapinski, between 70 and 80% of recreation aircraft accidents are the result of human error.
An investigation into the crash by federal aviation authorities is ongoing.
Francisco Ureña, the manager of the Lawrence Municipal airport, where the plane took off, said officials from both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were at the airport Tuesday morning.
Keith Holloway, a spokesperson for the NTSB, said the agency’s investigations typically take between 12 and 24 months, though a preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the incident.
During crash investigations, the NTSB looks into the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment, said Holloway. This includes gathering flight tracking data, weather reports, witness statements, aircraft maintenance records and the pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience.
Ureña said an emergency call from the plane went out at 2:12 p.m. Preliminary reports suggest the crash occurred at 2:21 p.m., according to Holloway.
Witnesses to the accident or those who have surveillance video other relevant information are asked to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.
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