Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
John Hollenhorst ReportingFederal investigators today began picking through the wreckage of a crashed plane in West Jordan. They're trying to figure out why three people died.
The plane crashed on takeoff late yesterday afternoon just about the time a thunderstorm cell moved through the area. That's one factor investigators will be looking at.
The wreckage is now being removed so they can finally reopen 7800 South. It's still to early to say anything definitive about the cause, but some pilots speculate it has something to do with a concept called "density-altitude". It sounds technical and boring, but it's a life and death issue.
Just before the single-engine Bonanza cart-wheeled and disintegrated, witnesses say it briefly got airborne. Some believe it was hit by shifty winds on takeoff. Pilots speculate the plane may have had a narrower than usual margin for error. That's because this time of year an aircraft's performance is degraded by thinner than usual air.
Dave Coats, Owner, Air Center of Salt Lake: “What that does is create less lift, requiring more speed, air speed.”
Dave Coats warns pilots all the time to be aware of what's called "density-altitude". The warmer the temperature, the thinner the air.
Dave Coats: “It has less lift to the airplane, so it takes greater speed to create the same amount of lift.”
Cassie Hanks, Flight Instructor: “It’s like you’re taking off at a much higher altitude than you actually are.”
Flight instructor Cassie Hanks says the elevation here is 4600 feet. But in yesterday's heat, the density-altitude was around 8,000. A pilot may have needed more speed on takeoff.
Cassie Hanks: “If the density-altitude is 8,000, it’s like we’re taking off at 8,000 feet.”
Since the pilot was from Manhattan Beach, California, it suggests a possibility. Perhaps he was more accustomed to taking off from sea level than he was at 4600 feet, or at 8000.
Dave Coats: "Everybody around here is very familiar with it. Pilots from the east coast and the west coast often time are not as familiar with it, although many are and are trained to handle it."
Official investigators aren't ready to say whether density-altitude was a factor.
Aaron Sarr, National Transportation Safety Board: "Well there are some differences as far as sea level flying versus higher elevation flying. And I can't speculate on the differences, the specifics, given the conditions at the time, etcetera. We'll look into that."
Again, that's just one theory the investigation will look into. They're also examining what's left of the plane to see if there were any mechanical defects.
The victims have now been identified. The California pilot was 75-year old Tom Enterkin. His wife Ginger also died, along with their friend, 61-year old Eugene Block of Evanston.
