NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Fatal Plane Crash

WOODBINE– The National Transportation Safety Board released their preliminary findings this week on the crash that claimed the life of Thaddeus Lazowski, 53, and his 12-year-old son.
According to several witnesses, Lazowski originally planned to depart for Monroe County Airport, Bloomington, Indiana on Thursday, Nov. 12, but weather conditions caused him to decide to delay his departure.
The following day, he came to the airport, again due to inclement weather, the pilot decided not to depart for Indiana.
While at the airport, Lazowski requested assistance from the airport manager, who also had conducted Lazowski’s most recent flight review, for assistance in using an internet-based flight planning tool.
At some point during the day Lazowski met a flying companion in a local restaurant, and the two spoke of the pilot’s planned flight, and how the existing weather conditions had again delayed the flight. During that conversation, the companion cautioned the pilot “not to take any chances,” and to wait for the weather to improve.
On the morning of the accident, the forecast called for conditions to improve as the day progressed. The recorded weather conditions at Woodbine airport reported an overcast ceiling at 300 feet above ground level for the period from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m; this ceiling was below the minimum values for the published instrument approach procedures into Woodbine airport, the report said.
Several other pilots, including some who were instrument-rated, were either in the airport office, or elsewhere on the airport, waiting for conditions to improve so that they could fly.
According to FAA records Lazowski held a private pilot certificate, with an airplane single engine land rating, that was obtained in 2004. His most recent FAA medical certificate was obtained in September 2007, at which time he reported 300 total hours of flight experience. The report confirmed that Lazowski, was a non-instrument-rated private pilot.
According to the report, Lazowski’s personal flight time log indicated as of the date of the accident, he had approximately 395 total hours of flight experience, including 308 in the accident airplane. His most recent flight review was completed in December 2008.
At about 10:15 a.m., witnesses observed the pilot and his son fueling their 1972 Piper airplane. The witnesses reported that a solid overcast ceiling was present at 200 to 300 feet at ground level, that “there were no holes” in the ceiling, and that “there was no sun” shining anywhere that they could see.
The witnesses who observed Lazowski fueling the airplane stated that they “assumed,” due to the low ceiling, that the pilot would return his airplane to the hangar after fueling was completed.
Shortly thereafter, several witnesses saw or heard the airplane near the threshold for runway 31.
About 10:40 a.m., Lazowski broadcast his intention to depart, and he began his takeoff roll on runway 31.
Several persons, some of whom knew the Lazowskis, watched the airplane take off, and climb into the overcast. One witness stated that the airplane entered the overcast “between the end of the runway and the railroad tracks,” which crossed the extended runway centerline approximately 1/3 mile beyond the runway end.
Witnesses on and near the airport reported that they heard, and occasionally saw, for a period of between 5 and 10 minutes, an airplane flying in their vicinity. All witnesses reported that the sound varied in a way that gave them the impression that the airplane was continuously changing speed and direction, as if it was climbing, descending and circling.
One witness, who was in his backyard with his daughter, stated that he was familiar with how airplanes typically sounded, but “this one was different.” According to the witness, the continued variation in sound gave him the impression that the airplane was performing aerobatics, and he questioned the pilot’s judgment for performing aerobatics in the clouds. He then saw the airplane fly over his neighbor’s house. He said that he “never saw a plane that low before,” and he sent his daughter inside for her safety.
Another witness at the airport saw the airplane emerge from the overcast, headed away from him to the west, and disappear below the treeline. He then saw the airplane re-emerge, and climb back up into the overcast.
All witnesses reported that their sightings of the airplane were very brief, and lasted only a few seconds.

Another witness and his wife were sitting in their kitchen, and heard the airplane apparently circling. They then heard a “bang” or a “clunk,” which was followed by a “hard thud.” One witness heard the airplane strike tree branches. Most witnesses only reported a single sound of impact, which some described as a “thump.” Two residents, who lived in separate homes approximately half mile from the accident site, ran into the woods behind their homes in search of the airplane. They located the main wreckage, checked the airplane occupants for vital signs, found none, and notified authorities via a mobile telephone.
According to the New Jersey State Police, the first 911 call was placed at 10:59 a.m.
According to the report the plane crashed 3,500 feet south-southwest of the threshold of runway 1. The plane left a debris path approximately 1,100 feet long and a 2-foot-deep impact crater.
The final report on the cause of the crash will be released next year.