4 October 2024
DULUTH — A small plane likely stalled before it crashed about 25 miles north of Duluth on June 21, 2023, killing the pilot and sole passenger, federal investigators found.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in its final report released last month that the 1946 Aeronca 7CCM plane crashed into dense woods immediately west of Pequaywan Lake Road after it stalled, which occurs when an aircraft’s wings are at such an angle that they can no longer generate lift.
“It is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failed to maintain proper airspeed at an altitude too low to recover, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain,” the NTSB said.
The crash killed the pilot Bryan Handyside, 60, who owned a private grass airstrip on a property adjacent to the crash site, and the plane’s only passenger, Matthew Joseph, 64.
Handyside took off from the Duluth International Airport shortly before 7 a.m. and approached his private airstrip from the south.
Family and coworkers told investigators Handyside was likely heading there to see his airstrip. The NTSB noted Handyside was expected to return to the Duluth International Airport.
The NTSB said data from Handyside’s handheld GPS showed the plane flew over the grass runway about 100 feet off the ground at 58 mph. At the end of the runway, the plane climbed and accelerated to 64 mph. It then gradually slowed to 54 mph and peaked at 240 feet off the ground.
“The airplane then made a descending left turn toward the accident site,” the NTSB said.
The plane crashed in a densely wooded area approximately 1,500 feet from the grass airstrip. The NTSB said the plane crashed with its nose down and right wing low, causing “accordion crush damage” to the wing. There was no noticeable damage to nearby trees or the tree canopy.
A mechanical investigation found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical issues or failures, the NTSB said. The plane’s annual inspection was completed the day before the crash.
According to the NTSB, the plane was approximately 136 pounds over its maximum gross weight when it crashed.
The News Tribune previously reported both Handyside and Joseph were employees of Duluth-based Cirrus Aircraft but were not flying on company business.
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