Sad news, Lake County glider crash, LAK-17B FES Mini

On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 7:13:40 PM UTC-4, AS wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:56:29 PM UTC-4, Tango Eight wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 1:16:40 PM UTC-4, John Foster wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:55:07 AM UTC-6, wrote:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/u...ion=Obituaries

So sad to loose Matt. Any word yet on what exactly happened? From what I've been able to piece together, it appears the crash happened on take-off or shortly after that, as it seems it was quite close to the airport.

https://maps.findmespot.com/Track?is...#panel-history

Doesn't look like a take off accident.

T8

My condolences to the family and friends! I always enjoyed reading his contributions.
The SSA 'Where to fly' site does not show a soaring operation at this site. How did he get airborne? Is there a local tow plane/pilot available?

Uli
'AS'

miniLAK FES is self-launcher.

On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 12:56:29 PM UTC-6, Tango Eight wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 1:16:40 PM UTC-4, John Foster wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:55:07 AM UTC-6, wrote:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/u...ion=Obituaries

So sad to loose Matt. Any word yet on what exactly happened? From what I've been able to piece together, it appears the crash happened on take-off or shortly after that, as it seems it was quite close to the airport.

https://maps.findmespot.com/Track?is...#panel-history

Doesn't look like a take off accident.

T8

Sorry, I don't have a Spot account. Your link requires a log-in with Spot to see it.

On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 8:27:19 PM UTC-4, John Foster wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 12:56:29 PM UTC-6, Tango Eight wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 1:16:40 PM UTC-4, John Foster wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:55:07 AM UTC-6, wrote:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/u...ion=Obituaries

So sad to loose Matt. Any word yet on what exactly happened? From what I've been able to piece together, it appears the crash happened on take-off or shortly after that, as it seems it was quite close to the airport.

https://maps.findmespot.com/Track?is...#panel-history

Doesn't look like a take off accident.

T8

Sorry, I don't have a Spot account. Your link requires a log-in with Spot to see it.

Try this one:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/f...IttUHsMoDu Iu

T8

On 8/12/20 11:16 AM, John Foster wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:55:07 AM UTC-6, wrote:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/u...ion=Obituaries

So sad to loose Matt. Any word yet on what exactly happened? From what I've been able to piece together, it appears the crash happened on take-off or shortly after that, as it seems it was quite close to the airport.


NTSB prelim is now out, adds a few details:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...relim&IType=LA

https://www.theguardian.com/artandde...nt-in-pictures

Bob 7U

On Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 12:58:04 PM UTC-7, kinsell wrote:
On 8/12/20 11:16 AM, John Foster wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:55:07 AM UTC-6, wrote:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/u...ion=Obituaries

So sad to loose Matt. Any word yet on what exactly happened? From what I've been able to piece together, it appears the crash happened on take-off or shortly after that, as it seems it was quite close to the airport.

NTSB prelim is now out, adds a few details:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...relim&IType=LA

That is interesting: the report lists the model as a LAK17A in one spot and a LAK17B in another. The difference, of course, is that the LAK17A is self-launching while the LAK17B is not. I had cautioned about believing the media on the glider model; it turns out that you can't believe the local authorities as well. I was skeptical because there were no tow planes at Lakeport. I wonder if Matt completed the motorglider endorsement process.

Tom

On 8/22/20 7:06 PM, 2G wrote:
On Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 12:58:04 PM UTC-7, kinsell wrote:
On 8/12/20 11:16 AM, John Foster wrote:
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 2:55:07 AM UTC-6, wrote:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/u...ion=Obituaries

So sad to loose Matt. Any word yet on what exactly happened? From what I've been able to piece together, it appears the crash happened on take-off or shortly after that, as it seems it was quite close to the airport.

NTSB prelim is now out, adds a few details:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...relim&IType=LA

That is interesting: the report lists the model as a LAK17A in one spot and a LAK17B in another. The difference, of course, is that the LAK17A is self-launching while the LAK17B is not. I had cautioned about believing the media on the glider model; it turns out that you can't believe the local authorities as well. I was skeptical because there were no tow planes at Lakeport. I wonder if Matt completed the motorglider endorsement process.

Tom


The FAA registry has it as a LAK-17B FES MINI, which is hard to find
information on.

I did find a German language article on it:

https://www.aerokurier.de/segelflug/...-17b-fes-mini/

Please be respectful of your posts on this thread. Matt Herron, Jr. is a frequent contributor here on RAS. What a great influence his father (and mother) made on so many people's lives during a turbulent time in the US. To get to know him a bit better, you may want to read his book "The Voyage of Aquarius", which recounts the family's experiences while sailing along West Africa. A more recent book, "Our Big Blue Schoolhouse", is a recollection of the same trip from the perspective of Matt Jr (a 13 yo at the time).

Off-topic: The only confusion about what model glider Matt was flying came from bad information from some RAS bloggers who claimed to be in the know. Take 2 minutes to get it right. Matt Sr's own posts earlier this year identify the model quite clearly and so does Wikipedia. We can do better guys.

On Sunday, August 23, 2020 at 9:35:56 AM UTC-6, Dee wrote:
Please be respectful of your posts on this thread. Matt Herron, Jr. is a frequent contributor here on RAS. What a great influence his father (and mother) made on so many people's lives during a turbulent time in the US. To get to know him a bit better, you may want to read his book "The Voyage of Aquarius", which recounts the family's experiences while sailing along West Africa. A more recent book, "Our Big Blue Schoolhouse", is a recollection of the same trip from the perspective of Matt Jr (a 13 yo at the time).

Off-topic: The only confusion about what model glider Matt was flying came from bad information from some RAS bloggers who claimed to be in the know.. Take 2 minutes to get it right. Matt Sr's own posts earlier this year identify the model quite clearly and so does Wikipedia. We can do better guys.

Thanks, Steve. We published two articles by Matt on his mini Lak FES adventures (it is not hard to find info about it - BlanikAmerica imports them and has a web page devoted to the mini including owner inputs). The first on his trip to the factory to fly both the mini Lak and the Lak 17 m self-launchers. He followed that up with an article on getting the mini from the delivery port to the SSA convention in Little Rock. Matt intended a third article on getting the mini FAA certified and flying. That article will be in the October issue of Soaring magazine, describing the lessons he learned in this process. Matt also contributed other articles to Soaring mag, including one on the effects of aging on pilots. His articles are well worth reading. I will miss his correspondence and his ideas.

I wish I could contact Matt Herron Jr. directly.
I worked with Matt Sr., his Dad, to achieve winch launching his LS-6 at Jacumba - I believe a bucket list item for him.
He also hosted myself and Roman Wrosz for an adventure in winch testing at Crazy Creek in June 2014.
What a delightful person to have met. Matt Jr, he gave me an autographed copy of the Big Blue Schoolhouse.
If you read this, my condolences - but you had a great Dad.