From the vendor hall at the Mohegan Sun
Resort, Uncasville, Ct, host of this years ARFF Working Group Annual Int’l Educational Symposium, here are your stories for today.
Resort, Uncasville, Ct, host of this years ARFF Working Group Annual Int’l Educational Symposium, here are your stories for today.Of note, congratulations to Chief Rob Mathis, Portland International Airport Fire Department on being selected as the 2025 Legend Award recipient.
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ARFF Working Group Presents 2025 Legend Award to Fire Chief Rob Mathis
By Bill Hutfilz
At the 35th Annual ARFF Working Group Conference, the organization proudly presented the 2025 Legend Award to Fire Chief Rob Mathis of the Portland International Airport Fire Department.
The Legend Award is one of the highest honors
bestowed by the ARFF Working Group. It recognizes individuals whose leadership, service, and contributions have left a lasting impact on the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) profession.
Chief Mathis has dedicated his career to advancing airport fire protection, improving firefighter training, and enhancing emergency response capabilities. Under his leadership, the Portland International Airport Fire Department has become a model of professionalism, innovation, and commitment to safety. His influence extends far beyond his department, as he has actively shared his expertise with colleagues across the nation and internationally, strengthening the ARFF community as a whole.
“Chief Mathis exemplifies what it means to be a legend in our profession,” His dedication to firefighter readiness, community safety, and mentorship of the next generation reflects the very values this award was created to honor.”
The ARFF Working Group congratulates Chief Mathis on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for his continued service to the fire service and aviation communities.
About the ARFF Working Group
The Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Working Group is the premier organization dedicated to promoting the science, methods, and training for the protection of life and property in aircraft fire emergencies. Since its founding, the ARFF Working Group has served as a platform for collaboration, education, and advancement within the profession.
Cessna crash sparks brush fire, shuts down South Mission Road in Fallbrook
Village News Staff
A 72-year-old pilot suffered minor injuries Tuesday afternoon when a single-engine Cessna crashed near South Mission Road in Fallbrook, sparking a small brush fire and shutting down traffic in both directions, authorities said.
The crash was reported just after 2 p.m. near the
2100 block of South Mission Road, south of Stagecoach Lane, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Witnesses told dispatchers the plane had been flying low, clipping trees before it went down and ignited flames visible from the roadway.
Deputies from the Fallbrook Sheriff's Substation, along with the North County Fire Protection District and the California Highway Patrol, found the aircraft had traveled over an embankment into the Los Jilgueros Preserve. Firefighters quickly contained a small brush fire sparked by the crash.
The pilot managed to exit the Cessna 182-N before emergency crews arrived. Authorities said he sustained minor injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene.
Debris from the crash scattered across both northbound and southbound lanes of South Mission Road, forcing road closures between Sterling Bridge and Rocky Crest Road. CHP officers turned vehicles around at the closure points while County HAZMAT teams and firefighters worked to secure the scene and remove the wreckage. Adams Towing later transported the aircraft from the site.
North County Fire extinguished a small fire in the median of about 10 feet, according to NCFPD Capt. John Choi.
At least 11 sheriff's units and NCFPD responded immediately, and officials initially feared the aircraft had landed on the roadway. CHP was on the scene as well. By late afternoon, the scene was secured, though the road remained closed for hours as investigators continued their work.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified and will conduct the investigation into the cause of the crash. The FAA had two investigators from San Diego County on the scene. Numerous news crews also arrived to cover the crash.
Traffic was snarled for hours around town after S. Mission was closed.
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Early version story - Breaking News
Small plane reported down at Los Jilgueros Preserve, traffic impacted across town
As CHP and FAA continue to investigate the crash
site both directions of South Mission in between Sterling Bridge and Rocky Crest have been closed until further notice.
Adams Towing has been enlisted to transport the aircraft off scene.
Emergency crews are responding to reports of a small aircraft crash on S. Mission on the east side right off the road into Los Jilgueros Preserve. From reports on scene, it appears the pilot has made it out of the aircraft and was on the sidewalk. Village News photographer Brian Briggs is on scene and photos will be added shortly.
The crash was reported about 2:04 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, near South Mission Road and Stagecoach Lane, roughly a half-mile south of the intersection. Witnesses told dispatchers they saw a low-flying plane clip trees before going down, with smoke and flames visible from the roadway.
Callers initially reported the plane might have landed in the road, but fire crews and CHP officers responding to the scene later confirmed the aircraft was down off South Mission near Air Park Road.
At least 11 Sheriff units were dispatched within minutes, and emergency responders reported the plane on fire. Details on the number of people aboard or potential injuries were not immediately available.
S. Mission is closed in both directions and Sheriffs are turning cars around at Rocky Crest Rd.
It would be advisable to stay clear of the area.
https://www.villagenews.com/story/2025/09/18/news/cessna-crash-sparks-brush-fire-shuts-down-south-mission-road-in-fallbrook/79930.html
NTSB Final Report: Dorr Dan W Sequoia F.8L Falco
Failure To Maintain Airplane Control After An Engine Access Cover Opened During The Initial Climb
Location: Sanford, Florida Accident Number: ERA23LA379
Date & Time: September 26, 2023, 15:51 Local Registration: N708WC
Aircraft: Dorr Dan W Sequoia F.8L Falco Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot performed a preflight inspection before he initiated the startup and taxi without any anomalies noted. During the initial climb after takeoff, about 100 ft above ground level over the runway, an engine compartment access cover opened. The pilot called the air traffic control tower and was cleared to land on a parallel runway. The pilot continued in the traffic pattern, but slowed the airplane in hopes that the access cover would not detach. The pilot became focused on the open cover and let the airspeed decrease, which resulted in a buffet, the left wing dropping, and the airplane “[falling] out of the sky.” The airplane subsequently impacted a taxiway and came to rest on the parallel runway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also stated that he, “…focused way too much on the open engine cover and way too little on flying the airplane… The result was classic stall/spin scenario too close to the ground.”
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after an engine access cover opened during the initial climb.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
66 Years ago today: On 24 September 1959 TAI flight 307, a Douglas DC-7, crashed shortly after takeoff from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, France, killing 54 occupants; 11 survived the accident.
| Date: | Thursday 24 September 1959 |
| Time: | 22:24 |
| Type: | Douglas DC-7C |
| Owner/operator: | Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux - TAI |
| Registration: | F-BIAP |
| MSN: | 45366/892 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1957 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5844 hours |
| Engine model: | Wright R-3350 (988TC18) |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 54 / Occupants: 65 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 3 km SW of Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD) - France |
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD/LFBD) |
| Destination airport: | Bamako Airport (BKO/GABS) |
| Investigating agency: | BEA |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
TAI flight 307, a Douglas DC-7, crashed shortly after takeoff from Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, France, killing 54 occupants; 11 survived the accident.
TAI flight 307 was a regular passenger service from Paris-Orly, France to Bordeaux, France, Bamako, Mali and Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The DC-7 took off from Bordeaux runway 23 at 22:23 UTC for the leg to Bamako. After leaving the ground and reaching a height of about 30 m, the aircraft overflew a zone without luminous ground markings. The aircraft didn't gain altitude and collided with pinetrees 2950 m from the start of the takeoff.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board considered that the accident was probably caused by the most unfavourable combination of several of the factors set forth under "Theories considered as to the cause of the accident."
The reconstructed flight showed that during the first segment of climbout and during a very short critical phase [about 10sec beginning 40sec after full throttle] a slight increase in speed will produce a considerable decrease in rate of climb or even a slight loss of altitude.
In view of the rapid sequence of cockpit operations during this phase, together with the rapid variation in flight parameters, and the lack of precision - even inaccuracy - of readings of certain instruments, and lacking time reference and external visual references, a pilot may follow a line of flight that will bring the aircraft back near the ground if, during this period, optimum climbing speed is not maintained and the altimeter is not carefully watched."
