Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

[dedrekon]

Sad news here today, local Taylorcraft legend Dave Wiley was killed when his plane crashed in the Willamette River. I got my float rating from Dave many years ago. He was a tremendous pilot and a great guy. He will be missed. Here's one of the news stories:

Float Plane Crash in Oregon Kills Two

(OREGON CITY, Ore. ) - Two people died shortly before noon Saturday when their float plane apparently broke-up in mid-air and crashed into the Willamette River about 200-yards above the Willamette Falls near Oregon City.

Multiple witnesses indicated the two-passenger, single-engine plane was taking off from the river toward the falls, rose to about 75-feet, wobbled in the air, and then began a steep turn to the left.

Witnesses then said the left wing of the plane separated and the aircraft plunged into the river on the West Linn side coming to rest against the bank.

Rescuers from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Clackamas County Sheriff, Clackamas County Fire District One, Lake Oswego Fire & Rescue and West Linn Police responded to the incident that occurred at 11:48 AM.

The first arriving officers indicated the aircraft was nose-down on its top, partially submerged, with the tail resting in trees on the bank.

TVF&R water rescue paramedics confirmed that both adult-males on-board were deceased.

Clackamas County Sheriff Marine Deputies secured the scene to await the arrival of Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board investigators.

The deceased remains could not be recovered until the aircraft is moved and federal investigators require the completion of their preliminary examination of the wreckage before it is moved.

Recovery operations are expected to begin late this afternoon.

The aircraft is being secured with the assistance of work boats from Baseline Industrial, a construction company wor king on the nearby Willamette Falls Dam.

Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office has released the name of one of the two people killed today in a float plane crash on the Willamette River.

He is 80-year old David Howard Wiley of Lake Oswego.

The other person aboard the two-seat plane has been identifed, however authorities are continuing their efforts to locate the second man's family for notification.

The aircraft was identifed as a 1941 Taylorcraft floatplane with a tail number of N13060.

[Acroeric]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

Yeah- not a good day for the airshow industry either. . . . Jim Leroy died after a crash during the Dayton Airshow. . .. .good guy and hell of a pilot.

[Dick Smith]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

Tribe, very sad news regarding Dave Wiley. He gave me my floatplane instruction in that aircraft about 2 1/2 years ago. I had talked with him earlier this week from here in AK. Talked about float props and thanked him again for the solid foundation he was noted for in his training. We certainly have no lease on life. A tremendous loss to the aviation community. Dick

[dedrekon]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

From Dave's website:

David Wiley recently earned his Master CFI accreditation for the 4th time. Dave operates Wiley's Seaplane Port (2OG3) at Lake Oswego and holds all 7 currently available flight instructor ratings. He also serves as a designated pilot examiner and aviation safety counselor for the FAA's Portland FSDO.

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of David H Wiley, a resident of Lake Oswego, OR. Recently, Dave's designation as a Master CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) was renewed by NAFI, his professional aviation organization.

To help put this achievement in its proper perspective, there are approximately 87,000 CFIs in the United States. Fewer than 500 of them have achieved that distinction thus far. The last ten national Flight Instructors of the Year were Master CFIs while Dave is one of only 8 Oregon aviation educators who has earned this prestigious "Master" title.

The Master Instructor designation is a national accreditation recognized by the FAA that is earned by candidates through a rigorous process of continuing education and peer review. Much like a flight instructor's certificate, it must be renewed biennially. This process parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge base while increasing their professionalism. Simply put, the Master Instructor designation is a means by which to identify those outstanding aviation educators, those "Teachers of Flight," who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community.

Earning this designation is tantamount to having the words summa cum laude emblazoned on an instructor's certificate. These Masters truly represent the crème de la crème of our industry! To publicly recognize these individuals and their noteworthy accomplishments, NAFI will be hosting its "Meet the Masters" breakfasts, to which Dave will be invited, during EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh and Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland. Any support that can be provided will be appreciated.

NAFI is dedicated to providing support and recognition for America's aviation educators while helping them raise and maintain their level of professionalism. It is also committed to providing a safe and effective learning environment for student pilots. The Association was founded in 1967 and affiliated with EAA in May of 1995.

Qualifications and Services
holds all seven Flight Instructor ratings
FAA Examiner and Accident Prevention Counselor
Aviation Mechanic with Inspection Authorization
performs Owner Assisted Annuals and Pre-purchase Inspections
counsels on Individual Flight Training Programs
was honored with the National Seaplane Pilot of the Year Award
Education Background: for David H. (Dave) Wiley
B.S. Degree - Lewis & Clark College Majors - Physics, Mathematics
B.S. Degree - Oregon State College Major - Civil Engineering
Portland State College – Pursued Master of Business Administration (Incomplete)
U.S. Navy San Diego Qualified Radar Operator
Instructor Qualifications:
Certified Ski Instructor Alpine and Nordic
Certified Red Cross Instructor First Aid and Water Safety
Certified Hunter Safety Instructor
Power Squadron boating safety instructor and instructor trainer
FAA Flight and Ground instructor Designated Pilot Examiner

Aviation Activities:
Evergreen Helicopters - Chief Flight Instructor - Fixed wing, Gyroplane, instrument.
Rainbow King Lodge, lliamna, Alaska DHC-2 (Beaver) pilot and guide
Wiley’s Seaplanes, 503 636 4930 Seaplanes and Tailwheels
Willamette Valley Soaring Club 503 647 0913 Glider and Tow Pilot training
Sportcopter inc, 503 543 7000 Gyroplane Training
Aviation Certifications and Ratings:
Airline Transport Pilot - Airplane Single engine land and sea
Commercial Pilot - Airplane multi engine land and sea, Glider, Balloon
Rotorcraft, Helicopter, Gyroplane. Instrument helicopter
Gold Seal Flight Instructor – Airplane single and multi engine, - Glider
Rotorcraft - Helicopter, Gyroplane. Instrument - airplane, Helicopter
Certified Ground Instructor – Advanced and Instrument
Designated Pilot Examiner – Airplane, instrument, Glider, Gyroplane, Sport pilot
Aircraft Mechanic – Aircraft – Powerplant – Inspection Authorized
Aviation Safety Councilor NM09 both Operations and Airworthiness
Seaplane pilots Association Field Director for Oregon, E. Wash and Idaho

[Ed O'Brien]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

God Bless'em all. Mr. Leroy and Mr. Wiley were certainly blessings to us.
With respects; ED OBRIEN

[tawadc95]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

Wow! What a resume!
Wish I had that kind of drive and ambition.
V do you know what struts were on that plane ,just out of curiosity if the account was correct.
Chris

[dedrekon]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

I've flown that plane and I'm pretty sure they were just the standard struts. There does seem to be a pretty consistent story from all the many witnesses that the wing seperated from the airplane in a steep turn over the river.

Wiley knew that river probably better than anyone else alive. I've landed in that exact spot with him on several occasions. It's a demanding area in the sense that there are lots of obstacles to deal with....the Willamette River Falls are immediately downstream, massive power lines immediately upstream and heavily treed hills on either side of the river. There has been some (pure) speculation that they may have clipped some trees turning back to the river or that possibly the guy flying made a very steep turn and overstressed the plane trying to avoid the trees.

The news has even reported that weather may have been a factor, but I assure you, it wasn't. I was in the air in my T at that time, within a couple of miles of the scene of the accident and it was very good flying weather.

I live on the Willamette river just about 4 miles upstream from the falls and about 6 miles from Wiley's Seaplane Base. His orange Taylorcraft was an everyday sight over my house. I'm really going to miss it and him. I learned a lot about flying from that guy. I have some good Wiley stories.....maybe I'll post a couple later. Be carefull out there.

[Doc]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

Yes...a sad weekend with Oshkosh, Dayton, Phoenix, etc...bad news for the GA and TC community in particular. Mr. Wiley was 80 years old...medical issues will be looked at, but the airfoil separation is disconcerting. N43306 is a dry country (TX) aircraft that was found to have dry rot at the left forward spar wing root attachments (not seen until the wing was removed) and severe corrosion in the aileron spar through bolts (not seen until the bolts were removed). I received my ASES certificate in a PA-18 and would love to fly a TC on floats, My condolences to our west coast members on the loss of a highly regarded colleague. Doc

[tawadc95]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

kind of makes me wonder about the struts,but most of us have been around that situation where there will never be anyone to ask for certain what happened

[N96337]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

Definately a sad few days! Vincent, do you know when he was at RKL? That's the same lodge I worked at.
JH

[dedrekon]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

I'm not sure, John.......I think in the 70's, but I could be wrong. It was my understanding that he flew seasonally for them a number of years.

Here's a link to his website, there's a lot of good info there on float flying and tailwheel flying, plus an interview with him: Wiley's Seaplanes

On a day like today, his old orange Taylorcraft would have flown over my house a dozen times by now.......

V

[Dick Smith]

Re: Dave Wiley's Taylorcraft Floatplane

This is the floatplane dock at Wiley's Seaplane Base on the Willamette River.
Dick

[Dano"T"]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

Makes me wonder if the old bird just got tired of pounding the waves for so many years. I assume it spent a considerable amount of time outside. Wonder what the TT was on that old T-Craft? How many students a year trained in it? I was out looking at my spars, struts, and attach fittings closely last night......Guess it just gave me a fright. God bless them.

[Dano"T"]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

http://www.seaplanes.org/cgi-bin/for...ad=3426%26ts=1

Get ready for the lift strut service bulletin to become a hot topic.....maybe it'll end up having the letters AD. This is a terrible tragedy. I anxiously await to hear if it was corrosion or something else....

[dedrekon]

Re: Taylorcraft Float Plane Crash

At least one news report quoted somebody from the FAA or NTSB as saying that they thought maybe a strut was damaged prior to the flight. I tried to find the story again, but couldn't.

v