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tomdalton22
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Get StartedAN ICON AIRCRAFT A5—the innovative amphibious aircraft that only recently entered production—crashed early Monday on the shores of Lake Berryessa, in Napa County, California, killing the company’s lead aeronautical engineer, Jon Karkow, 55, and his colleague Cagri Sever, 41. The crash of the aircraft, known for its forgiving flight characteristics, folding wings, and appeal to recreational pilots, serves as proof that aviation remains a dangerous pursuit.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. Icon CEO Kirk Hawkins called the loss devastating. “The thoughts and prayers of our entire organization are with the families of both people onboard, they were both truly amazing individuals," he said in a statement.
The fatal crash is particularly distressing given the safety-first design of the aircraft, and Karkow’s experience piloting far more radical aircraft while at Scaled Composites. It’s unknown whether Karkow was testing or demonstrating the spin-resistance of the wing design at the time of the crash, and whether that or another flaw or structural failure contributed to the accident. The destruction of the aircraft on the lakeshore, visible in photographs, suggests a steep vertical descent. The National Transportation Safety Board expects to publish a preliminary report by the end of next week.
Whatever its cause, the crash will likely prove a significant setback for Icon, which has struggled lately with financial and production issues. Last year, it laid off workers and reduced production expectations from 175 aircraft to just 20.
Greatest baseball player to come out of Colorado, my friend played against him in high school. Sad news
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