A 70-year-old pilot from Wisconsin died Sunday, Nov. 8, after his military-style jet crashed and caught fire in a field near Mayfield, Kentucky, shortly after takeoff. He had been flying home from Mississippi alongside his daughter, who was in a separate aircraft.
James Alan Michaels, of Dousman, and his 35-year-old daughter, Tonie Michaels, were each piloting an L-39 Albatros jet. They had attended an air show and stopped in Mayfield to refuel before continuing their trip, according to the Graves County Sheriff’s Office.
After taking off, the planes began climbing when James Michaels reported a problem and tried to turn back toward the airport. He later radioed that he would not be able to land, authorities said. Investigators believe he attempted to bring the aircraft down in an open field.
The jet crashed around 2:08 p.m. near Spence Chapel Road, close to Interstate 69 and Kentucky 131. It struck a ditch, which officials believe caused the main impact, then caught fire and rolled. Michaels was alone aboard and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His daughter turned back and landed at the airport, then began making calls, the sheriff’s office said. The FAA gave a slightly later time for the crash, saying it happened at about 2:25 p.m. local time.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation. An investigator was expected to reach the site Monday evening to document the scene and inspect the aircraft before it is moved to a secure facility for further examination.
The NTSB said it will look at the pilot, the aircraft and the conditions surrounding the flight. Investigators plan to review flight-tracking data, air traffic control communications, maintenance records, witness accounts and weather information. They will also examine Michaels’ license and ratings, recent flight experience and activities in the 72 hours before the crash.
The agency said it does not determine or speculate on a crash’s cause during the initial on-site phase. Its final report, including any probable cause and contributing factors, is expected in 12 to 24 months.
Michaels and his daughter had survived another aircraft accident together 16 years earlier. On July 8, 2010, he was piloting a single-engine plane with Tonie aboard when they encountered a strong downdraft while flying toward Aspen, Colorado. The plane crash-landed in a forested area of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Both escaped with minor cuts and scratches. Stranded overnight during storms, they used branches and pieces of the damaged aircraft to make a shelter.
