AGENDA #5e
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Information Report on Delayed Emergency Notification of an Aircraft Crash
DATE: May 7, 2001
The purpose of this report is to provide information concerning the delayed reporting of an aircraft crash near Horace Williams Airport on April 19, 2001, and follow-up actions that we intend to take.
On Thursday, April 19, 2001, at approximately 5:30 p.m. a single-engine aircraft from Horace Williams Airport crashed into a forested area between the airport and Seawell School Road. The aircraft was owned by the Chapel Hill Flying Club and was being used by an instructor and a student pilot. Neither of the pilots were injured and they walked back to the airport in order to reach officials of the Flying Club. Neither the pilots nor the Flying Club officials made any attempt to notify the Orange County 911 Center. Nearly two and a half (2 ˝) hours after the incident, the crash was reported to an Associate Vice-Chancellor of the University who in turn reported it to University Police. After a further delay of approximately 25 minutes, caused by the confusion of the delayed report, the Chapel Hill Fire Department was notified and responded. Attached to this memorandum is a report by the Fire Chief about the incident.
Failure to report the incident as quickly as possible to the proper emergency response authorities using the established 911 system created additional hazard to the public beyond that created by the initial incident. An emergency response plan is in place for the Horace Williams Airport that has been agreed to by the University and various public safety agencies, including the fire department and law enforcement agencies. This plan is based on the assumption that incidents are reported promptly using the public access 911 system. When an incident is not reported as quickly as possible, it delays the application of emergency mitigation measures designed to protect the public and prevent further harm.
Regarding the incident of April 19 we make the following findings:
Ř Both the pilots and Chapel Hill Flying Club officials failed to promptly notify the 911 center of the aircraft crash. This failure resulted in delay of emergency response necessary to secure the area, mitigate fire hazards, contain fuel contamination and provide for general public safety in a timely fashion.
We believe that any group using the airport must have knowledge of and agree to comply with the established emergency plan for the airport.
Ř Confusion created by failure to promptly call the 911 emergency center and failure to promptly notify University officials resulted in additional delay of notification to the Fire Department.
Ř Although the emergency plan specifies the appropriate agencies (and their respective responsibilities) to be notified in event of an aircraft emergency, it does not specifically require notification of the 911 center as a first measure.
We believe that the emergency plan should be amended to specifically require immediate notification of the 911 center in the event of any emergency.
We will transmit these recommendations to University Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Nancy Suttenfield.
In addition, the Council has asked that the following questions raised by Mr. Fred Black be conveyed to the University for reply and we will do so.
(1) What are the operating conditions for the Chapel Hill Flying Club at Horace Williams Airport?
(2) How will the failure to follow proper reporting procedures affect the status of the Flying Club?
(3) What can be done to ensure residents that flight operations at Horace Williams Airport are safe?
We will forward this report to Vice Chancellor Suttenfield and will distribute the University’s response to the Council.
1. April 25 Report by the Fire Chief on Delayed Notification (p. 3).
2. April 20 Letter to Flying Club from Associate Vice Chancellor Elfland (p. 14).
3. Horace Williams Airport Emergency Plan (p. 16).