Deadly Oxford plane crash caused by fuel pump failure: NTSB

Published 8:32 am Thursday, August 25, 2016

The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report Wednesday for the plane crash that claimed the lives of six Oxford residents on Aug. 14.

According to the report, the cause of the crash was due to both fuel pumps failing.

According to the preliminary air traffic control data, the pilot, Dr. Jason Farese, reported a failure of a fuel pump and requested a diversion to the nearest airport around. When the airplane was approximately 10 miles from Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, the pilot reported that the airplane lost “the other fuel pump.”

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The airplane continued to descend until it impacted trees approximately 1,650 feet prior to the approach end of runway 30 at about 11:20 a.m., landing in Northport, Alabama.

Along with Farese, his wife, Dr. Lea Farese, Dr. Michael and Kim Perry and Dr. Austin and Angie Poole died in the crash.

The three couples were returning home to Oxford from Florida where they attended a dental convention.

The Fareses owned the Farese Dental Clinic in Oxford. Dr. Michael Perry owned Mid-South Dental Implants & Periodontics. His wife, Kim, was a nurse practitioner who worked part-time for the University of Mississippi. Dr. Austin Poole owned Poole Dental Clinic in Clarksdale. Angie Poole was his office manager.

Collectively, the three couples left behind 11 children.

According to the NTSM report, Farese’s Piper PA-31-325 was “topped off” with 134 gallons of fuel before departing from Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Florida around 8:55 a.m. eastern time. According to preliminary air traffic control data, Farese reported a failure of a fuel pump and requested a diversion to the nearest airport around 11:11 a.m.

The controller provided radar vectors toward runway 30 at the Tuscaloosa airport. When the airplane was about 10 miles away, Farese reported the plane had lost “the other fuel pump.”

The airplane continued to descend until it impacted trees, only 1,650 feet before the end of runway 30.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, Farese held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued in August 2014.

According to a flight log found in the airplane, the pilot had accumulated 48.7 hours of flight time since March 2016. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1984, and issued an airworthiness certificate in 1998.

It was equipped with two Lycoming TIO-540-series, 350- horsepower engines. It was also equipped with two 4-bladed Hartzell controllable pitch propellers.

The most recent annual inspection was performed on Nov. 13, 2015, and at that time the airplane had accumulated 3,260.8 total hours of time in service.

The debris from the wreck covered 250 feet.

A factual report will be completed and released in about a year, according to NTSB officials. You can view the entire NTSB report here.

Late last week the three couples were remembered by friends and the community in a joint memorial service held on the Ole Miss campus and attended by thousands. You can read more about the memorial service here.