Any Word on Michael Connell Crash Investigation?

[we can do it]

Has this been swept under the rug?

[99th_Monkey]

1. *** crickets *** Connell who?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. you mean was Michael Connell killed in an airplane crash?

and therefore is not around to tell the story?

[we can do it]

3. Yes He Crashed 3 Miles from Akron-Canton Airport on December 19th

The Akron Beacon Journal is reporting that the private plane of the GOP's highly-placed "IT guru" Mike Connell's went down in Lake Township, Ohio on Friday evening. Connell was killed in the crash and is reported to have been the only person on board. There are no reports of anyone on the ground being hurt, though his plane crashed in a residential neighborhood.

Connell is a familiar name to readers of The BRAD BLOG as a key witness in the King-Lincoln v. Blackwell lawsuit regarding fraud in the 2004 Presidential Election in Ohio. That recently revived, long-standing lawsuit led to Connell's recent deposition on November 3, 2008, the day before this year's general election. According to plaintiff's lead attorney Cliff Arnebeck in July, a tipster had warned that Connell had been threatened by Karl Rove, as The BRAD BLOG reported at the time, in an attempt to intimidate him into "taking the fall" for Ohio election fraud not long after a motion was filed to lift the stay in that case.........

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6765

GOP consultant killed in plane crash was warned of sabotage

The Republican consultant accused of involvement in alleged vote-rigging in Ohio in 2004 was warned that his plane might be sabotaged before his death in a crash Friday night, according to a Cleveland CBS affiliate.

45-year-old Republican operative Michael Connell was killed when his single-passenger plane crashed Friday into a home in a suburb of Akron, Ohio (PREVIOUS REPORT). The consultant was called to testify in federal court regarding a lawsuit alleging that he took part in tampering with Ohio's voting results in the 2004 election.

Without getting into specific details, 19 Action News reporter Blake Renault reported Sunday evening that 45-year-old Republican operative and experienced pilot had been warned not to fly his plane in the days before the crash.

"Connell...was apparently told by a close friend not to fly his plane because his plane might be sabotaged," Renault said. "And twice in the last two months Connell, who is an experienced pilot, cancelled two flights because of suspicious problems with his plane.".........................


http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Killed_GOP_pilot_suspected_plane_had_1222.html

[creeksneakers2]

4. January 9, 2009

Tampering appears unlikely in controversial Bush consultant’s crash
By John Croft

Speculation that sabotage caused the crash on 19 December that killed Michael Connell, a top-level information technology consultant for the Bush administration and the Republican Party, has been dampened. Results of the US National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary investigation suggest a loss of control of the aircraft.

Preliminary information provided by the NTSB indicates that Connell, a private pilot with an instrument rating and a total of 510h, lost control of his Piper PA-32R Saratoga on an instrument approach to Akron-Canton Regional airport in instrument conditions that night.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/09/320733/tampering-appears-unlikely-in-controversial-bush-consultants.html

[we can do it]

5. Thanks

[OnTheOtherHand]

6. NTSB details, such as they are

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20081223X12815&key=1

The report doesn't seem very revealing one way or another. It seems that Connell was messing up the approach somewhat, but then what?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. "The NTSB's early findings are subject to change and may contain errors but..."

From AV Web, "World's Premiere Independent Aviation News Source"

NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On Connell Crash By Glenn Pew, Contributing Editor, Video Editor January 4, 2009

The NTSB has released its preliminary report on the Piper Turbo Saratoga crash on approach to Akron-Canton airport Dec. 19, 2008, that killed Michael Connell, Republican media consultant and chief IT consultant for Karl Rove. The crash ignited the minds of conspiracy theorists aware that Connell had been subpoenaed for expert testimony regarding alleged electronic voter fraud in 2004, and amid one report by a CBS affiliate that Connell had been warned his plane might be sabotaged. The NTSB's early findings are subject to change and may contain errors but state that "no anomalies were noted with the flight control system that would have precluded normal operation." The report notes that damage to the propeller is consistent with a power-on impact and the landing gear was extended. The NTSB found that the instrument-rated Connell had received radar vectors that provided an intercept to the ILS approach for Runway 23, about two miles from the outer marker. The report states that, as the plane was inbound from the outer marker, "ATC advised that it was left of course." After that, things -- including already poor weather conditions -- got progressively worse.

Connell responded to ATC with "correcting." The report states he was at that time still flying the 3,200-foot intermediate segment altitude for the approach. ATC then advised the pilot he was "well left of the localizer" and asked the pilot if he would like to be resequenced. The pilot responded with "like to correct" and at 2.5 miles from the airport asked to execute a 360-degree turn. Weather at the airport at this time was deteriorating. It was reported two minutes prior to the crash as visibility 9 miles, broken at 500 and overcast at 1,000 with a two-degree temperature/dewpoint spread hovering near freezing. Approximately 15 minutes after the crash, visibility had dropped to 2 1/2 miles in mist with overcast at 400 and 1,000. While flying the approach, Connell had inquired about reports of icing and ATC responded it had none. After requesting the 360-degree turn, ATC directed the aircraft to climb and maintain 3,000 feet. Connell responded, providing confirmation and a heading, then declared an emergency. A witness saw the aircraft descend out of the clouds in a nose-down attitude with the engine "roaring" and lost visual contact when the plane descended below the tree line. The trail of wreckage was about 290 feet long. Connell earned his private certificate in 2006, held an instrument rating, and had a total reported flight time of 510 hours.

It seems to be quite a mystery as to why he crashed.

[charlamagne]

12. Mike Connell and John Kennedy Jr. Piper Saratoga Crashes

Huge developments here. An article by Wayne Madsen contains evidence and discussion of the "Modus Operandi"

The information has been passed along to the FAA inspector working on the case and the FBI. Expect the FBI to try and cover-up.

http://theinfounderground.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=9208&sid=3ecb6dfbe026d901ec51e74de0a8f3f8

while were on the subject, The John F. Kennedy jr. crash was remarkably similar and was also murder. New information on that as well here:

http://theinfounderground.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=9213

[charlamagne]

13. As long as we are talking about plane crashes.....

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS:

SAME PEOPLE THAT WHACKED JOHN F. KENNEDY JUNIOR DID 9/11

KENNEDY JUNIOR:

http://theinfounderground.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=9213


9/11:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=221471055&blogId=514278947

how about that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[charlamagne]

15. Weather was incredibly bad at time of Connell crash

The Prelminary NTSB report is of a 200 foot ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility reported by a business jet arriving at CAK about 20 minutes after Connell. This pilot also reported moderate clear icing, as did other aircraft landing after Connell, whose plane was not equipped with anti icing equipment.

On the other hand, should this lead to a redux of the Kennedy jr. Investigation, it will come out that the weather at Martha's Vineyard was significantly better than media reported - Clear skies and 12 miles visibility.

[99th_Monkey]

8. FYI - This just in from Raw Story yesterday. Provides some additional details.

cross-posted on DU at: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4828320&mesg_id=4828320

RawStory link:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Foul_play_not_suspected_in_GOP_0113.html

[TACT]

9. performance study

It has been more than a year now since the death of Mike Connell and the NTSB has yet to release a “probable cause” report on the single engine plane crash which killed him.

To this day, only general statements have been made publicly regarding some of the most important and telling details gathered in the NTSB investigation…specifically, the precise course Connell’s aircraft took in those last few minutes before impact. The audio of the ATC’s last communications with Connell have not yet been released publicly either.

The FBI is looking into an anonymous memo which was sent to a number of individuals including Mike Connell’s widow, Heather. It is said to catalog an order and mission to remotely intercept and rig the instrument panel of Connell’s plane and then “sanitize” the area.

It is being said that those close to the case believe the author of that memo is a real informant with inside knowledge about the crash. I am doubtful, and consider it likely the creation of an over-zealous activist or a “Killian documents” style distraction meant to discredit those suggesting foul play.

As a researcher/investigator by trade, I’ve done a little looking into this myself over the period of the last year. I’ve even surveyed the area along and around the approach to runway 23 at Akron-Canton Airport as well as the crash site at 2017 Charolais Street in Uniontown, Ohio. I also happen to know a guy who owns a Piper Saratoga who was kind enough to allow me to examine his plane, and answered questions I had regarding it.

Still, I would like to see the NTSB performance study, giving moment by moment position data for the last several minutes of Connell’s ill-fated flight. I think it will tell a lot about what was likely causing problems to Connell's approach. I’m most interested in knowing if his initial off center approach was smooth and steady, and if he at any time actually intercepted the localizer centerline.

We’ll see when and if that detail is ever released publicly. I won't hold my breath.

[Wilms]

10. Here's the most recent item I've found...

Pilot was off course before fatal crash, report says

By Edd Pritchard
CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted Nov 18, 2009 @ 07:02 PM
Last update Nov 18, 2009 @ 08:02 PM

snip

The National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates airplane crashes, issued a factual report earlier this month. A final — or probable cause — ruling on the crash is expected before the end of the year. Probable cause rulings generally are based on the factual reports.

The report expands on an NTSB preliminary report issued Dec. 30 that said Connell — piloting a single-engine Piper Saratoga — was off course as he approached the airport. The latest report also notes that “no anomalies” were found in the airplane’s flight-control, autopilot and vacuum systems or with the engine.

snip

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x215398256/Pilot-was-off-course-before-fatal-crash-report-says


What I also find interesting...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=513342

and a response...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=203&topic_id=513342#513368

[we can do it]

11. Thanks- I've Had a Hard Time Keeping Up with the Holidays

[charlamagne]

14. Mike Connell

see my posts re: Mike Connell and John F. Kennedy Jr Piper Saratogas