Probe of midair crash over Hammonton could take months

The pilot who parachuted from his plane after a midair crash over Hammonton, N.J., on Saturday remained in critical condition Monday while the other pilot's family mourned their loved one's death.

The deceased pilot, described by friends as a dedicated family man with a passion for flying, was identified by them as David Mitchell, 71, of Voorhees.

Witnesses said Saturday that they saw Mitchell's Lancair IV-P clip the tail of a Yakovlev Yak-55M about 1:30 p.m. near Hammonton Municipal Airport.

Kirill Barsukov, 37, of Jersey City, was the pilot of the Yak-55M and an experienced aerobatic flier. He parachuted and walked out of the woods in rural Atlantic County and was taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

The cause of the crash, involving the two single-engine planes, remains under federal investigation, and a final report is not expected for several months, possibly a year, said Nicholas Worrell, a public-affairs officer for the National Transportation Safety Board.

The planes were in or close to airspace reserved for pilots to practice aerobatic maneuvers, federal authorities said.

Mitchell was not an aerobatic pilot. He loved recreational flying and often took family and friends.

Friends said Mitchell likely died instantly when the two planes crashed and disintegrated. The debris was scattered across more than a quarter-mile swath of woods and farms, much of it outside the aerobatic area, authorities said.

Worrell said that it appeared Barsukov was performing aerobatics, but that it was too early to determine whether that contributed to or caused the crash.

Rock Colasurdo, the airport administrator and a former Hammonton council member, said local officials had for years been concerned about aerobatic planes and would like to eliminate the reserved airspace because of its danger to other pilots.

When performing in the air, Colasurdo said, the pilot is required to have a spotter on the ground to advise him or her via radio of nearby planes.

The small airport lacks a tower, and pilots must "take necessary caution" to watch for other aircraft, Worrell said. Saturday was a clear day that was perfect for flying.

A man who identified himself as a close friend but said he did not wish to be named said Mitchell often flew with his wife and enjoyed spending time with his two sons, a daughter, and grandchildren.

Barsukov was described as a seasoned aerobatic flier. His friends said he was a skydiver with more than 100 jumps.