MADERA – The National Transportation Safety Board investigators are at the scene of yesterday’s plane crash near the Madera Municipal Airport, across the street from the Madera Municipal Golf Course. The crash, that claimed the lives of two Fresno residents, occurred shortly before 1:00pm Thursday afternoon.
The California Highway Patrol received a report of a plane crash in the area of Avenue 17 and Road 23 in Madera County. CHP Troopers and county sheriff’s deputies along with Madera Police, and CAL Fire responded to the scene. Upon arrival, it was confirmed that an ultra-light single engine aircraft crashed into an empty field. Public Information Officer Kayla Serratto with the Madera County Sheriff's Office says both victims died at the scene.
The plane was equipped with a parachute device that was deployable through a small explosive charge. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Team was brought out as a precautionary measure to ensure the device was disarmed and scene was secure to continue the investigation.
The victims in the plane crash have been identified as Fresno residents Joe Kulbeth (76) and Saverio Chimienti Jr. (28). Kulbeth is a qualified Commercial Flight Instructor and president of the Fresno aeronautical company AIR-USA. Kulbeth was engaged in the importation and sale of Light Sport Aircraft from the Czech Republic for the last twelve years. The aircraft he sold were self launch gliders, meaning that these aircraft have an engine to take off and land as desired much like any airplane.
Prior to launching AIR-USA, Kulbeth was a peace officer for the State of California. He flew numerous high altitude search and rescue operations and hundreds of hours of night operations for the suppression of criminal activity.
The aircraft was registered to the Daniel N Bates Trust out of Fresno with an address near the Sierra Sky Park off of Herndon Avenue. It is listed as a Stingsport Ultralight. It's certification was last issued in May of 2018 and did not expire until May of 2021.
The investigation was turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
