FN.333 RIVIERA NEWS 2006

This 'Riviera News' pages bring you the latest Riviera Amphibian news reported to this website. If you have any little piece of news or information that could be of interest to Riviera enthusiasts, please contact webmaster.

N95DR Crashed

It is with great sadness it is reported that SIAI Marchetti FN.333 Riviera N95DR (s/n 0110) crashed on Sunday, May 20, 2007.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash which occurred in the 1700 block of North Benton Road in Minden, Nevada, just after 3:15 p.m.  The pilot, who was killed instantly, has been identified as Egon Fritz, 64, of Germany.

Early reports suggest that the amphibian lost engine power and that the pilot was forced to make an off-airport emergency landing.  An eyewitness who witnessed the accident from approximately 100 yards away from the crash site, and who was the first on the scene after impact, said that the pilot was avoiding a home and people in the yard when he struck the roof of a garage, skidded off the roof before the amphibian struck the ground and overturned.

From a Nevada Appeal news report:

"I heard a plane that was way too loud. I looked up and it was right there above my porch. As I looked up it went over the garage and there was a huge plume of dust," said Merry Anderson.

The single engine float plane lost power, skidded off the roof of Anderson's home, struck the ground twice and overturned. It left two holes in Anderson's garage, but caused only slight damage.

The exact cause of the crash isn't known and is under investigation by the FAA.

Douglas Sheriff's Capt. Mike Biaggini said Fritz had no relatives in the area, but had friends in Northridge, California.

He said the pilot was killed instantly.

"If he'd had 18-24 more inches of altitude, he would have missed the roof and there's a chance he would have been able to land the plane in the field. But it's like tripping someone who is walking. It put the nose right down in the ground," Biaggini said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration report, the aircraft was a SIAI-Marchette FN-333, an amphibian plane.

All Riviera enthusiasts are deeply saddened by this tragic accident, and express their deepest condolences to the pilot's family and friends.  More information on this accident will be published here when available.

When owned by late Ken Shea, N95DR was a frequent visitor to the EAA Oshkosh and the Clear Lake splash-ins.  This was probably the best restored Riviera in the World.

Update 2007-05-23: New information is that Mr. Fritz recently had bought the Riviera from the estate of Kennon S. Shea, and that he was planning to take the aircraft to Europe, presumably to Germany.  According to US Registry, N95DR was registered to Aircraft Guaranty Title Corp. Trustee; Houston, Texas on 2007-03-20.  The sale was handled by a company in Minden, Nevada.

Updated: 2007-05-23

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