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Icon Chief Test Pilot Killed in A5 Crash

An Icon A5 crashed on the shoreline of Lake Barryessa in Napa County, California, on May 8. KTVU
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Key Takeaways:

  • Icon Aviation suffered a tragic loss as lead engineer and chief test pilot Jon Karkow, and employee Cagri Sever, died in an A5 crash near Lake Berryessa.
  • Jon Karkow was a highly respected figure in aerospace, known for his work on over 20 projects at Scaled Composites and his instrumental role in the design and testing of the Icon A5.
  • Icon Aviation's CEO expressed deep condolences, and the company is cooperating with NTSB and FAA investigators to determine the cause of the fatal accident.
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The Icon team out of Vacaville, California, suffered a tragic loss yesterday as two employees died in a crash on the shores of Lake Berryessa, where the company conducts water operations for its amphibious LSA, the A5. Lead engineer and chief test pilot Jon Karkow, and Cagri Sever, who recently joined the Icon team, were killed in the crash.

Pia Bergqvist

Pia Bergqvist joined FLYING in December 2010. A passionate aviator, Pia started flying in 1999 and quickly obtained her single- and multi-engine commercial, instrument and instructor ratings. After a decade of working in general aviation, Pia has accumulated almost 3,000 hours of flight time in nearly 40 different types of aircraft.

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