Aviation Safety

January 2004

October 30, Ocala, Fla. / Bellanca Super Decathlon

Subscribers Only At about 1120 eastern time, a Bellanca 8KCAB collided with a tree on approach to Leeward Air Ranch during an instructional flight. The flight instructor and pilot-rated student were not injured. The CFI reported that he was instructing the pilot in a return to the departing runway after a hypothetical engine failure. He closed the throttle on departure at about 700 feet agl. The student then initiated a left hand steep turn back to the runway, but the airplane entered a spin. The CFI assumed control of the flight but struck an oak tree during recovery....

October 28, Los Angeles, Calif. / Cessna 310

Subscribers Only At 1626 Pacific time, a Cessna 310 sustained substantial damage after colliding with a fence following a landing overrun at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Los Angeles County. The pilot was not injured. The flight was approaching to land when the tower personnel advised the pilot that he was lined up to land on the grass adjoining the runway. The pilot executed a go-around. On his second attempt he “landed long and too fast.” The FAA inspector noted skid marks on the runway and bald spots on the tires of the accident airplane....

October 26, Roebuck, S.C. / Piper Twin Comanche

Subscribers Only At 2210 eastern time, a Piper PA-30 crashed during an instrument approach to Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport. The pilot was killed. The business flight had originated earlier in the day at Spartanburg and had made stops in several states before returning to Spartanburg. The flight was cleared for the ILS Rwy 5 approach. The airplane collided with trees before crashing 0.7 nm from the runway 5 threshold and 0.2 nm from the runway 5 localizer course. A witness in a home near the accident site heard the airplane close overhead, followed by the sound of the engines revving up and lastly the noise of the crash. The witness then went outside and saw the airplane burning on the ground....

October 25, Los Angeles, Calif. / Piper Arrow

Subscribers Only At 0347 Pacific time, a Piper PA-28R-200 was damaged after it collided with a power line while attempting to land at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Los Angeles County. The pilot was seriously injured. The flight had departed the same airport approximately 17 minutes earlier. The airport lights were illuminated at that time. The pilot noted that the lights were still on while he was about 10 miles out on his return flight, but by the time he reached the airport only the taxiway lights were illuminated. The aircraft struck a power line when the pilot applied power to depart after unsuccessfully searching for the threshold with his landing light. Whiteman Airport does not have pilot-controlled li...

October 25, Fayetteville, N.C. / Piper Lance

Subscribers Only At 1120 eastern time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T was damaged when its nose wheel collapsed during landing at Fayetteville, N.C. The pilot was not injured. The pilot reported that the elevator flight control became unresponsive in flight. Using only elevator trim to control pitch, the pilot flew to Fayetteville Regional Airport, where he requested the longest runway for an emergency landing. The nose of the airplane dropped when the pilot reduced power to land, causing the nose wheel to collapse on impact with the runway. A post-flight inspection revealed that the left elevator cable assembly turnbuckle was broken....

October 22, Pierson, Fla. / Cessna 152

Subscribers Only At about 1130 eastern time, a Cessna 152 on an instructional flight was substantially damaged following a bird strike and the subsequent emergency landing into a field near Pierson. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The pilots were practicing ground reference maneuvers at about 1,000 feet when a bird later identified as a Black Vulture collided with and destroyed the windshield. The CFI applied full throttle but could not maintain altitude, so he declared an emergency and secured the engine. The airplane landed nose first, breaking the nose gear and main landing gears, and came to rest inverted....

October 20, Mesa, Ariz. / Piper Cherokee 235

Subscribers Only At 1618 mountain time, a Piper PA-28-235 was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during an attempt to return to Falcon Field Airport in Mesa. The pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight had just originated when the pilot reported a loose panel. Witnesses observed a partially latched top cowl blocking a portion of the windshield. ...

October 20, Seaside, Ore. / Beech Bonanza

Subscribers Only At about 1545 Pacific time, a Beech A36 was destroyed after colliding with trees after takeoff from Seaside Municipal Airport. The pilot was killed. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying to the airport at a low altitude beneath clouds. The airplane performed a touch and go on runway 16 then made a 180 degree left turn at a low level before colliding with trees east of the departure end of the runway. According to the Sheriff’s department, which responded to the scene, the ceiling appeared to be about 500 to 600 feet agl and the wind was blowing from the southwest at 25 to 35 knots. A log entry for a wind gauge at the Seaside Police Department measured the wind at 1500 from the south at 20.2...

October 19, Everglades, Fla. / Cessna 172

Subscribers Only At about 1130 eastern time, a Cessna 172N was damaged when it ran off the end of the runway during an attempted take off from Everglades Airport. The pilot received minor injuries. The pilot reported that he reached an airspeed of 60 knots but could not rotate to take off. He stated “what I did was that I did not remove the control lock from the yoke.” The airplane overran the runway as the pilot attempted to brake to a stop....

October 19, Deshler, Ohio / Vans RV-9A

Subscribers Only At about 1045 eastern time, a homebuilt Preiss Vans RV-9A was substantially damaged after a loss of control on landing. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger received minor injuries. The pilot stated that as he landed, he realized that he had inadvertently lined up on the shorter runway, that he was too fast, and that he had forgotten to lower the flaps. After his first contact with the turf runway he lowered the flaps. The airplane porpoised and on the fourth touchdown the propeller hit the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot remarked that the 1,725-foot runway would have been long enough if he had slowed down sufficiently prior to landing....

October 18, Houston, Texas / General Motors Wildcat

Subscribers Only At about 1817 central time, a WWII vintage General Motors FM-2 Wildcat warbird airplane was destroyed following an in-flight loss of control near Ellington Field while participating in the Wings Over Houston air show. The pilot was killed. Witnesses observed the accident airplane at approximately 200 feet agl, trailing a twin-engine bomber on approach to the airport. The Wildcat had executed a series of 360-degree steep turns for spacing. During its last turn the aircraft pitched up, then descended in a partial spin before colliding with the ground about a quarter-mile from the approach end of the runway. A witness reported that the propeller was turning and the engine did not appear to have...

October 18, Beaufort, N.C. / Beech Musketeer

Subscribers Only At 1705 eastern time, a Beech A23-34 was damaged substantially after running off the end of runway 14 and colliding with a ditch at Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Witnesses observed the airplane touching down in the last half of the 4,000-foot runway. One witness estimated that the airplane touched down 100 yards from the departure end of the runway. The airplane porpoised before exiting the runway into a ditch. Post-crash inspection showed crush damage to the nose and right wing, displacement of the right wing and nose gear, and propeller damage....

October 18, Spanaway, Wash. / Luscombe 8E

Subscribers Only At about 1500 Pacific time, a Luscombe 8E collided with a fence and crashed while approaching to land at Spanaway Airport. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injuries. The pilot reported that just before touchdown the airplane’s tail wheel caught the top of a chain link fence, causing the airplane to collide with terrain and nose over. The pilot stated he “might have been a little low” on his final approach....

October 16, Albany, N.Y. / Beech 1900

Subscribers Only At 0805 eastern time, the pilot of a Beech 1900D aborted takeoff of a positioning flight after maintenance due to a jammed elevator control. The two pilots were not injured and the airplane was not damaged. The maintenance performed on the aircraft required removal of the elevator trim wheel. The mechanic did not index the trim wheel before removal and reinstalled it so that when the wheel was positioned to neutral, the elevator trim was actually in a nose down position....

October 16, Meeker, Colo. / Cessna 210

Subscribers Only At 1715 mountain time, a Cessna 210G was damaged in a gear-up landing at Meeker Airport following a four-hour flight from Grand Island, Neb. The private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The pilot extended flaps on final approach but did not lower the landing gear or recognize the gear warning horn. In addition to skin damage on the bottom of the fuselage, the propeller and left wing were bent by contact with the runway....

October 14, Bolingbrook, Ill. / Wright Flyer replica

Subscribers Only At 1600 central time, the experimental, exhibition Wright Redux Association 1903 Wright Flyer stalled on takeoff about 30 feet above the runway and landed hard at Clow International Airport. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane received substantial damage. ...

October 12, Mooresville, N.C. / Velox Revolution II

Subscribers Only At 1730 eastern time, an amateur-built Velox Revolution II struck a hangar during attempted recovery from an aerobatic maneuver at Lake Norman Airpark. The pilot received minor injuries. He said he entered a flat spin at 4,000 feet but kept the airplane in the flat spin too long. When he realized he had insufficient altitude to recover the airplane normally or to bail out, he raised the nose to a vertical attitude and applied full power. The airplane then collided with a hangar and was destroyed in the post-crash fire....

October 12, Las Cruces, N.M. / Piper Cherokee 140

Subscribers Only At 1408 mountain time, a Piper PA-28-140 crashed during an attempted go-around at Las Cruces International Airport. The two occupants, one commercial pilot with a flight instructor rating and one private pilot, were not injured. The private pilot was flying from the left seat as the airplane approached Las Cruces for a planned refueling stop. After a wind gust caused the airplane to drift off the runway centerline, the private pilot elected to close the throttle and continue the landing, but the commercial pilot added power to attempt a go-around. The private pilot again closed the throttle before the commercial pilot took control of the aircraft and again added power. The airplane collided...

October 12, Denver, Colo. / McDonnell Douglas DC-10

Subscribers Only At 0718 mountain time, a McDonnell Douglass DC-10-10, operated by Federal Express, suffered damaged tire and brake assemblies during a rejected takeoff at Denver International Airport, necessitating closure of one runway for over 17 hours. The captain, first officer, flight engineer, and four non-revenue passengers were not injured. During acceleration for takeoff on runway 16R, the crew received a warning horn and initiated a rejection of the takeoff. Tower personnel alerted the crew to smoke and fire coming from the left gear and alerted firefighters. The crew completed their checklists and exited the aircraft via an evacuation slide. The runway was closed until replacement parts could be...

October 11, El Cajon, Calif. / Max Holste Broussard

Subscribers Only At about 1145 Pacific time, an Avions Max Holste MH 1521 Broussard stalled during takeoff from Gillespie Field and was substantially damaged in the hard landing that followed. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The pilot reported that several airplanes were waiting for takeoff. Abandoning his usual procedure of lining up on the centerline and then releasing the brakes after obtaining 2,500 rpm, he expedited his takeoff roll. When the tail wheel did not lift as expected, the pilot tried to add nose down trim but before he could do so, the airplane ballooned about eight feet into the air. Subsequently the aircraft bounced and the right wingtip collided with the ground. The left g...

October 09, Harvard, Ill. / Ercoupe 415

Subscribers Only At 1945 central time, an Engineering and Research Corporation 415-D collided with a corn crop while making a low approach over a private airstrip at Harvard, Ill. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said he planned the low approach at 100 feet agl to determine if he could see the unlit airstrip well enough to land. The airplane flew into the corn crop about two-tenths of a mile from the airstrip and was substantially damaged....

October 06, Van, Texas / Vans RV-8

Subscribers Only At 1250 central time, an amateur-built Vans RV-8 suffered a loss of control and crashed near Van, Texas. The pilot and passenger were killed. The airplane was one of four airplanes that departed as a formation flight from Gilmer Municipal Airport. Prior to departure, the lead pilot obtained weather and discussed formation procedures with the other pilots, including lost sight procedures. The accident airplane flew in the number two slot, 45 degrees behind the left wing of the lead airplane. The remaining two airplanes were to the right of the lead. The formation flight encountered unexpected clouds, which they elected to climb to avoid. During the climb, the visibility deteriorated and the f...

October 05, Knoxville, Tenn. / Cessna 182

Subscribers Only At 0330 eastern time, a Cessna 182H suffered a total loss of engine power about seven miles northeast of the Knoxville Downtown Island Airport and was substantially damaged in the ensuing forced landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Auburn, Ala. about two and a half hours earlier on a VFR flight plan. Instrument conditions prevailed at the accident site. The pilot reported that the engine lost power and then during the forced landing to a field the airplane collided with a fence, separating the right wing from the fuselage. A post-crash examination discovered that the left fuel cap was missing and there was blue streaking along the left wing and left side of...

October 04, Jackson, Tenn. / Piper Cub

Subscribers Only At 1335 central time, an exhibition Piper J-3 Cub was substantially damaged when it fell from a 1961 Pontiac Catalina. The pilot, who was not injured in the accident, had attempted to take off from the specially configured automobile during an air show at the McKellar Sipes Regional Airport. The airplane landed as planned on top of the car, but when the pilot attempted to take off, the tail wheel caught on a support beam atop the car. The airplane then rolled off and crashed on the runway....

October 04, Pell City, Ala. / Piper Arrow and WAR F4V

Subscribers Only At 1645 central time, a Piper PA-28R-180 and an amateur-built WAR F4V collided in the pattern at St. Clair County Airport. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage but neither pilot was injured. A witness waiting at the hold short line observed the Piper turning left base for runway 20 and again on final, “well past the tree line and descending.” At that time the witness saw the F4V approaching the Piper from inside the pattern and banking left. He then saw the right wingtip of the F4V collide with the left side of the Piper. Both planes yawed and then the F4V continued under the Piper, landing and nosing over in the grass to the right of the runway. The Piper landed on the runway. The wit...

October 03, East Highlands, Calif. / Lockheed Neptune

Subscribers Only At 1116 Pacific time, a Lockheed P2V was destroyed when it collided with a hillside while maneuvering in mountainous terrain. The ATP-rated pilot and ATP-rated copilot were both killed. A VFR flight plan had been filed for the cross-country positioning flight from Prescott, Ariz. to San Bernardino, Calif. Instrument conditions prevailed at the accident site, about seven miles from the destination airport. Two witness in a forest lookout tower at about 7,900 feet elevation, one of whom was pilot-rated, described a cloud layer that extended south as far as they could see. They estimated the cloud tops at 5,000 feet. The witnesses observed the airplane flying northward up a canyon near the edge...

October 02, Blakely Island, Wash. / Cessna 340

Subscribers Only At about 1600 Pacific time, a Cessna 340 was substantially damaged upon landing short of runway 01 at Blakely Island. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The pilot reported that the ceiling was about 700 feet all during his 30-minute flight, and the north end of the runway at Blakely Island was covered in low clouds upon his arrival. Due to the clouds, he elected to land to the north. He said that he preferred runway 19 “because of the known turbulent air and downdrafts off the south end” of the runway. The pilot reported that while on short final to runway 01, the aircraft encountered downdrafts. He attempted to control the sink rate by adding power, but the aircraft landed har...

October 02, Clayton, Ga. / North American Texan

Subscribers Only At 1530 eastern time, a North American T6G received minor damage while departing the runway following a loss of control on landing at a private airstrip. The pilot, Chuck Yeager, and passenger were not injured. The pilot attempted to land with a slight tail wind on runway 23, which is 5,000 feet long and 50 feet wide. After the tailwheel made contact with the runway, the airplane veered off the centerline, first to the south, then to the north, and finally again to the south. The airplane ran off the runway and into a 15-foot deep ditch about 2000 feet from the approach end of the runway....

October 02, Floresville, Texas / Swearingen SX300

Subscribers Only At about 1109 central time, an amateur-built Swearingen SX300 was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. The pilot reported that he shut the engine down following the loss of a propeller blade in cruise flight. He then attempted an off-field landing. A post-crash inspection by the FAA revealed a broken shank connecting one of three blades of the composite propeller to the hub....

October 01, Corona, Calif. / Piper Saratoga

Subscribers Only At about 1541 Pacific time, a Piper PA-32R-301T crashed near Corona Municipal Airport after the pilot declared an in-flight fire emergency shortly after takeoff. The pilot and passenger were killed. After departing Corona on an IFR flight plan in visual conditions, the pilot contacted SoCal Tracon while climbing through 1,300 feet. He then declared an emergency, saying he “thought” he had a fire. Another pilot who was practicing IFR approaches at a nearby airport witnessed the accident airplane trailing black smoke but could not determine the origin of the smoke. The airborne witness reported that the accident airplane was in level flight before turning to the left and making one spiral turn...