March 2005
December 27, 2004, Roswell, N.M. / Cessna 172S
Subscribers Only At 1822 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed when it departed controlled flight and impacted a highway. Night visual conditions prevailed for the local IFR flight. The Private pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. Several witnesses in vehicles driving westbound on the highway stated they saw the airplane traveling northwest at approximately 2500 feet agl. One witness stated the airplane “suddenly started downward at a steep angle and crashed.” Another witness said it took only a few seconds from the time the airplane started downward until it impacted on the highway. A third witness said he saw “a green and red light coming down at a high angle and very fast,” and he “heard [a] l...
December 25, 2004, Howards Grove, Wis. / Beech S35
Subscribers Only The Bonanza was substantially damaged by impact forces and a post-impact fire while both the ATP-rated pilot and passenger were killed following a loss of engine power. Visual conditions prevailed for the planned IFR flight from the Manitowoc County (Wis.) Airport to the Lewis University Airport in Romeoville, Ill. Preliminary information indicates that at 1006, while at 4000 feet msl, the pilot declared an emergency with the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center, stating the cabin was filling with smoke and that they were diverting to the Sheboygan County (Wis.) Memorial Airport (SBM). Subsequently, the airplane contacted trees at the edge of an open field in Howards Grove, Wisconsin, ap...
December 22, 2004, Hartford, Conn. / Piper PA-46-350P
Subscribers Only At 1730 Eastern time, the aircraft was substantially damaged while landing at the Hartford Brainard Airport (HFD) in Hartford, Conn. Neither the Private pilot nor his passenger was injured. Night VMC prevailed for the local post-maintenance test flight. After completing several approaches at another airport to test a new avionics installation, the flight returned to HFD, and conducted the LDA Runway 2 approach. During the final approach, the pilot felt a “thump” coming from the left wing area. After parking the airplane, the pilot inspected the left wing and observed “distorted spots in the wing and a broken position light.” Further examination revealed substantial damage to the leading edge...
December 20, 2004, Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Learjet 25B
Subscribers Only The airplane collided with a berm following a loss of directional control while landing on Runway 13 at the Eastern Iowa Airport, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at 1315 Central time. No one among the ATP-rated captain, Commercial-rated co-pilot, or two medical crew members was injured. The aeromedical positioning flight was being conducted in VMC; an IFR flight plan had been filed with an intended destination of McAllen, Texas. Both pilots later reported what they thought were rough spots on the runway during the takeoff roll. After raising the landing gear the crew noticed an unsafe gear indication for the nose gear. The flight leveled off at 5000 feet and recycled the landing gear at least four ti...
December 19, 2004, La Mirada, Calif. / Cessna 182P
Subscribers Only At about 0948 Pacific time, the airplane collided with a 760-foot-tall radio transmission tower while in the traffic pattern at the Fullerton (Calif.) Municipal Airport. The Private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. Subsequently, a witness stated he observed the airplane flying low, in a westerly direction. He noted that the airplane was in a wings-level attitude and that the propeller appeared to be turning. The airplane continued towards two parallel towers, both of which had numerous guy wires attached. He observed the inboard section of the airplane’s left wing collide with the taller tower, impacting about...
December 10, 2004, Englewood, Colo. / Mitsubishi MU-2B-60
Subscribers Only The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near the Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo. Night visual conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, which occurred at approximately 1940 Mountain time. The Part 135, IFR flight was en route to Salt Lake City, Utah. The Airline Transport-rated pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. According to witnesses and preliminary ATC communications, the airplane departed Runway 35R and executed a climbing left turn to a heading of 280 degrees. During the initial climb, the pilot told ATC he had a problem, was “shutting down an engine” and needed to return to the airport. Witnesses observed the airplane e...
December 9, 2004, Fabens, Texas / Mooney M-20F
Subscribers Only At approximately 1512 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing on an Interstate highway following loss of engine power. The Private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight originated at Austin, Texas, and made an intermediate stop near Fort Stockton, Texas. The flight then departed at approximately 1415, with the El Paso (Texas) International Airport as its final destination. While on the ground at Fort Stockton, the pilot added a quart of oil to the engine, for a total of seven quarts. Approximately 45 minutes later, the pilot noticed “the #2 cylinder head temperature gauge was indicating a lower than normal tempe...
December 9, 2004, Pelzer, S.C. / Diamond Aircraft DA40-180
Subscribers Only The certified Flight Instructor, pilot-rated passenger and non-rated passenger received fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed at 1013 Eastern time after colliding with a power line, trees and the ground while on an ILS approach to Runway 5 at the Donaldson Center (S.C.) Airport. Instrument conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed for the cross-country Part 91 flight which originated from Jacksonville, Fla., at about 0800.As the airplane executed the ILS approach, an air traffic controller observed it to descend below the minimum safe altitude of 2500 feet. Attempts by the air traffic controller to reestablish radio contact with the pilot were unsuccessful. At 1021, the l...
December 8, 2004, Tulsa, Okla. / Beech B200 King Air
Subscribers Only At approximately 1831 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain approximately four miles north of Runway 18L at the Tulsa International Airport. The Private pilot/owner, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Night visual conditions prevailed for the Part 91 business flight, which originated from the La Crosse (Wis.) Municipal Airport (LSE). The 2100-hour pilot subsequently stated that, while approximately 47 nm north of the destination, the fuel gauges indicated approximately 200 pounds of fuel each for a total of 400 pounds. Approximately six miles from the runway, the right engine started to “sputter” before it finally quit. The left engine quit just...
December 7, 2004, Vandalia, Ohio / Piper PA-31-350 Navajo
Subscribers Only The airplane was destroyed and the Commercial pilot aboard was fatally injured on impact with terrain while on approach to the James M. Cox Dayton International Airport. Instrument conditions prevailed; the Part 135 cargo flight originated from the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tenn. According to an initial review of ATC voice and radar data, the airplane was at 5000 feet, when the pilot contacted Dayton Approach at 0121. At 0135, the pilot was vectored to intercept the Runway 6L localizer, and was cleared for ILS Runway 6L approach. The airplane’s last radar target was observed at an altitude of 1200 feet msl, and a groundspeed of 130 knots. The airplane impacted trees and came to rest...
December 6, 2004, Bellevue, Idaho / Cessna 208B Caravan
Subscribers Only At about 1020 Mountain time, the Part 135 commercial cargo flight collided with flat open terrain.Visual conditions prevailed; the aircraft was operating on an IFR flight plan. The aircraft was destroyed by impact damage and a post-crash fire. The Airline Transport pilot-in-command and another deadheading pilot were fatally injured. The flight originated from Salt Lake City, Utah, about one hour prior to the accident and was destined for Friedman Memorial (SUN), Hailey, Idaho. After executing the RNAV (GPS) Runway 31 approach to SUN, the flight was cleared to land while still in instrument conditions. There were no further communications. The pilot of a Cessna Citation 525, who flew the same...
December 4, 2004, Belgrade, Mt. / Cirrus Design Corp. SR22
Subscribers Only The airplane impacted mountainous terrain while maneuvering at approximately 1530 Mountain time. The Commercial pilot and two of the three passengers were killed; the other passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. At the time of the accident, a motorglider was flying near where the accident occurred. The motorglider pilot and the accident-aircraft pilot coordinated a rendezvous away from the departure airport. Subsequently, the accident airplane made one pass above the glider, then circled and made a second pass above and to the left of the glider. The glider pilot then watched the airplane continue heading north “straight out in front of him” for about 5 to 10 secon...
December 3, 2004, Belle Fourche, S.D. / Cessna 182P
Subscribers Only At 1910 Mountain time, the rental airplane, was substantially damaged during a landing on Runway 32 at the Belle Fourche Municipal Airport (EFC). Night visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot reported no injuries while three passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from the Front Range Airport in Denver, Colo., at 1600. Following the first landing attempt, the pilot executed a go-around, during which the landing light circuit breaker tripped. He reset the circuit breaker twice and then switched the landing light off after the circuit breaker would not reset. Additionally, the pilot stated that he could not get the instrument panel lights to operate, and the overhead...
December 1, 2004, Teterboro, N.J. / Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV
Subscribers Only The airplane was substantially damaged while landing at the Teterboro Airport (TEB) at 1623 Eastern time. No one among the two flightcrew, single flight attendant and six passengers was injured; visual conditions prevailed for the chartered IFR flight from London, United Kingdom. On arriving in the Teterboro area, the flight was cleared for the ILS Runway 19 approach and to sidestep to land on Runway 24. The airplane encountered a gusty right crosswind, but it was less turbulent than expected. The airplane initially overshot the extended Runway 24 centerline, but became stabilized at 1000 feet agl. The airplane touched down within the first 2000 feet of the runway and slightly right of runwa...
December 1, 2004, Lee’s Summit, Mo. / Piper PA-28-181
Subscribers Only At 1200 Central time, the rental airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport (LXT). Visual conditions prevailed; there were no injuries. The local flight originated from LXT at 1030. The pilot’s preflight inspection included checking the fuel gauges and the fuel level in each tank, which was “just under the tabs.” After a touch-and-go landing at a nearby airport, he climbed and headed to the east. A few minutes later, the engine sputtered “just a little.” He applied carburetor heat, and the engine “smoothed out.” He returned to the nearby airport, landed and performed a runup. He then shut down the engine and checked the fuel sumps again. He...
Squawk Box: 03/05
Subscribers Only The following information is derived from the FAA’s Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts. ---------- Beech B200 Flap Extension Failure While in flight the aircraft flaps failed to extend to the selected position. The pilot had to cycle the flap select switch several times before effecting flap extension. Maintenance was able to duplicate the problem on the ground. When the flaps were selected to the approach position, they moved approximately five degrees, then stopped. A finger tap on the flap motor relay returned the flaps to normal response operation. Installation of a replacement relay solved the problem. The failed relay (p/n SM50D) had 69.0 ho...
Learning Experiences: 03/05
Subscribers Only Airsick Airmanship We all joke about passengers “getting sick” in the plane, but what does this risk truly mean in terms of safety and airmanship? I just learned a valuable lesson about both on a recent flight with another pilot. I was demonstrating high-performance maneuvers associated with single-pilot aerial photography (my hobby-business, which pays for my flying) to him when I realized that the relaxed conversation had evaporated. We had just completed a steep-bank orbit around the photo subject and I was returning in a moderate steep turn back to the site to make sure I had not missed anything. I did not think too much about the lapsed conversation, but continued with...
NTSB Preliminary Reports
Subscribers Only December 1, 2004, Lee’s Summit, Mo. Piper PA-28-181 At 1200 Central time, the rental airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport (LXT). Visual conditions prevailed; there were no injuries. The local flight originated from LXT at 1030. The pilot’s preflight inspection included checking the fuel gauges and the fuel level in each tank, which was “just under the tabs.” After a touch-and-go landing at a nearby airport, he climbed and headed to the east. A few minutes later, the engine sputtered “just a little.” He applied carburetor heat, and the engine “smoothed out.” He returned to the nearby airport, landed and performed a ru...
Incomplete Briefing
Subscribers Only Complicated weather patterns demand a full and complete weather briefing for anything but a casual flight in the airport vicinity. Here’s why.
Fix The Notam Mess
Subscribers Only Anyone who’s gotten a pre-flight briefing since 2001 knows the current Notam system is very broken. Why hasn’t the FAA fixed it?
Bumps In The Night
Subscribers Only Flying at night really isn’t more dangerous than during the day, but it can be less forgiving. It just requires more planning and more care.
Pitot-Static Failures
Subscribers Only Most partial-panel discussions focus on gyro-system failures. But what if your pitot-static system fails? Do you know what to look for? Here are some tips.
Waiting For WAAS
Subscribers Only The Wide Area Augmentation System for GPS promises to bring Category I ILS capabilities to a runway near you. But will it be safer?
Runway Incursions
Subscribers Only The FAA has declared war on runway incursions, and says general aviation is part of the problem. Here’s how you can help.
Spins Without Fear
Subscribers Only While pilots are trained to avoid stalls and spins, little effort goes into understanding spins. Here’s how to approach spin training without fear.
Unicom: 03/05
Patterns, Tailwheels I love the information quality and the casual yet serious writing style of your authors. In “See And Avoid Works” (January 2005), Tom Turner did a wonderful job of describing how to avoid running into our peers in the skies. However, he also did a good job of calling virtually every one of your readers a “nonconformist idiot who flies a left-hand pattern when right turns are appropriate, or makes the hazardous straight-in.” Who among us has not made the right-traffic mistake at some point (c’mon, think about it)? Straight-ins may not be the wisest choice at some fields, but different situations warrant different actions. And in an emergency, anything goes...
Editor’s Log: 03/05
Plans B Flight planning can take many forms, depending on the operation, the aircraft, the weather and a host of other factors. Kicking the tires and lighting the fires may be appropriate for short, local flights in daytime VMC, while hours spent poring over routes, fuel consumption and weather can be mandatory for others. It depends. One thing that’s not optional, however, is a back-up plan, a Plan B. This need was brought home to me over the holidays as I tried to complete several trips up and down the east coast without any drama. I almost succeeded. Coming up into the mid-Atlantic region from the Carolinas on January 2, I sailed along serenely on top of an undercast u...