June 2005
April 17, 2005, Brownwood, Texas / Beech/Raytheon A36 Bonanza
Subscribers Only At 0710 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The Airline Transport pilot and three occupants of the airplane were uninjured. Visual conditions prevailed. The business flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot later reported that the engine lost oil pressure and seized during climb-out. The airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing in a field approximately four miles east of the departure airport. The FAA inspector reported that he did not see any evidence of oil on the engine oil dipstick. He added that the oil cap was secured in place....
April 15, 2005, Groveland, Fla. / Piper PA-28-161 Warrior
Subscribers Only The airplane collided with trees while the pilot was returning to land after encountering a rough running engine shortly after takeoff from the Seminole Lake Gliderport at about 1440 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed for maintenance ferry flight Kissimmee, Fla. The airplane was substantially damaged although the Private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot later stated that an engine problem resulted in an uneventful precautionary landing the day before. He replaced the damaged No. 2 cylinder exhaust pushrod, pushrod housing, pushrod seals and lock tab but did not inspect the valve. Following the repairs, the engine was started and a full static run-up was performed w...
April 14, 2005, Olney, Texas / Cessna 172N Skyhawk
Subscribers Only At approximately 1230 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power while maneuvering near Olney, Texas. The Commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the pipeline patrol mission. The pilot later reported he noticed that the throttle had backed out and pushed it full forward. As the airspeed decayed, he applied carburetor heat and noticed the engine wasn’t running rough. The pilot pushed the carburetor heat back in, and noted that the engine was still losing power. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level, the pilot initiated a forced la...
April 13, 2005, South Bay, Fla. / Beech/Raytheon A36 Bonanza
Subscribers Only The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and subsequent post crash fire following an in-flight collision with terrain approximately seven miles southwest of South Bay, Fla., at about 2015 Eastern time. The Private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight originated from Tampa, Fla., about one hour prior to the accident with an intended destination of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Witnesses reported the pilot had flown the airplane to Tampa earlier in the day to have it serviced and was returning home when the accident occurred. The airplane’s estimated total time since new was approximately 25 hours....
April 11, 2005, Warren, Penn. / Cessna 177 Cardinal
Subscribers Only At 1606 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged while landing at the Warren Airpark in Warren, Penn. The Private pilot received serious injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Butler, Penn., about 45 minutes earlier. According to a witness, the airplane touched down on Runway 6, then departed it to the right. The airplane then disappeared from his view, but he heard its engine RPM increase prior to the airplane impacting trees. A weather observation taken about 13 minutes prior to the accident 26 miles to the southeast included wind from 040 degrees at 11 knots with gusts to 18 knots....
April 10, 2005, Jefferson, Texas / Piper PA-28R-200 Arrow
Subscribers Only The airplane was destroyed when it impacted water following an in-flight collision with a power line while maneuvering near Jefferson, Texas. The Private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured in the accident, which occurred at approximately 1145 Central time. Visual conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated from the Shreveport (La.) Regional Airport. One witness told the NTSB he heard the sound of a low flying airplane and observed the airplane “lift up to avoid hitting the bridge.” After passing over the bridge, the airplane started a turn to the right as one of the wings clipped the power line. Examination of the accident site revealed that the top static li...
April 09, 2005, Seligman, Ariz. / Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche
Subscribers Only At 1245 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a gear-up landing. The Private pilot and the single passenger were uninjured; a combination of visual and instrument conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, weather conditions began to deteriorate rapidly as the flight approached Prescott, Ariz. The pilot requested and received an IFR clearance to Seligman and, as he was configuring the airplane for landing, the landing gear would not extend. He recycled the gear approximately four times but he did not get a green light indicating that the airplane’s landing gear was down and locked. The pilot attempted to extend the gear by following the emergency procedures as descr...
April 08, 2005, Oak Harbor, Wash. / Stinson 10-A
Subscribers Only The airplane collided with trees and terrain at about 1600 Pacific time and was substantially damaged by impact and a post-crash fire. The Private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The aircraft departed from the pilot’s private airstrip at an unknown time. The airstrip was located within one-quarter of a mile northwest of the accident site. Witnesses near the accident site reported that the aircraft was seen traveling in an easterly direction, very low and near the tree line just before the collision. The witnesses reported that the engine was running, but seemed like it was strained or not at full power....
April 7, 2005, Tranquility, Calif. / Cessna T210L Turbo Centurion
Subscribers Only At 0903 Pacific time, the airplane broke up in flight and impacted terrain. The Private pilot and the two passengers aboard were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. The flight originated from the Santa Rosa Airport in California at about 0800, with an intended destination of Scottsdale, Ariz. Preliminary radar data indicates the airplane was cruising at 13,400 feet and traveling in a southeasterly direction when it turned abruptly to the right. The last radar position was recorded at 0902, at an altitude of 12,400 feet msl. The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, engine, vertical stabilizer, right horizontal stabilizer and inboard section of the...
April 7, 2005, Broomfield, Colo. / Piper PA-32RT-300
Subscribers Only The airplane was destroyed by a postimpact fire following a loss of control during landing on Runway 29R at the Jefferson County Regional Airport (BJC) in Broomfield, Colo. The accident occurred at 1226 Mountain time; the Airline Transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. A review of an airport surveillance video depicted the airplane impacting the runway in a left-wing-low attitude. The left main landing gear collapsed followed by the nose and right main landing gears. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, slid sideways on its belly and impacted a runway/taxiway sign. At 1225, BJC’s ASOS reported the wind from 140 degrees...
April 5, 2005, Green Creek, N.J. / Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow
Subscribers Only At 2203 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it collided with trees and terrain while attempting to land at the Cape May County Airport (WWD) in Wildwood, N.J. The two Private pilots aboard were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the night practice instrument flight. At about 2200, the owner of a campground in Green Creek heard an airplane “wind up, and then a crunching sound.” All major airframe components were accounted for at the wreckage site, which was two nautical miles from WWD. At 2155, the weather reported at WWD included clear skies, 10 miles visibility and wind from 190 degrees at four knots. The temperature was 48 degrees, and the dewpoint was 37 degrees. T...
April 4, 2005, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. / Cessna 421B Golden Eagle
Subscribers Only The airplane was substantially damaged when its left main landing gear retracted on landing. The Airline Transport pilot and the two medical crewmembers aboard the aeromedical flight were uninjured. The pilot subsequently reported an unsafe gear indication after the last takeoff; he recycled the landing gear two or three times until the gear appeared to be secured. He then noticed that the airspeed was too low for the airplane’s “indicated” flight configuration. The pilot suspected a landing gear malfunction and returned to his departure point. He then made a low approach to the runway and was told by his maintenance personnel that the left gear was still extended. The pilot cycled the gear...
April 3, 2005, Stephenville, Texas / Cessna 172L Skyhawk
Subscribers Only At about 1430 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage following a hard landing. The Private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which originated near McKinney, Texas. The pilot later reported being “a little high and fast on final and was making throttle and pitch corrections.” She was “pulling back slightly on the yoke when the rear wheels touched down, but the airplane porpoised and came off the ground.” The pilot then elected to abort the landing, added full power, continued around the traffic pattern, landed successfully and taxied the airplane to parking. A subsequent inspection revealed structural damage to the...
April 3, 2005, Fort Collins, Colo. / Beech E55 Baron
Subscribers Only The airplane was destroyed when it departed controlled flight during a go-around/balked landing at about 1450 Mountain time and impacted a parking lot and industrial building. Visual conditions prevailed. The Private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Witnesses said they heard an engine “sputtering” or “backfiring” as the airplane passed overhead. On final approach, the airplane was too high and too fast. One witness said one of the propellers was windmilling; another said the left propeller was not turning. At some point past midfield, the pilot applied power as if to go around. The airplane rolled steeply to the left, descended, crashed into a parking lot and exploded....
April 2, 2005, Marion, Ohio / Cessna 182N Skylane
Subscribers Only At 1630 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing at the Marion Municipal Airport (MNN) following an encounter with in-flight icing. The Private pilot and three passengers aboard were not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed Morgantown, W.V., with an intended destination of Lambertville, Mich. Shortly after crossing into Ohio, the pilot elected to divert and was directed to MNN for the GPS Runway 24 approach. While on final approach to Runway 24 and at approximately 80 to 100 feet agl, the airplane began descending at a rate that could not be arrested by the pilot. The airplane impacted the ground about 250 feet sho...
Squawk Box: 06/05
Subscribers Only The following information is derived from the FAA’s Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts. ---------- Beechcraft F33A Gear Retraction Failure The pilot reported selecting “gear up” with no results. A maintenance technician tracked the problem to an intermittent dynamic breaker relay, p/n SM50D7, but did not make a recommendation. Part Total Time: 245 hours. Cessna C150D Rudder Separation The AN3-7A top rudder hinge bolt was described as having loosened from its locking nut plate, precipitating complete rudder separation while the aircraft was in flight at 2000 feet agl. The mechanic suggests there should be additional safeties for t...
Opposing Traffic: Learning Experiences 06/05
Subscribers Only [IMGCAP(1)] After a great day at the Block Island State Airport (BID) my wife and I departed IFR back to the Brookhaven Airport (HWV), a non-towered airport on Long Island. A marine layer began to move in, not uncommon in this area in August. After a brief climb through 200-foot ceilings, we broke out into bright sunshine and were soon cruising at 6000 feet. I was concerned that the same marine layer was moving in on the entire south shore of Long Island. I tuned in the weather at HWV and within 15 minutes of departing BID the ceilings went from 1500 scattered to 1100 broken. Over the Hamptons, the controller asked which approach I would like into HWV. With the latest weather reporting ce...
NTSB Preliminary Reports
Subscribers Only April 2, 2005, Marion, Ohio Cessna 182N Skylane At 1630 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing at the Marion Municipal Airport (MNN) following an encounter with in-flight icing. The Private pilot and three passengers aboard were not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed Morgantown, W.V., with an intended destination of Lambertville, Mich. Shortly after crossing into Ohio, the pilot elected to divert and was directed to MNN for the GPS Runway 24 approach. While on final approach to Runway 24 and at approximately 80 to 100 feet agl, the airplane began descending at a rate that could not be arrested...
Too Short, Too Soft: Accident Probe 06/05
Subscribers Only A relatively inexperienced pilot botches his landing on a short, soft turf runway.
Five Crosswind Traps
Subscribers Only Crosswind landings can be tricky if you don’t understand what can go wrong. Do you know how to avoid these five common crosswind traps?
Prevent Hangar Rash
Subscribers Only Ground-handling accidents usually result from inattentiveness and human factor issues. They can be costly but are easy to prevent. Here’s how.
Broken Glass
Subscribers Only The modern PFDs and MFDs being installed in personal airplanes provide awesome functionality. But what will you do when they break?
Are Turbines Safer?
Subscribers Only Small, affordable turbines are just coming into view. But here’s why they probably won’t improve GA’s accident rate.
Autopilot Addiction
Subscribers Only An autopilot may be must-have equipment for single-pilot IFR, but if it’s a crutch for a weak scan, it’s of dubious benefit.
Unicom: 06/05
I was dismayed to read yet another rendition of the downwind turn myth in “Learning Experiences” (April 2005). Gripped by the fate of an ice-laden, 1960 Travelair, I almost missed “...I wanted [to] do a 180-degree turn, but the winds were strong and increasing in velocity; I feared a stall. Groundspeed dropped to under 80 knots...” Thank goodness the headwinds didn’t pick up another 15 knots and cause the unfortunate aircraft to fall from the sky because of insufficient groundspeed. He was lucky to have had the horsepower to avoid the fate of all the other planes that fell out of the sky that day. Wouldn’t it be appropriate for a safety magazine to comment on the breach of aeronautical...
Laser Tag: Editor’s Log 06/05
Remember a few months ago when you could open up a newspaper just about every day and read a new story about some airline crew or another being illuminated by a ground-based laser? There was rampant speculation in the media and among those who should know better that terrorists were practicing for their latest plan to bring down an airliner or three. Then, the speculation and media frenzy—such as it was—all died out, even as cooler heads explained that new, low-powered, green-colored lasers had hit the market and were often being used by amateur astronomers to help with their star-gazing. That was then; this is now. None other than our very own government has taken the idea of lasing a...