May 2006
March 21, 2006, Greenfield, Calif. / Extra Flugzeugbau 300S
Subscribers Only The airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ground along the edge of a runway during final approach. The accident occurred at about 1030 Pacific time. The Commercial pilot received fatal injuries; visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses said the airplane veered to the right and nosed down, colliding with the ground about 100 feet to the right, and about 850 feet past the approach end of the runway. The airplane bounced, coming to rest within about 50 feet of the initial impact point, and about 45 degrees to the right of the runway heading....
March 19, 2006, Kingman, Ariz. / Beech F33A Bonanza
Subscribers Only At about 1800 Mountain time, the airplane collided with terrain during cruise flight. The Private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Both instrument and visual conditions prevailed along the intended route of flight. The pilot did not file a flight plan. The accident site was on a slope in mountainous terrain, comprised of soft dirt and brush. The wreckage was about 105 nautical miles from Las Vegas on a bearing of 129 degrees, and about 110 nautical miles from Scottsdale on a bearing of 313 degrees....
March 19, 2006, Asheville, N.C. / Bombardier Regional Jet
Subscribers Only The aircraft experienced a windshield deicing mechanism fire in the cockpit shortly after takeoff at 0719 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed for the Part 121 scheduled passenger flight. There were no injuries reported among the captain, first officer, flight attendant or 30 passengers; the airplane sustained minor damage. According to the flight crew, while climbing through 17,000 feet, flames and smoke started shooting out of the lower left windshield. The first officer turned off the windshield heat and the flames went out, but the smoke persisted. The captain declared an emergency and landed safely....
March 18, 2006, Orlando, Fla. / Cirrus SR20
Subscribers Only At about 1245 Eastern time, the airplane overran the runway and impacted a ditch. Visual conditions prevailed. The Private pilot reported no injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot subsequently stated that during the downwind leg, he observed the engine oil pressure caution light illuminate. A moment later, the engine lost total power. He declared an emergency to ATC and landed long. The airplane overran the end of the runway and impacted a ditch before coming to a stop....
March 16, 2006, Sanford, Fla. / Cessna 152
Subscribers Only The airplane sustained a loss of engine power after takeoff and impacted trees at about 1325 Eastern time during an instructional flight. Visual conditions prevailed; the Flight Instructor and the Student pilot were not injured. The airplane incurred substantial damage. A law enforcement officer responding to the accident scene reported that one of the pilots said the airplane engine lost power at about 300 feet after a routine touch and go landing. The pilots attempted to land on a road and impacted into trees, separating the left wing before crashing into a structure....
March 13, 2006, Santa Monica, Calif. / Beech A36 Bonanza
Subscribers Only At 0943 Pacific time, the airplane was ditched in the ocean following a loss of engine power during departure. The Instrument-rated Private pilot and one passenger sustained fatal injuries; a third occupant was not located. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane impacted the water about 250 yards off the Santa Monica beach. It submerged in 20 feet of water. The pilot and one occupant were recovered from the airplane. The airplane was also recovered and its engine examined. The engine case had a hole that stretched between the top cylinder base nuts of cylinders 1 and 2. The hole was approximately eight inches across and six inches at its widest...
March 12, 2006, Old Bridge, N.J. / Piper PA-34-200T
Subscribers Only The airplane was destroyed at about 2220 Eastern time when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering near. The Private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured; two additional passengers were seriously injured. Night instrument conditions prevailed, although no flight plan was filed. The flight departed North Myrtle Beach, S.C., at 1934. A witness saw the accident airplane as it came toward him from the runway. He heard the airplane’s engines “revving,” and saw the lights of the airplane coming toward him. The airplane then turned right, and disappeared from view. Shortly thereafter the witness heard the sounds of impact. The witness noted that the weather at the time of the accide...
March 8, 2006, Kahului, Hawaii / Cessna 414A
Subscribers Only At 1913 Hawaiian time, the airplane collided with terrain while maneuvering. The Airline Transport pilot and two flight medical attendants were fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed for the air ambulance positioning flight. Witnesses reported observing the airplane maneuvering at a “very low” altitude, between 100 and 300 feet. The wings were wobbling at times and the airplane rolled up to 60 degrees angle of bank at other times. All witnesses said that they heard engine noises that they associated with an engine or engines operating at high power, and saw the landing and position lights on. All witnesses said that they observed the airplane’s wings wobble...
March 7, 2006, Compton, Calif. / Cessna 172N
Subscribers Only The airplane collided with power lines, impacted a roadway and came to rest inverted at about 1300 Pacific time. The Flight Instructor and Student pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The instructor later stated that while on short final to land, she was flying the airplane with the student holding the controls lightly to feel the movement. During the flare, turbulence was encountered. This scared the student pilot, who firmly grabbed the controls and would not release them. The airplane drifted left towards parked airplanes and hangars. The instructor initiated a go-around, added full throttle and tried to steer the airplane ba...
March 7, 2006, Wetumpka, Ala. / Ercoupe E
Subscribers Only At 2130 Central time, the aircraft was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a field following loss of engine power. Visual conditions prevailed. The Commercial pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The pilot later stated that the engine began to lose power while en route. He contacted ATC and declared an emergency and then made an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane collided with a ditch on landing rollout, and nosed over inverted....
March 6, 2006, Atlantic City, N.J. / Cessna 172S
Subscribers Only As the pilot approached the runway, the visual approach slope indicator showed that the airplane was on a proper glidepath. During the landing, the airplane encountered ground effect and floated down the runway. The pilot contemplated aborting the landing, but subsequently elected to continue. After touchdown he applied “full brakes,” but the airplane overran the end of the runway, and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the airplane....
March 6, 2006, Holland, Mich. / Beech J35 Bonanza
Subscribers Only The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a roadway embankment following a reported loss of engine power while on approach to land. Night visual conditions prevailed. A rear-seat passenger sustained minor injuries. Both occupants of the front seats were seriously injured; they subsequently died as a result of their injuries. The rear-seat passenger subsequently stated that the pilot said that the airplane lost engine power. She stated that the airplane was in a turn while on approach during the reported engine power loss. The left and right tip tanks exhibited tears in their fiberglass construction. The left and right auxiliary fuel tanks contained a fluid that exhibited a sm...
March 5, 2006, Severance, Colo. / Aviat Pitts S-2B
Subscribers Only At approximately 1415 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing. The Commercial pilot and a passenger were not injured; visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, the engine began running rough, then lost all power. He made a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll the airplane nosed over, crushing the vertical stabilizer and the top of the upper wing. He said that fuel leaking from the fuel tanks after the accident smelled like kerosene....
March 4, 2006, Brooksville, Fla. / Cessna 180
Subscribers Only The Airline Transport pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged at about 1055 Eastern time when the Cessna crashed short of the runway. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness saw the accident airplane on the downwind leg, rocking its wings. While on final approach, he saw the propeller had stopped rotating. It appeared the pilot was trying to stretch the glide; the airplane stalled and impacted the ground a short distance from the runway....
March 4, 2006, Georgetown, Texas / Cessna 182
Subscribers Only At approximately 1109 Central time, the airplane was destroyed upon impact with terrain shortly after takeoff. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and two other passengers were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. An eyewitness located several hundred yards east of the runway stated that he heard a “sputtering noise,” and saw the airplane level off at about 100 feet above the ground shortly after taking off. At the departure end of the runway, the right wing and nose of the airplane dropped. The witness heard the sound of impact a few seconds later....
March 4, 2006, Winslow, Ariz. / Piper PA-32R-300
Subscribers Only The airplane sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing at about 1445 Mountain time. The Private pilot and the sole passenger sustained minor injuries; visual conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that, just after takeoff, when the airplane was about 200 feet above the ground, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and selected a forced landing. According to the pilot/owner, the airplane’s engine had been factory-overhauled about 20 hours of operation before the accident....
March 3, 2006, Burns, Ore. / Beech V35B Bonanza
Subscribers Only At 1738 Pacific time, the airplane impacted terrain during an attempted takeoff. The Commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, he did not ensure that snow accumulating on the wings during taxi and run-up operations was fully removed prior to takeoff. During the takeoff, the aircraft did not lift off as it normally does, and the takeoff roll ended up being longer than usual. Once the pilot got the aircraft in the air, it was not climbing at an acceptable rate, so the pilot retracted the landing gear because he thought that action would help the aircraft to climb. Soon after the landing gear was retracted, the air...
March 1, 2006, Fort Pierce, Fla. / Mooney M20J
Subscribers Only The airplane sustained a loss of engine power at about 1240 Eastern time while climbing to cruise altitude. The Private pilot made a forced landing at the airport in Fort Pierce, Fla., from which he had just departed. Visual conditions prevailed. The Private pilot received minor injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. According to the pilot, about eight to 10 minutes after takeoff, while still climbing and at an altitude of about 5000 feet, the airplane lost engine power. The gauges showed about 1000 rpm and the manifold pressure remained at 25 inches. The pilot could not regain power or determine the reason for the power loss. As the airplane glided toward the airport, the pi...
March 1, 2006, Manhattan, Kan. / Piper PA-32RT-300T
Subscribers Only At approximately 1140 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it struck several runway lights and a taxiway sign during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot later said the engine began to surge as the airplane lifted off Runway 03. As the pilot executed a slow left turn towards Runway 13, the engine lost power. He managed to land on Runway 13, near its intersection with the departure runway, but the airplane was not aligned with the centerline. It went off the side of the runway and the left wing struck an elevated runway marker, th...
Squawk Box: 05/06
Subscribers Only The following information is derived from the FAA’s Service Difficulty Reports and Aviation Maintenance Alerts. ---------- Cessna 172S Worn Aileron Control Cable During a 100-hour inspection, the technician found a flat spot on the l/h aileron crossover cable. The problem area was at the aileron cable abrasion strip attached to the rib assembly at wing station 71.19. Further investigation found the cable beginning to fray. To prevent the wear, the technicia recommended that the abrasion strip be lowered or a pulley installed. The abrasion strip is p/n 0523233-3. The stainless steel control cable is p/n is 0510105-364. Part total time: 2065.8 hours. Cessna 31...
Learning Experiences: 05/06
Subscribers Only I’m a 1000-hour Bonanza pilot with a fair amount of actual IMC experience. I was on my way to the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport outside of Atlanta, a route I fly fairly often. The last hour of the flight was IMC, with the PDK ATIS reporting 800 feet overcast in light rain. Piece of cake; I’ll shoot the ILS approach to Runway 20L. Heck, I might even turn off the iPod and hand fly this one. I was feeling on top of my 40-something game; I even remembered to check in with the ATIS letter when handed off to approach. Soon I was getting vectors to intercept the 20 Left localizer. The controller: “Bonanza 12345, you are three miles from Chamb, maintain 3000 until established, cleared to the...
NTSB Preliminary Reports
Subscribers Only March 1, 2006, Manhattan, Kan. Piper PA-32RT-300T At approximately 1140 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it struck several runway lights and a taxiway sign during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot later said the engine began to surge as the airplane lifted off Runway 03. As the pilot executed a slow left turn towards Runway 13, the engine lost power. He managed to land on Runway 13, near its intersection with the departure runway, but the airplane was not aligned with the centerline. It went off the side...
Proficient Currency
Subscribers Only You might be current under the FARs, but are you proficient?
Numbers Game
Subscribers Only Flying is an art, with a little bit of science thrown in. But that science doesn’t have to be intimidating if we apply a few rules of thumb.
Summertime Ops
Subscribers Only Transitioning from winter to summer weather takes some thoughtful effort. It’s not just about density altitude and performance charts.
Taking It Slow
Subscribers Only Your airplane’s safest turbulence-penetration speed may not be the published maneuvering speed. Why you might be too fast, and what you can do about it.
Make CG Work For You
Subscribers Only Avoiding overgross loading is a given. But if you tweak the CG, you can improve handling and maybe eke out an extra knot or two.
Mismatched Glass
Subscribers Only A decade ago, the avionics in one panel worked the same as the next. Not anymore. There’s genuine risk in flying glass without training.
Unicom: 05/06
When To Use The Gear With respect to “When To Use The Gear” (March 2006), thanks for an excellent article! What has worked best for me is the approach and landing profile in the FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A, www.faa.gov/library/manuals ) specifically intended for multiengine flying, but equally useful in flying complex airplanes. I conduct at least two landing gear checks on every approach and landing! The first one is made on the base leg, which tells me it is okay to continue the approach. The second is done on final, telling me it’s okay to continue to a landing. Perform as many more landing-gear...
Editor's Log: 05/06
[IMGCAP(1)] Harnessed Two recent fatal accidents brought home for me a couple of concepts that, while not revolutionary, seem to have fallen by the wayside among many of us. Both accidents involved Beech Bonanzas being operated by experienced pilots. Although one involved a ditching, it appears both should have been survivable. One apparently could have been avoided; the other resulted from a catastrophic engine failure, leaving the pilot with few options. In at least one of these two accidents, the pilot and right-seater sustained what appears to have been ultimately fatal head injuries. A rear-seat passenger in this accident was able to walk away from the scene. The firs...