January 1, 2022, Southeast Arcadia, Fla.
Mooney M20C Ranger
At about 1211 Eastern daylight time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the pilot, he verified before takeoff there was sufficient fuel aboard for the flight. While on final approach to the destination and at about 300 to 400 feet agl, the airplane “experienced some sink.” He attempted to add power but the engine did not respond. He verified four gallons of fuel were in the right tank, and the boost pump was ON, but the engine did not restart. Unable to make the runway, he performed a forced landing in a field, during which the right wing clipped a tree.
January 2, 2022, Montrose, Colo.
Zenith CH750 Experimental
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1040 Mountain time during a forced landing. The solo pilot was uninjured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Before takeoff, the pilot added 24 gallons of mogas, sumped the fuel tanks and observed no contamination or water. About 30 minutes after departure and while cruising at about 10,500 feet msl, he observed fuel pressure decrease from 44 psi to 39 psi. It increased to 40 psi, before decreasing to zero as the engine stopped producing power. For the next few minutes, fuel pressure and engine rpm fluctuated between normal and zero. Activating the backup fuel pump had no effect.
The pilot executed a forced landing to a snow-covered plateau. During the landing, the wheels dug into the snow and the airplane nosed over, resulting in wing damage.
January 2, 2022, Grand Forks, N.D.
Piper PA-24-250 Comanche 250
At about 1600 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged in an intentional gear-up landing after apparent mechanical failure. The solo pilot was not injured.
The landing gear did not extend properly and the pilot’s attempts to use the emergency extension procedure were not successful. The pilot consulted a mechanic by radio to no avail as ATC confirmed the gear appeared to be “a few inches down from the retracted position.” During the emergency gear-up landing, the lower fuselage skin and substructure was damaged.
January 4, 2022, Matagorda Island, Texas
Aviat Aircraft A-1B Husky
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1145 Central time during an attempted landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The flight departed McAllen, Texas, at 1004 and flew to Mata- gorda Island. For undetermined reasons, the airplane landed on Matagorda Island, which does not have an operating airport. A photograph of the airplane depicted substantial damage to the right wing and the fuselage, and both main gear were collapsed.
January 8, 2022, Youngstown, Ohio
Cessna 172G Skyhawk
At about 1530 Eastern time, the airplane was force-landed on airport property following engine failure. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The flight’s purpose was to verify operation of newly installed ADS-B equipment. After completing the tests, the pilot entered the downwind leg and, at the midfield point, added a notch of flaps and applied full carburetor heat. The engine then “stumbled and quit.” Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot added full flaps and turned toward the runway. He later reported he was too high to touch down; the airplane “floated long” and came to rest in trees on airport property, sustaining damage to the left wing and fuselage. The three occupants egressed the airplane without further incident. The airplane was STC’d to use mogas, with which the pilot fueled it before the accident flight.
January 8, 2022, Defiance, Mo.
Beechcraft 58 Baron
The airplane was destroyed at about 1919 Central time when it collided with terrain, apparently out of control. The two commercial pilots sustained fatal injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the positioning flight.
The airplane departed St Louis, Missouri, at 1910, en route to Denver, Colorado. After climbing to 8000 feet msl on a westerly heading, the airplane entered a gradual left turn to the southeast and began descending. The controller queried the pilots but heard only a jumbled radio transmission. No distress call was received. The final 10 seconds of ADS-B data show the airplane descended from 7500 to 4700 feet msl. It impacted forested terrain on a westerly heading at high speed, leaving a debris path about 320 yards long.
January 11, 2022, Edisto Island, S.C.
Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six
At about 1247 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing following engine failure. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
About 15 minutes after an en route fuel stop and while cruising at 4500 feet msl, the engine started to sputter, then stopped, followed by oil blowing out from the engine cowling onto the windshield, partially limiting the pilot’s view. He observed a straight road between two fields out of his side window and headed that way. After setting up to land on the road, he observed an electrified livestock fence on both sides, but he was committed. After touching down, both wings struck the fence, causing the airplane to veer to the right, through the fence and into a field for about 300 feet before coming to rest. Examination revealed a hole on the top of the engine near the No. 6 cylinder.
January 9, 2022, Los Angeles, Calif.
Cessna 172H Skyhawk
The airplane sustained substantial damage and was subsequently destroyed following an off-airport landing at about 1400 Pacific time. The solo private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
During initial climb, the pilot conducted an emergency landing to an asphalt highway about 265 feet west of the runway centerline, and about 50 feet beyond the airport’s southernmost perimeter. The airplane collided with a railroad crossing arm and came to rest on an active northbound/southbound railroad track. Bystanders and law enforcement officers extricated the pilot from the airplane. Seconds later, it was struck by a southbound passenger train.
January 12, 2022, Winter Haven, Fla.
Piper J3C-65 Piper Cub
At about 1427 Eastern time, the float-equipped airplane collided with terrain for unknown reasons. The flight instructor and airline transport pilot receiving instruction sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The flight instructor later reported the pilot receiving instruction “tended to fly too slow and turn sharply.” The instructor had to “push the nose down and add power on several occasions.” After lunch, refueling and switching seats, the instructor later stated he was thinking “he is more reckless” in the backseat.
A witness observed the accident airplane make what appeared to be a landing approach. It made a small splash when the right float touched the water. The airplane then climbed and started turning right. He stated the turn “seemed like a steep angle” and that the “whole top of the airplane” was visible. The airplane descended to the ground, impacting “in a near vertical nose-down attitude.” The left wing was substantially damaged.
January 13, 2022, Phoenix, Ariz.
Extra EA-300L
The airplane experienced a ground loop during the landing roll, collapsing the right main landing gear and damaging the right aileron. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot reported the flight was normal until the right brake failed during the landing roll and the airplane subsequently ground looped. Examination revealed that the brake pad had separated from the brake assembly. A brake pad was found on the airplane’s taxi route and was recovered for future examination.
January 13, 2022, Lexington, S.C.
Cirrus Design SR22
At about 1326 Eastern time, the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System was activated and the airplane descended to a lake shoreline following engine failure. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
About 20 minutes into the flight, at 5500 feet msl, the pilot saw a red oil annunciator light illuminate, followed by the oil pressure gauge falling to zero pressure. The engine tachometer was near red line and the engine sounded like it was over-speeding, so he reduced throttle, reported an emergency and then started looking for a place to land. He was over a lake, so he delayed activating the airframe parachute until, at 2000 feet msl, he was closer to shore. The airplane descended to the water and the occupants swam to shore. Examination revealed a hole in the engine case near the No. 6 cylinder.
January 14, 2022, Spanish Fork, Utah
Zenith CH 750 Cruzer Experimental
The airplane was force-landed on the roof of a large building following loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The solo pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot reported this was his first flight in the accident airplane since he was involved in a prior mishap that took place in the same airplane about 18 months earlier. Knowing the airplane would quickly get airborne at full power, the pilot opted not to fully advance the throttle for takeoff. Shortly after liftoff, however, he observed a slow decay in engine power and was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot turned left to return to the departure runway and advanced the throttle to full power, but power was not restored. The pilot stated that the airplane slowed during the turn and impacted the roof during the subsequent forced landing.
January 15, 2022, Flight Design CTLS LSA
Hana, Hawaii
At about 0955 Hawaii time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it descended into trees shortly after takeoff. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
After four touch-and-go landings, the pair took a short break before returning to the airplane’s base. Just after takeoff, at about 75 feet agl, the airplane stopped climbing. It subsequently descended into tree-covered terrain, striking the ground in a nose-down attitude just past the departure end of the runway.
January 17, 2022, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Piper PA-28-160 Cherokee 160
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 2256 Mountain time during a forced landing following engine failure. The solo pilot sustained minor injuries. Night visual conditions prevailed.
About halfway through the flight, he noticed engine oil pressure was lower than it had been. Although the engine was running “fine,” the pilot started to look at the possibilities of gliding to an airport and altered his intended route to avoid a mountainous area and overfly a highway instead. He attempted to activate the lights at a nearby non-towered field but was unsuccessful and continued toward another airport. The engine noise soon changed, followed by decreasing power. The pilot said engine oil pressure indicated zero, and he subsequently added full power as he was looking for a place to land. Shortly, the engine made “horrible noises” and quit. The pilot landed the airplane on a narrow gravel road between a chain linked fence and a water canal. The airplane collided with the fence, resulting in substantial damage.
January 23, 2022, Lampasas, Texas
de Havilland Tiger Moth DH 82A
At about 1728 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it was landed off-airport after the engine lost power. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
About 20 minutes into the flight, the engine began to run rough and the pilot immediately turned the airplane back toward the departure airport, checked that the fuel was on, mixture was rich and the throttle was open. The engine continued to lose power and the pilot decided to divert. As the airplane approached the divert airport, the pilot felt the airplane was too high and turned. During the turn, he realized he had misjudged and decided completing the turn was not a good idea. He leveled the wings and committed to landing straight ahead. The airplane touched down on a terraced area, skipped across one of the terraces and then nosed over, coming to rest inverted.
January 28, 2022, Ravendale, Calif.
Cessna TTx Model T240
The airplane’s fuselage and landing gear were damaged during an off-airport landing at about 1425 Mountain time. The two pilots and one passenger aboard were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot reported that they had flown earlier in the day and the flights were uneventful with no anomalous engine readings or other flight characteristics. The accident flight included a go-around followed by a full-stop landing and taxi-back. On takeoff, both wing tanks contained about 20 gallons of fuel; the airplane took off with the right tank selected. At about 100 feet agl, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot lowered the nose and extended the flaps for the off-airport landing. The airplane touched down on snow-covered terrain, impacted brush and came to rest after about 80 feet of sliding.
January 29, 2022, Salem, Ore.
Beech K35 Bonanza
At about 1503 Pacific time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during an apparent loss of control while attempting a go-around. The private pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Before takeoff, the pilot requested to remain in the traffic pattern and was cleared for left closed traffic, then to land. Witnesses observed the airplane cross the runway threshold and continue its descent. Before touching down, the airplane suddenly veered left and simultaneously entered a near-vertical climb. The airplane then rolled left and entered a descent, impacting the ground adjacent to the runway in a near-vertical attitude. The main wreckage came to rest about 32 feet west of the runway.
January 30, 2022, Ketchum, Idaho
Just Aircraft SuperSTOL Experimental
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1430 Mountain time in an off-airport landing following engine failure. The solo pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While in cruise flight at about 1500 feet agl over mountainous terrain, the engine lost power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat but was unable to restore engine power and initiated a forced landing to a snow-covered field. During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires settled into the snow and the airplane nosed over.
January 30, 2022, Oral, S.D.
Christavia MK1 Experimental
At about 1710 Mountain time, the unregistered airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain. The non-certificated pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Earlier, the accident pilot texted a friend to ask if he could taxi the airplane on the friend’s private airstrip. The friend arrived home about 1645 and observed the pilot taxing the airplane. At about 1700, the friend observed the airplane complete two touch-and-go landings, and then depart to the south. Shortly, the friend texted the pilot but there was no response. The friend then departed in his airplane to look for the pilot, locating the accident airplane in a field about two miles from the private airstrip. The accident pilot had been working on the kit airplane for several months.
