August 2, 2024, Anchorage, Alaska
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
At about 0824 Alaska time, the float-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it was force-landed after a partial engine failure. The pilot and six passengers were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a FAR Part 135 non-scheduled sightseeing flight.
Shortly after takeoff, as the airplane climbed to about 200 feet above the water, the engine lost power. The pilot turned left and touched down on the remaining portion of the lake but the airplane overran the bank before it stopped. The left wing and fuselage were damaged.
August 3, 2024, Oxford, Maine
Glasair 3 Experimental
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1125 Eastern time as its pilot tried to return to the departure airport after engine failure. The solo airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries. The accident flight was the airplane’s seventh of its post-completion phase 1 testing.
The flight’s purpose was to evaluate takeoff and landing performance. Following normal engine run-up and ground operations, the pilot took off and departed from Oxford, Maine, and conducted multiple takeoffs and landings at Auburn, Maine, before returning to Oxford. While on the downwind leg, the pilot noted engine roughness and attempted to troubleshoot the problem. After returning the magnetos to the BOTH position, the engine lost all power. After clearing some trees by extending the wing flaps, the airplane touched down on the airport’s perimeter road, collided with a fence and came to rest in a grassy area near the departure end of Runway 33. The airplane’s wings and fuselage were damaged, and the landing gear separated during the forced landing.
August 3, 2024, Tulsa, Okla.
Cirrus Design SR22T
At 1300 Central time, the airplane was involved in an incident following engine and alternator installation. The airplane sustained unknown damage at the end of the ferry flight. The solo pilot was uninjured.
The flight was the first after engine installation, which included two alternators, performed by a certificated A&P mechanic with inspection authorization. Following the A&P/IA’s engine run-up, the ferry pilot flew an 11-nm ferry flight. After shutdown, line personnel and the pilot observed smoke and sparks from under the cowling. The pilot did not see any fire. Examination revealed one of the alternators was wired incorrectly.
August 4, 2024, Sacramento, Calif.
Piper PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow III
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1315 Pacific time when it was landed off-airport following engine failure. The solo pilot sustained minor injuries.
Shortly after a normal takeoff, the engine ”sputtered” and the pilot observed significant loss of manifold pressure at about 500 feet msl. As the pilot turned back to the airport, he noticed the propeller had stopped. Remedial actions failed to restore power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby golf course, where the airplane slid into a building before coming to rest upright, with damage to both wings.
August 5, 2024, Minden, Nev.
Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V
At about 0900 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff. The pilot was not injured.
The flight’s purpose was to conduct a systems check following an annual inspection. During the preflight inspection, the pilot heard the trim motor working but did not verify the elevator trim position. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot noted an anomaly with the elevator and aborted the takeoff. While landing, the airplane porpoised several times and the nose landing gear collapsed. The elevator trim wheel indicator was found in the full nose-down position, and binding was noted.
August 5, 2024, Jamestown, N.Y.
Cessna 750 Citation X
The airplane was destroyed at about 1011 Eastern time when it apparently sustained an in-flight electrical fire and landed short of the divert runway. The pilot was seriously injured; the copilot sustained minor injuries.
Shortly after departure, ATC advised the flight to expect a climb from 10,000 feet msl to FL470 in 10 minutes but received no reply. The controller lost communications with the airplane, but observed it squawking 7700 as it descended through 7800 feet msl. The controller announced that the airplane was directly over Jamestown Airport (JHW), Jamestown, New York, without reply. Shortly, ATC heard the flight announcing it was about to land at JHW. The airplane impacted about 200 feet before the approach end of the runway.
The copilot later reported both pilots smelled smoke and that the airplane was “trimming down and accelerating,” followed by the master caution alarm and other crew alerting system messages. “Comm 2 had failed, and the Garmin 5000 had big, red X’s,” he reported.
Both pilots successfully egressed before the fire grew and engulfed the airplane.
August 6, 2024, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Beech F33A Bonanza
At about 1326 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when its pilot lost control during takeoff for the local sightseeing flight. The private pilot and the three passengers were fatally injured.
Security camera footage showed a runway excursion during the takeoff roll. The airplane departed the concrete runway to the left and impacted a hay bale before traveling over a large grass field. The airplane then impacted a chain link fence and various trees on private property. Upon impacting the trees, an explosion occurred and a post-impact fire consumed most of the wreckage.
August 7, 2024, Jacksonville, Fla.
Beech 23 Musketeer
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1544 Eastern time when the engine failed. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured.
The pilot intended to fly in the airport traffic pattern to bring the engine to operating temperature, land and check for a potential oil leak. After a circuit around the traffic pattern, the pilot was preparing to land when engine rpm dropped to about idle. At about 20 feet agl, the airplane “seemed to just drop like a rock,” impacting the ground and separating the left main landing gear. The airplane skidded off the left side of the runway and came to rest. The pilot reported the right and left wing fuel tanks contained 17 gallons and 18 gallons of fuel, respectively, at takeoff
August 8, 2024, Concord, Calif.
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche
At about 1959 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it was intentionally landed with partially extended landing gear. The solo pilot was not injured.
After being cleared to land, the pilot performed a GUMPS check, noting the landing gear switch was in the down position while the corresponding annunciator showed the gear in the up position. The pilot attempted to recycle the landing gear, but the landing gear annunciator showed the landing gear up and locked. A go-around followed, plus a tower fly-by, which confirmed the gear was only partially extended. Performing the various checklists, along with high-G maneuvers, failed to improve the situation. During the ensuing landing, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid to a stop on its belly.
August 8, Augusta, Mon.
Cessna 182K Skylane
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1255 Mountain time in what appears to be a classic controlled-flight-into-terrain accident. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured.
The accident airplane’s ADS-B system shows the airplane maintaining between 7500 and 8000 feet msl until the last data point, about 25 nm southwest of the accident site, which was at 7550 feet in a canyon rimmed by 8400-foot peaks. Investigators contacted several pilots who were flying in the accident area near the time of the accident. They reported the cloud bases were between 6500 and 8000 feet msl with the mountains obstructed by clouds.
August 20, 2024, Odessa, Texas
Cessna 550 Citation II
The airplane was destroyed at about 0700 Central time when it failed to gain altitude after takeoff and collided with power lines and a one-story building. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured; a person on the ground was seriously injured.
A pilot-certificated witness noted the airplane’s engines sounded unusual and observed the airplane fly down the last third of the 5003-foot runway about 10 feet above the surface in a near-level attitude. The airplane then collided with power lines and the building, shearing off the right main landing gear. The airplane came to rest about 150 yards south after it impacted two garage areas. A post-impact fire ensued. A cockpit voice recorder was retrieved and sent to the NTSB’s lab.
August 24, 2024, Kent, Wash.
Cessna A185F Skywagon
The amphibious float-equipped airplane was substantially damaged at about 1010 Pacific time during a water touchdown with its landing gear extended. The solo pilot was fatally injured.
Multiple witnesses observed a normal approach except for the extended landing gear. As the floats were about to touch down on the water, the airplane abruptly nosed over and came to rest inverted, partially submerged in the lake.
August 26, 2024, Wayne, Neb.
Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee 140
At about 0931 Central time, the airplane was destroyed in what appears to be a classic scud-running episode. The solo private pilot was fatally injured.
A pilot-rated landowner, on whose property the airplane impacted, heard the airplane fly by and then return, followed by a loud “pop” and silence afterward. A black plume of smoke appeared, and the landowner eventually located the airplane in his cornfield.
The FBO manager at the pilot’s departure airport, approximately 25 miles from the accident site, stated weather when the accident airplane took off included mostly clear skies with 10-plus miles of visibility. Observations taken about seven nm from the accident site included ceilings at 600 feet agl near the time of the accident. Flight track data showed the airplane traveling below 1000 feet agl.
August 26, 2024, Crofton, Neb.
Rans S19 Venterra LSA
The airplane was destroyed at about 0841 Central time when it collided with terrain under unknown circumstances. The solo pilot sustained fatal injuries.
At about 0830, while over Yankton, South Dakota, the pilot made a telephone call to a friend to inquire about weather and airport options. The pilot reported he was unable to land in Yankton due to instrument conditions. The friend suggested the pilot head southwest where visual conditions were being reported. The accident site was about 13 miles southwest of Yankton; first responders stated weather included fog with visibility of about 50 feet. Law enforcement vehicle dash camera footage at 0946 showed a cloud ceiling of about 260 feet agl when compared to a nearby wind turbine.
August 29, 2024, Yellow Pine, Idaho
Cessna T206H Stationair
The airplane was destroyed at about 1540 Mountain time during an attempted go-around at a back-country Idaho runway. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.
A witness observed the airplane make a downwind approach at an unusually high altitude. He watched as the airplane landed almost midfield, touching down in a flat attitude with almost no flare. After two bounces, with about ¼ of the runway length remaining, the airplane landed hard. “It did not appear to slow down, and with the runway end approaching he heard the engine speed increase, and it became apparent the pilot was attempting a takeoff.” The airplane pitched up aggressively, and then rolled left and descended to the terrain.
