Aviation Safety

At about 1025 Pacific time, the airplane collided with mountainous terrain and was consumed by a post-impact fire. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness observed the airplane flying from right to left just above the ridgeline.

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted powerlines and terrain during takeoff at about 0920 Central time. A post-impact fire ensued. The pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed.

At about 1055 Eastern time, the airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing near Springfield, Ohio. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the airplanes engine sounded like its rpm varied.

The airplane collided with the ground shortly after takeoff at about 1225 Eastern time. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane came to rest on airport property and was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot had a gear-up landing accident with the same airplane on April 11, 2011.

My Learning Experience has almost nothing to do with a near-death event and everything to do with knowing the FARs and understanding how they often can be used to our advantage when the chips are down. I was helping close friends who were preparing to ferry their cherry 172 from the east coast to their new home on the west one. Owing to their move, the airplane had been sitting for a few months, and needed some attention before it could be flown. The shop had taken its time, resulting in the airplane finally being ready the afternoon before their scheduled departure. I volunteered to do the post-maintenance check flight from the towered airport.

The nose landing gear failed to extend when the gear was lowered for landing-a nose-gear “up” landing followed. Examination revealed the uplock bellcrank forward arm (p/n: 204303112) was bent and cracked through 90 percent of its material. It would not allow the uplock to disengage. The probable cause: severe side loading during landing at an unknown time. A new part was installed and a gear-rigging check made. No other problems were noted.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1300 Eastern time during a forced landing to a cranberry bog following a partial power loss during takeoff. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The banner-tow pilot approached the pickup point to catch the rope with his tail hook. Shortly after his initial pitch-up maneuver to hook the rope, the pilot observed through a mirror that the rope was not attached to his tail hook. Photos taken of the airplane in the air by a witness show the tow rope hooked around the nose gear and looped over the right horizontal stabilizer.

At about 1920 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a parking lot and a building shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and the three passengers received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. According to several eyewitnesses, the airplane departed Runway 20. The climb angle after takeoff appeared “steep.” The airplane commenced a very rapid left roll when it was approximately 500 feet above the threshold of Runway 2.

The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 0730 Pacific time when it impacted terrain. The private pilot and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. Both visual and instrument conditions were present in the vicinity.