Aviation Safety

The solo student pilot reported a moderate crosswind when he was attempting to land so he executed a go-around. During the go-around, he raised the flaps. He reported that taking out two notches of flaps caused the airplane to lose too much altitude and “the plane stalled as I pulled back on the yoke.” The airplane struck several trees and impacted the ground. He reported that there were no mechanical difficulties with the airplane.

During a landing to Runway 17, with winds from 200 degrees at five knots, gusting to 14 knots, the main landing gear settled to the runway and forward pressure was applied to the control to initiate a wheel landing. Just before the tail wheel settled, the airplane began drifting to the right. Then, it swerved to the left, “triggered by a crosswind gust, use of brakes or clumsy footwork on the rudder that retarded the left wheel.” The airplane skidded to the left, which the pilot was unable to correct with right full rudder and aileron control.

At 1007 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged on impact with terrain during initial climb. Visual conditions and convective activity prevailed. The Angel Flight was operating on an instrument rules flight plan. The pilot and one passenger received serious injuries, and the second passenger received fatal injuries.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain at 0930 Eastern time during a forced landing. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot thought that the rate of climb was “sluggish,” even though engine instruments presented normal indications. The pilot initiated a turn to the right, since the terrain ahead contained many houses. Airplane performance continued to deteriorate. The pilot attempted to avoid obstacles, such as trees and power lines, but eventually impacted trees and terrain.

At about 0707 Central time, the airplane experienced an outboard left wing fire during the takeoff roll. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot reported no injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. During the takeoff roll, at about 50 knots, the pilot heard an “explosion” and could feel a thud in the rudder pedals (like he had hit a runway centerline light). He saw damage on the left wing with black smoke coming out a hole in the wing. The pilot stopped the airplane, exited and put out the fire with the onboard fire extinguisher. About 37 inches of the outboard left wing and wing tip remained attached, but exhibited compression buckling and fire damage. The upper wing skin panel, located inboard of the wingtip, was bent upward.

The pilot subsequently reported he took off with 14 gallons of fuel aboard. The flight from Bull Frog Basin Airport, Utah, to Winslow, Ariz., should have taken 1 hour 40 minutes, with fuel consumption of 5.3 gallons per hour. The pilot noticed that fuel was disappearing quickly and assumed there was a headwind. After 1 hour 40 minutes (1.7 hours), the airplane ran out of fuel 57 statute miles north of Winslow, and landed in the desert.

At 1256 Eastern time, the airplane impacted terrain about mile from the approach end of the runway. The pilot was providing rides during a scheduled Lyons Club Fly-In Breakfast. The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. The Fly-In had been held at least for the past 10 years at the airport, which was owned by the pilot. Visual conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the paved runway surface and then struck a ditch. The nose landing was torn from the airplane resulting in damage to the firewall and forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was his first solo flight without an instructor aboard. Immediately prior to the accident flight the student and his instructor had performed a flight which included landing practice.

The flight instructor was having the student practice landing approaches. During a turn, the instructor noted that the helicopter was descending faster than anticipated, and that “the collective was too far down, the cyclic was too far back, and [the student] had a tight hold on both controls.” The instructor struggled with the student for control of the helicopter for a period of 3 to 4 seconds. The helicopter landed hard, rolled onto its left side, and instantly caught on fire. Both occupants exited the right door. The helicopter was destroyed by fire.

At 1310 Eastern time, the airplane impacted terrain during an emergency landing. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Soon after takeoff, the pilot told ATC he was losing engine oil pressure. At 1305, he requested radar vectors to the nearest airport. At 1306, the pilot notified ATC his windscreen was covered in oil. At 1308, ATC lost radar and communications with the airplane. A witness saw an airplane flying overhead and heard it “backfire.” The witness further stated that shortly thereafter, he saw smoke coming from underneath the airplane. He said that the engine appeared to be running at full power, while continuing to backfire and emit smoke until it disappeared from his sight.