Aviation Safety

I had just finished reading the latest edition and was mentally commenting on how professional a journal you put to publication. I have been particularly impressed with how hard you try to get the message of keeping sharp on ones skills-especially during the changing seasons when one may have laid off flying and have become “rusty” in both his skills and knowledge. Shortly thereafter, I began browsing the Internet for news updates and, to my amazement, began seeing headlines of GA accidents amounting to 13 souls lost over the June 28-29 weekend: Five were lost in Santa Rosa, N.M., aboard a Cessna 206), four north of Birmingham, Ala., in a Beech Travel Air, and four more near Las Vegas, Nev., in a Cherokee Six. I couldnt help but wonder “why?” Why so many in so short a time? Were these pilots not on top of their game? Did some need a refresher session with a seasoned CFI?

At 1105 Eastern time the airplane was destroyed following an in-flight breakup while in cruise flight. Instrument conditions existed at the airplanes assigned cruise altitude and marginal visual conditions prevailed at the surface. The pilot and his passenger were fatally injured.

The airplane was destroyed when it collided with mountainous terrain at 0533 Eastern time. The private pilot and passenger were killed. Visual conditions prevailed at the closest weather reporting station. Preliminary radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that at 0520, the target was on a westbound track at 9200 feet. For the next 10 minutes, it continued, descending to 8300 feet.

The airplane collided with desert terrain at 1317 Mountain time and was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and airline transport pilot were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the upset-recovery training flight. The airplanes operator reported the flight overdue and the wreckage was located at about 1430. The two pilots were located approximately 50 feet to the north of the airplane wreckage. Both pilots were wearing parachutes. The commercial pilots parachute was found to have been activated and partially deployed. The airline transport pilots parachute had not been activated.

The pilot was landing at his destination. While approaching the airport, he listened to the AWOS and noted shifting wind conditions. He selected a runway based on the most recent wind report and, during the flare, the right wing lifted and the airplane went to the left side of the runway. The pilot applied power to abort the landing and the left wing lifted. The airplane dropped onto the runway and slid sideways until coming to rest about 100 feet from the runway. No mechanical anomalies were reported. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and the fuselage was wrinkled.

The pilot was not aware of the length of the runway, and did not walk/survey it prior to the takeoff from the short, wet, soft surface. He used a combination of short- and soft-field takeoff procedures, and after becoming airborne, the “P” factor seemed “unusually strong.” He applied right aileron and rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control, but the right wing then the nose and left wing contacted the ground. The pilot further stated that there was no pre-impact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems.

At 1019 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to witnesses, the airplane “sounded bad” and was “weaving back and forth” as it approached the runway with its right wing low. The airplane landed, then bounced several times before coming to a complete stop. One witness said the airplane was never fully lined up with the runway.

At approximately 1900 Central time the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power and was substantially damaged during the forced-landing rollout. The pilot and sole occupant sustained minor injuries. The pilot subsequently told investigators he had purchased the airplane the day before the accident and was flying it back to his home airport. On the final leg to his destination, the airplanes engine experienced a total loss of power.

The airplane encountered obstacles during a forced landing at about 1240 Pacific time. The private pilot and passenger/owner were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The owner had just purchased the airplane, and was returning to his home field. After taking off and climbing to 1500 feet, the engine began to run rough and surge, and smoke appeared from the cowling. The pilot successfully landed on a gravel road, but the wings contacted trees at the edge of the road resulting in substantial damage.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff at 1835 Eastern time, killing the private pilot and his two passengers. Visual conditions prevailed. According to eyewitness reports, the airplane departed runway 23, became airborne, and at approximately 100 feet agl, “began to make a left bank.” The airplane continued until the wings were almost perpendicular to the ground, lost altitude and crashed adjacent to the parallel taxiway.