Aviation Safety

January 1, 2006, Peachtree City, Ga.
Piper PA-28-180
At 2007 Eastern time, the aircraft collided with trees during an approach in instrument conditions. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the Private pilot was fatally injured. The pilot had been cleared for the Runway 10 Localizer approach at the Macon Downtown Airport (MAC). Shortly after receiving the clearance, he reported overflying the airport, and requested another approach.During the second approach the pilot said he was having trouble staying on the localizer course; control tower personnel reported seeing the airplane overfly the runway. Controllers then diverted the flight to Middle Georgia Regional…

The Private pilot was on a VFR cross-country flight when he began encountering instrument conditions. The pilot continued into the instrument conditions for about 30 minutes before asking Atlanta Approach Control for directions to the nearest airport for landing. The controller directed the pilot to two different nearby airports but both were below minimums. The pilot informed the controller that he was low on fuel and needed to land as soon as possible. The controller directed the pilot to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Columbus, Ga. The pilot attempted four unsuccessful instrument approaches with the controllers talking him through each approach. On the fifth approach, at five miles fr…

At about 1900 Central time, the helicopter collided with trees and terrain. The helicopter was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire; the Commercial pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about five minutes earlier from the parking lot of a nearby hotel. Instrument conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office that the helicopter landed in a parking lot of a hotel and the occupants inquired at the hotel about the price of a room. After being told about the price the occupants walked to a restaurant located at a truck stop across the street from the hotel. The occupants ate at the restaurant, departed there and went to the he…

The airplane was substantially damaged while ditching in the Hudson River, following a total loss of engine power in cruise flight at 1152 Eastern time. The Private pilot and Flight Instructor sustained minor injuries; visual conditions prevailed for the instructional flight to familiarize the Private pilot with the VFR corridor along the Hudson River. The airplane was in cruise flight at about 900 feet agl when, without warning, the engine sputtered and lost all power. The instructor took control of the airplane and transmitted a distress signal. His attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful, and he then ditched the airplane in the Hudson River. The New York City Police Department and…

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an attempted forced landing at approximately 1055 Pacific time. The Instrument-rated Private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was executing a practice ILS approach to Runway 12. As the airplane approached the airport, at approximately 3.5 nm, the pilot told ATC that the airplane was loosing power and that he was going to land on a grass airfield. Several residences of the Sunset Air Strip, North Plains, Oregon, reported hearing a loud noise; subsequently they found the airplane adjacent to one of their taxiways….

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