Aviation Safety

At about 1825 Pacific time, a Cessna 172K struck trees while attempting to land at Nevada County Air Park. The pilot and passenger were killed. The flight originated as an IFR flight from Grass Valley to Palo Alto, but as the airplane approached the destination the transponder code changed to indicate a communications failure. Bay TRACON determined the pilot could receive but not transmit. Because of the Class B communications requirement, Bay TRACON suggested the pilot try to contact Stockton Tower. The pilot contacted Stockton while 12 miles west of the airport, and Stockton could barely hear his transmissions. The pilot advised Stockton to cancel his IFR flight plan and he would proceed V…

At about 1148 eastern time, a Piper PA-23-160 crashed in a residential area while returning to land at West Palm Beach County Park Airport. The pilot and passenger were killed. The pilot contacted Palm Beach Approach shortly after taking off from Lantana and requested flight following to Everglades City. Shortly after this the pilot reported that he needed to return to Lantana. Shortly after this the pilot transmitted on the Unicom frequency that he was 4 miles southwest of the airport, inbound for landing on one engine. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane on downwind abeam the end of runway 27 at about 400 feet. The airplane then turned base leg for runway 27 and continued to lose altitu…

At 0953 Pacific time, an amateur-built Thorpe T-18 rolled over and landed inverted at Compton/Woodley Airport, killing the pilot. The airplane had been flying for about 40 minutes, making several takeoffs and landings. The pilot of a Robinson helicopter, also in the pattern, said the Thorpe pilot was announcing his intentions on the common frequency. Meanwhile, an EC-135 helicopter called, reporting two miles east of the airport for a straight-in approach to runway 25R. The Robinson pilot said the other helicopter and the Thorpe arrived at the runway at about the same time. The Robinson pilot said he transmitted a warning to the pilots to watch out. When the two aircraft were about 100 fee…

At about 1015 eastern time, a Rockwell 112A burned after a forced landing near Hanscom Field. The two pilots received minor injuries. The pilots reported being in cruise flight when they noticed smoke in the cockpit. The shut down the electrical system, and then the engine began to vibrate. They shut down the engine so it wouldnt vibrate off the frame and then noted a fire had started in the engine compartment. The pilots opted to land on a flat area on the Concord River floodplain, but the airplane hit the tops of trees about 100 yards prior to reaching the floodplain, and a tree bent over and deposited the airplane on the ground upright. The airplane was consumed by fire….

At about 1235 eastern time, a Gates Learjet 35A was damaged when taxiing after landing at Akron-Canton Regional Airport. The pilot and co-pilot were not injured. The pilot said the taxi from the runway to the ramp was normal. After making a 90-degree turn onto the ramp, the airplane began to slide on top of an ice layer. The brakes were ineffective and the co-pilot shut down the engines. Due to the downward slope of the ramp area and the wind conditions, however, the airplane continued to accelerate and struck a concrete retaining wall. An FAA inspector noted that the ramp area was covered with a 1-inch layer of smooth clear ice. Winds at the time were from 300 degrees at 16 knots, with 27-k…

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