Aviation Safety

At 1016 central time, a Beech A45 (T-34), operated by Texas Air Aces of Houston, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control after an in flight breakup while maneuvering near Montgomery. Both pilots were killed. The accident airplane was the flight lead of a flight of two aircraft that departed from the David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport, near Spring, Texas, about 45 minutes prior to the accident. They flew to a practice area, where the formation flight split up and conducted individual upset maneuver training. After completion of the training, the pilot of the second airplane suggested an air combat demonstration to the flight lead, who agreed. Both aircraft rendezvo…

At about 1022 central time, a Beech G35 was destroyed after colliding with a tree and then the ground near Okolona, Mississippi. The pilot and two passengers were killed. The flight originated from Hattiesburg, Miss. under instrument flight rules in VFR conditions to Okolona. About 10 minutes prior to the accident, the pilot cancelled his IFR clearance and proceeded to the site of a commercial building housing a business he owned. He then maneuvered at a low altitude in the vicinity of the building, as observed by the foreman and several employees of the business. The foreman lost sight of the airplane behind the building but when it reappeared east of the building, he thought the left wing…

At approximately 0800 central time, a Piper PA-28-235 sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was en route from Hobbs, N.M. to Abilene when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to reach Avenger Field Airport near Sweetwater for the forced landing, but headwinds prevented him from reaching the airport. The airplane collided with terrain about 400 feet short of the runway, then struck trees, a fence, and two poles before coming to rest on the runway….

At about 1445 mountain time, a Cessna 172P was substantially damaged after colliding with a berm during an attempted go-around from a simulated forced landing near Fountain Hills. Both pilots sustained minor injuries. The flight instructor was providing a check-out in the Cessna 172 to the recently certificated private pilot. Both fuel tanks had been filled prior to the flight. When the accident occurred, the CFI was in the process of simulating a total loss of engine power. The maneuver began about 3,500 feet agl by closing the engines throttle. According to the student, he applied full carburetor heat. The CFI turned the carburetor heat off, saying that it was unnecessary. Both pilots rep…

At about 0655 Pacific time, a Beech S35 was destroyed following an in-flight breakup and uncontrolled descent from cruise flight while en route from Arlington, Wash. to Fresno, Calif. The pilot and three passengers were killed. The pilot requested a weather briefing about 1 1/2 hours before the flight and filed an IFR flight plan. Instrument meteorological conditions were reported over the pilots route of flight. After about an hour of flight, while at 11,000 feet msl, the pilot requested a higher altitude and was cleared to 13,000 feet msl. He subsequently reported that he was at 13,000 feet and clear of rime ice. At 0655 the pilot advised Center that he had lost suction, and declared m…

At about 0752 eastern time, a Swearingen SA-26-AT was destroyed when it collided with trees while on an instrument approach to the Craig Airport, Jacksonville. The pilot was killed and four passengers reported minor injuries. After a flight lasting about four hours, the pilot decided to attempt the ILS Rwy 32 approach even though ATC had advised him that the airport was below landing minimums and had suggested alternates in the area. Passengers on the airplane said that while en route the pilot had mentioned fog at their destination, but he did not alert them to any possible dangers before the approach. The airplane crashed in a wooded area behind a shopping center. The recorded visibility a…

At about 1400 mountain time, a Cessna 172S was substantially damaged when it impacted the side of a mountain while maneuvering about 21 nautical miles northeast of Wikieup. The pilot was not injured. The solo instructional flight from Bullhead City, Ariz. to Prescott, Ariz. originated about an hour before the accident. The pilot had planned the flight at 9,500 feet msl, but he elected to fly at about 7,000 feet msl, or about 1,000 feet agl. The flight entered an area of rising mountainous terrain and subsequently an area the pilot described as a dead end canyon. The pilot attempted to gain altitude by applying power and adjusting the fuel mixture. The airplane would not out climb the risin…

At about 1135 mountain time, a Cessna T210K was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Deming, N.M. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Oakland, Calif., at 0630, bound for Deming. The pilot reduced engine power to idle and lowered his gear and flaps in order to descend steeply from 17,000 feet msl to the airport elevation of 4,313 feet msl. The pilot advanced the throttle as he approached the airport but the engine did not respond. The airplane impacted terrain during the subsequent forced landing in a field short of the airport….

At about 1715 eastern time, a Piper PA-22-150 was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff from a private turf airstrip near Franklin. One passenger received minor injuries, and the pilot and another passenger were not injured. The pilot stated that he over-rotated during the takeoff roll. The airplane climbed about 15 feet, then landed hard and departed the runway to the right. It came to rest inverted in the grass about 30 feet beyond the end of the 2,000-foot long, 100-foot wide runway. The pilot had 12,000 hours flight experience with 28 hours in Tri-Pacers….

At 1530 eastern time, a Cessna 150M and a Cessna 150K collided at the Wayne County Airport in Wooster. The Cessna 150K, which was taking off, was substantially damaged and the Cessna 150M, which was landing, was not damaged. The student pilot in the Cessna 150M and the flight instructor and student pilot in the Cessna 150K were not injured. Both airplanes were on local instructional flights and both reported making position announcements on the CTAF. The Cessna 150K entered the pattern and landed after a third airplane that had approached the airport on a straight-in instrument approach followed by a touch and go. According to the CFI in the Cessna 150K, they heard the pilot of the Cessna 15…