Aviation Safety

At about 1210 eastern time, a Cessna 172F lost engine power on initial climb and was damaged in the ensuing forced landing. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said he took off and, as he climbed through 300 feet agl, the engine lost power. He attempted to turn back to the runway but landed in a field about a half mile from the runway….

At 2002 eastern time, a Beech B36TC struck a utility pole during a forced landing in Uniondale after losing engine power. The pilot received serious injuries, one passenger received minor injuries, and three passengers were killed. The pilot was heading for Smith Airport in Ft. Wayne and asked the controller for a GPS approach into the airport. The pilot then amended that request, saying that based on weather conditions reported by another pilot he wanted to fly the ILS Rwy 5 approach. The pilot missed the first attempt and asked for vectors for another try. During vectors for the second attempt, the pilot reported he was having a fuel problem and said he needed to land ASAP. He then dec…

At 0550 mountain time, an amateur-built Questair #20 Venture struck a wall during a rejected landing and was destroyed in a post-impact fire at Sky Ranch at Carefree. The pilot and one passenger were killed. Witnesses said the airplane descended rapidly toward the airport, touched down briefly and then became airborne again. During the initial climb, the airplane was described as flying at a 45-degree angle but not climbing until it struck a wall. Examination of the skid marks on the runway showed the airplane touched down about two-thirds of the way down the runway, veered right across a taxiway, veered back left toward the runway, struck a VASI light and porpoised down the runway before…

At about 1040 eastern time, an amateur-built Lancair IVP was damaged during takeoff from Manassas Regional Airport. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot said he received an IFR clearance with complex changes to his planned route. He then felt rushed and distracted during the pre-takeoff checklist and forgot to extend the flaps to the takeoff position. During the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne, but then settled back on the runway, went off the right side, struck a runway sign and came to rest in a grass area….

At 0854 central time, a Bellanca 14-13-2 was damaged when it landed short of runway 23 at Quad City International Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said he departed Moline for Brodhead, Wisc., but the oil pressure began fluctuating. He decided to return to Moline. During the approach, he reduced power to lower the flaps and the engine did not respond when he reapplied power. …

At 1420 eastern time, a Beech BE-55 crashed while the pilot was attempting to return to the airport shortly after taking off from Winder Barrow Airport. The pilot was killed. A pilot waiting for takeoff behind the accident airplane stated the accident pilot departed from runway 05. The airplane became airborne just past taxiway C intersection. The airplane reached about 10 feet when the nose dropped abruptly to the right and the right main landing gear touched down on the runway followed by tire smoke. He observed a dark shape on the right side of the airplane and figured the cockpit door had opened. The airplane bounced back into the air and went to the right over the grass. The airplane…

At 1711 central time, a Cessna 172L crashed when the pilot lost control during takeoff from New Braunfels Municipal Airport. The pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries and one passenger was killed. Witnesses reported the airplane took a long time to get off the ground and pitched up to an almost vertical attitude. At approximately 200-300 feet agl, the airplane was rolled to the left and crashed….

At 0802 mountain time, a Cessna 150J was damaged during a forced landing near Four Corners Regional Airport. The pilot suffered serious injuries. The flight had originated at Aztec at approximately 0745. The tower operator said that, as the airplane was entering a left base for runway 07, a expletive was heard over the tower frequency and shortly thereafter an emergency locator transmitter signal was heard. Emergency personnel said they arrived on the scene to find the pilot had already pulled himself out of the inverted airplane and was sitting on the wing. The pilot told them dont worry about a fire, theres no fuel….

At 0930 eastern time, a Cessna 150M was damaged during an aborted takeoff from a grass field in Jetersville. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said he landed in the field about 0900 and had previously operated from the field without any problems. He described the field as approximately 1,800 feet long and covered with grass that was approximately 4 to 5 inches high. At about 0930, he initiated his takeoff but the airplane would not accelerate past 50 knots. He decided to abort the liftoff, but the tires slid in the grass, which was wet from the morning dew, and the airplane slid into trees….