Aviation Safety

At approximately 1830 Pacific time, a Downer RC-3 struck trees following a takeoff run at Western Airpark. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was killed. The airplane had just been sold to the pilot, who was in the process of repositioning it to another airport. The airplane had not flown for approximately two years. Witnesses said the airplane did not accelerate past about 50 mph and the engine did not sound like it was producing full power during the takeoff run. The airplane went off the end of the runway, clipped trees at about 40 feet agl and went into a ravine….

At about 1950 eastern time, a Cessna 172N and a Cessna 182Q collided while in cruise flight about 300 yard east of the beach at Deerfield Beach. The collision killed the pilot and two passengers in the 172 and the pilot and passenger in the 182. Both flights had originated at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. The 172 took off at about 1835 and the 182 at 1940. The airplanes were flying in opposite directions. Witnesses said the southbound airplane was a little lower than the northbound airplane, and just before collision the southbound airplane banked as if to take evasive action. The raised wing struck the higher airplane and sheared off. The northbound airplane flew a little longer before…

At about 1100 Pacific time, a Beech S35 struck a tree in flight near Weed and then landed uneventfully at Colusa County Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said he was cruising from Medford, Ore., to Fullerton, Calif., and he was distracted and looked down. When he looked up, he was in the clouds. He heard a loud thump or bang and immediately entered a climb. The pilot then made a planned fuel stop at Colusa and discovered that the right wing leading edge was crushed, the bottom of the right wing was punctured, and the leading edge of the right stabilizer was slightly crushed….

At approximately 1425 Pacific time, an amateur-built Vans RV-8 lost engine power in the pattern at Grants Pass Airport and struck trees, killing the pilot. The airplane, which had not flown in about a year, had taken off about five minutes earlier. The airport operations director said the pilot/owner was preparing the airplane for sale. The airplane was on downwind when the pilot reported he was having engine problems. However, the pilot extended his downwind well past the approach end of the runway, then turned back toward the airport and crashed a half-mile short of the runway….

At approximately 1630 central time, a Cessna 182H modified to fly skydivers crashed after the pilot lost control during the drop. The pilot was killed. Two parachutists were seriously injured. Two parachutists had minor injuries, and one parachutist had exited the airplane before the loss of control and was uninjured. The airplane was cruising at 3,500 to 4,000 feet when the first parachutist jumped. The airplane continued on for a few seconds, then, witnesses said, the airplane went upward then out of control in a counter-clockwise spin. During the spin, two other parachutists jumped. Post-crash examination of the wreckage showed the airplane struck the ground in a relatively flat attitud…

At about 2245 central time, a Eurocopter EC120B crashed near Boonville shortly after taking off, killing the pilot. At the time of the crash, the weather report consisted of: wind 350 at 8 knots gusting to 18; visibility 3/4 mile; heavy thunderstorms with rain and mist; broken clouds at 300 and 900 feet agl, overcast layer at 3,100 feet agl; temperature 22; dew point 21….

At 1924 Pacific time, an amateur-built Glasair JM-1 suffered a partial loss of power during initial climb from Hollister Municipal Airport and crashed while maneuvering for a forced landing. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. The owner reported the airplane had just departed runway 31 when the engine started to run rough. In an attempt to return to the airport, the airplane clipped a tree and landed in a field where it struck a piece of concrete and came to rest inverted. The electric fuel pump, which was required for flight, was not turned on….

At 1130 mountain time, an amateur-built Vans RV-6A lost engine power on initial climb from Fort Collins Downtown Airpark and crashed. The pilot and passenger were killed. Witnesses reported the airplane had just taken off and was climbing to the east when they heard the engine stop. The witnesses said the airplane turned toward the airport, departed controlled flight and crashed near the southeast corner of the airport….

At approximately 1530 mountain time, a Cessna 210K was damaged when it veered off the runway while landing at Durango-La Plata County Airport. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The pilot said the aircraft came in hot and he attempted to make a crosswind landing. He added power when he realized he needed to go-around, but he veered off the right side of the runway….

At 1533 central time, an Aero Vodochody L39C jet lost engine power due to foreign object ingestion and crashed on takeoff from Gadsden Municipal Airport. The pilot ejected but was killed. A witness said he saw debris in the air just as the airplane lifted off, then heard the sound of the engine ingesting debris. The witness said the airplane appeared to struggle back and forth, then it veered left and was at an approximate 90-degree angle and no more than 50 feet above the ground when the pilot ejected. Examination of the wreckage found the baggage door from the left nose baggage compartment had separated with the locking mechanism attached to the door. A fabric briefcase, numerous papers, a…