Aviation Safety

At 1046 mountain time, a Beech S-35 landing at Desert Gardens Airstrip collided with a car crossing the runway. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot said he was landing on the dirt strip when a car pulled out to cross the runway. He applied power to go around, but the left main landing gear struck the car and sheared off. The airplane then skidded down the runway. The car was on a road that crosses the runway….

At 1206 eastern time, a Beech A24R struck wires and trees on initial takeoff from runway 9 at Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville. The pilot was seriously injured and three passengers reported minor injuries. The pilot said he took off with 10 degrees of flaps and the airplane accelerated normally, however, he did not rotate until the airplane was nearly at the end of the 5,000-foot runway. He said the throttle felt like it was sticking but the tach indicated more than 2500 rpm. The tower controller said the ground run appeared to be slow and the airplane climbed only to about 15 to 20 feet agl before colliding with trees….

At about 0755 Pacific time, a Beech F35 struck fences and a house during an aborted takeoff from a private dirt airstrip near Middletown. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The pilot said the airplane was ice heavy during takeoff and ran out of runway, so the pilot tried to abort the takeoff. A police officer reported that the wheels of the airplane touched down approximately 300 feet from the house….

At approximately 0846 central time, a Cessna T210N crashed following a loss of control during cruise flight near Mission. The pilot and two passengers were killed. A Mexican IFR flight plan was filed by the pilot for a business flight from Matamoros, Mexico, to Torreon, Mexico. The pilot was in cruise flight when he contacted Reynosa Approach and requested a climb from 6,000 feet to 8,000 feet, which was approved. Controllers noted the flight was five to seven miles north of course when the pilot was asked by Reynosa Approach to verify his position. The pilot replied we have a problem here with my (not intelligible). I will try another radio. The flight crossed the US-Mexican Border as the…

At 1853 eastern time, a Piper PA-24-250 crashed while maneuvering near Florence. The pilot and two passengers were killed. The instructor-certificated pilot, an instructor passenger and a third passenger were flying from Ormond Beach, Fla., to Bennettsville, S.C., at 5,300 feet when the pilot contacted Florence controllers and asked if there was any VFR weather to the north. The pilot then elected to proceed to Fayetteville, N.C. The controller instructed the pilot to descend to 5,000 feet and join victor airway 56, but shortly afterward the airplanes Mode C altitude indicated 800 feet and the controller advised the pilot to climb. The pilot replied by requesting a diversion to Florence Reg…

At 1540 Pacific time, a Cessna 172S was damaged during a hard landing at Everett/Snohomish County Airport. Neither pilot was injured. The flight was an IFR instructional flight and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The flight had just executed a missed approach at PAE and when climbing through 1,000 feet the aircraft began picking up ice. The aircraft was cleared for the ILS Runway 16R approach and the pilot reported difficulty maintaining altitude. At about 10-15 feet above the ground, the aircrafts left wing dropped. There were a number of pilot reports of moderate clear and rime icing by aircraft overflying PAE at the time….

At 1400 central time, a Beech G35 was damaged during maneuvering during a local training flight out of Frasca Field. The pilot, who was not injured, had performed chandelles and lazy eights, and was performing steep turns when the rudder pedals began to vibrate while in a left turn. The pilot landed without incident. Inspection revealed the left ruddervator was loose, the left stabilator spar was cracked and the fuselage was wrinkled ahead of the ruddervators….

At about 1523 eastern time, a Cessna 170A crashed on Interstate 75 after losing engine power. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. A witness said the airplane was gliding about 50 to 75 feet above the highway with no engine noise when the airplane suddenly nosed down onto the pavement. Examination of the scene showed the airplane struck utility wires stretched across the highway….

At 1945 eastern time, a Beech A36 reported severe in-flight icing and subsequently crashed on approach to Moore-Murrell Airport. The pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries. The pilot said he was on an IFR flight plan, descending through 8,100 feet when the airplane began to pick up structural ice. The airplane was cleared to descend to 5,100 feet, during which time it continued to collect structural ice. While on final approach to runway 05 the airplane was unable to maintain altitude and crashed a mile southwest of the airport….

At 1730 eastern time, a Beech C23 crashed while on final approach to Valdosta Regional Airport. The student solo pilot suffered minor injuries. The pilot said he was on final approach to runway 17 when he decided to go around. The tower controller cleared the flight to make a right turn to enter a left downwind to runway 35. When the pilot reached down to extend the flaps, the airplane stalled and collided with trees….