Aviation Safety

At about 1630 eastern time, a Cessna 172K made a forced landing in a field after losing engine power near Prestonsburg. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured, but the airplane was damaged. The pilots reported the engine began to run rough while in cruise flight and the oil pressure indication dropped to zero. Investigation revealed a 2-inch hole in top of the engine crankcase. The engine had accumulated about 2,400 hours of operation since its last overhaul, which was conducted in 1986. The oil had been changed two days prior to the accident as part of a 50-hour inspection….

At approximately 0730 central time, an amateur-built RV-4 crashed while maneuvering in fog near Homer, killing the pilot and passenger. The non-instrument-rated pilot took off from Homer Municipal Airport in conditions of fog, low ceilings and half-mile visibility for a cross-country flight. He made a right downwind departure and struck 30-foot trees in a nearby marsh….

At 1604 central time, a Piper PA-34-220T crashed following a loss of control while executing a go-around. The pilot and four passengers were killed. A witness said the pilot made two radio transmissions, initially reporting that he was 10 miles south of the airport, and a subsequent transmission that he was 5 miles south and would be landing at McAlester. There were no further radio communications from the pilot. The witness said the airplane was fast on the approach approximately halfway down the 5,602-foot runway 01 at an altitude of 5 to 10 feet. He also said the left propeller was not turning. When the pilot started a go-around, the airplane pitched up slightly, then rolled toward the de…

At about 1000 mountain time, a Cessna 170B ground looped and nosed over while practicing touch-and-go landings at an abandoned airstrip near Mobile. Neither the pilot nor passenger was injured. The Maricopa County Sheriffs Office received a call on the evening of the accident by a person who reported what appeared to be an abandoned airplane lying inverted on a dirt road. Sheriff personnel traced the airplane to the owner and the pilot confirmed that he had ground looped on this strip and collided with a dirt berm….

At approximately 1550 central time, a Rockwell 690B suffered the loss of the top portion of its rudder while in cruise flight at 16,000 feet near New Braunfels. The flight landed without further incident and none of the three aboard was injured. The plot reported that the gear-in-transit light was on for the duration of the flight but he continued the flight. While cruising on autopilot, the pilot noticed the ball was not centered. He adjusted the rudder trim and a couple of minutes later the airplane began violent shaking an yawing. The airplane rolled into a 70-degree left bank and pitched 10 to 15 degrees nose-down. He recovered the airplane and continued to his destination. During the de…

At about 1345 Alaska standard time, an amateur-built Kolb Fire Star II lost engine power and crashed into trees after takeoff from Birchwood Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said the airplane had been stored outside unused for two years. He made two successful touch-and-go landings, but the engine quit on the third takeoff at about 50 feet agl. An FAA inspector found both carburetor float bowls contained murky, silty and rust-colored fuel….

At approximately 1225 mountain time, a Cirrus SR20 struck terrain while maneuvering near Las Vegas, killing the pilot. Instrument conditions prevailed but the airplane was not on a flight plan. The pilot reportedly left Fargo, N.D., for Albuquerque and was reported overdue by a family member. An employee at the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge came upon the wreckage during a period of heavy fog and visibility of about 100 feet….

At approximately 1200 central time, a Piper PA-31-350 was damaged in an in-flight engine fire while in cruise flight near near Kerrville. The pilot said the airplane was approximately 25 miles out when the right engine lost power. He shut down the engine and landed without incident. Post-flight examination showed oil from the right propeller aft to the right vertical stabilizer. The outboard portion of the right flap, the right gear door and the right wing locker were destroyed by fire. In addition, there was thermal deformation of the aft right wing spar….

At 1800 Pacific time, a Cessna 172M veered off the runway during the landing rollout on runway 7 at Rosamond Airport and was damaged when the left gear collapsed. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The pilot said the landing was normal and that the left gear collapsed when he braked to turn off the runway. An inspector detected tire signatures on the runway that were not skid marks and suggested the airspeed may have been too high to make the turnoff the pilot was trying to make. While reviewing the airplanes logbooks, the inspector noted a reference from a year ago that the firewall was wrinkled, complete with photographs. There were no logbook entries detailing repair of the f…

At 1115 Pacific time, a Bellanca 14-19 lost engine power when making a missed approach at the Napa County Airport and was ditched in San Pablo Bay. The pilot was not injured. The flight departed the Camarillo, Calif., at 0730 that morning and had diverted to Angwin during a period when Napa was below approach minimums. The flight departed Angwin at 1020 on an instrument clearance to Napa. The pilot said he departed Camarillo with full tanks, which gave him four hours of flight time plus a 45-minute reserve. The pilot said he made his approach too high and the tower controller instructed him to execute a missed approach. During the climb out the engine started to sag and the airplane would…