Aviation Safety

At about 1230 eastern time, the pilot of a homebuilt Long EZ suffered medical incapacitation and the airplane crashed in the Atlantic Ocean near Marthas Vineyard. The pilot was determined to have died before impact. The pilot was gathering NOAA research data in the purpose-built airplane. He was making low passes over research buoys. The pilot reported no trouble, but another airplane spotted wreckage floating in the water. An autopsy showed the pilot suffered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage that was too large to determine its origin or its dimension….

At approximately 1430 central time, a Cessna 172 crashed on initial climb near Marietta, leaving three occupants with serious injuries. The airplane apparently took off with a left quartering eight-knot tailwind and struck a tree at approximately 30 feet agl about 100 feet northwest of the runway….

At approximately 1715 central time, a Yakovlev YAK 52 experimental/exhibition airplane crashed while doing low-altitude aerobatics, killing the pilot. Witnesses said the pilot was on the back side of a loop when the airplane descended straight down into the ground….

At about 1035 eastern time, a Piper PA-28-235 crashed into trees after losing engine power while on approach to Chester County Airport. The pilot was seriously injured. The pilot had flown from the Chicago area, destined for Coatesville, and was about one mile out from runway 11 when the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to make a downwind landing to runway 29 but crashed a half-mile short. An inspector determined the airplane had run out of fuel….

At about 1930 Pacific time, a Mooney M20M crashed while attempting to go around at Ocean Ridge Airport. The pilot was not injured and the passenger sustained a minor injury. The pilot reported he had never flown into such a short runway (2,500 feet) and he overflew the runway twice before trying to land. He made the approach with full flaps at 65 knots into the setting sun. The airplane drifted left of the runway and the pilot added power to go around, at which time the airplane struck trees and terrain about 100 feet from the runway edge….

At about 2045 eastern time, a Cessna 182Q was damaged while landing at Cincinnati Municipal Airport /Lunken Field. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The tower controller asked the pilot to perform a short approach when the airplane was on downwind. The pilot said he was not accustomed to flying the airplane with a load of 3 passengers and fuel. The airplane touched down about 25 feet short of the runway, and then struck the elevated runway lip. The pilot said he was attempting to land close to the approach end of the runway to shorten the taxi to his hangar….

At approximately 1345 mountain time, a Cessna 310N was damaged during a hard landing at Glenwood Springs Municipal Airport and, at 1456, the airplane made a gear-up landing at Walker Field. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot said he made a hard landing at Glenwood Springs, followed by a go-around. Suspecting gear damage, he diverted to Rifle, Colo., but on his approach the right main landing gear fell off. Because of the limited emergency equipment in Rifle, he diverted to Walker Field. Witnesses confirmed the missing gear after he made a low pass over the runway, and the pilot retracted the gear and made an intentional gear-up landing….

At 1330 central time, a Cessna 210L crashed during a precautionary landing near Lacon. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The pilots mechanic said the pilot told him after the accident that the instrument panel was so hot he could not hold his hand on it. The pilot told the mechanic that he had smelled smoke and landed in a cornfield….

At about 0123 Pacific time, the pilot of an Aero Commander 690A lost control during a descending turn from left base to final for runway 30 at Bishop Airport. The pilot and three passengers were killed. Witnesses said the airplanes bank angle hit 70 to 90 degrees during the turn. The pilot had indicated to the FAA he wanted to obtain a Part 135 certificate. On the accident flight, the pilot was picking up two passengers and several hundred pounds of luggage from a connecting airline flight in Oakland. Personnel at the passengers Bishop-based business office said the passengers wanted to pay for the flight, but that the pilot told them he did not have enough time in the aircraft type to ac…

At about 1045 eastern time, a Cessna 172RG was damaged during a hard landing at Greater Rochester International Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot had flown from Rochester to Brockport and back. During the outbound leg, he suspected the airspeed indicator was reading low for his altitude and power setting, but was not convinced it was a significant problem. He landed at Brockport and departed for the return leg without exiting the airplane. On approach to Rochester, he was cleared to land on runway 22, the main runway, which led him to attempt to expedite the landing. He touched down with a high airspeed and descent rate, and the airplane was damaged in the bounced landing. Examin…