Aviation Safety

At about 15:30 EST, a Piper PA22-108 lost power during the initial climb from Wales Airport and was damaged in the ensuing forced landing. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot told investigators the airplanes engine sputtered and lost total power at about 200 feet agl. The pilot initiated a right turn and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing the airplane contacted the top of a knoll and nosed over. No fuel was found in the airplanes fuel tank or gascolator and there was no evidence of a fuel spill. The pilot reported both of the airplanes fuel gauges were indicating one-half full at the time of the accident….

At 11:25 EST, a Beech C23 made a hard landing and burned at the Greenwood Airport. The two front-seat occupants reported minor injures, while the rear seat passenger suffered serious injuries. Witnesses said the airplane came in low with a nose-high attitude. The airplane landed hard on the runway, bounced into the air and landed hard a second time. During the second impact, the right wing fuel tank ruptured and the landing gear separated. The airplane slid down the runway and caught fire during its skid….

At 13:12 PDT, a Giles G-750 experimental/exhibition airplane, dubbed Turbo Raven and piloted by Wayne Handley, crashed during an air show at Salinas, seriously injuring the pilot. Handley was executing a modified Cuban-8 type maneuver when the engine failed to respond to power application and the airplane crashed on taxiway C….

At about 15:06 EST, a Piper PA-32RT-300T crashed on takeoff from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. The pilot said the engine stopped producing power right after takeoff from runway 27L. He was trying to avoid the heavily traveled I-95 at the edge of the airport and tried to turn enough to land on the airport property. The airplane collided with trees and came to rest in a canal at a boat marina, barely missing moored boats….

At about 07:30 CDT, a Continental Tomcat MK5A and a Texas Helicopter OH-13E collided in flight over a field in Heflin. Both pilots were killed. Both helicopters were registered to the same company and were performing agricultural operations. Witnesses said the OH-13 was flying south about 150 feet above the ground spraying herbicides. The Tomcat had just taken off from a flatbed truck and climbed to clear a stand of 100-foot trees. It then turned east into the sun and the two helicopters collided. Neither aircraft took evasive action….

At 15:16 CST, a Maule M7-235 ground looped during landing at the Iuka Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said that, while he was landing on runway 18, the right rudder pedal went to the floor. The aircraft ground looped and received major structural damage to the fuselage where the right main gear attaches. Inspectors found the rudder cable had pulled loose from the nicopress fitting and sleeve. The aircraft tach showed 18.5 hours and the Hobbs meter indicated 21.3 hours total time since new. The rudder cable and nicopress fitting were removed for further examination….

At about 12:15 EDT, a Piper PA-60-700P was damaged while landing at the Greenville Municipal Airport, but the two occupants were not injured. The Greenville Municipal Airport was serviced by two runways, runway 03/21 and runway 14/32. At the time of the accident, runway 14/32 was closed for construction and a NOTAM had been issued. The pilot made a straight in approach to the runway, which was not marked with an X and which had operating PAPI lights. He said he could not see the construction due to a crown in the runway. When he passed the crown, there was not enough time to stop the airplane. The correct runway closed markings had been placed on runway 32. The pilot said he had obtained his…

At 16:05 PDT, a custom-designed North American/Rogers BLP-51R named Miss Ashley II crashed during a heat race at the Reno National Championship Air Races. Pilot Gary Levitz was killed when the empennage abruptly separated from the aircraft. The aircraft then pitched down and the left wing separated. The airplane was racing in the Unlimited Gold category, turning around the No. 1 pylon at about 400 feet agl when the failure occurred….

At 10:24 PST, a Cessna 172N was damaged during a takeoff attempt at Concord, when it ran off the departure end of the runway and collided with a fence. The airline transport-rated pilot received minor injuries. The pilot told investigators he had failed to remove the control gust lock prior to the takeoff attempt….

At about 15:10 Alaska daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC lost power after takeoff and nosed over during the ensuing forced landing. No one was hurt. Inspectors removed the carburetor and found about 10 cc of rusty water, along with clean fuel, in the airplanes carburetor float bowl….