Aviation Safety

At 09:36 eastern time, a Piper PA-32RT-300 struck the ground during an instrument approach to Tompkins County Airport. The pilot and two passengers suffered minor injuries. While being vectored for the ILS Runway 32 approach, the pilot had the autopilot engaged in the heading and altitude mode. Once cleared for the approach, the pilot canceled the altitude mode and started a descent. He intercepted the final approach course using the heading mode and autopilot. As he passed the final approach fix, the pilot disengaged the autopilot. At that point he was on course and above glide slope. Published minimums for the approach are 1,349 feet msl, but the pilot said his personal minimum was 2,000 f…

At about 08:00 Atlantic time, a Piper PA-30 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing the pilot. Witnesses said the pilot had trouble starting the right engine, and after it started it made a popping noise. The pilot taxied the airplane to runway 12 and proceeded to take off with the right engine still making a popping sound. After takeoff the airplane climbed to between 250-300 feet with the landing gear still extended. The airplane then began to lose altitude and it was observed turning to the right. As the airplane turned right onto a downwind leg, it suddenly rolled to the right inverted and crashed….

At 12:08 mountain time, a homebuilt Questair Venture caught fire following landing at Ogden Municipal Airport. The pilot was seriously burned. The tower controller said the pilot reported fuel fumes in the cockpit and was cleared to land on any runway. After an unstable, fast landing, the airplane groundlooped on the runway and caught fire….

At 09:15 eastern time, a Lake LA-4 exploded as the pilot attempted to start the engine at the Orlando Executive Airport. The two occupants suffered minor injuries but the airplane was destroyed. Preliminary examination showed the explosion occurred in the bilge area underneath and behind the rear seat. The examination also showed that the main fuel tank and associated fuel components are in close proximity to the battery installation. Fuel stains were observed on fuel lines and fittings inside the enclosed fuel system compartments and corrosion was detected on one battery cable….

At about 15:50 eastern time, a Cessna 177 struck trees while taking off from a field in Davidsville. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane had suffered a loss of engine power and made a forced landing in the field several days earlier. Fuel was off-loaded to make the airplane lighter and the pilot was issued a ferry permit to depart the field. The grass was reported as six to 12 inches tall. The pilot was able to get the airplane airborne in 1,150 feet, but then struck a low dirt embankment, went through a fence and struck trees near a house. Water was found in the main sump drain and the carburetor….

At about 17:35 eastern time, a homebuilt Cubby Sport Trainer collided with a Bellanca 7ECA on landing roll-out at Cecil County Airport/Raintree Airpark. The pilot of the Cubby and the two aboard the Bellanca were uninjured. The pilot of the Cubby said he flew a normal traffic pattern behind a Piper Lance to runway 31 and made a normal three-point landing within the first third of the runway. Suddenly the Bellanca appeared on his left side going the opposite direction and the two airplanes struck wings. The flight instructor of the Bellanca said the wind was favoring 13 and the Bellanca made a normal approach and landing. He saw the Cubby on short final but thought the other airplane was maki…

At approximately 10:25 central time, a Cessna 150G struck trees while maneuvering over mountainous terrain near Dunlap. The pilot was killed. The flight departed John C. Tune Airport in Nashville at 09:30, reportedly en route to Copperhill. After takeoff, the pilot established radio and radar contact with Nashville Approach Control, but radio contact was not maintained. Radar contact was maintained and the airplane was observed maneuvering in the vicinity of the accident site. The airplane was reported missing when it did not arrive at its destination, but searchers did not find the wreckage for 14 days. The airplane struck the trees at a 45-degree angle….

At 23:20 eastern time, a Cessna 172S struck trees while conducting an ILS approach to runway 8 at Fulton County Airport on an instrument training flight. The pilot was seriously injured and the instructor and a passenger suffered minor injuries. The pilots were told the glideslope for runway 8 was inoperative and were subsequently cleared for the approach. While on a two-mile final, the pilot said the VSI abruptly showed a climb and then a descent while airspeed increased. The pilot selected the alternate static source and initiated a go-around, but the airplane hit trees two miles short of the airport….

At about 17:00 Pacific time, a Bell 206B and Gulfstream G-IV collided in a non-movement area of the San Diego International-Lindbergh Field. The pilot of the helicopter and his three passengers were uninjured and the eight occupants of the Gulfstream were uninjured. The helicopter was on the ground and the Gulfstream was taxiing past it with the assistance of line personnel. As the jet approached the helicopter, a wing walker signaled there was sufficient clearance to pass. But as the jet passed, the helicopter pilot started the engine and the rotor blades struck the jets right winglet. The rotors then struck the helicopters tailboom….

At about 15:40 eastern time, a Piper PA-46-350P was damaged during an aborted takeoff from Ross County Airport. The three occupants were not injured. The three boarded in a heavy snowstorm and the pilot taxied the aircraft to the end of runway 23. There, both pilots used their cell phones to call Flight Service. Due to a disconnected phone call, it took about 45 minutes to file the IFR flight plan and receive a clearance. During the subsequent run-up, the pilot noticed about three to four inches of slush on the runway and about – to -inch of slush on the top of the wings. The two pilots agreed the debris would blow off during the takeoff run and elected not to clean the wings manually. Dur…