Preliminary Reports

Selected recent general aviation and airline accidents

At about 1300 central time, a Vans RV-6T was struck by a Lancair 360 while the two amateur-built airplanes were taxiing after landing on runway 27 at Wittman Regional Airport. The RV-6 had landed and was exiting the runway when the Lancair landed and struck the RV-6s left wing. The accident occurred during the AirVenture fly-in, at which time controllers use the runway for several aircraft simultaneously….

At about 1500 eastern time, a Piper PA-34-200T struck trees while maneuvering near Galion. The pilot and one passenger were killed, two other passengers suffered serious injuries. The flight had departed Akron VFR about 50 minutes earlier but there were instrument conditions in the area. The pilot was receiving flight following to Galion and, as he approached, asked the controller where the airport was. The controller said the airplane was directly underneath. There were no further communications with the pilot. A flight instructor at the airport said he saw the airplane fly over the airport at about 600 feet agl with the gear down and the flaps extended and enter a downwind leg for runway 0…

At about 1645 central time, a Piper PA-28-180 struck terrain near Clarkfield while flying VFR in an area with visual to instrument conditions. The pilot was killed. The flight was en route from Norfolk, Neb., to Montevideo, Minn., on a VFR flight plan but did not arrive as scheduled. The wreckage was found about eight hours later. Weather conditions at the time included ceilings of 1,200 to 1,400 feet and visibility of 2.5 to 7 miles with mist….

At 0740 eastern time, a Grumman AA-5B struck trees while on the ILS Rwy 33 approach at Johnstown-Cambria County Airport. The pilot was killed. The pilot was assigned a heading of 300 degrees to intercept the final approach course and instructed to maintain an altitude of 4,600 feet until established on the approach. He reported he was established on the approach and contacted the tower. He made two routine transmissions but reported no problems. Analysis of the airplanes radar track showed it was 100 feet above glideslope when it reached a position 6.7 miles from the initial approach fix, which itself was 6.7 miles from the runway. It began a descent of 850 feet per minute and struck a ridg…

At about 1645 Alaska time, a Beech V35B crashed about a half-mile from Skagway Airport after the pilot lost control on initial climb. The pilot and two passengers were killed. Witnesses said the airplane departed runway 02 and then began a tight, climbing left turn. The direction of the turn placed the airplane near rising terrain. The airplane then descended nose down into the trees in an area about 220 feet higher than airport elevation. The Airport/Facility Directory warns that, upon departing runway 02 that pilots should maintain runway heading for a half mile for noise abatement purposes. Wind at the time was 040 at 13 knots….

At 0749 eastern time, a Piper PA-32-300 crashed while making an instrument approach into Seamans Field. The pilot and passenger were killed. The pilot was cleared for the VOR-A instrument approach at Seamans Field, which requires a 600-foot ceiling and a 1-mile visibility. Witnesses said the weather was extremely foggy, with visibility less than 50 feet. The airplane flew over the airport at a very low altitude and crashed. They said there was no indication the pilot attempted to add power for a missed approach until after the first sound of the airplane hitting a tree. The last entry in the pilots logbook had been made more than a year earlier….

At approximately 1430 Pacific time, an amateur-built Kitfox Lite Squared crashed near the southeast end of runway 13 at Homedale Municipal Airport. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft had received its temporary experimental airworthiness certificate on the morning of the accident, and this was to be its first flight. The pilot initiated the takeoff on runway 13 with a left quartering tailwind of at least 10 knots. The pilot said he did this to avoid taking off over a nearby residential area. He said the aircraft sank/mushed to the ground shortly after takeoff….

At 1505 eastern time, a Bombardier Canadair CL600-2B19 experienced smoke in the cockpit shortly after takeoff from Charleston International Airport. The flight diverted to Raleigh Durham International Airport, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and landed without further incident. No one was injured. The crew said they pushed back from the gate in heavy rain and departed. They were cruising at 27,000 feet when they heard a thump. The autopilot disengaged, and all six flight and navigational screens went blank. Power came back on almost immediately and all six screens illuminated. Examination of the avionics and electronics bay found black soot on the wire bundles and relays….

At about 1430 eastern time, a Cessna 172RG, N9673B, was substantially damaged while landing at Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The pilot said he was on approach to runway 19, when he encountered a thunderstorm cell and was advised by another pilot to use runway 30. The pilot said he made the approach at about 75 to 80 knots in anticipation of crosswinds or wind shear. He said that he was touching down when he encountered a wind gust that picked up the left wing, causing the airplane to land hard. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller, firewall, nose gear and lower portions of the fuselage….