NTSB Reports

Radar data depicted the airplane flying northerly until about 1138, when it initiated a right turn to the south at about 400 feet msl. Witnesses then saw the airplane turn right to a westerly or northwesterly direction over land while radar depicted the airplane descending to about 200 feet msl. The airplane banked sharply left, and one witness observed the banner twist and separate. The airplane then banked to the right and impacted a 19-story condominium near its top floor. The airplane fell to the second floor deck and came to rest on its left side. Witnesses described the engine sound as either sputtering, operating normally or being at a low throttle setting.

Key Takeaways:

• March 2019 saw a variety of aviation accidents, many resulting in substantial damage and a significant number in fatalities for pilots and passengers.
• Common contributing factors included mechanical failures (e.g., engine stoppage, landing gear issues, carburetor separation), challenging weather conditions (e.g., night IFR, snow, thunderstorms, wind shear), and pilot-related issues such as inexperience or critical decision-making.
• Incidents ranged from in-flight engine failures requiring forced landings or ditching, to loss of control during maneuvering, landing gear collapses, and runway excursions/hard landings.

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