Accidents and Incidents

Air Safety Week,  April 21, 2008  

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Date: March 02, 2008 Norwood, MA
Aircraft Type: Piper PA-38-112 N9182A
Narrative: Flight crew was cleared for a touch-and-go landing on runway 35.
Death/Injury: No fatalities
Remarks: The student pilot said the airplane was moving towards the right side
of the runway and was not lined up. The CFI attempted to correct but the right
main landing gear collided with a snow bank.

Date: March 02, 2008  S.Charleston, WV
Aircraft Type: Cessna 182Q N97514
Narrative: A/c hit windshear and lost airspeed. The pilot applied "full power"
and was able to re-stabilize the approach. The pilot reduced engine power and
the "wind sheared to the tail" of the airplane, with increased airspeed.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The airplane touched down approximately 600 ft from the runway end,
overran the runway, and the nose wheel dug into mud.

Date: March 05, 2008 West Palm Beach, FL
Aircraft Type: Piper PA24-260 N9126P
Narrative: Pilot was cleared to land on runway 27 and he did not use the
checklist or visually ensure that the landing gear was down.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: He made a wrong turn and landed gear up on runway 31

Date: March 08, 2008 Westport, OK
Aircraft Type: Willey Rotorway Exec 90, N5251B
Narrative: CFE and student practicing autorotations and simulated engine
failures. The CFE said the engine tachometer read lower than the rotor
tachometer. The student checked the battery voltage and said that it was "low".
The instructor did not want to risk a downwind autorotation landing.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: When the rotor tachometer dropped to 90 percent, he initiated an
autorotation, assuming the helicopter had or was about to lose engine power. The
left skid sank into the soft terrain and the helicopter subsequently rolled on
to its side.

Date: March 09, 2008 Nickerson, KS
Aircraft Type: Piper PA-22 N1424A
Narrative: During landing roll on a dirt strip, the airplane began to veer off
the left side of the runway. The pilot tried to correct with right rudder; but
the airplane continued to the left. It departed the landing environment and
nosed over.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The master cylinder for the brake system is located a few inches above
the exhaust muffler. When the cylinder is hot, the brakes drag.

Date: March 09, 2008 Cartersville, GA
Aircraft Type: Rotorway 162F N831MS
Narrative: Owner/builder was performing pedal turns while conducting initial
flight tests. During a turn, the left pedal "popped" and "fell away." He
immediately dropped the collective and landed hard, damaging to the tail boom.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The foot pedal scissor beam had pulled away from its retaining bolt due
to a construction error.

Date: March 09, 2008 Belmont, WV
Aircraft Type: Sikorsky S-58HT N1078T
Narrative: A/c was substantially damaged when it impacted a coal mound during a
forced landing.
Death/Injury: One serious injury
Remarks: The stated weight of the equipment lifted was 3,600 pounds. The
equipment was loaded onto a truck and weighed. The actual weight of the
equipment was 5,100 pounds.

Date: March 11, 2008 Santa Cruz, Peru
Aircraft Type: Bell 412EP N417EV
Narrative: Evergreen Helicopters a/c operated by Helinka S.A.C., was destroyed
when it impacted remote, mountainous terrain.
Death/Injury: 10 fatalities
Remarks: The U.S. certificated pilot, the Peruvian provisional co-pilot, and
eight passengers were fatally injured.

Date: March 13, 2008 Live Oak, FL
Aircraft Type: J&J Ultralights Sea Wing N7711Z
Narrative: Sudent pilot was in his first day of solo flight training.
Death/Injury: One serious injury
Remarks: On short final, the aircraft drifted towards trees to the right of the
nominal approach path. The pilot initiated a go-around, and applied control
inputs that were intended to correct the flight path to the left. The a/c turned
to the turn right and collided with trees.

Date: March 16, 2008  Bremerton, WA
Aircraft Type: Piper PA-28-181 N2823L
Narrative: In manipulating the rudder pedals to steer the airplane on the ground
his left foot got caught on something, and the airplane veered 180 degrees left,
impacting a hanger.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The pilot said he was wearing hiking boots and he believes they impeded
his ability to manipulate the rudder pedals.

Date: March 18, 2008 in Glenwood Spring, CO
Aircraft Type: Cessna 180H, registration: N67WW
Narrative: A/c nosed down on landing at Glenwood Springs Airport (GWS). This
mishap was originally reported as an incident After reexamination of the
airplane, damage was reassessed and upgraded to an accident.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The airplane touched down and the pilot felt a strong left quartering
tailwind gust. The airplane lifted off and drifted to the right towards a snow
banger. The a/c touched down again and the pilot decided to commit to a landing.

Date: March 18, 2008 Moab, UT
Aircraft Type: Cessna 180H N180LH
Narrative: A/c collided with a runway sign during takeoff.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer.

Date: March 20, 2008 in Riverside, CA
Aircraft Type: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D, registration: N3942H
Narrative: Pilot made an off airport forced landing following takeoff from
Flabob Airport.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall.

Date: March 17, 2008 in Batavia, OH
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172R, registration: N53417
Narrative: A/c was on final and slightly low, but the pilot did not feel the
need to correct the glide path. The airplane touched down, but its nose suddenly
turned to the left. The airplane bounced again and again.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: Efforts to regain control were not successful and the airplane
ultimately came to rest in a grass area to the left side of the runway

Date: March 17, 2008 Montgomery, NY
Aircraft Type: Robinson R44 N3027Y
Narrative: During liftoff, student pilot corrected for a  "tail low" condition
due to full fuel, using "light" forward cyclic. The helicopter drifted forward
toward fuel pumps and a light post, and the pilot "over controlled" the
helicopter by moving the cyclic aft.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: Pilot reacted "a little late," and drifted too close to the post. The
main rotor struck the post, the fuselage spun, and the tail of the helicopter
impacted the ground, before the helicopter came to rest on its skids.

Date: March 21, 2008 Pueblo, CO
Aircraft Type: Diamond Aircraft DA 20-C1 N954DA
Narrative: During final, the airplane encountered gusty crosswind conditions.
The flight instructor applied control inputs to correct. The airplane continued
to the right and descended with no response to inputs. The instructor then
applied full power and attempted a go-around.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The airplane "lightly" touched down on the runway, continued to the
right side of the runway surface and contacted rising terrain.

Date: March 21, 2008 Rome, GA
Aircraft Type: Beech BE-76 N184AA
Narrative: A/c was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground while
maneuvering after takeoff from Richard B. Russell Airport.
Death/Injury: Two fatalities
Remarks: A witness observed the airplane climbing after takeoff from runway 19,
The a/c seemed to be "struggling" and was climbing at a very slow rate of speed.
The airplane reached an altitude of 600 to 800 feet, and began a left turn,
consistent with a return to the airport. The airplane then began a nose first
descent toward trees.

Date: March 22, 2008 Grangeville, ID
Aircraft Type: Maule M-8-235 N205MX
Narrative: Upon touchdown, the a/c swerved, and although the pilot attempted to
regain control, it departed the left side of the runway and into a ditch.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The pilot stated that "while current [he] did not have enough recent
practice and should have refused PIC [pilot-in-command]."

Date: March 24, 2008 in Blythe, CA
Aircraft Type: Ayres S2R-600, registration: N5674X
Narrative: At end of a day of aerial application, customer who wanted a small
field sprayed. The airplane was not equipped with lights for night spraying;
however, the pilot felt there was still enough light to safely accomplish the
10-minute job.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: At the end of the second spray run, the pilot did not see the canal
bank at the end of the field. The airplane impacted the canal bank, bounced into
the air, glided for about 1/4 mile, hit a second canal bank, nosed over and came
to rest inverted. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented
"by not allowing anyone, including myself, to pressure me into doing something
that I knew was a substantially higher than normal risk for very little
benefit."

Date: March 26, 2008 Waverly, OH
Aircraft Type: :McDonnell Douglas 600N N160KC
Narrative: Helicopter received substantial damage during a hard landing. The
pilot had been demonstrating inputs needed to control a helicopter to the
passenger.
Death/Injury: Two minor
Remarks: The pilot was demonstrating a normal approach to a hover by talking
through all the control inputs during a visual approach. The tail boom separated
from the fuselage during the hard landing.

Date: March 27, 2008 Aurora, OR
Aircraft Type: Kenney RV6 N65MK
Narrative: Forced landing
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: A propeller had recently been installed on the airplane and the pilot
was conducting a test flight. The propeller was manufactured by Vari-Prop/Pitch
Control Systems, and the pilot was a co-owner of the company. During the climb
to cruise, a malfunction occurred and the propeller was freewheeling. The pilot
performed a forced landing in a field.

Date: March 29, 2008  Rincon, GA
Aircraft Type: Hatle Rans S-12 N6189
Narrative: Amateur-built Rans S-12 was substantially damaged following a loss of
control and uncontrolled descent after takeoff from a private airstrip
Death/Injury: One serious
Remarks: A/c lifted off from the 1,000-foot strip prior to the midpoint, climbed
"rapidly" to about 125 feet, where the airplane "stalled, and took a sharp left
turn."

Date: March 29, 2008 Prescott, AZ
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft 35-C33A  N4833J
Narrative: During takeoff, pilot realized forgotten to switch the fuel tank from
the left tank (containing less than 1 gallon of fuel) to the right tank
(containing about 35 gallons of fuel). Pilot switched selector from left to
right tank during takeoff roll. During initial climb, the engine sputtered and
lost power. The pilot force-landed the airplane off the end of the runway.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: FAA inspector examined fuel transfer system and successfully test ran
the engine. No mechanical anomalies were identified.

Date: April 02, 2008 Benson, AZ
Aircraft Type: Beech 95-B55 N20480
Narrative: Collided with terrain during an aborted landing.
Death/Injury: Two fatalities
Remarks: The airport manager thought the landing was higher and faster than the
approach should be.

Date: April 03, 2008 Suriname
Aircraft Type: Antonov 28 PZ-TSO
Narrative: Blue Wing Airlines, At Lawa-Antino Airport.
Death/Injury: 19 fatalities
Remarks: Flew into wooded hillside while attempting to land. Another a/c
reportedly on runway at the time. AN-28 apparently aborted approach.

Date: April 03, 2008 New York, NY
Aircraft Type: Cessna 750 N750WM
Narrative: Departed the right side of runway 13L on landing roll out at John F.
Kennedy International (JFK),
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: Crew said they lost steering and braking on landing roll and departed
runway. Cockpit voice recorder was forwarded to NTSB Vehicles Recorders Lab.

Date: April 04, 2008 La Porte, TX
Aircraft Type: Hiller UH-12E N40289
Narrative: Hiller UH-12E operated by Ascent Aviation substantially damaged when
it struck the ground and rolled over at La Porte Municipal Airport (T41).
Death/Injury: One serious, one minor
Remarks: Instructor and student were practicing "quick stops." After completion
of the second quick stop, the student made a left turn downwind. The helicopter
struck the ground.

Date: April 05, 2008 Cairn Gorm, United Kingdom
Aircraft Type: Piper PA-32R-300 G-BSYC
Narrative: Collided with mountainous terrain near Cairn Gorm, Scotland.
Death/Injury: Total unavail
Remarks: Pilot fatally injured.

Date: April 05, 2008 Pahrump, NV
Aircraft Type: Robinson R44  N510JM
Narrative: While on approach to a private helipad, pilot noticed clutch warning
light was illuminated along with fluctuations in the rotor RPM and engine RPM.
The pilot initiated a precautionary landing.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The pilot stated a few seconds later, he heard the low rotor RPM
warning horn and observed the low rotor RPM warning light. The pilot performed a
lower rotor rpm recovery procedure without success, and initiated an
autorotation to a nearby field. Upon landing, the helicopter rolled over onto
its side.

Date: April 07, 2008 in Paducah, TX
Aircraft Type: Piper PA-28-180, registration: N5300L
Narrative: Section of propeller blade separated in cruise flight which resulted
in a forced landing to a wheat field.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: The airplane was examined by a Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge
(IIC). Examination revealed that approximately 44-inches of one of the Sensenich
fixed-pitch (all metal) propeller blades had separated and was not recovered.
The other blade was intact.

Date: April 07, 2008 in Cheyenne, WY
Aircraft Type: Glasair Glasair III, registration: C-GGTM
Narrative: Amateur built Glasair III ubstantially damaged when it impacted
terrain.
Death/Injury: One fatality
Remarks: Witness heard a/c fly overhead at a low altitude followed by a muffled
"thud" shortly after.

Date: April 08, 2008 in Colorado Spring, CO
Aircraft Type: Bombardier, Inc. CL-600-2B16, registration: N483BA
Narrative: Business jet sustained substantial damage when it impacted birds
during initial climb after takeoff from Colorado Springs Municipal Airport.
Death/Injury: No injuries
Remarks: Preliminary exam revealed bird struck the forward fuselage, below the
center windshield post.

Date: April 08, 2008 Big Bear City, CA
Aircraft Type: Cirrus Design SR22  N868PC
Narrative: Impacted mountainous terrain in the San Bernardino National Forest
while maneuvering, about 8 nm west of the Big Bear City Airport (L35).
Death/Injury: One fatality
Remarks: Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) had deployed as a result of
impact forces. While various engine accessory components had separated and could
be identified throughout the debris field, the engine could not be immediately
accounted for.

Date: April 09, 2008 Unalaska, AK
Aircraft Type: Grumman G-21A N741 Commuter Flight 325
Narrative: Peninsula Airways amphib received substantial damage when it collided
with a trailer van while on approach to Runway 30 at the Unalaska Airport.
Death/Injury: One serious, 8 minor
Remarks: The pilot said that immediately after the initial collision with the
trailer, he had no elevator control, and the airplane descended uncontrollably,
nose down. The airplane collided with the runway, and slid for several hundred
feet.

Date: April 09, 2008 Bundeena Australia
Aircraft Type: Swearingen SA.227AC Metro III  VH-OZA
Narrative: On departure, a/c observed to turn contrary to a control instruction.
Death/Injury: One fatality
Remarks: Pilot reported minor technical problem. Shortly after, a/c vanished
from radar, crashing into the sea.

Date: April 11, 2008 Roseglen, ND
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172K N7490G
Narrative: Impacted the terrain after hitting a television antenna and trees at
the pilot's farmstead.
Death/Injury: Two fatalities
Remarks: Flight departed from the Garrison Municipal Airport (D05).

Date: April 11, 2008 Moldova
Aircraft Type: Antonov 32 ST-AZL
Narrative: Kata Transportation, Departed Chisinau Airport (KIV)
Death/Injury: Eight fatalities
Remarks: Bound for Sudan. Problem developed after takoff. A/c crashed on final
and burned.

Date: April 11, 2008 Beaumont, TX
Aircraft Type: Grumman American Aviation AA-5A N9764U
Narrative: A/c was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after entering
a spin.
Death/Injury: One serious
Remarks: The flight was at 7,000 feet msl when the pilot lost an engine. The a/c
entered a spin that the pilot was not able to recover from.. An FAA inspector
said that the a/c impacted the ground in a flat attitude. He stated that the
propeller was straight and there were no ground scars other than directly
beneath the airplane.

Date: April 11, 2008 Taylor, TX
Aircraft Type: Beech BE-200 N300FL
Narrative: Mechanic was fatally injured when he attempted to enter a dual-engine
BE-200 with the engines running.
Death/Injury: One fatality
Remarks: Unexpected cabin pressure existed when the mechanic attempted to open
the entry door and the door contacted the mechanic's head.

Date: April 12, 2008 Compton, CA
Aircraft Type: Cessna C-310Q 6231Q
Narrative: Impacted two homes while attempting to make an emergency landing at
Compton Airport for unspecified reasons.
Death/Injury: Four injured
Remarks: A/c registered to a Carson City, NV business. At controls was 71 year
old pilot.

Date: April 12, 2008 in Big Lake, AK
Aircraft Type: Piper J5A, registration: N38149
Narrative: Emergency landing after takeoff, at the Big Lake Airport
Death/Injury: One minor
Remarks: The pilot said the a/c lifted off the runway, climbed about 50 feet,
and the engine quit. He said the airplane descended into trees at the end of the
runway. The pilot, who is a certificated aircraft mechanic, said the a/c had not
flown in about a year, and that he had spent the day getting the a/c in shape
for the flight.

Date: April 14, 2008 Rock River, WY
Aircraft Type: Artic Aircraft Corp. S-1B2 N73WY
Narrative: S-1B2 single engine a/c collided with terrain while maneuvering at
low altitude.
Death/Injury: One serious, one minor
Remarks: A/c was owned and operated by TS Aviation and was being used for survey
of geese. The pilot has no memory of the accident sequence. . The biologist said
they had been flying about 100 feet agl following a creek over low rolling
terrain while he observed and took a census of the geese population. On previous
flights, the pilot had flown too fast for the biologist to accurately count the
birds of interest and he asked the pilot to fly slower. Pilot extended the flaps
and was flying slower. Reached the end of the creek and the pilot began a turn.
The biologist then heard the pilot call out an expletive as the airplane began
descending. The pilot leveled the wings just before impact with the ground.

Date: April 15, 2008 Goma, Congo
Aircraft Type: DC-9
Narrative: Crashed into neighborhood in eastern Congo while trying to take off.
Death/Injury: At least 44 fatalities and 146 injuries
Remarks: Witnesses said a/c delayed by rain, blew a tire, went out of control
through a fence.

Date: April 15, 2008 Fort Carson, CO
Aircraft Type: unidentified
Narrative: Pilot died when single-engine air tanker crashed while fighting a
fire just east of Fort Carson U.S. Army base.
Death/Injury: One fatality
Remarks: FAA said "crop duster type a/c" was operated by private contractor
working for U.S. Forest Service.

Date: April 16, 2008 120 miles NE of Anchorage, AK
Aircraft Type: Eurocopter AS350 B2
Narrative: A/c operated by Era Aviation crashed in heavy snow.
Death/Injury: Four fatalities, one injury
Remarks: Ferrying state technicians working on radio sites.