AVweb’s General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine and is published twice a month. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause in the NTSB’s web site at www.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the accident, although some take longer. Find out more about Aviation Safety at www.aviationsafetymagazine.com.
Cessna Model 340
December 1, 2016, Fargo, ND
The airplane impacted terrain at 1629 Central time. The solo pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan was in effect.
After taking air samples at various altitudes, the airplane was returning to its base and overshot a turn to the Runway 36 localizer. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported an on-board fire. The airplane, which was at 1700 feet, lost altitude rapidly and radar contact was lost. The accident site was consistent with the airplane striking the ground at a high velocity, low angle of impact in a left wing slightly low attitude. There was a ground fire after impact
Cessna Model 500 Citation
December 4, 2016, Gunnison, CO
At about 1855 Mountain time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a hard landing and runway excursion. The solo pilot not injured. Night visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan was in effect.
While en route, the pilot reported to ATC that the airplane was low on fuel. Subsequently, the flight was vectored to a divert facility and was cleared for the GPS-B Rwy 24 approach. During the approach, the pilot reported that he had the runway in sight and ATC cleared the flight for a visual approach. While touching down, the airplane’s left main landing gear and nose gear collapsed, and the airplane veered off the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Surface weather included wind from 340 degrees at four knots.
Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III
December 5, 2016, Camilla, GA
The airplane was destroyed during a descent and subsequent inflight breakup. The solo airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Night instrument conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was in effect for the Part 135 on-demand cargo flight.
As the flight neared its destination, ATC advised the pilot of moderate to extreme precipitation along his planned route of flight and suggested a diversion of 70 nm. The pilot responded that he did have enough fuel for such a diversion, but concluded he would “see what the radar is painting.” Shortly thereafter, the pilot advised ATC he intended to divert to Tallahassee, Fla. The airplane then descended from 7000 feet msl to 3700 feet before radar and radio contact were lost. The debris field was about 2640 feet in length and 1500 feet wide. The first components located along the debris field were the outboard sections of both wings, which exhibited damage and paint transfer consistent with contact with the fuselage. Additional components located along the debris path included the empennage and the mid-span portions of both wings.
Piper PA-31T Cheyenne
December 5, 2016, Missoula, MT
At about 1300 Mountain time, the aircraft made an unscheduled landing after the left windshield fractured and separated from the airplane. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; the flight was operated on an IFR flight plan.
The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at 23,000 feet when the left windshield fractured and departed the airplane. He immediately performed an emergency landing at the nearest airport and landed without further incident. Examination revealed the windshield’s periphery remained attached to the airframe; however, a majority of it separated and has not been located.
Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria
December 7, 2016, Fairbanks, AK
The ski-equipped airplane was substantially damaged at about 1043 Alaska time when it impacted snow-covered terrain. The solo airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The flight was intended to conduct post-maintenance testing for recently installed vortex generators, the skis, a new throttle cable and a new alternator. At 1026, the pilot took off. At about 1310, two U.S. Army helicopters heard an ELT and subsequently identified the wreckage. One of the helicopters landed and discovered the occupant with fatal injuries. All of the airplane’s major components were found at the main wreckage site. Preliminary data from a portable GPS receiver indicate the airplane performed three full turns at various altitudes between 1500 feet to 1700 feet, followed by a long descending flight path to the southeast that included a groundspeed of 26 knots at about 400 feet agl, prior to ground impact.
Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee 180
December 7, 2016, Port Alsworth, AK
At about 0935 Alaska time, the airplane is presumed to have sustained substantial damage during impact with the open waters of Lake Clark shortly after takeoff. The noninstrument-rated private pilot and three passengers are presumed to have sustained fatal injuries; all were missing at the time of this report. Visual conditions prevailed at the airplane’s point of departure, but reduced visibility was reported along the flight’s anticipated flight route, including low-lying ice fog over Lake Clark.
When the airplane failed to arrive, family members and friends reported the airplane overdue. The FAA issued an alert notice at 1501, and an extensive search was launched. On December 8, searchers located personal items floating in Lake Clark that were later positively identified as belonging to the missing occupants. Also recovered were three airplane landing gear wheel assemblies, a co-pilot seat and cargo from the missing airplane. The rest of the airplane has not yet been located, and it is presumed to have sunk in the deep waters of Lake Clark.
Cub Crafters PA18
December 7, 2016, Basin, WY
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1015 Mountain time when it impacted terrain while maneuvering. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and commercial-certificated crewmember was seriously injured. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a public use flight. Visual conditions prevailed for the wildlife management flight.
According to the ground crew supporting the flight, the airplane arrived in the area around 0820. Crew members had visual contact, radio communication and/or could hear the airplane operating until about 1000. At about 1015, the ground crew attempted to contact the airplane to change the area of focus, to no avail. The airplane was located at 1330 by aerial search and rescue teams. The wreckage was located within steep hilly terrain, just below a ridge line extending from northeast to southwest, and included the fuselage, empennage, both wings, and the engine and propeller assembly. The airplane came to rest nearly vertical with the right wing uphill and the left wing downhill.
Beech Model A36 Bonanza
December 11, 2016, Shoreham, NY
At about 1300 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power during cruise flight and subsequent ditching in Long Island Sound. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While en route at 5500 feet msl, the engine started running rough. The pilot adjusted the mixture, propeller and throttle controls but the engine was still running rough and getting worse. The pilot turned to return to his departure airport and noticed oil was covering the windscreen. He then declared an emergency and asked ATC for vectors to a nearby airport.
A few seconds later, the pilot saw parts separate from the airplane. The engine then lost all power and the pilot told ATC they were going to ditch the airplane. Once they ditched in the water, the pilot and passenger opened the door and swam to a nearby rock. Examination of the engine revealed several holes in the crankcase. A front section of the crankshaft was fractured and the propeller was not recovered.
This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of Aviation Safety magazine.
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