General Aviation Accident Bulletin

Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents.

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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 atwww.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the accident, although some take longer. Find out more about Aviation Safety atwww.aviationsafetymagazine.com.

September 9, 2016, Wickenburg, Ariz.

Cessna 310N

The airplane struck a refuse transfer trailer at about 0700 Mountain time, shortly after takeoff. The airline transport pilot and three passengers were seriously injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed.

Witnesses observed the airplane take off, then veer to the right of centerline shortly after rotation. The airplane climbed no higher than about 75 feet agl, and flew toward an adjacent industrial park. A few seconds later, the airplane rolled almost 90 degrees to the right and its right wing struck the trailer. The right wing separated from the airframe, and the main fuselage came to rest about 75 feet downrange.


September 10, 2016, Anchorage, Alaska

Polar Cub Experimental

At about 1630 Alaska time, the float-equipped airplane was destroyed following a loss of control and subsequent impact with tree-covered terrain. The pilot was fatally injured; a post-crash fire incinerated the airplane. Visual conditions prevailed.

Witnesses observed the accident airplane complete two, low-level, high-speed, 360-degree right turns over a neighborhood. The first 360-degree turn was accomplished at between 150 and 200 feet agl, but the second pass was much lower. The witnesses also reported the accident airplane’s bank angle increased significantly in the second 360-degree right turn. As the airplane completed the second turn, its nose pitched down and it began a rapid nose-down descent. The wings rolled level just before impacting a stand of tall trees adjacent to a home. The airplane came to rest inverted; a post-crash fire erupted about 30 seconds after impact and quickly engulfed the airplane.


September 11, 2016, Reno, Nev.

Piper PA-28R-201T Arrow IV

The airplane collided with vehicles in an airport parking lot at 1813 Pacific time, shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.

Witnesses observed the airplane climb to about 200 feet agl before leveling off. It then began to veer right of the centerline. About 90 seconds after giving the takeoff clearance, the tower controller asked the pilot, “…are you okay?” The pilot responded, “Negative; we got ah, we got a problem.” The airplane then began a descending right turn back toward the airport. About 600 feet before reaching the main terminal ramp, its right wing struck a lamp post in a long-term parking lot. The outboard section of the wing separated and the airplane immediately rolled right, striking parked automobiles and the ground.


September 16, 2016, Lancaster, Penn.

Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion

At 1105 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged following collapse of its main landing gear during landing. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

As the training session was ending, the pilot receiving instruction lowered the landing gear as the airplane entered the traffic pattern. Both pilots twice confirmed the landing gear was in the down and locked position. During landing, the airplane touched down, then momentarily lifted off again. As it did so, the landing gear warning horn sounded. The flight instructor then took the controls and set the airplane down on its right main landing gear. As the airplane decelerated, the nose wheel touched down and a right yaw developed; the left wing settled onto the runway and the airplane slid to a stop. Examination revealed the airplane came to rest upright on its left wingtip, fuselage and nose wheel. Both main landing gear were collapsed and near their respective “up” positions. The nose gear was in the down position and canted to the right. A set of two tire marks about 350 feet long was found on the runway extending west from the airplane toward the approach end of the runway.


September 17, 2016, Broadus, Mon.

Beech Model 95-B55 (T42A) Baron

The airplane impacted terrain at about 1300 Mountain time. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage.

All major components were identified at the accident site. Both the left and right fuel tanks had been breached but the odor of 100LL fuel was evident. The left propeller blades had displayed light chord-wise scratches. The right propeller blades had no such scratches.


September 17, 2016, Gilbert, Ariz.

Cessna Model 182P Skylane

At about 1918 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted a residential structure following an inflight fire. The commercial pilot was seriously injured; the four skydivers sustained minor injuries. One of the two occupants of the house sustained a minor injury. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane was participating in an aerial pyrotechnic display with skydivers. As the airplane arrived at the planned jump area, there was a loud noise and damage to the airplane’s left wing. The skydivers jumped out of the airplane as its left wing became engulfed in flames. The pilot radioed a distress call and then egressed. The airplane subsequently impacted a residential area. The airplane struck the house’s roof. Fire consumed a majority of the airplane and the home’s interior.

This article originally appeared in the December 2016 issue ofAviation Safetymagazine.

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