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.
November 2, 2017, Las Vegas, Nev.
Beechcraft Model B95 Travel Air
At about 1735 Pacific time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a reported loss of engine power. The flight instructor and commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the pilot, on final approach, one of the airplane’s two engines began to surge and lost power. Unable to make the airport, he decided to land on a nearby field located on a golf course. During the landing, the airplane’s right wing struck an obstacle, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. The airplane came to rest in a pond, submerged in water.
November 2, 2017, Redding, Calif.
Cessna Model 172R Skyhawk
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0930 Pacific time during an off-airport landing after losing engine power shortly after takeoff. The flight instructor and two students were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The flight departed to the southeast and about three miles from the airport, the pilot reported an engine failure with sparks coming from the engine. The controller cleared the flight to land on Runway 34 but the airplane was too high, and the pilot elected to go around. The pilot turned back toward Runway 16, crossed it and landed in a field.
November 3, 2017, Erwinna, Penn.
SA-900 V-Star Experimental
At about 1400 Eastern time, the airplane collided with terrain during landing. The solo private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
A witness observed the accident airplane depart. About 30 minutes later, he saw it approach the airport from the east. Initially, it was in a normal flight attitude over the runway. It disappeared briefly behind rolling terrain, He next saw the left wing, then the right wing, followed by the tail, in what he described as a “cartwheeling” motion. He did not report any strange sounds, smoke or objects falling from the airplane.
November 3, 2017, Murphy, Idaho
Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub
The airplane impacted mountainous terrain at about 0900 Mountain time. The pilot/owner was fatally injured, and the passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.
After a 1.5-hour flight, the airplane landed at the dirt strip due to the passenger getting airsick. The airplane was on the ground for about 20 minutes, and was departing at the time of the accident. A witness watched the accident airplane take off and establish a positive rate of climb. When the accident airplane was about 150 feet agl, he saw the right wing drop with the pilot simultaneously keying the mike and saying “Whoa.” The airplane’s nose continued to drop, and the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low, near-vertical attitude.
November 4, 2017, Alva, Okla.
Beechcraft Model V35B Bonanza
At 1728 Central time, the airplane impacted terrain while conducting a visual approach. The airplane was destroyed; the flight instructor and pilot were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to a state trooper who spoke with the pilot in an emergency room, he and the flight instructor noticed the left engine cowling pop up during flight. According to the pilot, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane. The airplane continued its descent until striking trees and a power line, which were about 40 feet higher than the airport’s elevation and 3000 feet north of the Runway 18 threshold. The airplane came to rest on its left side and a post-crash fire ensued.
November 4, 2017, Hatch, N.M.
Cessna Model 172N Skyhawk
The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 1630 Mountain time when it impacted terrain. The pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
After lunch, the pilot and passengers were driven back to the local airport for their flight home around 1600 local time. Their exact departure time is unknown and there were no witnesses to the accident. The airplane impacted rugged desert terrain located about 0.56 nm west of the departure end of Runway 29 and was not located until 1700 the next day.
November 5, 2017, Las Vegas, N.M.
Daher/Socata TBM 850
The pilot later reported that, while landing in a gusting crosswind, it was “obvious” the wind had changed directions. He performed a go-around, but “the wind slammed [the airplane] to the ground extremely hard.” Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right off the runway and then back to the left before coming to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its fuselage.
The pilot reported there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane precluding normal operation. The automated weather observation at the accident airport reported the wind was from 270 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 25 knots, at the time of the accident. The pilot was landing on Runway 20.
November 5, 2017, Batavia, Ohio
Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee 140
The pilot reported that shortly before flying over the airport perimeter fence, “either wind shear or [a] sudden downdraft dropped the plane.” The nose landing gear struck the fence and the airplane impacted the ground short of the intended runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its fuselage and horizontal stabilator.
According to the pilot, the engine was running the entire time without issues. He added that once he encountered the downdraft, he applied full power, but the airplane continued descending with “no appreciable response.” He reported that he did not use carburetor heat during the approach.
A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located included temperature of 68 degrees F and a dew point of 63 degrees F. The FAA’s Carburetor Icing Chart indicates conditions were conducive to “serious icing (glide power).”
This article originally appeared in the February 2018 issue of Aviation Safety magazine.
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