AVweb’s General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine. 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 website 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 10, 2018, Ramona, Calif.
Van’s RV7A Experimental
The airplane was destroyed at about 0752 Pacific time during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The airplane had recently been constructed and the accident flight was its first flight. Following an uneventful engine runup, the pilot applied full power to initiate a takeoff. As the airplane crossed the departure end of the runway at about 500 feet agl, the engine began to lose power. Despite the pilot’s attempts, he was unable to restore engine power and initiated a forced landing to an open dirt field. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear struck a rock and separated. The airplane came to rest upright; however, a post-impact fire ensued, which consumed the inboard sections of both wings and the fuselage.
November 11, 2018, Lake City, Fla.
Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III/V
At about 1315 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during the initial climb after takeoff. The private pilot and two passengers were seriously injured; one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
A witness observed the pilot perform a preflight engine runup and the takeoff. Wind conditions included a right quartering tailwind of about 8 to 10 mph. He thought the pilot “forced” the airplane off the ground and it immediately began “oscillations”; when the airplane appeared to be near stall speed, the nose lowered and would then raise again, which repeated until the airplane contacted tree tops. He further stated that each time the airplane oscillated, it resulted in a lower altitude.
November 12, 2018, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Aero Commander 690C
The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 1415 Eastern time when it collided with the Atlantic Ocean during an approach to land. The solo commercial pilot was seriously injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, he followed radar vectors to the final approach course and was inside the outer marker when he encountered heavy turbulence. He continued the approach and later described what he believed to be a microburst. The airplane began descending rapidly. The pilot added full power in an attempt to climb, but the airplane continued to descend until it collided with the water one mile from the approach end of Runway 36.
November 15, 2018, Redding, Calif.
Cessna 182K Skylane
At 1827 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
Radar data depicted the accident airplane starting a gradual left turn just beyond the departure end of the departure runway. The airplane then began a right turn and a descent from about 500 feet AGL about a half mile north of the departure airport. The last radar target was near the accident site at 100 feet AGL.
A witness observed the airplane’s red and green wingtip lights but could not see the airplane due to very low visibility and the dark environment. Shortly, the witness observed the wingtip lights “flip over as the airplane was in a roll,” and the airplane started descending straight toward the ground. The witness further stated that the “sound drastically decreased as if the engine power decreased” right before the airplane impacted the ground. Examination revealed the airplane impacted terrain 0.75 miles north-east of the departure end of the runway and cartwheeled before coming to rest upright.
This article originally appeared in the February 2019 issue of Aviation Safety magazine.
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