A small plane crashed near Alma, Bacon County, Georgia, early on September 16.
According to Sheriff Richard Foskey, the plane went down after taking off from Bacon County Airport, Alma.
There were 5 people onboard, including one woman. All of them were killed in the crash.
The NTSB will investigate.
What: Cessna flying from Omaha to Des Moines
Where: Highway 169, five miles north of Winterset Iowa
When: around 9:45 pm Thursday October 2, 2008
Who: Pilot Timothy Gerber
Why: Pilot called Mayday. Flames were shooting out of the engine, but the pilot managed to land safely.
The landing missed power lines and cars as he stopped in the middle of the busy road. The plane was reportedly undamaged in spite of landing in the dark.
The pilot received encouragement from KCCI Chief Meterologist and pilot John McLaughlin who was flying at the time and heard him on the onboard radio
What is it that I’ve always said? Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance.
Looks like the NTSB Findings agree with me! See their report below about a helicopter crash in December 7, 2011, that occurred in my home away from home, Las Vegas Nevada.
PRELIMINARY REPORT
On December 7 at 4:30 Pacific Standard Time, a Eurocopter AS350-B2, operated by Sundance Helicopters as flight Landmark 57, crashed in mountainous terrain approximately 14 miles east of Las Vegas. The flight, a sightseeing tour, departed Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) en-route to the Hoover Dam area was operating under visual flight rules. The helicopter impacted in a narrow ravine in mountainous terrain between the cities of Henderson and Lake Mead. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined today (Jan. 29, 2013) that the probable cause of the Dec. 7, 2011, air tour helicopter crash near Las Vegas, Nev., was inadequate maintenance, including degraded material, improper installation, and inadequate inspections.
“This investigation is a potent reminder that what happens in the maintenance hangar is just as important for safety as what happens in the air,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman.
At about 4:30 p.m. Pacific standard time, a Sundance Helicopters Eurocopter AS350, operating as a “Twilight City Tour” sightseeing trip, crashed in mountainous terrain about 14 miles east of Las Vegas, Nev. The helicopter originated from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport at about 4:21 p.m. with a planned route to the Hoover Dam area and then return to the airport. The accident occurred after a critical flight control unit separated from another, rendering the helicopter uncontrollable. After the part separated, the helicopter climbed about 600 feet, turned about 90 degrees to the left, descended about 800 feet, began a left turn, and then descended at a rate of at least 2,500 feet per minute to impact. The pilot and four passengers were killed and the helicopter was destroyed.
The NTSB found that the crash was the result of Sundance Helicopters’ improper reuse of a degraded self-locking nut in the servo control input rod and the improper or non-use of a split pin to secure the degraded nut, in addition to an inadequate post-maintenance inspection.
Contributing to the improper (or lack of) split pin installation was the mechanic’s fatigue and lack of clearly delineated steps to follow on a “work card” or “checklist” The inspector’s fatigue and lack of a work card or checklist clearly laying out the inspection steps to follow contributed to an inadequate post-maintenance inspection. As a result of this investigation the NTSB made, reiterated and reclassified recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“One of the critical lines of defense to help prevent tragedies like this crash is improved maintenance documentation through clear work cards, or checklists,” Hersman said. “Checklists are not rocket science, but they can have astronomical benefits.”
What: Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd HAL HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer
Where: Near Hosur, Krishnagiri about 50 miles SE of Bangalore
When: April 28 2011
Who: 2 pilots
Why: The Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd (HAL) trainer crashed Thursday near Hosur in Tamil Nadu. The pilots pilots Wg Cdr. Patra and Mathur ejected and survived, although they had several injuries.
Since 1968, the HAL jets have been used to replace the Kiran trainers. This particular jet had crashed before (at Aero India in February 2007) and had been repaired and returned to service.
This is the “prototype” which careened off the runway when its canopy opened just as the plane was getting airborne at the Aero India 2007 exposition.
It is no wonder that in India, aviation is having problems. Between a a questionable supply of pilots with legitimate licenses, problems with air traffic control, and now recycled planes which may not be providing top protection to those who have to ride in them. Fortunately for these two pilots, the ejector seat worked and they survived the crash, albeit somewhat the worse for wear. The incident is under investigation.
