Aircraft | George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster

Faulty Fuel Gauge Diverts Plane

October 9, 2009October 9, 2009

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Danny Fritsche

What: Continental Airlines / Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Newark,NJ to Minneapolis,MN
Where: Eau Claire,WI
When: Oct 8th 2009,
Who: 50 people on board
Why: While en route, the flight experienced fuel irregularities. The flight diverted to Eau Claire where the problem turned out to be a faulty gauge. Consequently, after discovering adequate fuel and no leak, the flight continued on to its destination with only minor delay.

airliners.net | Crash | Experimental | homebuilt | unresolved

Experimental Plane Crashes in Oregon

October 7, 2009October 7, 2009

Pictured: An RV-8 domiciled at Scappoose – Industrial Airpark
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Contact photographer Phil Gilston

What: Vans RV-8 kit plane
Where: hills of Columbia County, 5 miles from Scappoose, Oregon
When: October 5 2009
Who: Kenneth Turpen of Bainbridge Island, Wash
Why: The plane had been cleared for approach, but was found crashed up in a wooded area 5 miles from Scappoose, Oregon.

Rescuers hiked to reach the pilot, who was apparently banged up, but conscious.

airliners.net | Crash | Lost | Piper | unresolved

AZ: Piper Crashes Remote Mountainous Terrain

October 7, 2009

Pictured: A record breaking Museum Archived Piper PA-24-260 Comanche B housed in the UK
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Martin Pole

What: single-engine PA-24 Comanche en route from St Johns to Aguila
Where: Horsethief Basin area, Yavapai County AZ
When: Oct 4 2009
Who: Ralph Smith, 74, and his wife Francis Smith, 70
Why: The cause of the crash has not been determined yet. The crash started a fire in the area; the downed plane was a surprise to firefighters, and not immediately tied to the fire.

Smith was a retired airline pilot.

The pilot and his wife were not found immediately; the crash occurred in a remote area, but both bodies were recovered by Tuesday.

airliners.net | Beechcraft | Crash | engine failure

Beechcraft King Air Crash lands outside of Fort Worth

October 7, 2009

Pictured: Another Texas-owned Beechcraft B100 King
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Andrew Compolo

What: Texland Great Plains Water LLC./RJ Schumacher Oil ‘s Beechcraft King Air twin-engine airplane en route from Okalahoma City to Fort Worth’s Meacham International Airport
Where: north of Fort Worth in Wise County
When: Tuesday October 6 2009
Who: 4 injured
Why: When the pilot told Air Traffic Control that both engines had failed, the plane disappeared from radar, six miles from Kenneth Copeland Airport. The wreckage was found in a field near County Road 4227 and Currie Road.

The plane lost a wing and sustained nose damage.

The two severely injured passengers were airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital.

George’s Point of View

Odds are against a twin engine plane losing both its engines at one time. The pilot here must have done some kind of fancy flying (by fancy I mean seriously good flying by the seat of his pants) to have gotten everyone out of this (so far) alive. We hope the two severely injured men in the hospital recover completely (and the other two men as well.)

Air France | airliners.net | Boeing | Emergency | Medical emergency

Air France: Heart Attack Diverts Plane

October 7, 2009October 7, 2009

Pictured: An Air France Boeing 777-328/ER
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Sean Mowatt

What: Air France Boeing 777 en route from Paris to Singapore
Where: Henri Coanda Airport, Bucharest
When: Oct 7th 2009
Who: 307 passengers and 18 crew
Why: When a passenger suffered a heart attack on the plane, and the flight diverted to Bucharest where he was removed from the plane, the rest of the passengers debarked. It was determined he died of the heart attack. There is no mention if the flight had (or used) an on board a defib machine.

The flight could not continue because of a technical problem. The other passengers stayed in the terminal or were put up in hotels and rerouted.

US Airways Emergency Landing in Durango

October 6, 2009April 7, 2010

Pictured: A US Airways/ Mesa Airlines De Havilland Canada DHC-8-202 Dash 8
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Tom Lowther

What: US Airways Express/Mesa Airlines de Havilland-8 twin-engine turboprop en route from Grand Junction to Phoenix
Where: Durango-La Plata County Airport
When: October 5, 2009
Who: 31 passengers.
Why: While en route, the plane lost an engine. The engine failure was due to an oil-pressure problem, though it is not clear from our report whether or not the engine actually failed, or what is more likely, that the pilot shut it down. The plane diverted to Durango and landed safely; some of the passengers were able to fly out on the next flight to Phoenix.

LAX: United Airlines Hydraulics Leak

October 6, 2009October 6, 2009

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Contact photographer Gerry Stegmeier

What: United Airlines Boeing 777-200 en route from Los Angeles ,CA to Narita
Where: Los Angeles
When: Oct 5th, 2009
Why: About twenty minutes after takeoff, the plane experienced a hydraulics leak. The flight crew decided to return to LAX, where it landed safely at 2:21 p.m.

Maintenance crews are inspecting the plane.

Crash | Experimental | homebuilt | kit | unresolved

NC: Kit Plane Crash Kills Pilot

October 6, 2009October 6, 2009

Pictured: An Experimental Homebuilt RV-6 kit plane
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Connector

What: RV-6 experimental kit plane en route from Wilmington to Louisburg, 31 miles northeast of Raleigh.
Where: Behind Magnolia Mobile Home Park off Highway 903 near Magnolia in Duplin County NC
When: Oct 05, 2009 12:45 pm
Who: a Yorkville, Illinois pilot
Why: According to witnesses, the plane nosedived into the ground. There was a loud noise, like an explosion, but it is not known if it was before or when the plane impacted the ground. The crash is under investigation.

airliners.net | Crash | Navion | USA

MN: Pilot Rescued from Burning Plane

October 6, 2009October 6, 2009

Pictured: A Temco D-16 Twin Navion
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dave Budd

What: AZ Aeromachine 1946 Twin Navion twin engine en route from Anoka County-Blaine Airport
Where: Cardinal Creek Conservation Area, Eden Prarie
When: 12:30 p.m Oct 5, 2009
Who: pilot Bob Fiske
Why: When the plane crashed, witnesses rushed to break the windshield and rescue the trapped pilot.

The pilot was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.

JAC: Lightning Strike

October 6, 2009October 6, 2009

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alastair T. Gardiner

What: JAC Japan Air Commuter Saab 340B en route from Kagoshima to Takamatsu
Where: Kagoshima
When: Oct 2nd 2009
Who: 20 people on board
Why: While en route, the plane was struck by lightning. As a safety measure, in spite of no visible damage, the crew decided to return to the airport, where the passengers debarked and were referred to alternative flights.

Airbus | cracked windshield | Egypt | Emergency

Cairo: Windshield Crack Downs Airbus

October 6, 2009October 6, 2009

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Contact photographer Gábor Vilmányi

What: Eurofly Airbus A330-200 en route from Mauritius to Rome
Where: Cairo
When: Oct 5th 2009
Who: 245 passengers
Why: When a crack developed in a cockpit window, the plane diverted to Cairo for a safe landing, where passengers debarked and transferred to alternative planes.

No injuries were reported.

Hail, Turbulence Downs Sicily Airbus

October 6, 2009

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Contact photographer Paolo Migliavacca

What: Windjet Airbus A319-100 en route from Forli to Palermo
Where: Catania Sicily
When: Oct 1st 2009,

Why: The pilot decided to divert to Catania because of severe weather conditions. On approach, the flight encountered wind shear of +50/-50 knots, severe turbulence and hail that signiicantly damaged the plane.

Severe storms on Oct 1 in Sicily caused several deaths due to weather complications.

Cessna Crash in Mexico. 3 Lost.

October 6, 2009

Pictured: a similar Cessna A185F Skywagon 185
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Hidemi Bustamante Prudente

What: Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM) Cessna 182S en route from Morelia.
Where: Michoacán Mexico
When: OCT 02, 2009
Who: 3 fatalities
Why: There was fog in the mountains, and the control tower lost contact with the aircraft as the plane was conducting aerial surveys south of the hill “La Union.”

The cause is under investigation.

Lost in the crash were Aviator PEDRERO ANTONIO SERGIO NAVARRETE and Air Force Lieutenant Flying Pilot VICENTE ALVAREZ Emilio Castillo and air observer, Chap. 2 / o. Infantry GARIBAY FRANCISCO JAVIER GOMEZ

Beechcraft | Crash | Mexico | unresolved

Beechcraft Crash in Mexico Kills 2

October 6, 2009

Pictured: A similar A36TC Bonanza
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer David Alders

What: Beechcraft A36TC Bonanza en route from Guanajuato International Airport to Toluca
Where: Guanajuato – Mexico
When: OCT 3, 2009
Who: 2 fatalities, one survivor
Why: The plane crashed in the initial climb.

Fatalities include entrepreneur Gerardo Pons (30) and pilot Francisco Javier Martínez Solís.

Bolivia | Crash | Helicopter

Bolivian Military Crash kills 4

October 6, 2009

What: Bolivian Air Force (FAB) LAMA FAB-746
Where: Molle Molle at 1520 on Thursday
When: Thursday Oct 1
Who: Four officers killed; one wounded
Why: The helicopter crashed into a wall in the village of Molle Molle. The survivor Yanarico Sergeant Johnson (24) is in critical condition at Viedma Hospital.

Victims: Lt. Col. Wilson Arnez Gonzales (46), the Edgar Antezana Victor Paz (38), officer Javier Rodriguez (48), Sergeant Juan Carlos Iza Arnostegui Colonel Lopez (34) (Venezuelan driver)

AirTran Airways Engine Sparks Emergency Landing

October 5, 2009October 5, 2009

Pictured: An Airtran Airways Boeing in Flight
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jaysen F. Snow

What: AirTran Airways Boeing 717-200 en route from Orlando to Akron
Where: Orlando
When: Oct 4th 2009
Who: 122 on board (117 passengers and 5 crew)
Why: The flight experienced engine problems–fire in the left engine– and made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff.

Ground personnel witnessed sparks from the left engine. When passengers debarked by emergency chute, one was injured. Passengers were bussed off the tarmac where they were eventually transferred to a replacement Boeing.

George’s Point of View

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!

Crash | Helicopter | Peru

3 helicopters crash in Peru

October 5, 2009

What: helicopter
Where: La Convencion, Peru
When: Thursday Oct 1 2009
Who: pilot Luis Miguel Gonzales Aguilar, mechanic Sandro Tello Rios and the manager of the air company, Reynaldo Espinosa Fonseca
Why: unresolved

After three helicopter accidents occurred in two hours on Thursday, and Sunday’s accident with the plane that took off from Campo de Marte, the National Civil Aviation (ANAC) Allemander Pereira Filho has been ordered to implement an adequate surveillance system to see if the rules are complied with, and which will require stricter standards.

Jet Airways Airbus Emergency Landing in Hungary

October 5, 2009

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Tom Buysse

What: Jet Airways Airbus A330-200 en route from Brussels to Mumbai
Where: Budapest
When: Oct 3rd 2009
Who: 224 passengers and 13 crew,
Why: While en route, the flight developed a gearbox problem which necessitated the shut down of an engine. The plane landed safely in Budapest. Passengers were provided hotel accommodations.

Airbus | cabin pressure | Emergency | Russia

Emergency Landing in Minsk

October 5, 2009October 5, 2009

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alexander Mishin

What: Aeroflot Airbus A320-200 en route from Prague to Moscow
Where: Minsk
When: Sunday
Who: 120 passengers
Why: A false depressurization alarm (also reported as an indication of an open door) forced an emergency landing. Passengers were accommodated at a hotel until the replacement Tupolev 154 arrived.

Cessna | Crash | unresolved

Cessna Crash in Michoacan

October 4, 2009October 5, 2009

Pictured: A Cessna
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Stefano Capuzzo

What: Cessna
Where: Michoacan Mexico
When: Oct 3
Who: 3 on board
Why: The three military personnel died in a crash during an attempted emergency landing.

Air Canada | airliners.net | De-Havilland | turbulence

Turbulence over Ottowa

October 3, 2009October 3, 2009

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Durning

What: Air Canada Jazz de Havilland Dash 8-100 en route from Quebec to Ottawa Canada
Where: Ottawa
When: Sep 28th 2009
Who: 38 on board
Why: While descending to land, the plane struck turbulence. The crew momentarily lost control of the plane, but landed safely shortly afterwards.

Crash | homebuilt | takeoff

Homebuilt Amphibious Crashes on Lake

October 3, 2009

Pictured: an Avid Catalina aircraft
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer David Morrell

What: Avid Catalina home-built, single-engine amphibious aircraft taking off from the lake near Camp Longhorn.
Where: Inks Lake in Burnet County
When: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m
Who: pilot Jim Eachus
Why: The plane’s wing tip skimmed the water, sending the plane into a cartwheel. The pilot appeared outside of the plane but did not make it ashore. It was several days before the pilot was found.

Crash | Mississippi | Ultralight | unresolved

Byhalia Crash

October 2, 2009October 2, 2009

Pictured: A homebuilt Aussie Ultralight. The one involved in this crash is no doubt a completely different type.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Phil Vabre

What: 250 lb single-engine true Ultralight aircraft
Where: Desoto County soybean field near the intersection of Stateline and Center Hill Roads.
When: 10/2/09
Who: 52 year-old Louis Bassie of Byhalia Mississippi
Why: As he was coming in for a landing, Bassie’s plane took a nose-dive, spiraled out-of-control and crashed. Bassie had a pilot’s license, worked as a crop-duster, and had served in the military, but it does not take a license to fly a home built kit plane.

Federal authorities will not be investigating the crash of an unlicensed plane.

airliners.net | Cessna | Emergency | smoke

Cessna Citation Emergency Landing in Palm Beach

October 2, 2009October 2, 2009

Pictured: A Cessna Citation
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jason Whitebird

What: Cessna Citation
Where: Palm Beach International Airport
When: October 01, 2009
Who: 4 aboard
Why: Smoke was coming out from its cabin during mid-flight. The plane returned to the airport. No injuries were reported.

Hot Boeing Returns to Mumbai

October 1, 2009

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Contact photographer Jason Whitebird

What: British Airways Boeing 747-400 en route from Mumbai to London
Where: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
When: Thursday Oct 1 2009
Who: 207 passengers
Why: Half an hour after takeoff, the fire alarm went off in the cockpit. The plane immediately returned to the airport, landing an hour after takeoff. Passengers debarked safely.

The only heat maintenance found was hot brakes.