Aircraft

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    Emergency Landing in NC

    What: Sky King Boeing 737 en route from Greenville / Spartanburg to Greensboro, N.C
    Where: Hickory Regional Airport, NC
    When: Saturday September 5 10:21 a.m
    Who: 78 on board
    Why: While en route, an indicator light was showing a fire on board; however after a safe landing at Hickory Regional Airport, no cause was found for the indication and the flight continued on its way after an inspection.

    George’s Point of View

    Any time a smoke or fire detector goes off, it reminds me of the dryer setting off ion-type fire alarm. Maybe I should ask one of my pilots if the fire alarms on planes are the ion type, or the photoelectric type (which is unlikely to react to cooking. Not that any of the passengers brought a hot plate. )

    You an always say better safe than sorry.

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    Piper Crash in Tulsa kills 5

    What: Six-passenger Piper en route from Jones Riverside Airport to Dallas
    Where: Chandler Park in West Tulsa
    When: 10:40 a.m., Saturday Sept 5 minutes after takeoff
    Who: Two men, a woman and two girls Tulsa doctor Stephen Lester, his wife Dana, two teenage daughters, Laura, 16 and Christina, 13. and Dr. Kenneth Veteto
    Why: Just after takeoff in rainy, foggy conditions, the plane hit a cable attached to a telecommunications tower, crashed, broke up and caught on fire. When the plane hit, the wings came off. The plane flipped several times. The family and a friend had been going to the University of Oklahoma football game. Dr Veteto leaves a wife and two children.

    Two more of the family’s children were not on the plane.

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    Red Wings Emergency Landing In Moscow


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Vala

    What: Red Wings Airlines Tupolev TU-204 en route from Nizhny Novgorod to Antalya
    Where: Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport.
    When: Saturday 6:40 p.m.
    Who: 208 passengers (also reported as 200)
    Why: After experiencing an engine problem, the crew burned fuel and landed safely at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. No injuries were reported.

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    Comoros: Putting together the Black Box puzzle

    Yemenia Flight 626 from Paris to Moroni sank into the ocean on June 30, killing 152 people, with one survivor. The black boxes were found Friday.

    Just because the black boxes were found does not mean the route to discovery is on track. Apparently there was so much damage to the black boxes, there is going to be trouble recovering the data. That’s not new. In fact, usually when there is trouble reading the black boxes, investigators call in the company that made the boxes, and they are usually able to mine the data in spite of damage.

    The BEA, the French aviation authority is handling the investigation. Many of those aboard were French and/or French Comoran.

    Did they–are they–sending the boxes to the US? They’d have a better chance of recovery if they do.

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    Published Settlement: $15 million

    What: Twin-engine Cessna 421B on approach to Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling
    Where: crashed into a storage yard
    When: January 2006
    Who: Michael Waugh ( general manager and chief operating partner of Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab in Chicago), Kenneth Knudson (founder of Sybaris), and Scott Garland (financial adviser at Morgan Stanley)
    Why: Circuit Judge John Ward awarded $6 million to Waugh’s widow, with the rest being divided among the couple’s three young sons.

    Wrongful death suiit: Morgan Stanley improperly allowed employees to fly personal planes to conduct business–a situation which other financial institutions prohibit.
    Pilot Mark Turek, a Morgan Stanley senior vice president was charged with negligence.

    George’s Point of View

    Settlements are seldom published

    src

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    NY Mayor’s Jet Bird Strike


    Pictured: A Dassault Falcon owned by Sears Canada
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Corey Robinson

    What: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s private Dassault Falcon 900EX en route to Boston for the Kennedy funeral
    Where: Boston
    Who: Mayor Michael Bloomberg
    Why: After a bird strike nearly crippled the landing gear, the pilot requested an emergency landing in Boston–and landed safely.

    Safely for everyone but the bird.

    George’s Point of View

    Birds could care less who the plane it belongs to.

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    Air New Zealand Emergency Landing at Wellington


    Pictured: An Air New Zealand Boeing 737
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Jonathan Rankin

    What: Air New Zealand Boeing 737 en route from Auckland to Christchurch
    Where: Wellington
    When: Wednesday Sep 02, 2009
    Who: 95 passengers
    Why: Ten minutes after takeoff, smoke was streaming from the plane’s right engine, and the cabin filled with the smell of burning rubber. The plane diverted to Wellington where it landed safely, and passengers debarked.

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    Qantas Emergency Landing in Perth


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Paul Spijkers

    What: Qantas Airways Boeing 747-400
    Where: emergency landing in Perth
    When: Sep 2, 2009
    Who: 290 passengers
    Why: Four hours into the 7/12 hour flight, a fuel leak occurred. Engine 4, the source, was shut down as a consequence. 90 minutes after the leak was detected, the plane made a safe emergency landing in Perth. Last year an exploding oxygen tank blew a hole in this very plane; but there is no connection.

    George’s Point of View

    Last year an exploding oxygen tank blew a hole in this very plane; but there is no connection, except perhaps that Qantas crew was able to handle and contain the situation both times.

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    Piper Crash in Oregon kills 2

    What: 1955 Piper PA-22 single-engine plane en route to to Grants Pass
    Where: Canyon Mountain on the hillside behind Forest Glen Senior Residence in southern Oregon
    When: 9:30 a.m. Sunday
    Who: Ernie Knigge, Elaina Knigge
    Why: The plane crashed in a steep, rugged area in a stand of old-growth trees. The cause of the crash has not been determined. The couple co-owned the 1955 plane.

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    FAA official Lost during Proficiency Check in Jackson MS

    What: Robinson R44 practicing aerial maneuvers operating out of Hawkins Field Airport
    Where: duplex-style house about half a mile east of Hawkins Field airport in Jackson, MississippI
    When: Tues September 1, 2009 at 1932
    Who: Two FAA officials, pilot Charles Farmer and pilot Larry Wells of Crystal Springs
    Why: While in the course of a standard pilot proficiency check, it appeared the helicopter was experiencing engine trouble and trying to land, when the helicopter fell from the sky, clipped a tree and crashed into the unoccupied half a duplex house in Jackson Mississippi. The two victims both of whom worked for the FAA were taken to the Mississippi Medical Center, where Charles Farmer died. Larry Wells sustained serious injuries.

    The 2007 R-44 Rotorcraft belonged to WEBB GROUP FLP of Jackson Ms.

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    Airbus Hydraulics Act up In German Landing


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Gerry Stegmeier

    What: Swiss International Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Zurich Switzerland to Hamburg Germany
    Where: on approach to Hamburg Fuhlsbuettel airport
    When: Sep 1st 2009
    Why: On approach to Fuhlsbuettel, the plane developed a hydraulic problem. Gear doors remained open and the plane landed safely, and was towed to the terminal.

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    IndiGo Airbus Lands with Engine Fire


    An Indigo Airbus arriving from Delhi
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Sunandan Subramaniam

    What: IndiGo Airbus A320-200 en route from Bangalore to New Delhi India
    Where: Hyderabad
    When: Sep 1st 2009
    Who: 99 aboard
    Why: While over Hyderabad, smoke was seen coming from an engine, and the fire alert went off. The plane managed a safe landing. It was not noted if the passengers debarked normally, or by slides, but no injuries were reported.

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    Air India Airbus has Hydraulic Complications

    What: Air India Airbus A-320 en route from Delhi to at Raipur
    Where: Raipur airport
    When: August 31, 2009
    Who: 91 passengers
    Why: The flight had landed safely at Raipur, and had not yet begun the takeoff leading to the next leg of the journey, when the pilot discovered a leak in the Airbus A-320’s hydraulic system.

    One report says that the leak was discovered on the ground before takeoff and that takeoff was delayed.

    A second report says that the plane made an emergency landing after taking off for the next leg of the journey.
    An emergency was declared, and passengers debarked safely.

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    Kit Plane Fatality in Pennsylvania

    What: small one seat experimental aircraft built and owned by Neal O. Bond
    Where: behind a home near the Pegasus Air Park on McIlhenny Road in Chestnuthill Township, Monroe County, about 40 miles north of Allentown PA
    When: August 30, 2009
    Who: the pilot
    Why: A witness says that the plane was coming down with an unusual attitude, and part of the tail came off. A second or two later a wing came off. The plane crashed behind the airport; the pilot had been ejected from the craft, a homebuilt one seat vehicle.

    The plane’s owner is treasurer of a radio-controlled vehicle club

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    Airbus Loses Communication en route to Bangkok


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Daniel Alaerts

    What: Air France Airbus A340-300 en route from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airportto Bangkok Thailand
    Where: Amritsar
    When: Aug 27th 2009,
    Who: not available
    Why: While entering Indian airspace, the flight crew sent the wrong transponder code so that the airplane showed up as “unidentified” on both civilian and military radar screens. Communication was lost; and Indian Air Force MiG 29s were sent to intercept the flight; then the interception was aborted when the flight crew corrected the code. The flight continued to land normally at its scheduled destination.

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    Engine Vibration Aborts Airbus Flight


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Frank Robitaille

    What: Air Canada Airbus A319-100 en route from Toronto to Liberia Costa Rica
    Where: south of Pittsburgh
    When: Aug 29th 2009
    Why: Forty minutes into the flight, the left engine developed vibration. The flight returned to Toronto and safely performed an “overweight” landing. Passengers debarked and transferred to a replacement Airbus.

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    Qantas Turbulence Downs Plane in Sydney


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer John Richard Thomson

    What: Qantas Boeing 767-300 en route from Sydney to Christchurch
    Where: Christchurch
    When: Aug 26th 2009
    Who: not available
    Why: While on route, the flight experienced severe turbulence. Fortunately the plane landed safely; however, the turbulence damaged the plane and cancelled the return trip so that the plane’s damage could be addressed.

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    “Miracle on the Elliot”

    What: Cessna 206 float plane en route from Bremerton to Paine Field
    Where: off Golden Gardens Park in Shilshole Bay
    When: August 28, 2009
    Who: pilot Roger Collins
    Why: When Collins experienced problems with his landing gear, he landed on Shilshole Bay, and his plane flipped. This post’s title is a quote originating from Mike Pugel with the Seattle Police Harbor Patrol who was on the scene.

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    Nippon Airways Boeing Loses AC and Cabin Pressure


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Takashi

    What: All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 767-300 en route from Matsuyama to Tokyo
    Where: Tokyo’s Haneda airport
    When: Thursday August 27
    Who: 262 passengers and 8 crew
    Why: The left hand air conditioning system failed shortly after takeoff. Then, while en route, cabin pressure dropped. At that point, oxygen masks deployed; the pilot descended 10,000 feet to normalize pressure and flew the last 45 minutes of the flight. Though some passengers felt ill, there were no injuries, and the plane landed normally.

    George’s Point of View

    That must have been a fun, white-knuckled flight, leaving terror-induced claw marks etched into the armrests.

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    American Airlines says Farewell to A300

    George’s Point of View

    Bravo to American Airlines which is (finally) putting their Airbus A300’s to bed. American’s spokesman Tim Smith announced “One, we are in the process of cutting capacity. Two, these airplanes are a likely candidate for retirement, in that they are older than most of the airplanes in our fleet, and three, the A300 requires different training and maintenance from the other airplanes in American’s fleet.” We should expect to see a greener, more responsible American AIrlines now. This is part of the fleet renewal effort introduced in American’s 2007 Environmental Responsibility Report when they began replacing their MD-80s with new 737-800s.

    I don’t know about being clean and green, environmentally renewed and downsized. I do know that these are 21 year old planes. They’re old enough to vote. (And –I am told–old enough to drive a pilot to drink.)

    Think about it…In 1987 when these planes were first introduced into American’s fleet, Charles and Diana had just separated; Jim Bakker got caught playing hanky panky with Jessica Hahn; Klaus Barbie was convicted of Nazi war crimes; Andy Warhol died; an earthquake in LA injured 100 and killed 6; and most unbelievable of all, the Cosby show and Cheers were still in their first run.

    I guess time flies when you’re flying deathtraps.

    As a frequent flyer who does not trust the A300, I applaud that decision–though it does seem to be a no brainer to retire 21 year old planes.

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    Beechcraft Crashes in NC

    What: single-engine Beechcraft Sierra BE24 en route from Creve Coeur Airport in suburban St. Louis to SYLVA NC
    Where: Jackson County Airport near Sylva
    When: 1:45 pm AUGUST 26, 2009
    Who: pilot and passenger as James and Rhetta Lovins of Vaidalia, Ga
    Why: The plane had missed its first pass and was attempting a “go around” when it crashed about a quarter mile from the end of the 3,200 foot runway. The Jackson County airport is located on the ridge of a mountain. The wreckage was pulled from a ravine.

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    Cessna Lands at Rockaway Mall


    PICTURED: A Cessna R182 Skylane RG
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Simon Thomas

    What: GENESUS ONE INC owned single-engine Skylane Cessna en route to Essex County Airport
    Where: emergency landing outside the Rockaway Townsquare Mall
    When: Tuesday August 25 2009
    Who: pilot and a female passenger
    Why: After the engine began running “rough” during a training flight, the plane was forced to land where it could–outside the Rockaway Townsquare Mall. The pilot and passenger only had minor injuries and were taken to hospital. The plane suffered minor damage to the front end.

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    Congo Crash Kills 6

    What: Congo Republic (Aero Fret Business?) Antonov 12 cargo plane en route from Pointe Noire to Brazzaville
    Where: SE of Brazzaville-Maya Maya Airport, in the cemetery of the village of Nganga Lingolo
    When: Wed Aug 26, 2009
    Who: Five 5 Ukrainian crew and one Congolese passenger
    Why: Radio contact was lost at 3000 feet and the rear of the plane was on fire prior to impact with the ground. One report says “The airplane broke up in flight.”

    Approaching the runway, the plane crashed in a cemetery.