Cause

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    Beechcraft Bonanza Crashes and Burns in Pennsylvania House

    What: TSI Titanium (1982) Beechcraft 58 Baron en route from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
    Where: Bell Township Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
    When: Aug 7 2010 9:19 am
    Who: 2 fatalities
    Why: The plane crashed nine minutes after take-off. Witnesses say it sounded like the engine cut out before it crashed. The pilot did not contact ATC and the cause is unknown, pending investigation.

    Edward Sobota, president and owner of TSI Titanium, was flying his new Beechcraft two engine plane, and working on getting certified in it, when it crashed into a Bell Township neighborhood. Ted Kokolis a pilot for Bayer, who was also on board and killed in the crash. Steve Yanko was sleeping on his couch in his family room and was not injured when the plane crashed and burned in his wife’s art studio at the opposite end of the house. His wife was not in the house at the time.

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    GA: Missing Helicopter found

    What: 2006 Robinson R44II en route North Palm Beach County airport to Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris
    Where: north Georgia mountains
    When: Monday evening
    Who: pilot Adam Reeves, of Jupiter, Fla and unidentified passenger
    Why: The helicopter had been missing since Monday. It was found Friday afternoon by the Civil Air Patrol, having crashed in the N. Georgia mountains in northern Lumpkin County around 2:30 p.m. The search began after relatives of the passengers made inquiries at the airport about a helicopter that had never arrived.

    The flight had been due in Blairsville at 7 p.m but had never arrived.

    The helicopter refueled in Madison, Ga around 6:30 pm Monday. At some unknown time it left North Palm Beach County.

    Reeves was a former U.S. Air Force medic who ran health care and realty companies in Palm Beach County.

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    Recovered: Last Victim of Lake Michigan Cessna Crash

    What: Cessna 206 en route from Alma Michigan to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn
    Where: Lake Michigan, Ludington MI
    When: July 23, 2010
    Who: 4 fatalities, 1 survivor 66-year-old pilot, Jerry Freed
    Why: While en route on a medical evacuation flight, the pilot contacted ATC about experiencing mechanical problems, then the medical flight crashed into Lake Michigan on July 23. The pilot was rescued by boaters Randall Schmidt and his wife, Kristin Berg, about 2 miles from shore. Six foot waves hindered the recovery efforts.

    The Michigan State Police Underwater Recovery Unit sonar found the plane at approximately 6 p.m. last Thursday.

    The remains of Alma school superintendent and cancer patient Don Pavlik and his wife, Irene, were recovered Friday by divers. The body of Dr. James Hall was recovered Saturday night and identified Sunday. Co-pilot Earl Davidson was found last, on Sunday at 9 a.m..

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    Sibir Airbus Hydraulics Failure

    What: S7 Sibir Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from Perm to Moscow
    Where: Moscow
    When: Aug 6th 2010 19:47 Moscow time
    Who: 94 passengers
    Why: On landing approach, the Airbus hydraulics failed. The pilot managed a safe landing. Smoke from forest fires did not impair visibility.

    George’s Point of View

    No surprise to me. Details of the hydraulic issue might be of interest.

    I recall S7 Airlines Flight 778, an Airbus A310 with 193 passengers and 10 crew members aboard. On landing at Irkutsk , the airbus had a runway overrun. 124 people died when it crashed into the runway barrier.

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    Planes, Equipment Up In Smoke

    HELENA-WEST HELENA, AR—Although under control by 6 a m, the hanger fire in West Helena Arkansas consumed seven planes, two trucks, a number of tools and repair equipment, and a tractor. The hanger is one of three, and the only one that burned.

    The owner of South Delta Aviation said while the planes were insured, the other items were not. According to locals, some tools had been operating in the hanger for twenty-thirty years. The business plans to stay open.

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    Sao Jose do Rio: Tam Hits the Fence


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

    What: TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A319-100 from Sao Paulo to Sao Jose do Rio
    Where: Sao Jose do Rio
    When: Aug 5th 2010
    Who: 137 people on board,
    Why: Before touching down, the crew reported technical problems. A hundred meters before the runway threshold, they landed onto grass, damaged a perimeter fence, and had a flat, but managed to taxi to the gate. There were no injuries. An alternate plane will be provided for the next leg of the journey.

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    Small Plane Crash in Phoenix

    What: Cirruss S-R 22 single-engine plane in Phoenix
    Where: Deer Valley Commerce Park, near 19th Avenue and Deer Valley Road
    When: August 4 2010 6:00 a m
    Who: pilot
    Why: The pilot of the plane was in contact with Deer Valley air controllers prior to the accident but did not radio for help. Apparently the engine had caught fire, and the plane lost altitude. On impact, the plane was engulfed in flame.

    The plane with only the pilot aboard crashed not long after takeoff.

    The plane was registered to Magneto Investments of Phoenix.

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    UA Boeing Evacuated During Fire


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Manuel Wenger

    What: United Airlines Boeing 767 en route from London to Chicago
    Where: Chicago
    When: August 4, 2010
    Who: 178 passengers and 12 crew, 7 injuries
    Why: On landing in Chicago, the left main gear caught on fire. As the plane waited on the runway, the fire was put out by fire crews who sprayed the gear and surrounding areas with fire retardant.

    Emergency slides were deployed, and half the passengers evacuated via them, which is where the injuries occurred. After the fire was out, the slides were no longer used. About five were hospitalized after suffering minor injuries during the evacuation. Some individuals were treated at the airport and released.

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    Smoke Break leads to Albuquerque


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Duy Tran Duc

    What: American Airlines Boeing 767-200 from New York to Los Angeles
    Where: Albuquerque
    When: August 4, 2010
    Who: 168 passengers and 11 crew (or 158 passengers and 11 crew)
    Why: The story behind this one is two-fold. One source says the plane diverted to Albuquerque because of smoke in the cockpit. No smoke, no cause of smoke, no evidence thereof was found.

    Another source says an unruly passenger was behind the diversion. This person was detained by the FBI on landing, after which the plane was inspected for explosives. During the search, passengers hung around the tarmac for three hours.

    This man is being questioned about the odor like cigarettes that was discovered in the bathroom, along with some used matches. Another report says he lit matches in the cabin and then hid in the bathroom.

    The plane left Albuquerque for LA around midnight.

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    Monarch Nails Emergency Landing in Birmingham


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Paul Markman

    What: Monarch Airlines Airbus A321-200 en route from Birmingham to Tenerife
    Where: Birmingham
    When: Aug 3rd 2010
    Who: 213 passengers
    Why: After takeoff from Birmingham (UK), the left engine made an explosive noise, and began streaming fire and smoke. The crew turned off the engine and made an announcement to the passengers that they were going to make an emergency landing.

    Although it was less than a quarter hour later that passengers were safely on the ground, they had plenty of time to be terrified. In an interview, a passenger told reporters that after the announcement the entire plane went silent except for the sobbing.

    A replacement plane was sent from Gatwick.

    George’s Point of View

    As traumatic as it must have been, any landing where you make it out alive, is a good landing.

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    FAA Air Traffic Controller Could Not Provide

    FAA air traffic controllers provided the pilot outdated flight visibility information that made navigation difficult for Steven Bunker. Bunker had requested an “airport surveillance radar approach”, a ground-based radar approach. After the FAA air traffic controller told him she could not provide “airport surveillance radar approach” service, the four people in Bunker’s helicopter died.

    On Sept. 27, 2008, the medevac helicopter that crashed in a wooded area of Walker Mill Regional Park: Kenneth Mallard, State police pilot Stephen J. Bunker, Trooper 1st Class Mickey C. Lippy and Ashley J. Younger.

    Jordan Wells who was also aboard, survived.

    Kenneth Mallard was an EMT for the Waldorf Volunteer Rescue Squad. Michael Loyola Rowan, his wife Tanya Mallard’s lawyer, is filing a $7 million federal lawsuit against the FAA for ” not doing everything necessary to ensure a safe landing for the Maryland State Police Trooper 2 helicopter.” Christina P. Lippy has sued for $15 million.

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    New Wake Turbulence Technology Makes Microbursts Visible


    A new system generates real time acoustic technology images of transient aircraft wake turbulence in detail; and the system has been in use at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport for two years. The system uses acoustic technique to measure sudden downdrafts or micro-bursts, and cells of air turbulence in a plane’s wake. The technology provides accurate visible measures of transient heretofore invisible forces.

    The impetus behind the technology is to translate severe wake turbulence and wind shear events in real time to high definition to advance aviation safety and airport efficiency. The patented aircraft wake and wind-shear mapping technology is being developed and is owned by the Sondei Group

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    Brussels Airlines Flight Diverts to Luxembourg


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Klaus Ecker

    What: Brussels Airlines Avro RJ-85 EN ROUTE from Milan to Brussels
    Where: Basel Switzerland
    When: Aug 2nd 2010
    Why: While en route, the flight developed cabin pressurization problems. The crew decided to divert to Luxembourg where they made a safe landing. No indication is provided as to the source of the issue.

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    British Airways Engine Shut Down Response Draws Fire


    Pictured: The plane in question at Sao Paulo – Guarulhos International (Cumbica) (GRU / SBGR) Brazil, June 12, 2010
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Junio Gracielo

    What: British Airways Boeing 747-400 en route from Hong Kong to London
    Where: Copenhagen
    When: Jul 30th 2010
    Why: While en route over Russia, the plane developed engine problems and had to shut down. The crew decided to continue instead of return to Hong Kong, and diverted to Copenhagen where they made a safe landing. The plane spent some thirty plus hours on the ground and on the return to the UK has not yet been returned to service.

    The report of the UK’s Air Accident Investigation said windmilling of the engine without engine oil supply over an extended period of time increased engine damage and recommended that regulators review engine shut down policy.

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    Russian Passenger jet Crashes in Igarka


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

    What: Katekavia Antonov 24RV passenger jet en route from Krasnoyarsk to Igarka
    Where: Eastern Siberia
    When: August 2 2010
    Who: 3 crew and 11 passengers (also listed as 5 crew 10 passengers)
    Why: 700 meters from the landing at Igarka, the plane the plane veered to right and crashed before the runway, in bad weather conditions. (Night time landing, thunderstorms, limited visibility) 11 fatalities have been reported. The plane shattered and caught fire.

    Three crew members and one passengers were hospitalized initially–the only ones pulled alive from the plane– but now only 3 crew members remain fighting for their lives.

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    PIA Engine Vibration Cancels Flight


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Stewart Andrew

    What: Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 747 en route from Karachi to Islamabad
    Where: Karachi
    When: Aug 2nd 2010
    Who: 215 passengers
    Why: After take off, the pilot detected a vibration in the left engine and returned to the airport to make a safe landing. The origin of the engine vibration may be the bird strike that occurred on July 30.

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    Singapore Airlines In a Scrape

    What: Singapore Airlines (SIA) Boeing 777-200
    Where: Beijing Capital International Airport
    When: July 31, 2010
    Who: 248 passengers
    Why: While taxiing in reduced visibility because of fog, the Singapore plane’s right wing tip raked the tail of an Air China Boeing 737-800 which was stationary but awaiting takeoff. The rate of speed was so low, passengers did not feel the impact.

    The flight was cancelled. Passengers on the Air China flight to Ulan Bator were provided with an alternative flight. Passengers on the SIA flight were provided hotel accommodations. There were no injuries.

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    All West Freight Fairchild C-123 Crashes in Denali PK, AK


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Aad van der Voet

    What: All West Freight twin-engine cargo Fairchild C-123
    Where: south-facing slope of Mount Healy, Delta Junction, Alaska
    When: August 1 2010
    Who: 3 crew
    Why: Witnesses told a news crew that the pilot “was flying kind of low, and he banked hard to the left and went straight down we saw the fire ball come up from the back side of the mountains.”

    The crash started a forest fire in Denali National Park which has been contained by Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers and Denali wildland fire fighters. The deceased are owner and pilot 61-year-old Bill Michel of Delta Junction; 52-year-old John Eshleman of Wasilla, and 66-year-old Paul Quartly of Wasilla.

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    Swiss Airbus with Wonky Electrics Diverts to Shannon


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Jens Breuer

    What: Swiss Airbus A340-300 en route from Miami to Zurich
    Where: Atlantic Ocean
    When: Jul 30th 2010
    Who: 227 passengers
    Why: Three/fourths of an hour out of Shannon, the flight developed various electrical problems with the circuit breakers affecting cabin lighting and the inflight entertainment system. With cabin lighting off, they diverted to Shannon, where the flight made a safe landing.

    Passengers were provided alternative flights, albeit not on several different planes.

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    Alitalia Bird Strike on Rumanian Runway


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Szabo Gabor

    What: Alitalia Airbus A320-200 en route from Bucharest Romania to Rome
    Where: Bucharest
    When: Jul 31st 2010
    Who: 92 passengers
    Why: The Alitalia Airbus rejected takeoff after one engine ingested a hawk. The plane returned to the gate and after passengers disembarked, they were provided accommodations until the replacement flight takes off tomorrow.

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    Transaero Engine Fire


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

    What: Transaero Airlines Boeing 767-200 en route from St. Petersburg to Larnaca
    Where: Larnaca
    When: Jul 31st 2010
    Why: On landing, the engine was found to be on fire. The engine was shut down, and on board measures were inadequate to suppress the flame. Emergency services succeeded in putting out the fire. The plane was towed off the runway.

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    Twinstar Engine Failure


    Pictured: A Diamond Aircraft Industries Diamond DA-42 Twin Star, Farnborough England
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Rez Manzoori

    What: Diamond Twinstar en route from Jersey to Vendee France
    Where: Jersey Airport
    When: July 30 2010 1220 BST
    Who: Pilot
    Why: While en route, the plane developed engine trouble. The pilot returned to Jersey Airport, made a safe landing, and was towed to the gate.

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    LifeNet Frozen After Crash


    Pictured: A LifeNet Eurocopter AS-350B-3 Ecureuil. The one in the crash is
    registration # N509AM
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer David J Transier

    What: AirMethods American Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil en route from Marana to Southeast Arizona Medical Center
    Where: Near Park and 1st Avenue, Tucson, Arizona
    When: July 28, 2010, 2 pm
    Who: pilot, flight nurse and paramedic
    UPDATE: LifeNet flights have been halted but crews will return to service at an unspecified time after debriefing. Pilot Alex Kelley, paramedic Brenda French, and flight nurse Parker Summons died when theAS350 B3 Eurocopter “LifeNet 12” crashed in an Arizona neighborhood while returning from maintenance at Marana Regional Airport to Douglas.
    Read More

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    LA: Near Collision


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Peter Nowacki

    What: Westjet Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Vancouver to Los Angeles
    Where: Los Angeles
    When: Jul 24th 2010
    Who: 115 aboard
    Why: After an averted landing, the pilot was positioning to circle for a second approach (revectoring) and the flight crew received a TCAS warning to climb.

    The Cessna 182 was on its same altitude. The Boeing climbed and successfully achieved lateral separation.

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    Another AIRBUS smoke alarm


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Malcolm J.Bezzina

    What: Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 en route from Frankfurt to Dallas
    Where: Frankfurt
    When: Jul 29th 2010
    Why: After takeoff, smoke was detected in the cockpit. The returned to Frankfort where they made a safe landing, by which time (less than a half hour later) the smoke was gone. A replacement flight was provided. The cause of the smoke has either not been determined or not been released.