USA

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    Game Warden Recognized for Pulling Boy from Burning Plane

    On June 18 of 2011, Joe Lindsey was by the Guntersville airport with his family when he saw a plane crash. He drove part of the way to the crash, and rushed through the woods to pull a seven year old boy from the burning wreckage. Lindsey was awarded the Medal of Honor on Thursday April 12, with top state officials like Governor Robert Bentley in attendance.

    The Medal of Honor is the Alabama Legislature’s highest honor given to law enforcement. Joe Lindsey is with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources—a state game warden—and this is not his first rescue; in 2008, Lindsey rescued a child from a burning van. He does not consider himself a hero, just that he is “a guy who was in the right place at the right time and I had a job to do.”

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    Private Plane Crash Pilot from Yuma Identified


    What: E300 EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH EA-300
    Where: Salinas California
    When: April 8 2012, 6:57
    Who: two fatalities
    Why: Captain George Mellone was flying his plane in Salinas with David Ostendorf when it crashed. Both died of blunt force trauma. Mellone was a harrier pilot who had flown home to Yuma for Easter weekend.

    Mellone was a Marine Captain stationed at Air Station Yuma who graduated from the University of N. Dakota in 2007 with a degree in aviation management, and had earned three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and obtained the rank of Captain since joining the Corps in 1999. He had been performing stunts right before his plane crashed. The cause of his crash is under investigation.

    His co-pilot was 24-year-old David Gary Ostendorf, a 2010 St. Cloud State University aviation graduate, was an FAA controller at the Montery Regional Airport Tower. The cause of the crash has not been identified.

    Regis#: 45R Make/Model: E300 Description: EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH EA-300
    Date: 04/08/2012 Time: 13:57

    Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
    Damage: Substantial

    LOCATION
    City: SALINAS State: CA Country: US

    DESCRIPTION
    AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A FIELD , THE 2 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, 3 MILES FROM SALINAS, CA INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2

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    Student Group aboard D.C. United Plane During Flat Tire Landing

    What: United Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Houston,TX to Washington DC
    Where: Washington
    When: Apr 9th 2012 11:15 am
    Who: 122 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On landing in Washington, the plane suffered two blown rear tires.

    The plane was towed to the terminal.

    No injuries were reported.

    Fourteen students and chaperones from Mt. Carmel Louisiana were aboard, and were interviewed by a TV station after the rough landing in Washington DC. They said the landing was rough, and praised the pilot for being so calm.

    Another group of fourteen joining them flew in on a different plane from Atlanta. They will all be returning to Lafayette on Friday, and they say none of them have developed a fear of flying.

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    RAF Chinook Emergency Landing in AZ

    What: RAF Boeing Chinook HC2 (CH-47D) en route from Naval Air Facility El Centro Imperial Valley, California
    Where: Arizona
    When: April 7 2012 7.30pm BST
    Who: 7 injured
    Why: A UK Chinook made an emergency landing “mishap” in Arizona, about fifteen miles from Yuma.

    Seven aboard the helicopter were examined at El Centro Regional Medical Center but were reported as both injured and uninjured. The accident occurred during a training mission. How much damage the helicopter sustained is unknown.

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    Forty Apartments Damaged, No Fatalities Reported, Virginia Beach Hornet

    What: US Navy – VFA-106 $29 million McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet twin-engine supersonic fighter plane en route from Naval Air Station Oceana
    Where: Virginia Beach
    When: April 6 2012, 12:00 pm
    Who: 40 apartments damaged, no fatalities, 5 injures
    Why: Going 170 mph, a student pilot was in the front seat of the two-seat Hornet and the experienced instructor was in the rear when the plane experienced a “catastrophic mechanical malfunction.” Pilots dumped fuel just before it dived into a Virginia Beach apartment complex in the Hampton Roads area (Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, near NAS Oceana). No residents of the Mayfair Mews complex were killed in the crash, and the pilots ejected before impact. The plane experienced “catastrophic engine system failure” right after takeoff. The crash site is two miles from the base and a mile from the ocean.

    The fuel and the carbon fibers from the burning composite were a special toxic concern for first responders.

    There were seven injuries on the ground in addition to the two pilots, but no fatalities have been reported. Witnesses on the scene saw smoke billowing from the building. Bystanders found the young pilot still in his parachute, and cut him free before escorting him farther from the fire. Six buildings were damaged, but now the residents, mostly elderly, are homeless.

    The trainee in the front had at least 1 1/2 years of intensive training before boarding the F/A-18D, which is used in training and in combat. The jet was not carrying live ordnance,

    Within 24 hours of the crash, sources confirm no one was killed in the crash. The mayor, and the us fleet forces commander agree that it is miraculous that there were no fatalities.

    A fund has been established for those made homeless by the fire.

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    Colgan Main Gear Landing in Houston


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

    What: United/Colgan de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Little Rock,AR to Houston
    Where: Houston
    When: Apr 7th 2012
    Who: 31 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: While on approach to Houston, the gear did not come down. The crew performed a fly by, and ATC confirmed that the main gear were down but not the front (nose) landing gear.

    The pilots made a second approach which concluded landing on the main gear. The pilots kept the nose up as long as possible.

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    5 Injured in Kit Plane Crash through Publix Roof


    What: Seawind 3000 kit plane built by Larry E. Sapp
    Where: Northgate Shopping Center in DeLand Florida
    When: April 2, 2012, 7:20 pm
    Who: 2 aboard, 5 injured
    Why: Taking off from Deland Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field Airport, the small kit plane developed engine problems and crashed into a Publix market in the Northgate Shopping Center on International Speedway Boulevard on Monday. The pilot and passenger are in critical condition. Brendan Beitler, a Stetson University student is in stable condition. Cordova and Morris Beitler were also injured.

    A fire occurred when the fuel tanks burst. Three individuals in the store were injured. The store has been closed, and 175 employees are working at other Publix. The city has issued a demolition permit.

    The plane is made of composite material and was amateur-built in 2002.

    The pilot was Kim Presbrey, an attorney from Chicago who is in the intensive care unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Presbry is managing partner of Presbrey & Associates Thomas Rhoades from Illinois was the passenger.

    What remains of the melted aircraft has been loaded on a flatbed trailer.

    Video shot by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office above the North DeLand Publix supermarket shortly after the kit plane crashed into the supermarket roof.

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    Octogenarian Lands Plane Beside Unconscious Pilot/Spouse

    What: C And S Manufacturing Corp Cessna 414A en route from Marco Island, Collier County, Florida to Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin
    Where: Wisconsin
    When: April 2,2012
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: After her husband John passed out at the controls of their Cessna, eighty-one year old Helen Collins took some quick lessons “on the fly” and managed to land the plane, with minor damage.

    Air Traffic Control talked to her until pilot instructor Robert Vuksanovic took his plane up to fly by her as he coached her down. The distress call came at 5:05 pm. after Collins was three hours in flight from Marco Island, Florida. On landing, Helen and her husband John were hospitalized; John was declared dead at 6:38 p.m. Helen had back pain, minor bumps and bruises and a broken rib, but her son Richard Collins did not lose both of his parents that day.

    A heroic effort from ATC, Collins and flight instructor Robert Vuksanovic.

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    Turbulence Injures UA Passengers, Crew



    Large view
    Contact photographer Paul Spijkers
    What: United Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Tampa to Houston
    Where: Louisiana
    When: April 4, 2012
    Who: 146 passengers and six crew, seven injuries
    Why: From seven to twelve people aboard United Airlines flight were injured when the plane ran into severe turbulence flying over Lake Charles Louisiana and the same cell that caused the tornadoes sweeping through Texas.

    (The number of injured reported varies. Earlier reports indicated seven injuries, three going to the hospital.) Pilots declared emergency in order to have a priority landing in Houston. From three to twelve people were hospitalized on arrival at 8:00 a.m.

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    Hard Landing in Denver

    What: United/Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Peoria,IL to Denver,CO
    Where: Denver
    When: Apr 3rd 2012
    Who: 22 aboard
    Why: The pilot made what is described as a “hard short landing” and informed ATC that he struck the lights. To exacerbate matters, smoke was reported in the cockpit. A firefighter reported hot spots on the control panel.We haven’t heard verification if he actually hit the lights, but apparently one passenger was injured and the plane was reported as being “disabled” on the runway for two hours.

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    Piper Crashes near Holitna River

    What: Private (Richard Wilmarth) Piper PA-18A-150 Super Cub
    Where: near the Holitna River, Red Devil, Alaska
    When: March 30 2012, 5:30
    Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
    Why: A red and white Piper Super Cub owned by Richard Wilmarth, crashed while apparently attempting to land on a private airstrip near the Holitna River. Wilmarth and his passenger Kenneth Mellick died in the crash.

    Aircraft Registration (N7276D)
    Summary
    1957 PIPER PA-18A
    Fixed wing single engine
    (2 seats / 1 engine)
    Owner WILMARTH RICHARD C
    RED DEVIL, AK
    (Individual)
    AIRWORTHINESS Standard/Normal
    Serial Number 18-5685
    Engine
    LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
    Horsepower: 180 (Reciprocating)
    WeightLess than 12,500lbs
    Speed 97mph
    Mode S Code 52340273
    Certificate Issue Date 1977-05-03
    Airworthiness Date 1974-06-18
    Last Action Date 2011-09-12
    Expiration 2014-09-30

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    Emergency Landing in Memphis

    What: Expressjet/United Express en route from Memphis to Houston
    Where: Memphis International Airport
    When: March 30, 2012
    Who: 44 passengers
    Why: The Expressjet had such a rocky take-off the pilot announced to the passengers he was flying over the tower to see if there was something wrong.

    There was something wrong. He had a flat, the tower observed.

    The jet landed safely at Memphis International Airport with emergency services on standby. After passengers disembarked, they were provided overnight accommodations until the replacement flight arrived (Saturday.)

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    Fatal History of Jet Blue Airbus Captain

    Clayton Osbon is not the first Osbon to have cause to fear a plane. Osbon, the Jet Blue pilot who recently had an on-the-job meltdown (described as erratic, bizarre, disturbing behavior) while piloting an Airbus from New York to Las Vegas lost his father in a Daytona Beach plane crash in 1995. Maybe his father’s death had something to do with Osbon’s March 27 mid-flight breakdown. Osbon’s panic attack led to him being tackled outside the cockpit and handcuffed as the quick-thinking co-pilot Jason Dowd and another Jet Blue pilot who happened to be aboard diverted the flight to Amarillo.

    Before he left the cockpit, Captain Osbon, a captain since 1989, began ranting to Jason Dowd about Flight 191’s destination, threatening to crash the plane rather than fly into the den of iniquity that is Las Vegas.

    Osbon has been charged with interfering with the flight crew. He has been suspended from his job, and is charged with interfering with the flight crew. He faces 20 years (max) in prison and a $250,000 fine.

    Nothing in his history relates to his breakdown. Osbon is described by his friends and peers as a “consummate professional.” He is a war vet who is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Las Vegas
    Where: Amarillo
    When: March 27 2012
    Who: 1 medical emergency, 135 passengers, six crew
    Why: While en route, the pilot of the JetBlue Airbus suffered a panic attack, and had to be locked out of the cabin and forcibly restrained.

    Read more


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    Jetblue Pilot Breakdown over Amarillo Texas, Raw Video, Flight 191

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Las Vegas
    Where: Amarillo
    When: March 27 2012
    Who: 1 medical emergency, 135 passengers, six crew
    Why: While en route, the pilot of the JetBlue Airbus suffered a panic attack. He was locked out of the cockpit and restrained, and another JetBlue pilot who was aboard assisted the first officer in the cockpit as they diverted to Amarillo and made a safe landing.

    The pilot had walked to the back of the plane, and when he returned to the cockpit and found he was locked out, he began yelling “Let me in” and raving about a bomb.

    After landing in Amarillo, the captain was taken off the plane into an ambulance that sat on the tarmac for thirty minutes before he was taken to an Amarillo hospital.

    Jet Blue’s Official Statement


    “Flight 191 departed New York’s JFK airport at 7:28 am ET (was scheduled to depart 6:55 am ET). At roughly 10 am CT/11 am ET, the pilot in command elected to divert to Amarillo, TX for a medical situation involving the Captain. Another Captain, traveling off duty, entered the flight deck prior to landing at Amarillo, and took over the duties of the ill crewmember once on the ground. The aircraft arrived Amarillo at 10:11 am CT, and the crewmember was removed from the aircraft and taken to a local medical facility.

    Customers remain on board at this time. JetBlue is working with local authorities and airport officials for the safe deplaning of the aircraft and will send a new aircraft to continue the flight to LAS.”

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    Emergency Diversion Delays Allegiant Bellingham-Paine Field-Bellingham-San Diego


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

    What: Allegiant Air MD-80 en route from Bellingham to San Diego
    Where: Paine Field Airport
    When: Mar 26th 2012
    Who: 160 passengers (155/5)
    Why: The flight was en route when the plane developed hydraulic systems problems.

    Pilots diverted to Snohomish County Airport where they made a safe landing with a total of thirty rescue personnel on scene: Two foam trucks and a rescue truck, seven personnel, three engines, a ladder truck, and two medic units responded.

    A replacement jet was provided, which took off from Bellingham. Passengers were transported from Snohomish County Airport back to Bellingham for the replacement flight which proceeded without error.

    A little bit of one step forward, one step back action, but apparently the passengers managed to get to San Diego seven hours later.

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    American Airlines Emergency Landing in LA


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Juan Carlos Guerra

    What: American Airlines Boeing 767-200 en route from Los Angeles to New York
    Where: Los Angeles
    When: Mar 25th 2012
    Why: After takeoff from LA, the plane developed pressurization problems.

    Pilots returned to LA and made a safe landing on hot brakes with emergency services on standby.

    A replacement jet was provided.

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    Mid-Air Collision Downs Two Colorado Planes

    What: Cessna 180 Skywagon
    Where: intersection of County Line Road and Great Western Drive,Longmont, CO
    When: Mar 23 2012, 11:43 a.m
    Who: 2 fatalities

    What: Cessna 172 Skyhawk
    Where: near the main entrance, north of Vance Brand Airport, Longmont, CO
    When: Mar 23 2012, 11:48 a.m
    Who: 1 injury

    Why: Witnesses say that two planes collided then crashed miles apart, a few minutes later. They were both banking when they struck, and in each other’s blind spots.

    Witnesses who saw the Skyhawk crash and helped the pilot out of the wreckage commend pilot Bev Cameron for avoiding hitting anyone. She was hospitalized at Longmont United Hospital with multiple trauma injuries after the crash.

    The Skywagon struck wires and crashed in a parking lot. The two people aboard did not survive the impact. Their names have not been released.

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    Family Lost in Beechcraft Crash in Minnesota Field

    What: Beechcraft 35 Bonanza
    Where: Glencoe, MN
    When: March 21, 2012, 11:00 a.m.
    Who: 3 fatalities
    Why: The plane crashed on farmland four mines north of Glencoe killing what appears to be a family of three aboard the plane and also three dogs. Conditions were five miles visibility and overcast at 900 feet and the pilot may have been flying by visual flight rules in conditions when VFR flight isn’t allowed. Visibility in the area is known to drop “at the drop of a hat” so the pilot may have flown into worsening conditions inadvertently.

    Witnesses say they heard the plane sputtering, and heard a popping noise before impact. Others saw the plane flying low before it hit the ground in foggy drizzly weather leaving a two-hundred yard debris field. The plane may have been flying from St. Cloud.

    By the time bystanders arrived on the scene, the plane was missing the tail and a wing, and was engulfed in a “ball of flame.”

    The plane had just been sold by a St. Cloud resident to a new owner.

    Stuart Dahlberg, 52, his wife Ivelisse Morillo, and his mother, Mae Dahlberg were en route to visit family in Colorado when they were killed in the crash. Stuart Dahlberg was an experienced pilot.

    Glencoe Plane Crash Victims Identified as Husband, Wife, Mom: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

    IDENTIFICATION
    Regis#: 3871N Make/Model: BE35 Description: 35 Bonanza
    Date: 03/21/2012 Time: 1612
    Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
    Damage: Destroyed
    LOCATION
    City: GLENCOE State: MN Country: US
    DESCRIPTION
    AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN FIELD. THE THREE PERSONS ONBOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED. 4-5 MILES NORTH OF GLENCOE, MN

    INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 3

    WEATHER: 20007KT 5SM BT OVC 009 14/13 A2998

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    Baltimore Bird Strike

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Baltimore,MD to Hartford,CT
    Where: Baltimore
    When: Mar 22nd 2012
    Who: 108 aboard
    Why: On takeoff from Baltimore, the flight encountered a bird.

    The bird strike damaged the #1 engine which began vibrating.

    Pilots returned to Baltimore and made a safe landing. Passengers disembarked on the runway, and were ported to the terminal.

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    Hard Landing, Blown Tires, Pilot Lands Safe in Vegas


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

    What: Allegiant Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Des Moines to Las Vegas
    Where: Las Vegas
    When: Mar 17th 2012
    Who: 147 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On landing, the plane bounced. Trailing smoke from two blown tires, the plane stopped on the runway, where passengers disembarked and were bussed to the terminal.

    The right main gear tires blew, and the left main gear sustained damage. No injuries were reported.

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    Worker Dies at DFW Airport

    What: Dallas/Fort Worth Airport
    Where: loading dock of the LSG Sky Chefs flight catering facility,
    When: March 18, 2012, 6:45 a.m.
    Who: 1 fatality
    Why: An LSG Sky Chefs employee was struck by a catering truck. The 50 year old employee died on the scene.

    LSG Sky Chefs spokesman David S. Margulies released this statement:
    “We can confirm that an associate of our company passed away today while working at our facility at D/FW International Airport following a motor vehicle accident. The incident is being investigated by the D/FW Department of Public Safety. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have also been notified. Our company is cooperating fully with the investigations. Due to this incident and the investigation we were not able to cater some flights this morning. We extend our deepest sympathies to the employee’s family and will work with law enforcement to assist in the investigation.”

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    Charlotte NC Emergency Landing


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

    What: US Airways/Air Wisconsin Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Washington Dulles,DC to Charlotte,NC
    Where: Charlotte
    When: Mar 17th 2012
    Why: On approach to Charlotte, the crew reported a left engine had developed problems.

    The pilots made a safe landing in Charlotte with emergency services standing by.
    FAA notice below:

    IDENTIFICATION
    Regis#: AWI3686 Make/Model: CRJ2 Description: CANADAIR CRJ-200, RJ-200 REGIONAL JET
    Date: 03/14/2012 Time: 2050
    Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
    LOCATION
    City: CHARLOTTE State: NC Country: US
    DESCRIPTION: AIR WISCONSIN FLIGHT 3686, REGISTRATION UNKNOWN, CANADAIR CRJ2 AIRCRAFT, WITH NUMBER 1 ENGINE PROBLEM LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, INSPECTION FOUND PART OF COWLING SEPARATED FROM AIRCRAFT, CHARLOTTE, NC
    INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
    OTHER DATA
    Activity: Business Operation: Air Carrier
    FAA FSDO: CHARLOTTE, NC (SO33) Entry date: 03/19/2012

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    Skywest Lands Smokey Lav in Denver, No Fire


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

    What: United Express/Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Denver to Tulsa
    Where: Denver
    When: Mar 17th 2012
    Who: 49 passengers, 3 crew
    Why: After takeoff from Denver, the flight was still above Denver when smoke was indicated in the lavatory.

    The pilot returned to make a safe landing with emergency services on standby. Passengers disembarked safely with no reported injuries (and no fire found) and were ported to the gate.

    Needful Maintenance? Smoke alarm? Fumes burning off the engine? Someone smoking in the bathroom? Inquiring minds want to know.

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    AK Float Plane Crash Survivors Flown To Seattle Med

    What: Southeast Aviation DeHavilland Beaver
    Where: Ketchikan AK
    When: March 13, 2012
    Who: Two injured
    Why: Alaska State Troopers have identified the two men, 64-year-old Ketchikan pilot Ernest Robb and 56-year-old Vancouver passenger Murray Richardson, injured in the float plane crash in the Niblack Mine area 30 miles SW of Ketchikan near Prince of Wales Island

    Responders included Alaska State Troopers, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad, Temsco Helicopters, and Guardian Flight Services after a Good Samaritan vessel spotted the wreckage off the beach. Guardian flight services first flew the injured men to Ketchikan Peace Health Medical Center then to Seattle’s Harbor View Medical Center. Initial investigation revealed that weather conditions were zero visibility with heavy snow, factoring into the accident.