USA

  • | | | | |

    Blue Cypress Lake Cessna Crash Kills Scottish Visitors

    What: N70FT Inc. Cessna 152 en route from Space Coast Aviation at the Merritt Island Airport
    Where: Blue Cypress Lake, Indian River County, FL
    When: June 9 2011
    Who: 2 fatalities, Carly Beattie and Daniel Beattie
    Why: A Cessna 152 chartered by Scottish visitors Carly Beattie and Daniel Beattie crashed in Indian River County southwest blue Cypress Lake. The plane crashed in mud and swampland in Blue Cypress Conservation area; the crash site is north of State Road 60 and east of Florida’s Turnpike, between Fellsmere and Yeehaw Junction, on land owned by the St. John’s River Water Management District. The rural area is home to venomous snakes and alligators, making recovery more difficult.

    Carly was a student pilot, and not allowed to take passengers.

    The plane apparently nosedived engine deep into the mud, splitting the fuselage behind the cockpit. The plane was lost on Thursday, reported Thursday at 11, and not found till Friday. Cell tower analysis helped to determine the location.

    A crane will probably be used to recover the wreckage. An airboat was used to reach the site, and hikers were wearing waist-high boots. The NTSB is investigating.



  • | | | | |

    United Airlines Smoke in Cockpit

    What: United Airlines/Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Lincoln,NE to Denver,CO
    Where: Lincoln Nebraska
    When: June 6 2011, 7 am
    Who: 53 passengers 3 crew
    Why: On takeoff from Lincoln Airport, the crew detected smoke in the cockpit.

    Pilots returned immediately to Lincoln and made a safe landing. Maintenance examined the plane. Takeoff was delayed for 9 hours.

  • | | | |

    Delta/Skywest Makes Safe Landing on one set of Landing Gear

    What: Delta Air Lines/ SkyWest en route from Cincinnati to Milwaukee
    Where: Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee Wisconsin
    When: June 6, 2011
    Who: 41 passengers, 3 crew
    Why: On approach to the airport, the landing gear developed problems.

    The plane made a safe landing at 10 pm Monday night on one set of landing gear. Passengers were bussed to the terminal. Once passenger was hospitalized.

    According to news crews covering the incident, the plane looked tilted on the runway. The airport was closed for two hours after the landing.

  • | | | | | | | |

    Continental Engine Shut Down over Indianapolis


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

    What: Continental Express/Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Indianapolis to Newark
    Where: Indianapolis
    When: June 1, 2011
    Who: 51
    Why: While en route, the flight developed an oil pressure problem. At 10,000 feet, the pilot requested a return to the airport due to the engine issue. He shut down the left engine and returned to Indianapolis to make a safe landing.

    Passengers were rerouted to alternative flights.

  • | | | |

    Alaskan Greiner Family Lost in Cessna Crash

    What: Lonn D. Greiner’s Cessna 180 en route from Birchwood to Seldovia
    Where: Alaska
    When: May 27, 2011
    Who: 5 aboard
    Why: Not long after a successful takeoff, the nose of the cessna pitched up, then it banked and fell. Witnesses say that the engine sounded fine.

    The cessna crashed on train tracks, resulting in a fire. All 5 aboard were killed in the crash. The Alaska Railroad shut down the tracks until the wreckage was removed.

    All aboard were members of the Greiner family from the Anchorage suburb of Eagle River. Lonn Greiner, 46, from Eagle River; three of his children, Glory, 13, Nathan, 11, and Grace, 10; and his 69-year-old mother, Carolyn Greiner. They were on a Memorial Day holiday.

    Greiner performed jet maintenance at Ted Stevens Anchorage International.

  • | | | | |

    Delta Flat Catches Fire Landing in Atlanta

    What: Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Pittsburg, to Atlanta
    Where: Atlanta
    When: May 28th 2011
    Who: 43 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On landing in Atlanta, the right main gear tire blew and started a fire. The runway was vacated and the passengers disembarked via emergency slides.

    Emergency services responded to contain the fire. Foam was employed.

  • | | | | | | |

    Allegiant Lands in Pittsburgh with One Engine Down

    What: Allegiant McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Youngstown to Orlando
    Where: Pittsburgh
    When: May 26 2011
    Who: 142 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: While en route, the right engine was running hot and low on oil. They shut down the engine and diverted to Pittsburgh where they made a safe landing. Maintenance examined the leaky engine.

    A replacement jet was flown in.

    Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!

  • | | | |

    Aero Resources Flight Crashes in North Carolina, 4 die in crash


    What: Aero Resources Corp. of Hazard Beechcraft 58 Baron en route from Georgia to Kentucky
    Where: Unaka, about 125 miles west of Asheville, NC
    When: May 25, 2011
    Who: 4 fatalities: pilot Mat Shuey, Tiffany Maggard, Kassie Robinson and Miranda Morgan
    Why: Pilot Mat Shuey was flying at 9,000 feet, above the area peaks when he reported an emergency over North Carolina when it crashed north of Lake Hiwassee near the Tennessee border, and started a brush fire.

    The wreckage was spotted on the afternoon of the 25th but the site was not immediately accessible. The pilot and three female passengers died in the crash. The four bodies were recovered by rescue crews on Thursday.

    Tiffany Maggard, Kassie Robinson and Miranda Morgan, who had all graduated from a Knott County Kentucky high school, had been visiting a friend in Alabama. The pilot’s name was not released.

  • | | | | |

    Green Bay-DC-9 Emergency Landing


    Pictured: Delta DC-9 Similar to the one in the incident
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Christopher Weyer

    What: Delta Airlines DC-9 en route from Detroit to Minneapolis
    Where: Ashwaubenon
    When: May 21, 2011
    Who: 81 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: The plane was en route when the pilot smelled smoke from burning plastic in the cabin, and announced to passengers they would be diverting to Green Bay with rescue services from De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Hobart and Howard on standby.

    They made a safe landing in Green Bay at Austin Straubel International Airport at 2:25 pm

  • | | | |

    Low-flying Ultralight Snaps Strut Turning Near Cliff, Plunges into Hawaii Waters


    Glider view capture news report

    What: Kauai Aero Sport P&M Pegasus Quick 912S en route from Port Allen Airport, Hawaii
    Where: North Shore of Kauai, 100 yards offshore near Honopu beach
    When: May 17, 2011 10:53 a.m
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: The ultralight belonging to Kauai Aero Sport landed in the water 100 yards off shore.

    Witnesses saw the ultralight in trouble and tried to come to the aid of the two men in the crash. (see video below)

    Captain Bob Butler describes hearing a (possible) aluminum strut break, and the aircraft hit the water at a 70 degree angle. They pulled the craft to the surface but not soon enough to save those aboard.

    The bodies of both men were recovered as well as the wreckage. The pilot/owner of Kauai Aero Sport is Steve Sprague.

    The NTSB is investigating.

  • | | | | | |

    Atlanta: Delta Emergency landing


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

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Detroit to Sao Paulo
    Where: Atlanta,GA
    When: May 15th 2011
    Why: While en route, over Daytona, the plane developed an issue with their airspeed indication. Although the issue was fixed, the flight diverted to Atlanta where they made a safe landing. A fresh crew with adequate duty time flew them to Sao Paulo.

  • | | | | |

    Flight Attendant injured in Turbulence


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Nino Buda-CYYZ Aviation Photography

    What: Continental Airlines/Colgan Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Newark to Washington DC
    Where: Washington
    When: May 16th 2011
    Who: Flight attendant
    Why: While en route, the plane encountered turbulence in which a flight attendant experienced injury. The plane did not divert, but continued to make a safe landing.

    Paramedics dealt with the flight attendant’s injuries

  • | | | | |

    Pine Bluff Arkansas Takes In American Airlines Emergency Landing

    What: American Airlines twin-engine MD 80 en route from Dallas to Washington
    Where: Little Rock Arkansas
    When: May 15 2011 4:08
    Who: 136 passengers 5 crew
    Why: While en route, the pilot declared an emergency due to an engine fire, then diverted to make a safe landing in Little Rock Arkansas. Passengers were provided access to alternative flights to Washington.

  • | | | |

    Louisville- Vision Airlines Copes With Hydraulic Emergency


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

    What: Vision Airlines Dornier Do-328-100 en route from Atlanta to Louisville
    Where: Louisville
    When: May 11th 2011, 8 pm
    Who: 21 aboard
    Why: After takeoff from Atlanta, the pilots experienced hydraulic problems, which they attempted to amend while en route. They announced the issue to passengers who were somewhat anxious on the way, but apparently did not panic. On approach to Louisville, a flyby revealed the landing gear was down. They continued to make a safe landing, leaving skidmarks on the runway, although without nose gear steering, they veered off the runway. After the landing, one passenger was hospitalized due to a medical condition. The runway is closed pending the investigation.

  • | | | |

    Two Pipers Collide in NY State

    What: Gary L. Delia (rgd. owner) Piper PA-24-250 Comanche #N7757P
    What>Edward J. Crump(rgd. owner) Piper Cherokee D # N5275L
    Where: County Road 12 and County Road 37, Wawayanda, about 60 miles north of New York City
    When: May 9 2011
    Who: 2 fatalities (pilots)
    Why: The planes were headed back to New Jersey when they crashed. A witness says one clipped the other, one spiraled down, the other angled over the hill. One of the planes caught fire. Edward Crump was not piloting his plane when it crashed.

    Licensed pilots Gary Delia in the Comanche (of Sussex, N.J.) and William Clark in the Cherokee (of Matamoras, Pa.) flew from Sussex County Airport.

    Neither pilot survived the crash.

    2 Small Planes Crash in Orange County, N.Y.: MyFoxNY.com

  • | |

    Oust Paul Morell says USAPA

    Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Compliance Paul Morell needs to be ousted for lack of leadership, and ignoring aviation safety concerns of US Airways pilots, according to the pilot reps of the US Airline Pilots Association. Seventeen points have been cited as examples of his dereliction and lapses in safety protocols.

    An October pilot survey pointed out pilot concerns that:

    • “The push for on-time departures may hinder safety.”
    • “unsatisfactory response” to reported safety issues”
    • little pilot input on the airline safety decisions
    • Safety personnel perceived as “out of touch with the risk of flight operations

    Click to view the press release .pdf

  • | | | |

    Southwest Boeing Diverts to Oklahoma City

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Kansas City, Mo., to Dallas
    Where: east of Oklahoma City
    When: May 10th 2011
    Who: 44 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: While en route, east of Oklahoma City, the plane developed smoke in the cockpit.

    The pilot made an emergency landing diverting to Oklahoma city for a safe landing. A replacement jet was provided within two hours.

    The smoke was attributed to a malfunctioning windshield heating element.

  • | | | |

    Eagle Airways Beech Diverts to Gisborne


    What: Air New Zealand/Eagle Airways Beech 1900D from Gisborne to Auckland New Zealand
    Where: Gisborne
    When: May 8th 2011
    Who: 9 passengers
    Why: Ten minutes into the flight, while flying over Opotiki, the pilots shut down an engine because of readings they were getting; and they announced to passengers they were going to make an emergency landing.

    The pilots then returned to the airport. Everyone aboard clapped when the nineteen seat plane landed safely.

    The engine of the Eagle Airways Beech was examined and no problems were found.

  • | | | | | |

    St. Louis: Unruly Passenger Left Behind

    What: Continental Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Houston to Chicago
    Where: Saint Louis
    When: May 8th 2011
    Who: disruptive passenger
    Why: While en route, a passenger attempted to open a plane door, saying he had to get out of the plane. He was subdued and restrained, as the flight diverted to Lambert International Airport, where the passenger in question was released into police custody. Charges may be pending.

  • | | | |

    Air Tran Engine Shut Down, Return to Greenville-Spartanburg IA

    What: Air Tran Boeing 717-200 en route from Charlotte to Atlanta
    Where: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
    When: May 4 2011
    Who: 115 passengers
    Why: After taking off, the left engine compressor stalled. The pilots shut down the left engine and returned to the airport.

    Spartanburg EMS, and Boiling Springs, Greer, Pelham and Tyger River fire departments were on the scene

  • | | |

    Beech Crashes House in Miami Gardens

    What: Beech 18 (N18R)
    Where: near Opa-Locka Airport, Miami Gardens Florida
    When: May 2, 2010
    Who: pilot Harry Trauffer
    Why: Right after takeoff, the pilot of the twin engine Beechcraft 18 cargo plane that was carrying household goods to the Bahamas radioed he was going down, before he clipped trees, crashed through a fence and 2 cars and into a residential yard. Neighbors were at home at the time of the crash, and witnessed it.

    More than 90 Miami-Dade firefighters were on the scene. Although we saw reports that the fire only caused smoke damage to the exterior of the home, and that it did not strike the building, it is clear in the video that the house was breached by the plane, and there were several areas of the house that were on fire. The family is staying elsewhere and no one in the house was injured.

    and was toxic while burning,
    The pilot who was killed in the crash was 64 year old Harry Trauffer, who regularly flew clothing, bedding and auto parts to the Bahamas.

    Near the accident site on 38th Avenue and 150th Street., the NTSB is holding a 3:00 PM press briefing conducted by NTSB Investigator-in-Charge, Todd Gunther

  • | | |

    Skydiving Crash Victims Awarded by Jury


    Doncasters Inc. of London is a manufacturer of aviation components. They were recently held accountable for the death of five victims of the crash of a DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, the skydiving plane which exploded at the Sullivan airport.

    Six people were killed: Melissa Berridge, 38, of St. Louis; Victoria Delacroix, 22, of London; Robert Cook, 22, of Rolla, Mo.; Rob Walsh, 44, of St. Louis; Scott Cowan, 42, of St. Louis were awarded four million each, and a portion of $28 million in punitive damages.

    David Aternoster, 35, also died in the crash but his relatives were not part of the lawsuit. Jim and Scott Cowan, owners of Quantum Leap Skydiving were piloting.

    Eight engine failures are believed to be due to a defective Doncasters part according to aviation experts, air crash investigators, metallurgists and aircraft design engineers.

  • | | |

    Gunfire Strikes LAPD Chopper

    What: Los Angeles Police Department helicopter
    Where: Van Nuys Airport
    When: April 24 2011, 6:00 am
    Who: officers aboard
    Why: In the San Fernando Valley near Saticoy Street and Densmore, gunfire struck the helicopter, which began smoking and leaking fuel. No one aboard the helicopter was hit.

    The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing; at least one report said the chopper landed with a dead engine. The helicopter made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport, making an “auto-rotation” to land on the apron at a charter jet service, Clay Lacy Aviation. The helicopter was put aboard a flat-bed truck to be transported to Hooper Air Station for investigation.

    The shooter was tracked down and arrested at his home and in possession of a semi-automatic rifle. The arrest was made at 7:10 a.m near Cohasset Street and Gloria Avenue. No one was injured. The shooter was reportedly distraught over the death of a friend.

     

    * An autorotation is landing without a engine power. The airspeed of the descent turns the rotors fast enough to provide lift for a safe landing.

  • | | | |

    Street Landing in Big Easy

    What: Single engine 1960 Piper Tri-Pacer en route from Lakefront Airport to St. Charles Parish
    Where: Harrison Avenue and West End, New Orleans
    When: April 16, 2011, 2:15 pm
    Who: pilot
    Why: Pilot Houston Hunter had dropped off his grandson at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans and was en route to Ama Airport in St. Charles Parish when he had mechanical problems and lost power. The pilot turned and tried to return to Lakefront, but had to make an emergency landing on the boulevard median, striking a minivan. Hunter injured his arm. There were three adults and two children in the van but no one was injured.