USA

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    Agricultural Accident-two cropdusters collide


    What: Miles Flying Service AT80 AIR TRACTOR AT-802A
    Where: Paragould Arkansas
    When: May 23, 2012, 11:35 a.m
    Who: 1 severe injury, 1 fatality
    Why: Two agricultural planes, a Beech Grove Grumman G164C and a Miles Flying Service AIR TRACTOR AT-802A collided in midair during an aerial application (crop-dusting) activity. The planes flew from Craighead and Greene county airstrips. One plane was flying S-N, the other was flying E-W. The planes turned into one another at the field’s corner and they impacted ground separated by 300 yards near County Road 322 and Highway 168 in Greene County.

    One person on the Gurmman was fatally injured; one person on the Air tractor had serious injuries. The accident occurred sixteen miles from Paragould arkansas. A medical helicopter evacuated the injured pilot.

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    UPS Safe Landing in Tulsa


    What: UPS Cargo Airbus en route from Louisville to Tulsa
    Where: Tulsa International Airport
    When: May 22, 2012 5:40 a.m.
    Who: 2 Crew
    Why: En route, the plane flashed a landing gear warning.

    Pilots made a safe landing in Tulsa but had to be towed. The runway was closed for thirty minutes.

    Below see video of Airbus landing.

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    Mooney M20C Lands at Island Road and Sheridan Street

    What: 1965 Mooney M20C en route from Baldwin County Georgia to North Perry Airport, Pembroke Pines
    Where: Sheridan Street in Cooper City Florida
    When: May 19, 2012
    Who: Pilot and passenger
    Why: The pilot who experienced engine trouble managed to force-land on Sheridan street, only clipping his wings on the tree-lined street. No injuries were reported but traffic was shut down on the street for a while.

    The FAA is investigating.

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    Cessna Crashes into Front Yard, Takes out 2000+ Utilities


    What: Cessna 210 en route from Phoenix to Van Nuys
    Where: Glendale
    When: May 21, 20128:30 pm
    Why: A plane crashed in Glendale, hitting power lines and knocking out service to 2,100 customers near the crash site. The pilot notified ATC of engine trouble near the El Monte Airport, and said he was trying to reach Van Nuys Airport before he lost contact with ATC.

    THe plane struck power poles and a tree before impacting the ground in a residential front yard. Three homes were evacuated but no one on the ground was injured.

    The pilot went to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center with injures but was released Monday night. Police said he did a good job avoiding causing damage to other people and property. The Cessna is owned by Allen K. Heng and James Roth. Heng was not aboard at the time of the crash.

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    Helicopter Pilot Walks Away from Hard Landing


    What: Enstrom F-28F helicopter en route from Elko, Nevada to Twin Falls Idaho
    Where: Twin Falls, Idaho.
    When: May 20, 2012
    Who: Pilot
    Why: The pilot reported that ten miles south of the Twin Fall Airport, he contacted the control tower that was inbound for landing. However, then he told ATC that he would not be able to make it to the airport with the problems he was having.

    He subsequently made a precautionary landing to an open field with control problems with the helicopter. During landing, the helicopter’s tail boom separated from the aircraft.

    The pilot is the owner of the helicopter, and was not injured.

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    Unstable Passenger Claims Bomb Implant


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

    What: US Airways B767 from Paris to Charlotte
    Where: Bangor Maine
    When: May 22, 2012
    Who: 179 passengers, 9 crew
    Why: Around noon, Two F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept a US Airways plane where a French woman from Cameroon had handed a note to a flight attendant claiming that she had a surgically implanted bomb. She was traveling alone and had no baggage.

    The flight which made a safe landing in Maine.

    The flight was interrupted for three hours when passengers were evacuated, and federal customs agents escorted the woman off the plane in handcuffs. The plane was examined and reboarded.

    A passenger said the crew initially blamed the unexpected landing on fuel and weather issues.

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    Pilot and Three Passengers Walk away from Frankenmuth Crash

    What: Kitze Aviation Inc. Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee G
    Where: Frankenmuth, MI
    When: May 20, 2012, 3:20 pm
    Who: 4 aboard
    Why: A 25 year old pilot Thomas Wolfe successfully landed the Piper in Zehnder Field after losing power.

    The pilot and one passenger got medical treatment after landing. Two others were transported to Flint’s Hurley Medical Center for treatment.

    The pilot, Thomas Wolf, 56 year old Gerald Wolfe and 57 year old Frank Tima, are from Livonia. 26-year-old Laura Richardson is from Royal Oak.

    The accident is under investigation.

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    Allegiant makes Duluth Emergency Landing One Engine Down

    What: Allegient Air McDonnell Douglas jet en route from Duluth to Las Vegas
    Where: Duluth
    When: May 18, 2012, 9 p.m.
    Who: 140 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: While en route about fifteen minutes into the flight, passengers on Allegiant Air Duluth-Las Vegas heard a loud bang. Pilots declared emergency.

    Fifty miles into the flight, pilots shut down the affected engine, and returned to Duluth International Airport. Emergency services including National Guard, firefighters and emergency responders were on stand by.

    Passengers were offered $50 vouchers and the opportunity to stay at the Residence Inn. Passengers were told that the replacement flight departed at 2:30 p.m. Saturday but it did not depart until 3:55 pm. Meanwhile, Allegiant Mechanics removed the ailing engine from the disabled plane.

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    UPS Emergency Landing in Louisville

    What: UPS cargo plane en route from Louisville
    Where: Louisville International Airport
    When: May 21, 20125:30 p.m.
    Who: UPS Crew
    Why: At 5:30 p.m. after taking off from Louisville, the pilot told ATC of a fire indication in an engine, and said it must make an emergency landing.

    Emergency services were on standby as the pilot made a safe landing. No fire was found.

    (Details unconfirmed)

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    American Airlines Emergency Landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mark Kryst
    What: American Airlines en route from Raleigh to Chicago
    Where: Raleigh-Durham International Airport
    When: May 20, 2012, 8:15
    Who: 138 passengers
    Why: The American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 en route from Raleigh to Chicago developed an oil leak in one engine after take-off.

    Pilots made a loop over central North Carolina and returned to Raleigh, aborted an attempted landing, and then made a successful emergency landing. Emergency services, crash-fire-rescue trucks and firefighters were on standby.

    American Airlines provided a replacement flight for passengers. No injuries were reported.

    Flight Aware Live Flight Tracker > American Airlines (AA) #1645 > 20-May-2012 > KRDU-KORD Flight Tracker
    #AAL1645

    American Airlines “American”
    Aircraft McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (twin-jet) (MD83/Q)
    Origin Raleigh-Durham Intl (KRDU)
    Destination Raleigh-Durham Intl (KRDU)
    Route PACK6 AZELL HMV FLM HEVAN MZZ ROYKO3 (Decode)
    Date Sunday, May 20, 2012
    Duration 22 minutes
    Status Landed yesterday.
    Distance Direct: 0 sm Planned: 257 sm Flown: 114 sm
    Scheduled Actual/Estimated
    Departed 08:05AM EDT 08:12AM EDT
    Arrival 09:52AM EDT 08:34AM EDT
    Speed 393 kts
    Altitude 34,000 feet

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    2 Pilots Lost in Albatross at Boulder


    What: Aero Vodochody L39 Albatross on training flight
    Where: west of Boulder City Airport
    When: May 18, 2012, 12:30
    Who: Two fatalities
    Why: When Boulder City Police Chief Thomas Finn talked about the training flight, he said, “It landed flat; it pancaked into the desert.
    After the plane crashed, the engine was still running and caught fire, burning the rear end of the aircraft.” Two of the jets had taken off in tandem but only one issued a Mayday and crashed. The jet’s tail and most of its body are still intact.

    The flight took off from Boulder City Municipal Airport.
    Emergency responders included Metro Police and Boulder City police and firefighters.

    According to the Las Vegas Sun the registered owner of the plane, Walter Woltosz of LA, was not aboard.

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    Allegiant Air Emergency Landing in Las Vegas

    What: Allegiant Air MD80 en route from Duluth to Las Vegas
    Where: Duluth International Airport
    When: May 18, 2012 9 pm
    Who: 141 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: Fifty miles into the flight, the engine made an explosive noise. Pilots came online and made an announcement to passengers that they had blown an engine.

    Pilots returned to Duluth where they made a safe landing. Emergency services made up of Air National Guard and Duluth Fire Department were on standby. Passengers were clapping when they were on the ground.

    A replacement jet was called and the fight is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. No injuries were reported.

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    Hot Brakes in Houston


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Jehan M. Ghouse

    What: Air Cargo Carrier Shorts SD-360 en route from Tupelo to Houston
    Where: Houston
    When: May 17th 2012
    Who: 2 crew
    Why: After the Air Cargo Carrier landed at Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, it caught on fire. Aviation Herald claims the cause of the fire was “brakes of the right main gear.”

    Emergency services responded.

    We haven’t heard if the plane made a hard or fast landing, Houston temps, or if there was some mechanical problem like a lock-up that caused the fire.

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    PR: FAA Proposes $395,850 Civil Penalty Against US Airways

    NEW YORK—The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $395,850 civil penalty against US Airways Inc., of Tempe, Ariz., for allegedly violating U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.

    The FAA conducted a periodic dangerous goods inspection of US Airways’ facilities at Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL), May 10-18, 2010. As a result of the inspection, the FAA alleges the airline committed various violations between Feb. 26 and May 12, 2010. The alleged violations involve 12 flights to or from BDL.

    In one instance, the Transportation Security Administration discovered, while inspecting passenger checked baggage, that US Airways had accepted an undeclared shipment containing ten disposable cigarette lighters filled with flammable gas. The FAA alleged the airline failed to notify the FAA of this discrepancy.

    In another instance, US Airways offered an improperly packaged shipment containing wet cell batteries filled with alkali, a corrosive, for transportation by air on a US Airways passenger-carrying flight.

    The FAA also alleged the airline failed to provide pilots with the required "accurate and legible written information" regarding 23 shipments of hazardous materials it accepted for transportation by air.

    US Airways has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

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    US Airways Punched in the Nose Bird Strike


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

    What: US Airways Boeing 757-200 en route from Philadelphia,PA to Orlando,FL
    Where: Orlando
    When: May 11th 2012
    Why: The flight was en route when there was a bird strike impacting the nose. The bird made a “significant” dent in the plane. ATC says “Looks like you guys got punched in the nose, US Air”

    Play the pilot’s audio below:


    Pilot’s audio provided by http://www.liveatc.net

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    Medicated Sleepwalker Mistakes Exit Door for Bathroom


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

    What: US Airways/ Air Wisconsin Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Portland Maine to Philadelphia
    Where: Boston
    When: May 10th 2012
    Who: 50 passengers and 3 crew
    Why: A passenger with a history of seizures and on medication attempted to open the door while en route.

    The disruptive passenger was caught by a flight attendant, who stopped him. He told her he was going to the bathroom. The attendant led him to a seat in the rear of the plane where state police found him. Other passengers may have been upset or frightened by the incident, but under normal conditions, it’s not physically possible to open the door while in flight anyway.

    Pilots diverted the flight to Boston where the disruptive passenger was offloaded, presumably by gentlemen in white coats.

    Michael Ensalaco, 40, of Mooresville, N.C was charged with interfering with a flight crew. His lawyer explained that his seizure disorder is similar to sleep walking.

    In George’s Point of View

    While a medical event should not be handled in the same way as a malicious act, perhaps someone with this tendency should not fly, or else they should not sleep during the flight, and also be obligated to inform the flight crew ahead of time. It could happen to anyone taking Ambien!

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    Private Cessna Crashes en route to Council Bluffs, 3 Fatalities Reported

    What: Privately owned Cessna 401 en route from Riverside Kansas to Council Bluffs Kansas
    Where: Thomas Road between 1900 & 2000 or 9 miles west of Chanute, KS
    When: May 11, 2012 16:36
    Who: 5 aboard, 3 fatalities
    Why: The privately owned Cessna was en route to Council Bluffs when it told ATC it requested permission to descend to a lower altitude, then crashed near Chanute and caught on fire. The plane skidding 200 feet across a field before it hit trees.

    23-year-old pilot, Luke F. Sheets, Garret Coble of Tulsa and Stephen J. Luth, 22 died in the crash according to Shawnee County Coroner’s Office-Topeka.

    22-year-old Hannah N. Luce of Texas and 27-year-old Austin G. Anderson were injured. Hannah was hospitalized at KU Medical Center-Kansas City, KS and Austin at Christi St. Francis Hospital-Wichita.

    Chanute is about 90 miles northwest of Joplin, Mo.

    The plane crashed in a field east of Highway 75. Two of the five aboard survived the crash.

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    A Southwest Flight Halted due to threats.

    Two Southwest flights were grounded after bomb threats were made Tuesday evening.

    Southwest Flight (7:30 p.m. flight 1184) was isolated at Sky Harbor Airport. Passengers were re-screened.

    Southwest Flight (8:30 p.m. flight 811) at John Wayne Airport was also isolated after a bomb threat.

    Nothing was found when the plane was searched. No one was injured.

    The Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating.

    See Video below:

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    United Visual Landing Without Instruments, Boston


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

    What: United Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Chicago to Boston
    Where: Logan International
    When: Oct 23, 2012
    Who: 144 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: The pilot was on approach to Logan when he noticed a problem with his instruments.

    The pilot informed ATC of instrument failures and pressurization issues. ATC cleared a holding pattern, until the pilot performed a visual landing.

    The pilot taxied to the Terminal C gate at 12:42 pm. Below is the pilot’s audio.

    Pilot audio

    Pilot’s audio provided by http://www.liveatc.net

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    Delta Bird Strike Emergency Landing at JFK


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

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from New York to Los Angeles,CA
    Where: New York
    When: Apr 19th 2012
    Who: 172 passengers and 7 crew
    Why: After taking off from JFK, the plane had a bird strike. A bird was ingested by a right engine, which caused an engine failure. Pilots informed ATC.

    Passengers feared the worst as they saw the birds, heard the impact and smelled the smoke, but the cool headed pilot was able to make a visual landing while flying on one engine.

    Matthew Kroll, told reporters”We were taking off and two seconds off the ground, the whole plane shutters and you hear this low growl. Then you smell the smoke in the cabin. People were relatively calm because it happened about three second after take-off. Everyone saw what happened and you could smell it. It was more dead bird than smoke. The pilot came out and said we have to circle back. It took about four minutes and we were back on the runway.”

    The bird strike was taped by a passenger and has been incorporated into the reports below:

    video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

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    Incapacitated Pilot Circles Gulf

    Updated with audio clip

    What: Lee H Aviation Inc. Cessna 421C en route from Slidell, La., to Sarasota, Fla.
    Where: Gulf of Mexico
    When: April 19 2012
    Who: pilot
    Why: The plane took off normally from Slidell at 6:43 a.m., but en route lost contact with ATC and began flying in circles over the Gulf of Mexico.

    Around 8:45 a.m, two F-15s that flew in to check on the plane found it flying between 25,000 and 35,000 feet with the windshield iced over. The pilot remained unresponsive. The plane landed “softly” intact and right side up in the water around 12:10 p.m., approximately 120 miles west of Tampa. The pilot was unconscious or incapacitated.

    The 87-foot cutter Coho was scheduled to respond as well as a HC-144 plane from Mobile, Alabama and a MH-60 helicopter in Clearwater.

    The pilot may have lost consciousness due to hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen.


    Pilot’s audio provided by http://www.liveatc.net

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    Cessna Lands on Model Runway


    What: single-engine Cessna en route from North Carolina to Long Island NY
    Where: Heckscher State Park in East Islip, Long Island NY
    When: April 15, 2012, 4 pm
    Who: pilot and student
    Why: Pilot David J. Jensen and a student were in the single-engine Cessna when it developed engine problems. The pilots made a safe landing on a Heckscher State Park runway normally dedicated to model planes.

    The plane was not allowed to take off from that runway, and was dismantled for removal.

    The incident is under investigation.

    Plane makes emergency landing on L.I.: MyFoxNY.com

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    Southwest Emergency Seattle-Saint Louis Diversion to Omaha


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

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Seattle to Saint Louis
    Where: Omaha
    When: Apr 14th 2012
    Who: 11 injured
    Why: While en route, the plane lost cabin pressure, oxygen masks deployed, and pilots decided to divert to Omaha where they made a safe landing. However on arrival, eleven passengers needed medical attention. Nine of them were treated at the airport with minor injuries, but continued the flight.

    A replacement Southwest jet completed the last leg on Saturday.

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    London-bound Boeing Suffers Lightning Strike


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

    What: United Boeing 777-200 en route from San Francisco to London
    Where: San Francisco
    When: Apr 12th 2012
    Who: 195 passengers aboard
    Why: After taking off from San Francisco, the left side of the United Boeing 777 was struck by lightning. Passengers described the flash of light and the big bank. Oxygen masks deployed. No one was injured. Weather suspended other flights taking off from that airport until the storm blew through.

    Pilots informed ATC, and dumped fuel before returning to land safely. The plane remained on the runway as officials inspected the aircraft. Passengers were put up in local hotels and scheduled to take an alternate flight Friday afternoon.