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.
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.
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.
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.
What: Línea Turística Aereotuy Cessna 208B Grand Caravan en route from to Los Roques to Isla de Margarita Venezuela
Where: Over the ocean
When: 26 AUG 2009, 08:10
Who: 12 passengers and a pilot
Why: En route, the ditched in the ocean. There were no fatalitis and the passengers were rescued by a fishing boat.
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.
Pictured: A Walmart Lear Jet
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Jeff Rodeback
What: Wal-Mart Lear 45 executive jet en route to Anchorage
Where: Boeing Field in Seattle
When: August 26, 2009
Who: six passengers on board
Why: When the pilot was unable to retract the landing gear, he returned to Boeing field; On landing, the front landing gear (still locked up) caught fire. The tire fire was put out with foam. There were no injuries reported.
What: Piper PA-24 Comanche en route to Santa Barbara Airport
Where: southbound side of U.S. Highway 101 NE of Santa Barbara
When: Sunday 10:30 a.m
Who: pilot Kris Sean Michel and wife
Why: When the plane ran out of fuel, the pilot landed on US. Highway 101. Although several cars (Chevrolet Suburban Honda Accord driven by Sanjay Mitter, Volkswagen driven by Marlene Tutogi) struck or were struck by the plane and nine people were involved, no one was killed.
Pictured: Air Asia Airbus A320
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer T.Laurent
What: Air Asia Airbus A320 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Macao
Where: Macao International Airport
When: 2009 08 24
Who: 148 passengers
Why: While en route, a warning light signaled that the emergency door was open
The plane made a safe landing. Apparently the warning message went off in error on a securely locked door.
George’s Point of View
The issue here is not simply a warning light. It is the fact that warning lights on aircraft are crucial, life-saving equipment and cannot afford to fail. A warning that goes off for no reason may cause the “boy who cried wolf” syndrome (i.e. let’s ignore it because that warning always goes off;) or it can indicate some mechanical underpining that is faulty (loose wire, blown gasket); or a miniscule software error that could range in significance from mundane to catastrophic.
So let’s hope that maintenance looks at that door until they determine exactly what did happen to cause the warning to go off. Because the only way to prevent problems in the future is to pin down every issue now, before it escalates into another Airbus disaster.
What: Edge E40 in aerobatics competition
Where: World Aerobatic Championships at Silverstone Circuit Silverstone, Dadford Road, Buckingham.
When: 12.12pm
Who: 40-year-old Californian and US Aerobatic Team Champion, President of the International Aerobatic Club Vicki Cruse
Why: The crash occurred when the pilot was performing a vertical stall. Apparently she wasnt high enough when her engine stalled, or her engine ran out of fuel.
Link to bio of Vicki Cruse. Please note this is a .pdf
What: small tourist Cessna en route from Cannes-Mandelieu Airport
Where: Callas — north east of Draguignan near the Riviera
When: SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2009 10:00 am (0800 GMT)
Who: Five passengers killed: the pilot, a friend of the pilot and a lady and two children
Why: The plane crashed in a wooded park near residences and burst into flames. Residents who witnessed the crash heard nothing as the plane seemed to be gliding, then there was a lound explosion as the plane hit the ground and burst into flame. The accident was close enough to the neighborhood that neighbors turned their garden hoses on the flames, but no one survived the crash.
What: dell’eliambulanza medical emergency service helicopter
Where: Mount Cristallo/ Mount Faloria near Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
When: Saturday, 22nd August 2009
Who: 4 people on board: two engineers (co-pilot Marco Zago and Stefano da Forno), a doctor (Spaziani Fabrizio) and the pilot (Dario De Felipe)
Why: The helicopter appeared to have hit a high voltage cable while flying in bad weather. The helicopter was in the process of responding to landslide near Rio Gere, towards Passo Tre Croci. Continued bad weather hampered recovery efforts.
This would have been Zago’s last mission before transferring to another job.
The remains have been recovered, however, and were taken to the hospitap mortuary in Cortina Codivilla. This hazardous area frequently requires mountain rescue services.
Pictured: A Skybolt
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Dubravko Sertovic
What: Fixed Wing Single-Engine Steen Skybolt (Cooper Skybolt) bi-plane en route from West Harrison Airport (Cincinnati West)
Where: McNicholas High School in Harrison Ohio
When: Aug 21, 2009 8:08 p.m.
Who: pilot and a female passenger
Why: Witnesses watching a football scrimmage between Harrison and McNicholas High School say that while en route, the plane climbed, pitched left, seemed to struggle, then took a nosedive, crashing near the high school and killing 47 year old pilot Raymond Robben of Guilford, Indiana, and passenger 52 year old Belinda Roy of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The pilot and his girlfriend were on a pleasure ride when the plane failed, crashing a quarter of a mile from the end of the runway.
Robben was a corporate pilot for the JTM Food Group.
FAA registration lists the biplane as being manufactured in 1996, classified an amateur built experimental aircraft and Robben is listed as as a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor.
George’s Point of View
As with all tragic flights, we express condolences to the families.
Pictured: An Air India Airbus A320-231
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Rajesh Changela
What: Air India Airbus A320-200 en route from Singapore Changi Airport to Chennai India
Where: Meenambakkam airport
When: Aug 22nd 2009
Who: 132 passengers
Why: After extending the gear, one main gear tire was observed to be flat–not a surprise because debris was found at the airport of origin.
All precautions were engaged during landing and the flight landed safely with no injuries reported. The plane was towed off the runway to a maintenance bay.
Pictured: An American Airlines 757 landing at LAX
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Peter Spence
What: American Airlines Boeing 757 en route from San Diego to Dallas
Where: Los Angeles International Airport
When: Friday August 21
Who: 188 passengers and 6 crew
Why: While en route to Dallas, passengers observed pieces of the right wing falling off. The crew declared an emergency and landed at LAX. Maintenance crews discovered that “delamination of a seal.”
Passengers were able to board another plane bound to arrive at their destination on midnight Friday.
What: Twin-engine Beechcraft Baron hired by Quest Diagnostics en route from Reading, Pa. to Teterboro (where the where the plane in the recent Hudson crash originated.)
Where: adjacent to Teterboro Airport,
When: Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
Who: Pilot and copilot
Why: The flight was delivering blood specimens for Quest Diagnostics. Halfway down the runway, the pilot aborted the first attempt at landing, and hit a tree and broke in half on the next go-around, then crashing and burning in a nearby warehouse parking lot.
Rescuers rushed to the scene to search for the pilot and co-pilot, and reportedly heard someone saying ‘We’re here, We’re here,”
Rescuers came back with ‘I know you are, but I’m looking for the guys on the plane.’ And they replied, ‘We are the guys from the plane.’
Both men are in serious condition.
The pilot George Maddox, 54, of Sinking Springs, Pa. and copilot Co-pilot Sanil Gopinath, 42, of Laurel, Md survived and were checked in to St. Barnabas Medical Center.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Dave Chapman
What: Alitalia Airbus A321-100 en route from Moscow to Rome
Where: Minsk
When: Aug 20th 2009
Who: 0 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While en route to Rome, the flight lost cabin pressure. The flight descended to a safe level and landed safely at Minsk.
George’s Point of View
I suppose that ferry flights are an unavoidable reality of aviation; but in these days of conservation and high fuel prices, one wonders at the reasoning behind flying 1475 miles in an Airbus with 6 crew. If they’re flying in for repairs, isn’t there a danger for the crew? Is this the best possible management of vehicle, fuel, and manpower?
No wonder Alitalia reported a $385 million loss so far this year.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Torin Wilson
What: Virgin Blue Boeing 737-800 en route from Launceston to Sydney
Where: Launceston
When: Aug 20th 2009
Who: 151 passengers
Why: Shortly after takeoff, passengers heard a “bang” and flames were seen from an engine. The plane circled Launceston for thirty minutes before being cleared to land, which it did, safely. The problem was described as an “engine surge.” Passengers debarked and were provided an alternative plane to take them to Launceston.
George’s Point of View
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Trevor Mulkerrins
What: Primera Air Boeing 737-700 en route from Greece to Dublin
Where: Dublin
When: Aug 14th 2009
Who: 148 passengers and 6 crew
Why: High fuel consumption observed during the flight appeared to point to a fuel leak, leading to an emergency landing in Dublin. The “minor” leak that was discovered in the left engine was repaired.
George’s Point of View
Maintenance saves the day, again…
PICTURED: A JAC De Havilland jet landing at Osaka
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Javier Guerrero
What: Japan Air Commuter Bombardier DHC-8-402 en route from Osaka to Miyazaki
(Also reported as a Havilland Dash 8-400)
Where: Osaka International Airport
When: Thursday Aug 20
Who: 22 passengers and four flight crew members
Why: Breitbart reports that while en route, the Bombardier’s hydraulic system indicator light reported a hydraulics malfunction. The plane landed safely with no reported injuries and was towed off the runway. It is not clear if the hydraulics or the indicator was at the source of the problem, but JAC is investigating.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Baires Aviation Photography
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Oakland,CA to Vegas
Where: Oakland International Airport
When: Thursday August 20
Who: male passenger
Why: While en route to Vegas, a male passenger apparently accosted a female passenger. He exposed himself, and hit a female passenger, at which time flight attendants became involved. By the time the passenger was arrested, he was naked. The male passenger was taken by Oakland police; the female passenger was taken to an Oakland hospital.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Matt Duna
What: Easyjet Airbus A320-200 en route from London Gatwick to Faro, Portugal
Where: La Rochelle France
When: Aug 19th 2009, 09:30 BST
Who: 165 passengers and 6 crew
Why: Over the Bay of Biscay, the flight crew detected the smell of something burning and declared an emergency. They diverted to La Rochelle France, where they landed safely. No injuries were reported. Passengers were provided an alternative Airbus six hours later although firefighters with heat sensitive cameras did not find a source for the smell. The Easyjet spokesman called it a ” a small electrical problem .”
George’s Point of View
Considering that the flight was an Airbus flying over the ocean, passengers were lucky.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Richard Austen
What: Horizon Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 (Alaska Airlines) en route from Seattle Bellingham
Where: Bellingham
When: Aug 16th 2009 11:50PM PDT (arrival)
Who: 76 passengers and 4 crew
Why: There were no reported problems during the 32 minute flight; however, while landing at Bellingham, the plane overran the runway. No injuries were reported and the plane was towed to the terminal after a delay of 6-8 hours.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Teemu Tuuri
What: Tomsk Avia Antonov AN-24 en route from Novosibirsk Tolmachevo to Strzhewoi
Where: Strzhewoi, Russia
When: Aug 17th 2009
Who: 37 passengers and 3 crew
Why: On final approach to Strzhewoi, the left engine failed. The plane landed safely with no reported injuries.
Pictured: A Frontier Airlines-Lynx Airlines De Havilland Dash flying out of Denver
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer John E. Jauchler
What: Lynx Aviation de Havilland Dash 8-400 (Frontier Airlines) flight en route from Fargo to Denver
Where: Fargo Hector International Airport
When: Aug 16th 2009
Who: 74 passengers 5 crew
Why: After a bird strike on take-off, the Frontier Airlines plane was cleared to return to the Fargo airport and repaired; but on the subsequent flight, the plane’s landing gear doors did not close after the gears were retracted on the initial climb, sending it back to maintenance.
