October 2007 aircraft Accident/Incidents

Hi Readers: It time to review the October Accidents/Incidents as reported by NTSB ( There were none reported for Oct 1, 30th, and 31st).
Therewere 74 accidents (4 incidents)( 3 non-U.S. accidents) of which 23 were fatal accidents accounting for 48 fatalities. One fatal accident occurred in Venezuela, accounting for 2 fatalities; one fatal accident occurred in Switzerland, accounting for 2 fatalities; and one Beech D55 accident (1 fatality) occurred near St.Croix, Virgin Islands - apparenty encountering IFR weather. Twenty fatal accidents occurred in the Continental U.S. accounting for 43 fatalities.

There were 4 Incidents during October - one, an Airbus 320 landing at Fargo, North Dakota with the nosegear turned 90 degrees, incurring minor damage; another, an Airbus received minor damage after landing when it struck a runway light at Chicago O'Hare Intl airport. In another incident, classified as a pilot deviation, a Cessna 525 made takeoff from Taxiway M, rather than Runway 36L, at Memphis Intl airport against Controller instructions. In the 4th incident a Bell Helicopter made a forced landing in the Gulf of Mexico.

There were 4 balloon landing accidents at Albuquerque, New Mexico - all during the International Balloon Fiesta, and all striking objects on landing (due to wind and gusts) resulting in one fatality, 7 serious injury, and one minor injury.

There was one amateur-built gyroplane accident (one fatal, one serious injury) due to engine failure and resulting in impact with trees. One glider crashed during day VFR maneuvering (one fatal). A formation flight of Yakovlev Yak50 aircraft landing atGillespie Field, El Cajon, CA. resulted in a collision of 2 aircraft on the landing runway; and a Piper PA-32R collided with a Cessna 152 in the traffic pattern at Farmingdale, New York - there were no injuries.

The remaining fatal accidents were a conglomeration of day and night flights - an interesting study of accident causes and safety aspects: To begin, there was a 10-fatal Cessna 208B Caravan propjet on a 402 mile VFR night flight (returning 9 skydivers from a skydiving event near Boise, Idaho to a home base in Shelton, Wa.) that crashed about 45 miles WSW of Yakima, WA. at about 4,300 ft. msl, just south of Mt. Ranier, in IFR weather. There were indications of a rapid descent (6,800 ft/min) from 8,900 ft. and a power-on impact with mountainous terrain at 4,300 ft. msl. Low clouds, misty rain, and low visibility were reported in the area of the accident site, and a hunter in the area observed the aircraft first on horizontal flight, followed by vertical flight. Icing and loss of control were indicated.
The FAA reported that no service was provided to the pilot, there was no flight plan, and there was no record of a preflight or other weather briefing. The report noted VFR weather conditions generally along the route of flight, but IFR conditions in the Cascade mountains and western foothills. There was an AIRMET for icing, low-level turbulence, and mountain obscuration. (I can't imagine a Commercial pilot based at Shelton, Wa. not being clued-in on the weather, in that area, particularly in October). This particular airplane was equipped with analog gauges and digital avionics, including autopilot, GPS, transponder, and de-icing boots. The Mode C transponder was operating and FAA radar was tracking the airplane and observed the target, first at 14,400 ft, then at 13,000 ft, and then 8,900 ft, all in a matter of seconds. The NTSB and Cessna Aircraft are investigating the accident. In armchair analysis (based on what has been reported), I would have to say, in spite of the analog and digital instrumentation of the airplane, that this pilot demonstrated how not to conduct a VFR night x-c flight.

A second accident (5 fatal) involved a Beech A36 forced landing on takeoff and impact with power lines during variable direction and velocity of high winds and gusts. The aircraft was unable to gain altitude and maintain climb speed. Witnesses reported a rough engine. The pilot was IFR qualified and an IFR flight plan had been filed. Visual flight conditions existed. I wonder if this airplane was overloaded.

The remaining fatal accidents (11) involved an Aero Commander 560F (4 fatal) that impacted terrain after takeoff with a possible engine failure; a Rathyeon C90A (3 fatal) on a night VFR Medical flight which crashed during en route descent; a Cessna 310N (2 fatal) at 13,000 ft in icing conditions with an engine problem; a Cessna 150L (2 fatal), an Instructor and student, impacted terrain during takeoff climb - loss of power and loss of control indicated; a Piper PA-28 (2 fatal) on a night VFR x-c flight encountered IFR conditions and impacted trees and the ground; a Piper PA-28 impacted terrain on a night flight to Las Vegas - encountering IFR conditions; a Piper PA-18 collided with powerlines on a day VFR flight; A Bellanca 7GCBC aircraft crashed on a day VFR x-c flight - an outer wing failure indicated; and another Bellanca 7GCAA crashed due to loss of control following a tailwheel shimmy during a glider-tow operation; an Amateur-built Lambert Variez aircraft crashed during the pilot's test of an installed speed brake; and a Piper PA-18 collided with power lines on a VFR flight.

The October accidents indicate loss of control associated with aircraft and weather factors, along with doubtful flight planning and en route weather knowledge and awareness. Icing conditions, which can appear at any time of the year, seem to be a particular problem to pilots. Knowing the freezing level in weather and how to avoid the icing conditions is of the utmost importance. Pilots should learn how to use all the available weather, and weather-forecasting services, prior to and during en route flight. And, in spite of advanced instrumentation and the services available, pilots will always have to make the decision to fly or stay, or to choose an alternate, or land at the first available airport - and it may not be easy.
Thanks for listening. R.S.

July - August 2007 Aircraft Accidents

Hi Readers: Back from the hospital - a huge bit of vertigo and a spiking blood pressure caught me unawares. Now I'll finish what I started. Looks like July and August 2007 were two months of aircraft accidents and incidents indicating some very bad judgment and failure to follow the rules. The weather played a part, too. NTSB is still investigating.

There were 72 aircraft accidents and 5 incidents in August compared to 199 accidents and 3 incidents in July. The fatal accidents in August totaled 26, with 55 fatalities, compared to 39 fatal accidents, with 73 fatalities (not including the Brazilian airline fiasco, taking 186 lives) in July.

The record for August indicates an improvement until we look at the type and nature of the accidents. And, as we go along, we'll keep in mind the question, "could these accidents and incidents have been prevented?". Although it will take a detailed study and review to know why and how, the answer, of course, is a resounding yes.

The flying hours for each month, which at this point would still be estimated, would indicate a slight increase in the accident rate. The incidents and the fatal accidents, however, give us the insight that we need, since the incident is the beginning of an accident and the fatal accident has reached and passed its reality.

Without going into the details, both the July and August incidents indicated pilot error, local and ground control errors, as well as poor coordination in the taxi, takeoff, and landing operations. All of the operations occured in daylight and during VFR conditions.
The July and August accidents occured worldwide, with the majority being in the continental U.S., with Alaska accounting for 8 accidents in July and 11 accidents in August.

The fatal accidents, particularly in Alaska, are revealing of multiple errors:
Weather Involved: July 2007 - 9 , August 2007 - 4
Pilot Error (Loss of control, etc.): Jul - 13 ; Aug 9
Engine Failure: Jul - 1 ; Aug 2
Experimental / Amateur failures: Jul 1 ; Aug - 5
Unknown / Unreported: Jul - 10 ; Aug - 2
Inflight Fire: Jul 1 ; Aug - 0
Medical Flight: Jul - 1 ; Aug - 1
Suicide: Jul - 0 ; Aug - 1
Uncertificated Flight: Jul - 0; Aug - 1
Helicopter tail rotor failure: Jul - 1 ; Aug - 1
Helicopter collision: Jul - 1 ; Aug - 0

The collision of 2 TV Channel news helicopters in Phoenix, AZ while watching a police persuit on the ground, as unusual as it was, showed inattention in flight and poor coordination of operations (in fact there were a total of five helicopters in the air in the same operation).

There were two fatal Part 135 sightseeing tour accidents out of Ketchikan, Alaska, one in July and one in August, both DeHavilland DHC-2 aircraft. Both directly involving VFR operations in IFR conditions of rain, fog, low clouds, and strong downdrafts. The July accident resulted in 5 fatalities and 4 serious injuries, and the August accident in 5 fatalities.

We will hope for better results in September. Thanks for listening.

RS