August 1, 2014, Beach, N.D. Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee 140
The student pilot was on final approach for landing when he encountered a crosswind from the left. He corrected for the crosswind and proceeded to land. The airplane ballooned, touched down and pulled to the right. The student pilot applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing. The airplane went off the right side of the runway, became airborne and struck a large hay bale. Post-accident examination revealed the firewall was buckled, both wing leading edges were crushed, the nose landing gear was sheared off and the empennage was damaged.
August 1, 2014, Statesville, N.C. Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage
The pilot was flying an ILS approach when she noted that the glideslope was out of service. She transitioned to a localizer-only approach and continued. Night instrument conditions prevailed, with a 400-foot ceiling. She noticed the airplane was “high and fast” on final approach, so she used speed brakes and flaps to slow the airplane and descend to the minimum descent altitude. As the airplane descended below the ceiling, she observed runway lights and attempted to land on the runway. The airplane landed long, departed the runway at the departure end, and struck an embankment before coming to rest.
August 2, 2014, Gansevoort, N.Y. Cessna 182F Skylane
At 1742 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it collided with a tree and terrain during climb-out following a banner pick-up. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the owner/operator of the banner-tow company, the airplane departed to the east, circled, and returned for the banner pickup. He was in radio contact with the pilot in order to provide flight path adjustments for the banner pick-up, but the approach was “perfect” and the pick-up was successful. The airplane did not climb as steeply as it normally would, however, and drifted left of the runway heading. The airplane collided with a treetop, rolled inverted and struck the ground nose-down.
August 5, 2014, Warren, Idaho Zenith CH 750 Experimental
The airplane crashed in mountainous terrain at about 1335 Pacific time. The sport pilot and passenger were fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot carried a personal Spot GPS satellite tracker unit. When the pilot failed to check in with his family, they logged into the Spot tracker system, determined its location and contacted search and rescue authorities.
Flight control continuity could not be positively verified as a result of the impact damage. The airplane was equipped with a Dynon Skyview multi-function display system, which was recovered for further examination. The accident site had a strong odor of aviation fuel. The fuel sump was intact, and fuel was present when it was opened. There was no contamination found in the fuel sump bowl.
August 5, 2014, Oceanside, Calif. Pitts S-2B
At about 1115 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The airline transport pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Prior to takeoff, the pilot noted there was ¾ of a tank of fuel aboard the airplane. The pilot departed and flew to an area to conduct spin practice. After performing several spins for about 15 minutes, he leveled off, intending to return to the airplane’s base. He thought the engine was erratic, its oil pressure was lower than normal and the fuel sight gauge no longer indicated ¾ full. He diverted to a nearby airport, performing a left circling approach to the runway, but was too high. He performed a right 270-degree turn, but the airplane’s descent rate increased and he was unable to make it to the runway. The airplane landed hard and nosed over in an open field about 200 yards from the runway.
August 6, 2014, Decatur, Ill. Beech B36TC Turbocharged Bonanza
The solo pilot made an emergency landing after a partial loss of engine power. He was not injured but the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight operated on an IFR flight plan.
The pilot was turning left base in the traffic pattern when he noticed a loss of engine power. He turned on the electric fuel pump and engine power was restored for a moment. The engine lost power again and the pilot made a forced landing to a corn field on airport property. During the landing, the airplane exited the corn field, struck a berm and came to rest on the other side. The pilot subsequently stated he switched fuel tanks about 10 miles from the destination airport.
August 6, 2014, Gulf Shores, Ala. Piper PA-34-220T Seneca IV
According to the pilot, the approach looked “normal;” however, the airplane impacted the runway nose-landing-gear first and bounced on landing. He advanced the power levers on both engines and the airplane immediately turned to the left, impacted the ground with the left wing, pivoted approximately 270 degrees, and came to rest. Examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose, fuselage, left wing and all three landing gear. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded weather at the accident airport included calm wind.
August 10, 2014, Big Lake, Alaska Piper PA-24-250 Comanche 250
At about 0217 Alaska time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain while attempting to land. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger sustained serious injuries. Dark night visual conditions prevailed.
Witnesses reported the accident pilot and his passenger were seen at a local bar, leaving it at about 0119. Surveillance video confirmed their accounts. According to radar data, at about 0202, an unidentified aircraft, believed to be the accident airplane, took off and subsequently appeared to pass over the destination airport, then turn back toward it before the track disappeared. The airplane impacted in a nose-low attitude and came to rest upright in an area of gravel-covered terrain alongside a road adjacent to the airport. A weather reporting facility about nine miles east of the accident site, at 0236, observed wind from 060 degrees at five knots, 10 sm visibility and an overcast at 10,000 feet.
August 10, 2014, Lake Worth, Fla. Van’s RV-6A Experimental
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1123 Central time following partial loss of engine power and a precautionary landing. The solo private pilot received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
While en route at 5500 feet msl, the engine began “missing,” but continued to run. The pilot reported to ATC and diverted. He crossed the runway threshold about 25 feet agl and at 110 KIAS. Unable to slow the airplane to a safe landing speed, he attempted a go-around. The engine “appeared to rev up,” but there was little power observed. He discontinued the go-around and landed straight ahead. The airplane departed the runway at the departure end and the pilot applied rudder and aileron controls to avoid striking the perimeter fence. The airplane flipped over and came to rest, inverted.
August 12, 2014, Sarasota, Fla. Pitts S-2B
At about 1150 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a beach following a total loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot and passenger incurred minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The flight’s purpose was to perform aerobatics. While returning to the airplane’s base and at about 5000 feet agl, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot elected to land the airplane on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane came to rest inverted in the water. It incurred substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Examination revealed the fuel tanks contained a total of one gallon of fuel.
August 13, 2014, Pine Bluffs, Wyo. Cessna 177 Cardinal
The pilot reported experiencing what he believed to be wind shear or a dust devil in the landing flare. Just before the airplane touched down, it lifted about 20 to 40 feet, then the wind suddenly shifted to a tailwind and the airplane stalled. The pilot stated the right wing dropped and the airplane entered an approximate 45-to-60-degree bank. The pilot corrected the bank angle and leveled the wings but failed to apply full power to completely recover from the stall. The airplane subsequently impacted the runway nose-down, bounced, then settled to the runway. The firewall and fuselage were substantially damaged.
August 13, 2014, Lake Montezuma, Ariz. Mooney M20F Executive 21
At about 0749 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain following an aborted landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot received minor injuries; the passenger received serious injuries.
While en route, the pilot elected to land to update his weather information. He never had landed at the airport and did not know the runway was downhill. It had rained earlier, and the runway was wet. When he applied the brakes after touchdown, the airplane skidded. He decided to abort the landing, but did not get the flaps up before the airplane sank off the elevated end of the runway and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.
August 13, 2014 in Salmon, ID Piper PA-28-236 Dakota
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1220 Mountain time during landing following a loss of engine power and emergency descent from cruise flight. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was not injured; the passenger received minor injuries.
Prior to takeoff, the vacuum pump was replaced. About 150 miles north the departure airport, the pilot heard an unusual noise from the engine, and noted a loss of engine oil pressure. He turned toward the nearest airport, but landed short of the runway in a hay field next to the airport. After touchdown, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid through the airport’s perimeter fence.
August 14, 2014, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Cessna 150M
At about 1125 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot and non-rated student were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to a witness, the airplane began its takeoff roll with “40 degrees of flaps.” Multiple witnesses stated that the airplane lifted off the ground about midfield and that it “immediately looked unstable.” A witness added that the wings were banking to the right and left. When the airplane reached an altitude about 100 feet agl, it entered a continuous left turn and subsequently rolled wings level on a westerly heading. The airplane then entered a nose-down attitude followed by a right-wing-low attitude and was in a “straight downward dive” when it impacted the ground. Examination revealed the flap actuator jack screw position was consistent with a flaps-retracted setting. A review of FAA records revealed the pilot did not hold a flight instructor certificate.
August 15, 2014, Bowie, Texas Cessna 414
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at about 1540 Central time. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
A witness was watching the airplane when it suddenly pointed straight down, began spinning, and made three complete rotations before impacting the ground. The witness also reported seeing flames immediately after impact. Evidence at the scene showed the airplane had impacted in a nose-down attitude, came to rest upright and was mostly consumed by a post-impact fire.
August 16, 2014, Ardmore, Okla. Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six
At about 1410 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Witnesses said the airplane’s engine sounded normal but it appeared to use most of the 5000-foot runway and then struggled to climb. The airplane then disappeared from sight just above the tree tops. Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane’s nose landing gear caught the top cable of a high-power transmission line. The airplane traveled about 95 yards while still caught on the wire, then impacted terrain, coming to rest about ¾ of a mile from the airport. A post-crash fire consumed most of the cabin area of the airplane.
August 16, 2014, Ranger, Texas Lancair LC-40-550FG Columbia
The airplane impacted terrain at about 2325 Central time, shortly after takeoff. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed. Night visual conditions prevailed.
Two witnesses stated the airplane took off and began a right turn. The right turn increased to a “knife edge” bank angle and then both witnesses noticed the airplane’s navigation lights become vertically aligned. The aircraft subsequently descended toward the ground and out of their sight.
August 17, 2014, Farmingdale, N.Y. Cessna R182 Skylane RG
At about 1430 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it caught fire in flight. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight was operating on an IFR flight plan.
Shortly after leveling off at 5000 feet, the pilot noted a fuel pressure drop and a fuel flow rate increase. The pilot requested a priority return to the departure airport and remained at 5000 feet until the airport was made, then began descending. While on a high right downwind, smoke appeared in the cockpit along with an “acrid, insulation smell.” The pilot then declared an emergency and requested that fire rescue equipment be standing by. As the airplane descended through 1400 feet, and with the engine still running, flames were observed entering the cockpit in the vicinity of the rudder pedals. After landing and stopping on a taxiway, the pilot and passenger egressed the airplane. Examination revealed the AN911-2D nipple fitting connecting the fuel line to the carburetor had separated, allowing fuel to be pumped into the engine bay.
August 25, 2014, Willoughby Hills, Ohio Cessna 172R Skyhawk
The airplane collided with terrain at 2158 Eastern time, following a loss of control shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact and a post impact fire. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot reserved the airplane at a flying club at 2022, using an online reservation system. Employees of the flying club had left for the evening by time the pilot and passengers arrived. Witnesses saw four men board the airplane. At 2158, shortly after takeoff, the pilot radioed that they were not climbing fast and wanted to return. The controller stated it appeared the airplane began a left turn when it descended to the ground. A post-impact fire ensued.
