January 1, 2006, Peachtree City, Ga.
Piper PA-28-180
At 2007 Eastern time, the aircraft collided with trees during an approach in instrument conditions. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the Private pilot was fatally injured. The pilot had been cleared for the Runway 10 Localizer approach at the Macon Downtown Airport (MAC). Shortly after receiving the clearance, he reported overflying the airport, and requested another approach.During the second approach the pilot said he was having trouble staying on the localizer course; control tower personnel reported seeing the airplane overfly the runway. Controllers then diverted the flight to Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) for an ILS approach.The pilot made five attempts to land at MCN, and was unsuccessful. After the fifth attempt at MCN, the pilot was vectored to intercept the Runway 31 Localizer approach at Peachtree City, Ga. (FFC). The pilot was cleared for the approach and acknowledged the clearance. No other radio transmissions were received from the pilot.
January 1, 2006, Phenix City, Ala.
Piper PA-23-160
The Private pilot was on a VFR cross-country flight when he began encountering instrument conditions. The pilot continued into the instrument conditions for about 30 minutes before asking Atlanta Approach Control for directions to the nearest airport for landing.The controller directed the pilot to two different nearby airports but both were below minimums. The pilot informed the controller that he was low on fuel and needed to land as soon as possible. The controller directed the pilot to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Columbus, Ga.The pilot attempted four unsuccessful instrument approaches with the controllers talking him through each approach. On the fifth approach, at five miles from the runway, both engines quit from fuel exhaustion. One person was seriously injured and one received minor injuries during the forced landing; the airplane was substantially damaged.
January 1, 2006, Grand Ridge, Fla.
Robinson R44
At about 1900 Central time, the helicopter collided with trees and terrain. The helicopter was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire; the Commercial pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about five minutes earlier from the parking lot of a nearby hotel. Instrument conditions prevailed.Witnesses reported to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office that the helicopter landed in a parking lot of a hotel and the occupants inquired at the hotel about the price of a room. After being told about the price the occupants walked to a restaurant located at a truck stop across the street from the hotel. The occupants ate at the restaurant, departed there and went to the helicopter. The helicopter was observed departing from the hotel parking lot, flew over a building near the truck stop, then proceeded southbound.Preliminary examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter collided with trees approximately 40 feet above ground level while on a magnetic heading of approximately 020 degrees. The accident site was located south of I-10.
January 1, 2006, Dawson, Ga.
Beech D55 Baron
The airplane was substantially damaged and the Private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured when the airplane crashed during an approach at 1447 Eastern time. A pilot-rated passenger and two additional passengers received serious injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed.At 1335, the pilot requested an approach to Moultrie, Ga., which he missed. The pilot then requested vectors to the ILS Runway 4 approach at Albany, Ga. The pilot was cleared for that approach but, at 1430, advised the controller that he needed an airport nearby, as he was running out of fuel. The controller asked the pilot if he had ground contact, and he replied, negative. The controller then asked how much fuel remained in time, and the pilot responded about 15 minutes. The controller issued vectors to the Dawson Airport, and at 1441 radar contact was lost with the airplane. The controller continued to call the pilot, and at 1442, the pilot reported they were trying to get this thing down. The initial impact point was approximately 590 feet from the approach end of Runway 31 and 110 feet to the south. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 103 degrees, facing the approach end of Runway 31.
January 2, 2006, Auburn, Ala.
Cessna T210L
While making a localizer approach to Runway 36 in IFR conditions, the airplane broke out of the overcast at about 400 feet agl. The pilot forced the airplane down and landed some 2000 feet past the runways threshold at about 100 to 120 KIAS. The pilot stated that he was unable to stop the airplane before it departed the end of the runway and collided with the airports perimeter fencing. Damage consisted of the right wing, right aileron, right elevator, the nose gear and propeller. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane.
January 2, 2006, Santa Maria, Calif.
Saab SF340B+
At 1439 Pacific time, the scheduled American Eagle flight encountered icing conditions during its en route climb at about 11,500 feet msl and departed controlled flight. Instrument conditions prevailed; none of the two flight crewmembers, one flight attendant and 25 passengers were injured. The crew recovered the airplane, continued to their scheduled destination and landed without further incident.As the airplane climbed through 11,000 feet msl, the captain noted light rime ice accumulating. The captain reached up to activate the manual deice boot system and the airplane vibrated. The airplane encountered ice and the windscreen immediately turned white. The clacker and stick-shaker activated, the captain took control of the airplane, the autopilot disengaged and the airplane began to bank to the left in a nose-low attitude. The airplane began a rapid descent and the captain recovered at an altitude of about 6500 feet msl.The day prior to incident a flight crew reported that during an en route deice boot check, the timer light illuminated. The deicer timer failure light was later deferred in accordance with the operators minimum equipment list. Initial examinations revealed the airplanes deice systems were operational; however, the deicer timer failure light illuminated.
January 2, 2006, Yonkers, N.Y.
Piper PA-28-161 Warrior
The airplane was substantially damaged while ditching in the Hudson River, following a total loss of engine power in cruise flight at 1152 Eastern time. The Private pilot and Flight Instructor sustained minor injuries; visual conditions prevailed for the instructional flight to familiarize the Private pilot with the VFR corridor along the Hudson River.The airplane was in cruise flight at about 900 feet agl when, without warning, the engine sputtered and lost all power. The instructor took control of the airplane and transmitted a distress signal. His attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful, and he then ditched the airplane in the Hudson River. The New York City Police Department and U.S. Coast Guard rescued the pilots.
January 2, 2006, Heber City, Utah.
Beech 35-A33 Debonair
At about 1230 Mountain time, the airplane impacted terrain under unknown circumstances, killing the non-Instrument rated Commercial pilot and sole occupant. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site.The flight was receiving VFR flight-following services; at about 1119, the controller advised the pilot of a storm system in the Salt Lake Valley and to the south. The pilot acknowledged receiving the information. At about 1138, the pilot was again advised of deteriorating weather conditions along his route of flight. About 1151, the pilot reported he was following I-80 south and, if necessary, would turn around and land at Fort Bridger, Wyo. At 1209, relaying through another aircraft, the pilot was informed that radar contact was lost. At 1229, the airplane was observed on radar for one or two hits. Further attempts were made to contact the airplane, and no reply was received.At 1230, a weather observation approximately 50 miles north-northeast of the accident site included wind from 240 at six knots, visibility 2 statute miles in snow and mist, scattered clouds at 600 feet, broken clouds at 1000 feet and an overcast at 3100 feet.
January 5, 2006, Hillsboro, Ore.
Mooney M20K
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an attempted forced landing at approximately 1055 Pacific time. The Instrument-rated Private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was executing a practice ILS approach to Runway 12. As the airplane approached the airport, at approximately 3.5 nm, the pilot told ATC that the airplane was loosing power and that he was going to land on a grass airfield. Several residences of the Sunset Air Strip, North Plains, Oregon, reported hearing a loud noise; subsequently they found the airplane adjacent to one of their taxiways.
January 9, 2006, St. Charles, Mo.
Cessna 310R
At 1720 Central time, the aircraft was substantially damaged on impact with a bird about 10 sm west of the St. Charles County Smartt Airport (SET). An in-flight fire in the right wing main fuel tank then ensued. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was uninjured. The flight returned to SET after the bird strike.
January 12, 2006, West Branch, Mich.
Piper PA-28-161
The airplane hit a deer during the landing roll. The pilot reported the landing was normal. During the landing roll, she felt the airplane jerk to the left. She reported she was able to maintain control of the airplane on the runway. A passenger in the airplane stated he saw the deer just prior to it contacting the airplane, but there was not enough time for the pilot to take evasive action.
