December 2, 2023, Big Bear, Calif.
Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion
At about 1343 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it lost power on takeoff and the pilot was unable to stop before running off the end of the runway. The solo pilot received serious injuries.
During the takeoff, he applied power and rotated at 80 knots. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot experienced a loss of power from the turboprop engine. The pilot confirmed engine-control positions, but there was no time to perform other checks before landing on the remaining runway. The pilot applied maximum braking but was unable to stop before exiting the end of the runway, impacting a fence, crossing a road and nosing over in soft soil. The airplane came to rest in an open field near the edge of a lake.
This NTSB-generated bar graph compares the number of total and fatal general aviation accidents from 2008 through 2022, inclusive.
From the graph, it’s clear the number of both total and fatal accidents has declined over the years. Accident rates, calculated based on annual flight activity, also have declined slightly but are not shown here.
December 3, 2023, Midland, Va.
Beech C23 Sundowner
The airplane was destroyed at about 1548 Eastern time when it collided with terrain short of the intended runway. The solo instrument-rated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed.
After conducting several instrument approaches at nearby airports, the accident pilot was returning to the airplane’s base and was cleared for the RNAV Runway 33 approach. Preliminary ADS-B data reveal the airplane descended toward the runway until its track was lost about 4350 feet from the threshold. Recorded weather included 1¾-mile visibility in mist and a ceiling at 300 feet agl. The approach’s minimum descent altitude was 720 feet agl.
December 3, 2023, Millington, Tenn.
Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six
At about 2104 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain some 900 feet short of the intended runway after a loss of engine power. The private pilot was not injured; the flight instructor sustained minor injuries.
According to the flight instructor, the flight was the 323-nm return leg of a round trip to build time for insurance purposes. After topping the fuel tanks, the flight took off at 1832, cruising at 4500 feet msl. The crew switched between the main fuel tanks and did not use the wingtip tanks, both of which were full. At about 500 feet agl on final, the engine lost all power. The private pilot maintained best-glide airspeed. Subsequently, the left wingtip tank was selected, and engine power increased just as the airplane impacted terrain about 900 feet short of the runway threshold.
December 4, 2023, Elkmont, Ala.
Beech E95 Travel Air
The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at about 1120 Central time. The flight instructor and a private pilot receiving multi-engine instruction were fatally injured.
The flight departed Huntsville, Ala., at about 1058. At 1120, the airplane was at about 5700 feet msl (about 5000 feet agl) and 18 miles northwest, when the flight instructor reported “mayday” to ATC and that the airplane was in a spin. Preliminary ADS-B data show the airplane slowing and entering a steep descent until the end of the data. The airplane came to rest flat and upright; “no debris path was observed.” The nose and both engines were canted right. The NTSB noted differences in the propellers’ damage signatures.
December 4, 2023, Kapolei, Hawaii
Diamond Aircraft DA40 Diamond Star
At about 1250 Hawaii-Aleutian time, the airplane collided with a 10-foot-high dirt embankment during a forced landing. The two pilots aboard sustained minor injuries.
The pair departed Honolulu at about 1235 for an instrument proficiency check. Reaching the practice area at about 1500 feet msl, the left-seat pilot attempted to add throttle but heard a “pop” from the engine, followed by noise and vibration. As he reduced the throttle to its original position, both subsided. He then turned the airplane toward a nearby runway. Remedial actions failed to restore power. Realizing the airplane would not reach the airport, the DPE in the right seat took control of the airplane and selected an area for the forced landing. The airplane struck the embankment during the landing.
December 6, 2023, Taylor, Ariz.
Remos GX LSA
The solo pilot received serious injuries and the light sport aircraft was substantially damaged during an attempted takeoff at about 0744 Mountain time.
The airport manager later reported the engine was running and the airplane’s windshield was partially covered with frost when he arrived that morning. After he entered his office, an airborne airplane reported by radio that an airplane had crashed on the runway. The accident airplane had impacted near the runway centerline in an inverted, nose-down attitude. A photo taken minutes after the accident showed the upper surfaces of the horizontal stabilizers were covered in frost.
December 7, 2023, Pulaski, Tenn.
Beech 35-C33 Debonair
At 1103 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it collided with terrain after what appears to have been an uncontrolled descent. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured.
Some 30 minutes after takeoff and while in cruise at 6400 feet msl, and receiving flight-following services from ATC, the airplane began a series of altitude excursions. The airplane’s altitude varied between about 6400 feet and 5300 feet. At about 1057, the airplane entered a descent to about 4300 feet at 143 knots groundspeed. It climbed to 6050 feet and slowed to 85 knots before entering a rapid descent, reaching a groundspeed of 228 knots and an estimated maximum descent rate of about 11,900 fpm.
During the final moments of the flight, ATC received a faint communication from the pilot stating the airplane’s registration and type, followed by an emergency declaration.
December 10, 2023, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Beech A23-24 Musketeer
The airplane was destroyed at about 1019 Central time in a forced landing following engine failure shortly after takeoff. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured.
The airplane took off at about 1016. At 1018:39, the pilot told the tower controller, “We are losing power.” A few seconds later, the pilot declared an emergency and was in a turn back to the departure airport. At 1019:50, the final ADS-B data point was recorded about ½-mile north of Runway 17R at about 100 feet agl. The airplane failed to clear a recycling facility’s rubble.
Witnesses observed and video showed the airplane trailing smoke on takeoff and later during the short flight. Another witness reported the engine was sputtering as it flew over his position and then made a 180-degree turn toward the airport.
The pilot purchased the airplane on June 30, 2023. Evidence of an engine oil leak, plus empty oil containers, suggest the oil sump drain was not secured following an oil change before the accident flight. A lab analysis of an oil sample taken November 11, 2023, reported elevated levels of aluminum, chromium and iron. The lab noted “a lot of metal in this sample.”
December 11, 2023, Anthony, Kan.
Piper PA-24-260 Comanche 260
At 1930 Central time, the airplane struck power lines and terrain during a forced landing following a gear-up touchdown. The pilot was seriously injured.
The flight’s purpose was to retrieve the airplane after its annual inspection. Approaching the destination, the airplane’s interior lighting dimmed; the pilot was using a flashlight and mistook a reflection as a gear-down indication. When the propeller tips contacted the runway, the pilot applied power to go around and then used the emergency gear extension procedure to lower the landing gear. The airplane was not able to maintain altitude, however, so he executed a forced landing to a field, during which he struck the power lines and impacted the field.
December 14, 2023, Christoval, Texas
Pilatus PC-12/45
The airplane was destroyed at about 1218 Central time when its pilot apparently lost control while maneuvering to join an RNAV approach procedure. The pilot, one passenger and three pets were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed.
According to preliminary ADS-B data, after being cleared for the approach while level at 4000 feet msl, the airplane flew across the final approach course at 12:17:32. At 12:17:40, the flight began a right descending turn of about 1000 fpm. At 12:17:44, the descent rate was about 5000 fpm and the right turn steepened. At 12:17:47, the pilot stated, “We got a problem,” which was the final recorded transmission from the accident airplane. At 12:17:49, the flight track continued in a steep right turn with a descent rate of about 15,000 fpm.
The accident pilot had reported cloud tops at between 4100 and 4400 feet msl. The destination airport, 15 nm from the accident site, was reporting 10 miles of visibility under an 1100-foot overcast.
December 14, 2023, Asheville, N.C.
Diamond Aircraft DA40 NG
At 2015 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following engine failure. The flight instructor sustained minor injuries while the private pilot was seriously injured.
During the night cross-country flight, the pair felt a “shudder” followed by a loss of engine power and oil pressure, plus a dual engine control unit failure. Remedial actions restored engine power momentarily, but it failed again and could not be restarted. The cockpit had begun to fill with smoke.
The flight instructor then made a forced landing to an interstate. Just prior to landing, the airplane struck a power line and the airplane impacted the ground, catching fire. Examination revealed a connecting rod had separated from the engine. The airplane received its airworthiness certificate on September 25, 2023. A 100-hour inspection was conducted on December 9, 2023, at which time the airplane had accrued a total of 95 flight hours.
December 18, 2023, Miami, Fla.
Beech A24R Sierra 200
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1340 Eastern time when it suffered a partial engine failure and was intentionally landed gear-up. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured.
The airplane had not flown for about a month prior to the accident flight. During initial climb from a second touch-and-go landing, as the pilot retracted the landing gear at about 100 feet agl, the engine’s noise was quieter and the airplane began to sink. After verifying the engine controls were full forward, she lowered the nose to avoid a stall and landed on the runway with the landing gear retracted.
Examination revealed about one combined ounce of water was drained from all fuel sumps. The fuel tanks were full. Examination also revealed the propeller blades were curled at the tips and propeller gouges were observed in the asphalt at the end of the runway. Rotating the propeller confirmed both magnetos were turning and there was compression on all four cylinders.
December 21, 2023, Buford, Ga.
Hawker Beechcraft G36 Bonanza
At about 1714 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain along the Lake Lanier shoreline. The solo private pilot was fatally injured.
The flight departed the Dekalb-Peachtree Airport at 1701, cruised north at 3000 feet msl and then turned northeast. At 1712:32, the flight turned east and its groundspeed slowed to 98 knots. Subsequently, groundspeed and altitude began to decrease as the flight track continued east over Lake Lanier. At 1714:19, the final ADS-B position was recorded at 0.1-mile north of the accident site. The airplane was at about 100 feet agl and groundspeed was 70 knots. The airplane subsequently impacted the trees and abruptly descended, impacting a parking lot and exploding. Neither witness to the airplane’s last moments of flight heard the sound of an airplane engine.
All three propeller blades remained attached to the hub. One blade exhibited s-bending, tip curling and chordwise scratching. A second blade exhibited tip curling and chordwise scratching. The third blade remained relatively straight and contained a lesser amount of chordwise scratching.
