May 1, 2023, Batesville, Miss.
Cessna 182D Skylane
At about 1345 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway while landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Nearing the destination, the pilot was experiencing moderate to heavy chop. The first approach was too high, so he conducted a normal go-around and re-entered the pattern. The second approach resulted in a bounced landing as a “significant wind gust” pushed the airplane to the right. The pilot attempted to add full power, but none developed. The airplane landed in grass and impacted a drainage ditch.
May 1, 2023, Big Bear City, Calif.
Beech A36 Bonanza
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1402 Pacific time when it impacted terrain short of the intended runway. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. According to a witness, the flight was part of a pre-buy inspection for one of the passengers. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to ADS-B data, the airplane’s groundspeed on the final leg of the airport traffic pattern was 65 knots. Observed surface winds were from 220 degrees at six knots, gusting to 19. The airplane’s published stall airspeed is 62 knots.
May 2, 2023, Udall, Kan.
Zenith STOL CH750
At about 2013 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during an engine-out forced landing attempt. The pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While en route, the engine “stumbled” and then lost power. During the landing attempt, the airplane struck a powerline, damaging the vertical stabilizer. Engine power was restored, and the pilot continued for an uneventful landing.
May 3, 2023, Laurel, Mon.
Cessna P337H Pressurized Skymaster
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0815 Mountain time during an engine-inoperative landing. The pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the pilot, this was his first flight in the airplane since he purchased it last year. While cruising at 11,500 feet msl, he descended to 9,500 feet to remain VFR. In the climb back to 11,500 feet, he noticed a rear-engine oil pressure drop and spike in oil temperature. The pilot diverted to a nearby airport. About ¼ mile from the divert runway, the airplane stalled at about 10 feet agl and impacted a drainage ditch.
May 3, 2023, Coldspring, Texas
Piper PA-34-200 Seneca
At about 1329 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an emergency landing following stabilator system failure. The pilot examiner and applicant pilot sustained serious injuries at the conclusion of the pilot certification flight.
According to the pilot examiner, he felt a “pop” and the airplane pitched up about 50 degrees. He took control and reduced power, which reduced the pitch oscillations. Unable to maintain full control of the airplane, he executed an emergency off-airport landing, shutting down both engines on short final. After touching down, the airplane slid through a rough, muddy field. Postaccident examination revealed that the bolt connecting the stabilator trim rod assembly to the stabilator link assembly was missing.
May 3, 2023, Barnhart, Texas
Aero Vodochody L-39ZA Albatros
The airplane was substantially damaged at 1610 Central time during an off-airport landing following engine failure. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. During initial climb, the engine lost all power. The pilot was unable to obtain a restart and performed a forced landing to a dirt path in a field.
May 3, 2023, Pasco, Wash.
Cessna 210M Centurion
At about 1835 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing following engine failure. The solo pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While on the base leg for the intended runway, and at about 800 feet agl and about 85 mph, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the wings and right horizontal stabilizer were damaged. The pilot reported the airplane had just undergone an annual inspection and had about 66 gallons of fuel aboard.
May 5, 2023, Fort Mill, S.C.
Aeronca 7DC-CONV
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0745 Eastern time when it was intentionally ditched following engine failure. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
After an en route descent, the engine would not respond to throttle movement. Remedial actions had no effect, but the engine ran at 1000 rpm. Unable to reach the desired open area, the pilot landed the airplane in shallow water. It nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane without injury.
After drying the engine’s spark plug and magnetos, and bypassing a damaged fuel line, the engine started, idled and accelerated smoothly, with a satisfactory magneto check at 1700 rpm. “According to the FAA’s Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the atmospheric conditions reported by the pilot” were conducive to icing at glide and cruise power, the NTSB said. The pilot stated he applied carburetor heat only after detecting the loss of engine power.
May 7, 2023, Reliance, Tenn.
Cessna 182Q Skylane
At about 1848 Eastern time, the airplane impacted terrain following catastrophic airframe failure. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
At 1845:05, the pilot reported getting “bounced around a little bit.” At 1847:29, the airplane was on a southeast heading at 8700 feet msl and a groundspeed of 132 knots. At 1848:23, ATC asked the pilot, “It looks like you are in a little bit of a descent in a turn—is everything all right?” The pilot did not reply, and there were no further communications received. The airplane was declared missing at 1852.
The main wreckage was located the following morning. The separated right wing came to rest about 4200 feet south-southwest from the main wreckage; the left wing was recovered by local law enforcement; its location was not specified. The separated aft empennage was located about 415 feet south-southwest from the main wreckage. It was missing nearly its full span of right horizontal stabilizer, rudder counterweight and left elevator counterweight. The airplane was equipped with a whole airframe parachute system installed under a supplemental type certificate. The rocket was discharged, but the parachute was not located.
May 11, 2023, South Bethlehem, N.Y.
Cessna 172N Skyhawk
The airplane was substantially damaged during an attempted tailwind takeoff at about 1420 Eastern time. The private pilot and one passenger suffered serious injuries; a second passenger incurred minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
A pilot-rated witness reported the airplane was attempting to take off from a 2853-foot-long asphalt runway. About 15 minutes prior to the accident takeoff, another Cessna 172 took off from the same runway but used its full length. The accident airplane began its takeoff roll from an intersection, with about 2293 feet of runway remaining, in an approximate nine-knot tailwind, with gusts to 13 or 14 knots. The accident airplane subsequently impacted a field near the departure end of the runway. An FAA inspector later noted the wing flaps were retracted.
May 14, 2023, Albany, Wyo.
Cessna T182T Turbocharged Skylane
At about 1135 Mountain daylight time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain after an apparent in-flight icing encounter. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
While en route, and about six minutes after being cleared from 12,000 feet msl to 13,000, the pilot reported “mild” ice. About 17 minutes after reporting icing, the airplane began a rapid descent. On ATC’s third contact attempt, the pilot indicated they “had a problem” before the airplane’s data block disappeared. According to ADS-B data, the airplane was proceeding along the V4 airway when it turned about 45 degrees off-course to the right and began to descend. A minute later, it entered a continuous right turn with an increased descent rate until the end of recorded data.
May 18, 2023, Summerville, S.C.
Honda Aircraft HA-420
The airplane was destroyed at about 0018 Eastern time when it failed to stop on a wet runway and slid down a series of embankments before coming to rest. The commercial pilot and the five passengers were not injured. Night visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
The pilot later stated he delayed their departure for the 194-nm flight to let rainstorms pass through the destination area. He then flew the RNAV (GPS) RWY 24 approach in calm winds at a VREF of 120 knots, touching down with full flaps. He later reported “…the brakes immediately began to pulsate in anti-skid mode and because of that, very little braking effort was being done to slow the plane despite full pedal pressure.” He described the anti-skid system as having a slower on/off cycle than he had previously experienced on wet runways. As he considered going around, the left brake “grabbed” and the airplane yawed left, beginning a series of left/right skids, which continued until it departed the runway onto the grass. After coming to a stop about 360 feet from the departure end of the runway, the airplane caught fire. All six occupants were able to egress through the main cabin door.
May 18, 2023, Indianola, Miss.
Beech 35-C33A Debonair
At about 0900 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it caught fire in flight and was intentionally landed gear-up. The solo pilot was not injured.
After takeoff, the pilot smelled “burning plastic” and observed smoke coming from the engine compartment. He turned back and was on the base leg for landing when he observed a softball-sized flame on the right side of the engine. He turned off the electrical system and pulled the mixture control to idle cut-off, landing as the cabin filled with smoke. After the airplane came to rest and the pilot egressed, fire consumed most of the fuselage.
May 21, 2023, Macon, N.C.
Cessna R182 Skylane RG
The airplane was destroyed at about 1447 Eastern time when it failed to gain altitude during a soft-field takeoff and drifted into trees. The solo private pilot was fatally injured.
According to a pilot-rated witness and recorded video, the airplane’s takeoff roll was in a nose-high attitude, with the tail dragging in the turf. The airplane lifted off nose-high, the wings buffeted and the airplane drifted left into trees. The engine was operating continuously. A postcrash fire consumed most of the wreckage.
May 26, 2023, Lake Worth, Fla.
Cessna 172P Skyhawk
At 1118 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it rolled into a right turn shortly after liftoff and collided with terrain. The flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured.
The airplane took off and began to climb. Then, it descended and began to climb again. It then rolled right into an approximate 90-degree-bank descending turn until it impacted the ground. Examination revealed the aileron cable routed through the left door post had separated. The aileron control pulleys in both left and right door posts were corroded and did not move freely.
