March 2, 2022, Mortmar, Calif.
Cessna 182D Skylane
At about 0800 Pacific time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing following total loss of engine power. The solo commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
On departing a nearby airport, the pilot climbed to 400 feet agl. Shortly after leveling off, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the engine but glide time did not permit completing the checklist. The airplane touched down on a soft dirt field and nosed over.
March 2, 2022, St. Augustine, Fla.
Extra NG
The airplane was substantially damaged at 1702 Eastern time when it overflew the runway during an engine-out approach and came to rest beyond the departure end. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The accident aircraft was lead in a flight of two. While at 2800 feet agl, 190 knots groundspeed and 10 miles west of the destination airport, the wingman advised ATC that lead was experiencing a partial loss of engine power and was trailing smoke, and declared an emergency for the accident airplane. The accident airplane’s last ADS-B data depicted it at 200 feet agl and 165 knots groundspeed as it crossed the airport boundary. The airplane came to rest inverted in marshland about 1500 feet beyond the runway’s departure end. Afterward, the pilot transmitted over the tower frequency, “I had too much speed, I should have come in slower.” Initial examination revealed no anomalies were noted with the engine that would have prevented it from operating.
March 6, 2022, Waco, Ga.
Beechcraft A35 Bonanza
At about 1015 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing following engine failure. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot observed fuel pressure drop to zero and attempted to restore power with the auxiliary fuel pump. He was unable to regain power and requested ATC radar vectors to the nearest airport. Instead, the pilot was forced to put the airplane down on a road, during which it collided with power lines before coming to a stop on the road. A leaking fuel line was found in the engine compartment.
March 6, 2022, Gulfport, Miss.
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 2130 Central time when it was intentionally landed gear-up after attempts to extend the landing gear were not successful. The pilot and four passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The airplane was on approach to a different airport when the pilot attempted to extend the landing gear. During the gear extension cycle, the passengers heard a “loud bang” under the floor panels, and the pilot reported that the gear would not extend. The pilot diverted to Gulfport and attempted to extend the landing gear manually, which was unsuccessful. The pilot landed with the gear retracted, damaging the fuselage and empennage. After landing, there was a small fire under the right engine nacelle.
March 7, 2022, Middle River, Md.
Cessna 525B CitationJet CJ3
At about 1045 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it rolled off the end of the runway after landing. The airline transport pilot and copilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the FAR Part 135 on-demand charter flight.
According to the captain, they added about five knots to their reference speed to account for gusty conditions. Landing performance data indicated they would need about 3000 feet of runway to land. Upon landing, everything appeared to be going well until the captain asked, “Why aren’t the brakes working?” The copilot applied brakes on his side but was unsuccessful in achieving any braking action. They attempted to “locate and use the emergency brake,” but were unable to do so before the airplane departed the paved runway surface.
Preliminary radar and ADS-B data show the airplane was established on a final approach to Runway 15 on a heading of 136 degrees and aligned with the runway centerline. Throughout the final approach, the altitude, speed, descent rate and heading appeared stable. The last ADS-B datapoint showed the airplane about 2400 feet from the runway threshold, at 325 feet with a groundspeed of 116 knots. A 1053 local weather observation included wind from 210 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 21 knots.
March 8, 2022, Englewood, Colo.
Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion
The airplane was destroyed at 1417 Mountain time when it was force-landed in an interstate highway median about 0.5 miles short of the runway. The pilot and flight instructor both sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
After uneventful en route and approach segments, ATC requested that they sidestep to the parallel runway for landing. The runway approach thresholds were not aligned, and the glide path needed to be extended. As the pilot attempted to increase the throttle, the engine did not respond. He subsequently realized the engine had lost power. The airplane was unable to glide to the runway, and the flight instructor executed a forced landing to the interstate median. A post-impact fire consumed portions of the forward fuselage and cabin area.
March 8, 2022, Panama City, Fla.
Cessna 182Q Skylane
At 1846 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), Panama City, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; the flight operated on an IFR flight plan.
After departing Michigan earlier in the day and a fuel stop in Tennessee, the flight neared its destination at around 1830 and was cleared for the ILS Rwy 16 approach. A few minutes later, the pilot reported being established on the localizer and was told to contact the tower. The tower controller provided local weather, which included wind at 150 degrees at six knots, visibility two statute miles in mist and an overcast ceiling at 200 feet agl. The controller then issued a landing clearance and turned up the runway lights. At this point, the airplane’s track began deviating left and right of the final approach course, with altitude excursions. At one point, the controller told the pilot, “One more thing, and then I won’t transmit again. There are other airports nearby with better weather conditions.” The pilot responded, “Alright; we’ll try this down to minimums and go-around if need be.” About 12 seconds later, ATC stated, “It appears you are drifting a little to the right,” and then repeated, “It appears you are drifting well to the right.” There were no further communications from the pilot. Review of ADS-B data found the final ADS-B data point recorded the airplane at 75 feet msl, 144 knots groundspeed, with a ground track of 130 degrees. The accident site was 1.55 nm from the runway threshold.
March 9, 2022, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Honda Jet HA-420
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0827 Eastern time when its crew lost control after landing on a snow-contaminated runway. The two pilots and one passenger were not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed for the FAR Part 135 air taxi flight.
The training captain was flying with the first officer on Day Six of the FO’s initial operating experience, during which the first officer was the pilot flying. According to the flight crew, they briefed for the conditions at the destination before takeoff. The training captain stated he did not recall hearing any remarks on the ATIS pertaining to runway braking action or surface contamination reports, although he noted remarks about contamination on taxiways and ramp areas.
On checking in with the approach controller, the flight was advised that snowplows were on the runway. He “never anticipated runway contamination” and the crew based their landing distance calculations on a wet runway. The training captain recalled feeling “faster than normal” when the airplane touched down and shortly called for maximum braking. The airplane skidded sideways, departed the end of the runway, and traveled tail-first over the edge of a steep incline, coming to rest in trees. The pilots and passenger evacuated out the main cabin door. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage.
Weather at the time included ½ statute mile visibility, light snow, and an overcast ceiling at 400 feet. The airport ATIS was advertising a braking action report of “good” by a Pilatus at 0755 and a field-condition Notam reporting 10 percent runway coverage with 0.125 inches of slush on the landing runway.
March 10, 2022, McGrath, Alaska
Cessna 310R
At about 1430 Alaska time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its right main landing gear collapsed while taxiing. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot back-taxied to the departure end of Runway 16. On arriving at the end of the runway, turned to the airplane to align it with the takeoff runway. As he began the turn, the right main landing gear collapsed and the wing and propeller both contacted the runway. The accident pilot, who also was a certificated mechanic, stated the retraction lug on the gear trunnion had separated and a bolt had sheared, which allowed the gear lock-down arm to fold and the landing gear to retract inward on the landing gear door.
March 11, 2022, Bay Minette, Ala.
Grumman AA-1 Yankee Clipper
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0230 Central time under unknown circumstances. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR clearance was not obtained.
According to a family member, the pilot purchased the airplane about six months prior and had not flown it. He departed his residence about 0030 and drove to the airplane’s base to run its engine and taxi around the airport property. At 1309, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter conducting a training flight observed an airplane west of a taxiway. The airplane was inverted in grass, 130 feet from the west end of the taxiway. Tire marks consistent with left and right main landing gear braking were observed on the taxiway up to the runway edge.
March 11, 2022, Minot, N.D.
Cirrus Design SR22T
At about 1605 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage in an off-field landing following engine failure. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
About 50 miles from the pilot’s destination, the engine began to run rough. The pilot continued and tried to resolve the engine issue. About 10-15 miles out, the #6 engine cylinder temperature began to rise, and the engine continued to run rough. The #6 cylinder then dropped offline, followed by the #4 and #2 cylinders. The engine was still running, but the pilot could not maintain altitude, so he elected to execute an emergency landing in a field. The airplane came to rest upright with its nosegear collapsed in a snow-covered field about two miles from the destination.
March 12, 2022, Heavner, Okla.
Beechcraft A36 Bonanza
The airplane was substantially damaged in an off-field landing following engine failure at about 1245 Central time. The pilot and passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
After beginning his descent to the destination airport, he noticed a dramatic drop in oil pressure. He began to search for alternate airports since his destination was not reachable and the terrain was mountainous. He turned west in an attempt to reach a nearby airport but oil pressure dropped to zero and the engine seized. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck fences and livestock feeding troughs.
March 17, 2022, Pond Creek, Okla.
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche
At about 1638 Central time, the airplane was destroyed in an in-flight breakup. The pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Radar and ADS-B data indicate the airplane tracked north at 8500 feet msl and then later climbed to 16,500 feet. It turned east momentarily, then west and back to the north while descending. Groundspeed decreased from over 200 knots to under 100. A witness reported hearing what sounded like engines revving. He looked up and saw the airplane come straight down in a right-hand, nose-down spin.
The main wreckage came to rest inverted and showed evidence of a near-vertical impact. Both wings were broken about five feet outboard of the nacelles. The broken sections showed upward bending, aft twisting, and fractures consistent with overload failures. Outboard sections of the left and right wings, and outboard tip tanks, were located about 600 feet to the south-southeast.
March 24, 2022, Washington, Utah
Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1350 Mountain time when it was landed off-airport following engine failure. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While on approach to land, the engine lost power. Despite several attempts, the pilot was unsuccessful at restarting the engine. He lowered the flaps to try and gain lift and soon realized he was not going to make the runway. The airplane impacted rough desert terrain and slid about 100 feet before coming to a stop, damaging the wings, fuselage and landing gear. Evidence of fuel was identified in both main wing tanks.
March 25, 2022, Winder, Ga.
Cessna 172P Skyhawk
The airplane was destroyed at about 1048 Eastern time after an apparent flight-control system failure. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While on final approach after several circuits in the traffic pattern at a nearby airport, the student pilot turned the yoke to the right “and felt it give as if a cable had become detached.” The flight instructor took control of the airplane and experienced the same effects; the yoke could be turned in a “complete circle with no response” from the airplane. The airplane veered to the right and descended into trees. A post-impact fire consumed the fuselage and wings.
March 27, 2022, Sparta, Tenn.
Cessna 172F Skyhawk
At about 1130 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its landing gear failed at liftoff. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
During a go-around maneuver, they heard a “pop” sound as the airplane lifted off. Shortly after takeoff, the student pilot informed the instructor that the left main landing gear had separated from the airplane. They flew for about two hours to burn fuel before they landed with the fractured gear leg. The landing was uneventful, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. Examination revealed the left main landing gear struck the horizontal stabilizer when it separated, resulting in substantial damage. The left main landing gear spring strut was retained for further examination.
