NTSB Reports

April 2, 2022, Morristown, N.J.

Learjet 45

At 1119 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the runway during landing. The two airline transport pilots and two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.

The jet made a visual approach to Runway 23, with reported wind from 340 degrees at three knots, gusting to 16 knots. The quartering tailwind was computed “within limits.” As thrust reversers were deployed at touchdown, the airplane turned “sharply to the right,” according to the captain. Normal and extreme crosswind corrections were made, but had no effect. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and the “entire wing structure separated from the main fuselage.” Examination revealed the thrust reversers on each engine were deployed, their positions approximately matching. Skid marks appeared about 1200 feet beyond the runway’s approach end and arced about 560 feet to the airplane’s right before transitioning to tracks in the grass apron.

April 3, 2022, Jean, Nev.

Sonerai II L Experimental

The airplane was substantially damaged at 1310 Pacific time when it contacted desert terrain about 0.5 miles short of the landing runway after apparently suffering fuel exhaustion, The pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

Before departing Kingman, Arizona, for  North Las Vegas, Nevada, the pilot added 3.8 gallons of fuel, but did not know the total amount of fuel on board. While en route, the pilot opted to divert to Jean, Nevada, due to gusty wind conditions. He noted strong headwinds, but thought he had adequate fuel aboard. Arriving at Jean, the pilot made a low pass over the airport to evaluate wind conditions. While maneuvering for landing, the engine lost power and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude.

April 3, 2022, Calhan, Colo.

Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee 235

At about 1755 Mountain time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during landing and an apparent attempted go-around. The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

Surveillance video showed the airplane cross the runway threshold and remain airborne until past the first taxiway, appearing to touch down near the second taxiway, before it bounced. “It then exited the left side of the runway [and] went into a ditch where the landing gear impacted a sign,” according to the NTSB. The airplane pitched up, “consistent with” an attempted go-around, and impacted a building.

April 5, 2022, Marlin, Texas

Cessna TU206F Turbo Stationair

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1231 Central time when its pilot apparently lost control on landing. The two pilots aboard were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane departed Houston, Texas, on a pipeline inspection flight with a destination of Waco, Texas. About an hour and a half into the flight, radar and ADS-B data show the airplane beginning a series of maneuvering turns over the area where the pipeline was located. After maneuvering southwest and working its way to a location 20 miles south of Waco, it then turned east toward Marlin, Texas.

Surveillance video recorded the airplane touching down just past the approach end of the runway and bouncing back into the air. It touched down a second time in the grass right of the runway, struck a runway light, veered back on the runway, crossed the runway and departed its left side. Three mode Mode C targets were recorded, with the airplane about 1800 feet southeast of the approach end of the runway when track data was lost. The airplane impacted in a near-vertical attitude.

April 7, 2022, Mountain City, Tenn.

Arion Lightning LS-1 Experimental

At about 1310 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during an attempted takeoff after the engine lost power. The solo commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

For the takeoff, the engine was at full power and the pilot lifted off at 53 knots, “but the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power several seconds later at 70 knots,” according to the NTSB. The pilot was not sure that he could land on the remaining runway and immediately turned the right fuel tank to On. Engine rpm increased significantly. But within seconds, the engine again lost almost all power, and he elected to keep the airplane on the runway heading to clear several obstacles. Attempting a forced landing in a field, the pilot had to pull up to clear a fence. The airplane subsequently landed hard and collided with a creek bed.

April 8, 2022, Chula Vista, Calif.

RANS S-4 Coyote Experimental

The airplane was substantially damaged during a takeoff attempt when it entered an uncontrollable right bank. The solo pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

When the airplane was about 300 feet into the takeoff roll, the pilot applied back pressure to the pitch control to transition into a climb. However, the airplane immediately began a right roll only a few feet above the ground. As it approached the departure end of the runway, the pilot decided he had insufficient control of the airplane to continue the flight. He reduced engine power to idle and, as he began a landing flare he felt the right wing drop again. The airplane touched down on the right main landing gear, which immediately collapsed. The right wing impacted the ground. This was the pilot’s first flight in the accident airplane after it was repaired from a hard landing nine months earlier. Examination revealed the right-wing strut was not bolted to its attachment clevis at the right wing.

April 9, 2022, Counselor, N.M.

Taylorcraft BL-65

At about 1200 Mountain time, a Taylorcraft BL-65, N24345, was substantially damaged under unknown circumstances. The pilot/owner was fatally injured; the instructor pilot sustained serious injuries. Unknown conditions existed at the accident site.

The pair departed Wyoming the previous day on a multi-day cross-country flight, with Kerrville, Texas, as the ultimate destination. The accident occurred about 45 minutes after departing Farmington, N.M. The wreckage was located in a dirt field surrounded by sage brush at an elevation of about 7100 feet msl. The airplane came to rest inverted on a heading of about 360 degrees. Pieces of the wood propeller were scattered around the accident site.

April 10, 2022, Leicester, Mass.

Lancair IV-P Experimental

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1108 Eastern time when its right front cabin window departed the airplane. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

According to the pilot, while in cruise at 16,500 feet msl, there was a “sudden explosion and the right window was gone.” He performed an emergency descent and landed uneventfully. Examination revealed the right front window and portions of the roof fractured and separated from the fuselage.

April 13, 2022, Twin Lakes, Colo.

Cirrus Design SR22

At 0704 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its pilot deployed the airframe parachute after reporting engine failure. The solo pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane departed Grand Junction, Colo., at 0621. The flight proceeded southeast and then  turned east-northeast, climbing to FL210. At 0658, the pilot informed ATC the engine had lost power. The pilot’s efforts to restore power were unsuccessful, and he deployed the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System at 0702. The airplane came to rest upright in a mountain valley with rocky terrain and brush. The fuselage and wing spar were damaged.

April 13, 2022, Heyburn, Idaho

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0832 Mountain time when it collided with a building’s smokestack and fell to its roof. The solo pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed for the Part 135 on-demand cargo flight.

The pilot’s first attempt at the RNAV Rwy 20 instrument procedure ended in a missed approach. She flew the published missed-approach procedure and was subsequently cleared for a second attempt. Security video footage from a nearby building revealed snow was falling. At about 0832:25, the airplane came into view in a wings-level, nose-high descent. A witness observed the airplane descend out of the clouds, and then enter a steam cloud produced by six smokestacks on the same roof. The witness heard the engine increase in sound and saw the nose lift shortly before the airplane struck the smokestack and descended to the rooftop.

Weather reported at about the time of the accident included one mile of visibility in light snow and mist, a broken layer at 2300 feet agl, an overcast at 2800 feet agl and a temperature/dewpoint spread of two degrees C.

April 13, 2022, Selma, Ala.

Cessna 310

At about 1515 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged shortly after takeoff when its pilot discovered it was mis-rigged. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

Immediately after takeoff, the pilot needed significant left rudder to maintain directional control. After verifying both engines were producing power, he held full left aileron and rudder input to maintain level flight and instructed the pilot-rated passenger to adjust the thrust levers to turn the airplane back to the airport for a precautionary landing.

The airplane was maneuvered back to airport property, landing hard in the grass at an opposite-direction 45-degree angle to the runway used for takeoff, during which the nose landing gear fractured. The accident occurred on the first flight after the airplane was painted, during which the flight controls had been removed and reinstalled.

April 16, 2022, Grantsville, Md.

Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six 260

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 2046 Eastern time when it was landed off-airport after the pilot reported control difficulties. The instrument-rated commercial pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.

About two hours into the flight, with the airplane cruising at 11,000 feet msl, it approached clouds. The pilot increased engine power and turned on pitot heat. The airplane was “underperforming and unable to climb over the clouds,” according to the pilot. After entering clouds, he noticed decreasing airspeed as the autopilot increased the airplane’s pitch to maintain altitude. The pilot disengaged the autopilot, lowered the nose, and noted that pitch control was difficult. There were no signs of ice on the wings or windscreen.

The pilot notified ATC, and the airplane descended out the clouds into heavy rain and continued down. The pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane impacted trees and terrain, resulting in substantial damage.

April 19, 2022, Long Beach, Calif.

Diamond DA42 Twin Star

At about 1538 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its right main landing gear collapsed during landing rollout. The flight instructor and the pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported performing a short-field landing, and while on the rollout and about 750 feet beyond the touchdown point, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing contacted the ground. Examination revealed the composite landing gear support had separated from the wing structure.

April 20, 2022, Sylmar, Calif.

Cessna 337 Skymaster

The airplane was substantially damaged at 1226 Pacific time after the pilot apparently lost control while troubleshooting a landing gear problem. The solo pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

After takeoff, the pilot reported his landing gear did not fully retract and requested to stay over the airport at 2500 feet. Witnesses observed the airplane in a left turn. They then observed its nose drop and the airplane spiral to the ground. Examination established flight control continuity from the cockpit to the respective flight control surfaces. Three of the four tanks had been breached and the “smell of fuel was present at the accident site,” according to the NTSB.

April 21, 2022, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair

At about 1120 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during a landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The left main landing gear touched down first, followed by the right main. As the nose wheel settled onto the runway, the airplane immediately veered to the right. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the airplane veered left and right several times, and both wings struck the ground. Examination revealed the nose gear trunnion was fractured.

April 21, 2022, Covington, Ga.

Cessna 340

The airplane was destroyed at about 1844 Eastern time apparently stalled and spun to the ground. The private pilot and student pilot were fatally injured. Visual conditions were reported.

According to the student pilot’s partner, he and the private pilot airlined to Texas and returned with the accident airplane the previous day. On the day of the accident, the student pilot intended to begin flight training with his flight instructor but departed with the private pilot, who previously said he could train the student pilot.

On the accident flight, after departing Dekalb-Peachtree Airport at about 1640, the airplane flew to nearby airports and began a leg to Covington, Ga., at about 1813. Multiple witnesses saw the airplane make a “hard right” banking turn, start to spiral downward and then impact a row of parked, empty semi trailers about a nautical mile southeast of the destination airport. The airplane was destroyed by post-impact fire.

April 23, 2022, Cedar City, Utah

Diamond DA40 Star

At about 1848 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed when it apparently flew into a canyon and collided with terrain. The pilot and the three passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot rented the airplane, intending to fly a multi-leg, round-robin, cross-country flight to several area airports. A pilot-rated motorist reported observing what is believed to be the accident airplane flying up the canyon over the river, at about 300 feet agl. A second witness observed what is believed to be the accident airplane flying over the highway at about 200-300 feet agl. In his mirror, he saw the airplane bank really hard “as if the airplane were trying to turn around in the narrow canyon,” according to the NTSB. First responders later located the airplane wreckage while responding to a vegetation fire. The airplane impacted mountainous terrain along the southern edge of a canyon at 6583 feet msl.