June 1, 2022, River Falls, Wis.
Grumman AA-1B Trainer/TR-2
At about 1215 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged in an off-airport landing shortly after takeoff following engine failure. The student pilot received minor injuries and the flight instructor received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The student pilot reported that, as the airplane was about 150-200 feet agl in its initial climb, the “engine locked up.” After the loss of engine power, a forced landing to a vacant field south of the airport was made. The airplane came to rest upright in the field. The left outboard wing was substantially damaged.
June 1, 2022 , Tredyffin, Penn.
Cirrus Design SR22
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1527 Eastern time when it impacted a golf course under unknown circumstances. The private pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight operated on an IFR flight plan.
The pilot canceled IFR while on approach to Wings Field. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane heading east before it turned south and impacted the golf course. Due to their injuries, the occupants were not able to provide statements describing the circumstances leading to the accident.
June 2, 2022, Lucerne Valley, Calif.
Hornet LSA Experimental
At about 1130 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances. The solo pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to witnesses, the pilot departed about 1115 for a “local aerobatic flight.” At about 1130, three witnesses 0.6 nm from the accident site observed the airplane in a steep descent with level wings as it disappeared from their view behind trees. Evidence at the accident scene was consistent with the airplane impacting terrain in a steep, nose- and right-wing-low attitude. All major structural components were within the debris field and a fuel odor was present.
June 2, 2022, Oroville, Calif.
Beech 19A Musketeer
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1218 Pacific time when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
A witness reported flying the accident airplane with the pilot about two weeks before the accident. They performed two attempted takeoffs and aborted both due to performance issues. According to the witness, the pilot and pilot-rated passenger planned the accident flight to troubleshoot the performance deficiency. According to a video of the accident flight, the engine sounded smooth and continuous as the airplane lifted off and transitioned into climb. A few seconds later, the airplane began to descend, and then began another climb, followed by a right turn. The turn rate increased and the airplane impacted the ground seconds later. The airplane came to rest in an approximate 40-degree nose-down attitude.
June 2, 2022, Ray, Mich.
Thurston TA16 Trojan Experimental
At about 1315 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it lost engine power shortly after takeoff. The solo pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the pilot, while on climbout from the airport, the engine surged rapidly three times during initial climb and then stopped producing power. The pilot turned the airplane to land back on the runway while attempting to restore engine power. Unable to restore power or make the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing, colliding with small trees.
June 2, 2022, Bowling Green, Mo.
Aeronca 7AC Champ
The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 1745 Central time when it collided with terrain during low-level maneuvering. The two pilots sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the airplane owner, the two pilots were planning to conduct a local flight to practice basic agricultural flight maneuvers. A witness observed the airplane at a low altitude flying north. The airplane then executed a right turn to the east. During the turn, the right wing dropped and the airplane nosed down toward the terrain. The witness lost sight of the airplane behind some trees and located the airplane wreckage in a field adjacent to his residence. The witness observed the airplane performing similar maneuvers for a couple of weeks preceding the accident. The airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
June 2, 2022, Ennis, Texas
Cessna 172P Skyhawk
At about 1803 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following loss of engine power. The flight instructor and pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While en route to a nearby airport, engine power dropped about 200 rpm on two occasions. A subsequent approach to the airport resulted in a go-around due to excess energy. When the throttle and carburetor heat controls were advanced to the full forward position, engine power increased only to about 2000 rpm. The flight instructor adjusted the mixture control and reapplied carburetor heat in an attempt to increase engine power, but the power decreased and the flight instructor executed a forced landing. During the landing roll, the flight instructor turned right to avoid cows and the airplane impacted a tree.
June 3, 2022, Oceanside, Calif.
Cessna 208B Supervan 900
At about 1347 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it landed short of the intended runway after its engine failed to respond. The left-seat pilot was fatally injured; the right-seat pilot instructing the left-seater was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the skydiving operation.
The skydiving flights started at about 1015 and averaged 17 minutes in duration, followed by about 15 minutes on the ground between flights; the airplane’s engine was operating for the duration. The pilots completed six flights without incident and departed on the accident flight at 1331. The right-seat pilot could not recall many details but remembered the throttle became unresponsive at about 400 feet agl.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) data depicts the airplane turning onto the final approach at an altitude of about 2360 feet agl and 2.6 nm from the runway’s approach end. About two nm from the runway, it made a 360-degree right turn, rolling out at about 985 feet agl. Some 33 seconds later, the airplane’s groundspeed dropped to 92 knots as it descended. There were about 50 gallons of JetA fuel in the right wing. There was none in the left tank, but the fuel line was found separated at the fuselage. Preliminary findings are consistent with the engine running at low power at the time of impact.
June 6, 2022, Kenedy, Texas
Cessna 182G Skylane
The airplane was destroyed at 1522 Central time when it collided with terrain short of the intended runway. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance—Broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed the flight initiated a descent from 5600 feet msl at 1508, about 23 miles north of the intended airport. The descent continued and, at about 1516, the airplane appeared to align with the runway’s extended centerline. Some three seconds before the final data point, the airplane entered a gradual left turn. The airplane came to rest about 0.8 nm from the runway threshold.
June 6, 2022, Panama City, Fla.
Piper PA-28RT-201 Arrow IV
At about 1610 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following catastrophic engine failure shortly after takeoff. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured and another passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The airplane arrived earlier in the day; surveillance video shows the pilot returned to the airplane about 1530. He walked around the airplane but only “stopped in front of each wing, never the engine or cowling,” according to the NTSB. At 1551, the airplane taxied from the ramp and began its takeoff roll at about 1606. According to ADS-B data, the airplane reached about 1200 feet msl before it began to descend and entered a 180-degree left turn. It completed the turn, continued to descend and impacted trees and terrain about 1.7 miles from the runway threshold.
Examination revealed oil along the right bottom side of the fuselage and a hole in the crankcase near the #4 cylinder; the oil sump contained the #4 cylinder’s connecting rod cap, connecting rod bolts and bearing pieces, plus other metallic debris. Parking area pavement revealed a small puddle of engine oil where the airplane was initially parked. A second, larger area of oil—measuring about six feet on a side—was found at its second parking location, where the pilot conducted his walk-around.
June 7, 2022, Hemet, Calif.
Beech 77 Skipper
The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 0930 Pacific time when it landed long after its pilot declared an emergency and reported loss of engine power. The student pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The accident flight was the pilot’s second solo cross-country flight. An airborne witness heard the accident pilot over the CTAF, saying, “Right downwind for 23, I have no power.” The witness saw the accident airplane fly a faster-than-normal approach speed and pass over the departure end of Runway 23 at about 100 feet agl. Another witness recalled the airplane making a left turn and touching down on the soft dirt surface of a plowed field, then colliding with a retaining wall.
June 10, 2022, Camarillo, Calif.
Mooney M20K 231
At about 0803 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed when it collided with a building and terrain shortly after takeoff. The solo pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; the flight operated on an IFR flight plan.
The pilot contacted Flight Service at about 0730, requested an abbreviated weather briefing and subsequently filed an IFR flight plan to climb through the marine layer. Local weather included an overcast at 300 feet, calm winds and visibility of four miles in mist. At 0749, the pilot requested his IFR clearance. Before takeoff, the pilot exhibited some difficulty with the clearance and taxi instructions. At 0801, the pilot was cleared for takeoff but never contacted the departure controller. Multiple witnesses driving along a freeway parallel to the departure runway and about ½ mile north reported seeing an airplane flying low and at high speed.
The first point of impact was at the top wall of a building located south of the freeway and a mile west-northwest of the departure end of Runway 26. The outboard section of the right wing and aileron were on the building’s flat roof. A trail of debris consisting of wing skin fragments and the right flap continued on a heading of 035 degrees, across the freeway, to a second impact point in a strawberry field, 750 feet beyond. The main wreckage was another 250 feet or so downrange.
June 11, 2022, Stockbridge, Ga.
Piper PA-23 Apache
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1207 Eastern time when it collided with terrain after the right engine failed shortly after takeoff. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot had just purchased the airplane, and he and the previous owner were relocating it to an avionics shop. After a satisfactory run-up, the pilot held the brakes and applied full power. He stated both engines “were within the green and producing power.” After takeoff, the airplane began shaking and yawing right, and the pilot believed that the right engine had lost power. He applied left rudder and noted airspeed was below the airplane’s best single-engine climb speed, so he lowered the nose. The pilot then told the pilot-rated passenger to take the controls, while he feathered the right engine propeller, which he recalled came to a complete stop. By then, the airplane had slowed to near its minimum-controllable speed, but he had no altitude to trade for airspeed. The airplane impacted a line of trees it couldn’t climb over.
June 16, 2022, Weslaco, Texas
Meyers 200A
At about 0830 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it descended to terrain after the engine lost all power shortly after takeoff. The pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
After takeoff, the pilot joined the left traffic pattern to overfly the runway before departing the area. While on the downwind leg, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the propeller windmilled. As he turned toward the airport, he estimated he had the runway made, so he extended the landing gear. However, the “landing gear provided too much drag and he was unable to make the runway,” according to the NTSB, and the airplane descended into trees. The airplane collided with the trees and came to rest vertically with the tail resting in a tree. Witnesses converged on the accident site and assisted the pilot in egressing from the airplane.
June 16, 2022, Madison, Miss.
Bellanca 17-30A Super Viking
The airplane was substantially damaged after an in-flight fire ignited shortly after takeoff and the pilot landed back at the departure airport. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
After takeoff, the pilot noticed smoke in the cabin and returned for landing. While taxiing, the smoke worsened and the pilot stopped and shut down the engine. After egressing, the pilot and passenger observed a fire on the engine compartment’s starboard side. Before the fire could be extinguished, it burned most of the cockpit area. Initial examination revealed the right exhaust system was fractured between the muffler and tailpipe.
June 16, 2022, Davis, Calif.
Cessna TR182 Turbo Skylane RG
At about 1128 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed when it caught fire shortly after takeoff and was landed off-airport. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot observed smoke coming from the instrument panel shortly after takeoff. As the airplane climbed through 200 feet agl, he observed flames in the area near the pilot’s rudder pedals and noted a partial loss of engine power. The pilot initiated an off-airport landing to a nearby tomato field. During the landing rollout, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The fire subsequently destroyed the airplane.
June 16, 2022, Austin, Texas
Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair
The airplane was substantially damaged when it was intentionally ditched in a lake after the pilot experienced smoke in the cockpit and loss of engine power. The pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The accident flight was the first one following maintenance. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported the smoke and loss of engine power to ATC. Following the loss of engine power, the pilot ditched the airplane into Lady Bird Lake, near the departure airport. The airplane was recovered and retained.
