October 1, 2022, Hermantown, Minn.
Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP
At 2317 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain after an apparent loss of control in instrument conditions. The instrument-rated commercial pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. An IFR flight plan had been filed.
As the flight taxied for takeoff, ATC advised local weather included “about ½-mile visibility” with cloud bases at 250 feet agl. Winds were from 090 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Runway visual range was greater than 6000 feet. The FAA’s ADS-B data show the flight departed Runway 09 at 2312, then turned on a southerly track while climbing to about 1750 feet msl about a mile south of the departure runway.
The airplane then entered a tight left teardrop turn while climbing through 2000 feet msl, continuing the turn 360 degrees until it was tracking about 270 degrees at 2800 feet. It then began a descent. The pilot acknowledged ATC’s frequency change, then the controller observed the airplane descending and asked him to confirm that he was climbing. There was no response and no further communication from the pilot. The airplane impacted the front roof of a two-story house at an elevation of 1400 feet msl.
October 2, 2022, Clovis, N.M.
Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1600 Mountain time when it contacted the ground during an attempted go-around. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot later reported a crosswind blew the airplane off course during a practice ILS approach to Runway 04. He aborted the approach, applied full engine power and retracted the landing gear and wing flaps. However, the airplane did not gain altitude or airspeed as expected. The pilot subsequently felt the airplane buffet and lowered the nose, maneuvering it to a gear-up landing to an open field adjacent to the runway. The airplane came to rest upright; a post-accident fire ensued.
October 2, 2022, Perma, Mon.
Scoda Aeronautica Super Petrel LS
At about 0900 Central time, the amphibious light sport aircraft was substantially damaged when it struck a power line while maneuvering at low altitude over a river. The solo pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The accident airplane was part of a flight of two, which departed around 0800. The other aircraft’s pilot reported the accident airplane abruptly pitched up, descended to the right and impacted the water. It was later determined the accident airplane collided with a power transmission line that spanned the river. The surviving pilot stated he did not see the power line prior to the other airplane impacting it.
October 2, 2022, Boulder City, Nev.
Cessna 182C Skylane
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 2000 Pacific time when it was intentionally ditched into Lake Mead after its engine failed. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Night visual conditions prevailed.
While cruising at 11,000 feet msl, the pilot declared an emergency with ATC after observing declining engine oil pressure. After turning toward a divert airport, oil pressure dropped to zero and the engine lost all power. They found themselves over Lake Mead and circled under a lit moon while preparing for the ditching. After the airplane splashed down, it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The occupants swam about 200 yards to shore, where they were later rescued.
October 3, 2022, Houston, Texas
Embraer EMB-545 Legacy 450
At about 1740 Central time, the airplane’s main cabin door opened in-flight, causing substantial damage. The two pilots and two passengers were uninjured. Visual conditions prevailed.
After boarding the passengers, the co-pilot closed and secured the main cabin door. No crew alerting system (CAS) messages were displayed while taxiing for departure. No CAS messages were displayed before takeoff. As the airplane climbed through 7000 feet msl, an amber pressurization CAS message was displayed, followed by a red cabin door CAS warning. The captain attempted to restow the door handle, then returned to his seat. Shortly thereafter, the main cabin door opened, resulting in substantial damage to the door and fuselage. The crew landed without further incident.
October 4, 2022, Milan, Ga.
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche
The airplane was substantially damaged after both engines failed in-flight due to suspected water-contaminated fuel. The solo pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
After purchasing the airplane in Florida during July 2022, it was flown to a maintenance facility for an annual inspection and maintenance. By the time the work was completed, several engine runs and taxi checks had been performed without anomaly. On the day of the accident, the mechanic who completed the annual inspection told the pilot he had sumped black, sooty water from the tanks. The pilot then drained water from the tanks until the fuel was clean and clear.
About five to six minutes after departing on a short ferry flight, the left engine started to run rough and lost partial power. When the pilot attempted to increase power on the right engine, it immediately lost all power. He lined up with a highway centerline and landed, during which the right wing tip collided with a highway sign. Two days after the accident, the pilot and an FAA inspector sumped the tanks again; more water was drained from the tanks. After sumping until the fuel was clear again, they started the engines. Both engines ran rough for a few minutes until water passed through them, after which they ran normally.
October 4, 2022, Jamul, Calif.
Mustang II Experimental
At about 1238 Pacific time, the airplane collided with a mountain peak under unknown circumstances. The solo pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The airplane departed El Cajon, Calif., at about 1225, turned southbound and climbed to about 3000 feet msl. It then turned northeast near Lyons Peak and flew about four miles. The airplane then climbed to about 4600 feet before reversing course and maneuvering back toward Lyons Peak. The airplane’s radar track ended in the vicinity of Lyons peak about 1238. The wreckage was located about 1600 at the base of a rock face adjoining Lyons Peak.
October 5, 2022, Arundel, Maine
Beech A36 Bonanza
The airplane was destroyed at about 1356 Eastern time when it collided with terrain during an instrument approach. The instrument-rated private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
The airplane passed abeam the initial approach fix at 109 knots groundspeed and about 2100 feet, 200 feet below the minimum altitude for that segment. The airplane then passed the final approach fix 750 feet below that segment’s minimum altitude and had slowed to 58 knots groundspeed. The airplane continued to descend over the next 0.75 miles at about 60 knots groundspeed before the data ended near the accident site.
Several witnesses reported hearing the airplane but could not see it due to low clouds, rain and fog. One said the engine sound was “not the normal rhythm of a piston engine…it would sputter and die out.” Another witness said the engine wasn’t sputtering, but it didn’t “sound good.” The airplane impacted a tree at about 40 feet agl. The 1356 weather observed about 11 miles west of the destination airport included wind from 010 degrees at seven knots, visibility 2.5 miles in light rain and mist, a broken ceiling at 700 feet and an overcast at 1000 feet agl.
October 5, 2022, Fairbanks, Alaska
Cessna A185F Skywagon
At about 1758 Alaska time, the float-equipped airplane was damaged during an attempted takeoff. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Witnesses observed the pilot loading the airplane with a variety of items before the attempted takeoff, later reporting it was unable to get on the step and the pilot aborting the initial takeoff attempt. He then turned the airplane around and began back-taxiing for another try.
One witness noted the airplane’s attitude was nose-low in the water, and the floats were almost completely submerged. When the pilot reduced engine power, the airplane slowly nosed down, followed by a momentary increase in engine power, and the airplane subsequently rolled slightly to the left and nosed over. The airplane became inverted and sank. Numerous good Samaritans and first responders attempted to free the pilot trapped inside the submerged airplane, but unrestrained cargo in the cabin shifted forward during the event sequence and rescuers were unsuccessful.
October 10, 2022, Marana, Ariz.
Cessna T210L Turbo Centurion
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1645 Mountain time when it was intentionally landed gear up after a landing gear system failure. The solo pilot was not injured in the conclusion of the post-maintenance check flight. Visual conditions prevailed.
After a normal takeoff, the pilot retracted the landing gear and stayed in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg, he noted the landing gear position lights were not illuminated. He cycled the landing gear, with no change. The pilot deployed the emergency landing gear extension hand pump but felt no resistance when it was actuated. Ground personnel confirmed the nose gear appeared extended, but the left and right mains were not. After burning off fuel before landing, the airplane touched down and exited the left side of the runway. The pilot reported that this was the airplane’s first flight after an engine overhaul and annual inspection.
October 15, 2022, Dallas, Texas
Diamond Aircraft DA62 Twin Star
At about 1448 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
While conducting a visual approach to the destination, the pilot reported hearing a “pop” and observed the display screens lose power. A few seconds later, he observed both engines had lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing onto an urban road, during which the airplane struck a power line and road sign, damaging the right wing.
Initial review of the downloaded engine and flight data indicate the airplane lost electrical power to the avionics system and both engines nearly simultaneously, while at 2000 feet msl and about five miles west of the destination airport. Examination revealed incorrect wiring installation and blown inline fuses for the backup electronic control unit (ECU) power system for both engines. The main battery capacitance was tested and found to be low, near 70 percent.
October 18, 2022, Marietta, Ohio
Beech E-90 King Air
The airplane was substantially damaged at 0709 Eastern time when it apparently departed controlled flight and struck terrain while on final approach. The two commercial pilots were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed under a 1400-foot overcast.
Nearing the end of the 75-mile positioning flight, ATC instructed the crew to contact the tower. Previous and subsequent exchanges with ATC were normal. At about 0709, as the airplane was on a three-mile final approach, ATC cleared the flight to land, which the crew acknowledged. There were no additional communications received from the flight crew.
Multiple witnesses reported that the airplane, while flying straight and level, suddenly began a steep descent and spun near vertically to the ground. Security camera footage from multiple sources was consistent with witness accounts.
Preliminary weather information at the time of the accident included pilot reports throughout the area for trace to moderate icing conditions and Airmets for moderate icing. Weather satellite data showed supercooled liquid water in clouds from 1300 feet agl to about 8000 feet agl.
October 23, 2022, Spartanburg, S.C.
Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee 235
At about 1700 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged in a forced landing following complete engine failure shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and the three passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot later reported that pretakeoff checks and the takeoff itself were routine. On climbout, at about 600 feet agl, the pilot heard a “boom,” engine rpm dropped to zero and the engine lost all power. He immediately pitched for best glide airspeed and completed a forced landing on a city street. The airplane struck power lines during the landing approach, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder.
Examination of the engine revealed smoke and fire damage on the engine and cowling area but no obvious signs of catastrophic engine failure.
October 23, 2022, Loveland, Colo.
Cirrus Design SR22
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1705 Mountain time when it collided with terrain after the engine failed to develop power during an attempted go-around. The pilot and four passengers were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot later reported encountering wind shear while on final approach for Runway 33. He attempted to execute a go-around but when the throttle was increased, the engine did not respond. The airport manager noted that the airplane appeared to have departed the runway pavement about 500 feet from the approach end. It came to rest about 300 feet off the west edge of the runway and about 1000 feet from the approach threshold. The observed winds, recorded about nine minutes before the accident, were from 060 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 27 knots.
October 31, 2022, Alpharetta, Ga.
Hawker Beechcraft G58 Baron
At 1304 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it apparently departed controlled flight while attempting an instrument approach. The pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
The airplane was being vectored for the ILS RWY 21L approach at its destination. The pilot was cleared to maintain 3000 feet msl until established on the localizer. The airplane then climbed to 3200 feet before it began to descend. The controller received a minimum safe altitude warning (MSAW) alert when the airplane descended through 2400 feet msl, and instructed the pilot to check the airplane’s altitude and to start climbing. The pilot responded that he was climbing and “going around.” The airplane then initiated a climbing right turn to 3200 feet msl, before it entered a descending left turn. The controller continued to receive MSAW alerts and made numerous attempts to contact the pilot, but there was no further communication with him. The airplane continued to descend; the last radar return was received at 1304:19, with the airplane at 1325 feet msl (about 355 feet above ground level), heading 252 degrees, at a groundspeed of 215 knots. A witness later said, “The aircraft simply flew into the ground, with no visible attempt by the pilot to turn or pull up.”
