February 4, 2023, Austin, Texas
Boeing 737-700/Boeing 767-300
At about 0640 Central time, a Federal Express Boeing 767 and a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 “were involved in a runway incursion with overflight that resulted in a loss of separation,” the NTSB reported. There were no injuries in the incident. Both flights operated under FAR 121 and were on IFR flight plans. Low instrument conditions prevailed: calm winds, visibility ¼ mile in freezing fog, vertical visibility of 200 feet and minus 1 degree C temperature.
At 0638:49, Southwest reported holding short and ready for takeoff on Runway 18L. The controller provided RVR values, advised that a FedEx 767 was on a three-mile final and issued a standard takeoff clearance. Southwest taxied onto the runway centerline and came to a complete stop before applying takeoff power and rolling for takeoff.
At 0639:32, FedEx requested landing clearance confirmation; ATC confirmed the flight was cleared to land and advised of the departing Southwest traffic. At 0640:12, FedEx was on an approximate 0.7-mile final when ATC asked Southwest to confirm they were on the roll. Southwest replied, “rolling now.”
The FedEx crew called for a go-around at about 150 feet agl when they saw Southwest approximately 1000 feet to 1500 feet from the runway’s approach end. At 0640:34, FedEx broadcasted, “Southwest abort,” and then at 0640:37, “FedEx is on the go.”
By 0640:43, FedEx had overflown Southwest by an undetermined number of feet and was climbing. Based on the NTSB’s ground position tracks for the two airplanes, FedEx remained almost exactly above Southwest for at least 13 seconds while climbing on its go-around. Separation increased as a result of Southwest’s lower climb rate. Southwest flew on to its destination while FedEx landed safely after the go-around.
February 5, 2023, Gladewater, Texas
Beech F35 Bonanza
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1316 Central time when its engine lost power during an attempted go-around. The pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
While landing at the destination, the airplane floated about halfway down the runway, and the pilot began to go around. At about 50-75 feet agl, the engine abruptly lost power. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane’s right wing struck a tree and was substantially damaged. The airplane came to rest mostly submerged in a pond.
February 6, 2023, Milton, Fla.
Van’s RV-6 Experimental
At about 1432 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain and a fuel truck after losing all engine power shortly after takeoff. The solo airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The accident flight was the first after completing an annual condition inspection. The pilot later reported conducting a thorough preflight inspection and that taxi and takeoff operations were normal. On initial climb, at about 300 to 400 feet agl, the engine “let out a muffled, sucking backfire” and experienced a total power loss. During the descent, the engine regained power shortly before impacting the ground and a fuel truck brought the airplane to rest. The airframe and wings were substantially damaged. The right fuel tank remained intact and contained about nine gallons of fluid consistent with 100LL aviation gasoline. The left fuel tank was breached but contained residual fuel. The fuel selector was found in the right position.
February 6, 2023, Bismarck, N.D.
Cessna 425 Corsair/Conquest I
The airplane’s left wing was substantially damaged at about 1545 Central time when the brakes failed and it impacted a hangar. The pilot was not injured; the two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
After an uneventful flight and landing, the airplane was taxiing on the ramp when the pilot was attempting to stop in front of a marshaller. After selecting the engines’ ground-idle position, the airplane turn left; the right brake was inoperative. The pilot attempted to use reverse thrust, but the airplane continued forward and struck the hangar.
February 11, 2023, Rochester, N.Y.
Learjet Model 55
At 1250 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it landed hard before the runway’s displaced threshold, fracturing the left main landing gear strut, the left wing and the left fuel tank. The two airline transport pilots, three adult passengers and an infant child were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Surveillance video showed the airplane touching down prior to the runway threshold, bouncing and continuing about 270 feet before it touched down again and rolled out on the runway. Ground scars and rubber transfer marks found in the displaced threshold area about 110 feet prior to the landing surface were consistent with the airplane’s left main landing gear.
A passenger later stated the airplane “slammed” onto the runway, the oxygen masks deployed, compartments inside the airplane opened and the infant started screaming. She added that, as the passengers were deplaned, they were “rushed” to their van because the airplane was leaking fuel. Personnel responding to the damaged, leaking airplane asked the pilot what happened. He reportedly replied, “I [expletive]ed up.”
February 11, 2023, Cortland, Ill.
Jabiru J250-SP LSA
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1406 Central time during a forced landing after engine power and instrumentation began fluctuating. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot later reported that, about four hours into the flight and without any warning, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. With exception of the radios, the airplane’s electronics also went out. She noted that the engine would regain power briefly, but then lose it again within three or four seconds. The cockpit displays would regain power momentarily along with the engine. She executed a forced landing to a muddy field, where the airplane came to rest on its nose.
February 12, 2023 Lakeway, Texas
Mooney M20K Encore
At about 0958 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following engine failure. The solo pilot was uninjured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot was relocating the recently purchased airplane to his home base. The preflight inspection did not reveal anomalies; there were 57 gallons of fuel on board and the engine oil level was sufficient. While en route, the engine lost all power. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the pilot performed a forced landing to a golf course, impacting trees and a wood fence before coming to rest upright near commercial electrical power equipment. The fuselage and both wings were damaged. Examination revealed engine oil trailing rearward on the underside of the fuselage. The engine oil level was checked after the accident and oil was not observed on the dipstick.
February 12, 2023, Crosby, Texas
Cessna 172H Skyhawk
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1728 Central time when it collided with a moving train during an attempted takeoff. The pilot sustained serious injuries; the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Before departing the grass airstrip, the pilot had been advised to use Runway 9 for takeoff, thereby avoiding any conflict with railroad tracks off the end of Runway 27.
The pilot later said they performed a soft-field takeoff and apparently remained in ground effect. About halfway down the runway, the pilot decided against aborting the attempt, concerned they would not be able to stop before colliding with a moving train off the end of the runway. A witness who frequently used the airstrip stated it appeared the pilot was back-taxiing the airplane on Runway 27 to depart Runway 9 because the pilot did not apply full power. Then the witness realized the pilot was attempting to take off on Runway 27, later reporting the airplane never developed “flying airspeed,” and as the airplane approached the moving train, it rapidly pitched up, and then stalled. Its right main landing gear collided with the train; the airplane then impacted terrain and came to rest inverted.
February 14, 2023, Kona, Hawaii
Cessna P337H Pressurized Skymaster
At about 0838 Hawaii-Aleutian time, the airplane was forced-landed gear-up after both engines lost power during takeoff. The pilot and passengers aboard the Part 135 on-demand sightseeing flight were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Shortly after liftoff, as the landing gear was retracting, both engines suffered a partial power loss. The pilot landed on the runway overrun area, with the landing gear retracted.
February 16, 2023, Chamblee, Ga.
Piper PA-28-181 Archer II/III
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1431 Eastern time when its engine quit shortly after liftoff. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries; the student pilot suffered minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Ground operations were normal. After liftoff, when at about 100 feet agl, the engine sputtered and then lost all power. The instructor reduced angle of attack, looked for an emergency landing site and maneuvered the airplane toward a large grass field. The airplane impacted the ground to the right of Runway 3R, separating the left wing from the fuselage.
February 16, 2023, Sarasota, Fla.
Boeing 737-800/Airbus 321
Another runway incursion involving air carrier aircraft occurred at about 2059 Eastern time between an Air Canada Rouge Airbus A321 operating under FAR Part 129 and an American Airlines Boeing 737. There were no injuries among the 372 passengers and crew aboard both airplanes. Night visual conditions prevailed.
When the American 737 was on a 3.12-mile final to Runway 14, ATC asked the Air Canada Rouge Airbus if they were ready for departure; its crew “responded affirmatively.” The controller then cleared Air Canada for takeoff on Runway 14, informing its crew the American flight was on a three-mile final. About 13 seconds later, as American was 2.56 miles from the Runway 14 threshold, ATC issued its crew a traffic advisory about the Air Canada flight. When American was on a 1.53-mile final, Air Canada asked for departure-heading confirmation; ATC responded by affirming the flight was to fly runway heading. About 53 seconds later, American informed ATC they were executing a pilot-initiated go-around. The estimated closest proximity between the Air Canada and American flights was 0.6 miles horizontally, at the same altitude.
February 22, 2023, Little Rock, Ark.
Beech B200 King Air
The airplane was destroyed at about 1156 Central time when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot and four passengers sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed as convective activity neared the departure airport.
The pilot requested taxi clearance at 11:51:16, with the ATIS, which included a low level wind shear (LLWS) advisory alert. Between then and 11:54:47, when the pilot requested takeoff clearance from Runway 18 on tower frequency, the ground and tower controllers had issued two additional LLWS alerts. A video surveillance camera recorded the airplane as it took off from Runway 18 and climbed to the south, going out of sight. The camera then recorded a rising smoke plume. Shortly afterward, the camera appeared to shake from wind, and recorded blowing debris and heavy rain.
February 24, 2023, Duluth, Minn.
Cirrus Design SR22
At about 1607 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted a frozen river nose-down under unknown circumstances. The solo airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the short repositioning flight.
About four minutes after takeoff, the airplane was on approach to its destination at 1300 feet msl for an approximately four-mile final approach to Runway 14. It suddenly pitched down about 30 degrees and impacted the frozen river. A debris path oriented roughly 135 degrees magnetic extended about 300 feet.
February 24, 2023, Stagecoach, Nev.
Pilatus PC-12/45
The airplane suffered a partial breakup in flight before impacting terrain at about 2114 Pacific time. The pilot and the four passengers were fatally injured. Night instrument conditions prevailed for the Part 135 air ambulance flight; an IFR flight plan had been filed.
After departing Reno, Nev., the pilot contacted ATC to report climbing through 15,400 feet msl at 2108:37. The controller cleared the flight to FL250 and issued a caution for light to moderate turbulence, both of which were acknowledged.
The airplane exhibited difficulty precisely following the published departure procedure and at 2111:37, about two miles southeast of a waypoint, turned roughly 90 degrees off-course. It remained on that heading for about 47 seconds, climbing through 18,900 feet msl, before a left turn toward the next waypoint. At 2113:31, with the airplane at about 19,100 feet, it entered a descending right turn until ADS-B contact at was lost at about 11,100 feet msl.
The debris field extended about 0.9 miles southwest of the main wreckage, with two pieces of the right aileron, portions of the right flap, and several pieces of right-wing structure located about 0.70 miles southwest of the main wreckage. Two sections of the outboard right wing and separate portions of the horizontal stabilizer were located as far as a half mile from the main wreckage, which included a “mostly intact” left wing.
February 27, 2023, Hillsville, Va.
Cessna 150G
At about 1655 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances. The solo pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The accident occurred during the 78-mile return leg of a cross-country flight begun earlier that day. According to radar data, the airplane departed at 1612. The pilot flew a nearly direct route back to his home airport until when about 15 miles from the destination, at 1653, the airplane made a left 180-degree turn. The last radar return was at 1654, about one mile from the accident site.
The airplane came to rest in a wooded area at an elevation of 2776 feet msl. There was no evidence of fire, and all major components were located with the main wreckage. Both wings were damaged and/or completely separated by the impact. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight controls to the respective control surfaces.
Engine crankshaft and valve train continuity were confirmed by rotating the propeller through 720 degrees. Compression and suction were confirmed on all cylinders, while the magnetos produced spark on all leads. Oil was present throughout the engine and the oil filter remained attached. There were no anomalies found with the engine that would have precluded normal operation.
