August 1, 2016, Spanish Fork, UT
Beech C99 Airliner
At about 1840 Mountain time, the airplane sustained substantial damage following a collision with an object while being operated as a scheduled FAR 135 cargo flight. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions were reported.
The pilot later related he was in cruise climb at about 8500 feet msl when he noticed something in his peripheral vision, then felt a “thud” as something struck the airplane. There was no loss of control or abnormal control feel, so he continued the flight and landed uneventfully. Upon landing, about 12 inches of the airplane’s vertical stabilizer was missing; there also was substantial damage to the rudder. Initial examination showed no evidence of organic material. A detailed examination by the NTSB is pending.
August 2, 2016, Destin, FL
Cessna 414A Chancellor
The airplane descended into the Gulf of Mexico at about 2025 Central time, shortly after takeoff. The solo commercial pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. Night visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan was active.
A pilot-rated witness observed the airplane early in its takeoff at between 50 and 100 feet agl with its landing gear retracted. Other witnesses noted the airplane flew over a building adjacent to them at an estimated 150 feet agl. The airplane continued over the Gulf of Mexico, and then banked sharply right, with one witness describing the wings being nearly vertical. The airplane appeared to roll wings level, before it began descending and impacted the water.
August 2, 2016, Flagstaff, AZ
Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II
At about 2122 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain shortly after takeoff. The solo airline transport pilot received fatal injuries. Night visual conditions prevailed.
At 2119:44, the pilot told ATC he was “off two one” and climbing to “eleven thousand five hundred.” At 2120:17, ATC advised it had radar contact. At 21:22:57, ATC initially advised that radar contact had been lost, then made repeated, unanswered calls to the flight. Radar returns indicated the airplane climbed at about 1000 fpm for about 60 seconds; then the climb rate dropped to and remained at about 400 fpm for another minute. The airplane reached a maximum radar altitude of 8400 feet msl, then descended to ground impact during the next 20 seconds. Field elevation at the departure airport is 7014 feet.
Evidence indicates the airplane hit terrain at high speed and power settings. According to the NTSB, the 76-year-old pilot held multiple certificates and ratings, and reported 11,858 total hours on a second-class medical certificate application in March 2016. The 2157 weather observation included winds from 240 degrees at three knots, visibility 10 sm and a broken ceiling at 11,000 feet.
August 3, 2016, Fond du Lac, WI
Sonex Waiex
The airplane impacted terrain at about 1155 Central time, following a partial loss of engine power. Both the private pilot and flight instructor were seriously injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to preliminary information, the pilots were performing touch-and-go landings. Shortly after a takeoff, “the pilots reported a loss of engine power. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a transmission line and impacted terrain. An inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.”
August 4, 2016, Russellville, OH
Cessna 150L
At 2009 Eastern time, the airplane was force-landed in a soybean field after the engine lost power. One pilot sustained a minor injury; the other pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the pilots, the airplane was descending for landing when they heard a loud “bang” and the engine lost power. Unable to maintain altitude, they made a forced landing in a soybean field, struck a ditch and nosed over. Examination revealed the Number 2 cylinder had separated between the flange and the head.
August 5, 2016, Wasilla, AK
Cessna 210-5/de Havilland DHC-2T
The two airplanes collided in mid-air while landing. Both aboard the Cessna—a flight instructor and a pilot receiving instruction—sustained minor injuries. The commercial pilot of the de Havilland DHC-2T Turbine Beaver and its sole passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The de Havilland DHC-2T pilot subsequently told investigators he was conducting a long straight-in final to land. While on final approach, at about 20 feet above the runway, the Cessna overtook the de Havilland from directly above, impacting the propeller. Following the impact with the Cessna, he continued the approach and landed.
The Cessna sustained substantial damage to its empennage and fuselage, while the de Havilland sustained substantial damage to its right wing. The pilots of both airplanes stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines.
August 5, 2016, Waco, TX
Cessna P210N Pressurized Centurion
At about 1700 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its landing gear collapsed during landing. The pilot and four passengers aboard were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight was operated IFR.
While in cruise flight, the pilot reported an electrical system problem and elected to divert. After receiving an initial vector from ATC, the airplane lost all electrical power. According to the NTSB, the pilot then successfully lowered wing flaps and landing gear, followed by an uneventful approach. After touching down, the landing gear collapsed and the airplane departed the left side of the runway before coming to rest.
August 6, 2016, Burns Flat, OK
Bugatti-DeMonge 100P Experimental
The experimental amateur-built airplane impacted terrain during takeoff at about 0820 Central time. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed during the impact and post-impact fire. Visual conditions prevailed.
At least one witness reported the airplane lifted off and began climbing. During the climbout, the airplane banked to the right and then to the left. The airplane’s left bank steepened; it descended nose-first and subsequently impacted terrain inverted. At 0753, recorded weather included winds from 040 degrees at nine knots and 10 sm of visibility under clear skies.
The airplane came to rest about 1900 feet and 335 degrees from the departure runway’s threshold, on a 330-degree heading. Much of the airframe was consumed by fire. The rudder cables were traced to the their respective pedals, but control continuity for the elevators and ailerons could not be established. No pre-impact anomalies with the drivetrain or engines were observed.
August 6, 2016, Cardington, OH
Cessna 180
At about 1515 Eastern time, the airplane impacted a building. The commercial pilot received minor injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot was planning to land to the east on a private grass runway. After noticing people on the ground, he maneuvered to land in the opposite direction. The airplane touched down with its flaps fully extended, floated and then drifted right, so he decided to go around. He advanced the throttle to full forward and the engine gauges appeared normal, but the airplane felt “anemic” and climbed slowly. The next thing he remembered was seeing the building in his windscreen.
The airplane impacted a small pole barn just past the end of the runway. The pilot exited the airplane before a post-crash fire engulfed it. The pilot reported the engine had accumulated about two operating hours since a top overhaul. Visual inspection of the engine did not note any obvious discrepancies. The FAA carburetor icing probability chart indicated the airplane was operating in an area associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice formation at glide power settings.
August 6, 2016, Northampton, MA
Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1145 Eastern time during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the flight instructor, during a simulated soft-field take-off, the airplane’s climb performance deteriorated noticeably. As the airplane reached approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine started to lose power and he realized any increase in pitch resulted in an immediate decrease in airspeed. The flight instructor elected to make an emergency off-airport landing in a corn field near the end of the departure runway. During the landing sequence, the right wing and firewall were damaged.
August 7, 2016, Shelbyville, KY
Van’s RV-4 Experimental
At about 1709 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing while on final approach. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot subsequently reported observing a deer while on final approach and elected to execute a low approach. When he added full power on the climbout, only partial power was available, but the airplane was still able to climb and fly a traffic pattern. After he reduced power on the final approach, the engine began “running bad” and “a little rough.” To arrest a sink, the pilot added full power and turned the carburetor heat off. The engine did not produce full power, and the airplane kept descending until it impacted terrain about 200 feet from the runway.
August 7, 2016, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Diamond Aircraft DA20-C1
The airplane was destroyed at 1123 Atlantic time when it collided with terrain following a bounced landing and runway excursion. The student pilot and flight instructor were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The airplane had completed one touch-and-go landing and was cleared for a second one. Just prior to touchdown, the airplane “tilted” to its left, and the left wingtip appeared to strike the ground prior to the main landing gear. The airplane bounced four to five times before “banking hard” to its left, departing the landing surface and crashing into trees north of the runway. Examination revealed the tail section and engine compartment had separated from the cockpit and cabin structure. Control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces through cable breaks and cuts made by recovery personnel.
August 8, 2016, Iliamna, AK
de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
At about 1651 Alaska time, the float-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during takeoff from a lake. Of the seven people on board, the commercial pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries, and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot later stated he back-taxied the airplane to the far end of the lake to use its full length for takeoff. During the takeoff run, the airplane did not become airborne before reaching the lake’s opposite shoreline. The floats subsequently collided with an area of rising terrain on the shoreline. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
August 8, 2016, McDonough, NY
Cessna 177 Cardinal
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain at about 1535 Eastern time while maneuvering. The private pilot and three passengers incurred minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Prior to the accident flight, the pilot filled the airplane’s fuel tanks, for a total fuel load of 50 gallons. The flight’s purpose was to allow the three passengers to view and photograph a local landmark from the air. After two passes, the passengers asked him to fly by the landmark again, but at a slower speed. The pilot fully deployed the flaps and, during the fly-by, the pilot noted the airplane was slow and had descended to near the tops of the trees. He added full power and fully retracted the flaps. The airplane did not appear to be climbing and in “a wink of an eye the nose dropped.” The pilot’s next recollection was that the airplane was on the ground. He and his passengers subsequently egressed the airplane before it was consumed by a post-impact fire.
August 12, 2016, Fredericksburg, VA
Beech Model 95-B55 (T42A) Baron
At 1222 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during an aborted landing attempt. The private pilot/owner, commercial pilot and four passengers aboard were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Several witnesses stated the airplane appeared to be high above the threshold and fast. Surveillance video captured the airplane touching down briefly and bouncing several times. The airplane became airborne again near the last third of the runway. As it climbed, it drifted right of the runway centerline and began a gradual, climbing left turn to about 50 feet agl. The airplane appeared to level off, then began to descend before pitching up abruptly and rolling to the left as it descended into trees and terrain. Post-crash examination revealed the right propeller exhibited span-wise gouging and curling in an ‘S’ pattern. The left propeller’s blades were positioned to a flat pitch with little chord-wise damage and minimal curling.
August 13, 2016, Chugiak, AK
Champion 7ECA Citabria
The airplane was destroyed at about 1330 Alaska time following a loss of engine power and subsequent loss of control just after takeoff. The solo private pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
Earlier, the airplane performed a series of touch-and-go landings. Just after 1300, it did a full-stop landing, and it taxied to a local fuel vendor’s facility. A potential buyer/witness met the pilot about 1315 to look at the airplane. After the pilot and potential buyer parted ways, the pilot started the airplane and took off. As it neared the departure end of the runway, it turned steeply to the right (90 degrees), followed by a nose-and-right-wing-low descent. The airplane subsequently descended behind a large stand of trees and hangars, and out of view. Other witnesses reported hearing the engine “sputtering and popping,” and then it appeared to lose partial or all power. A helicopter pilot reported hearing a male voice transmit on the CTAF, “Oh [expletive],” immediately followed by the airplane appearing to stall and enter a nose-down attitude.
August 13, 2016, Des Moines, IA
Cirrus Design SR20
At about 1001 Central time, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot deployed the Cirrus airframe parachute system (CAPS) and the airplane descended into powerlines and terrain. The airplane was subsequently destroyed by a post-impact fire. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. An additional passenger was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
After pre-flight inspection and run-up, a normal takeoff was performed. Engine instrumentation indicated normal readings. During initial climb, at about 500 feet agl, the pilot heard and felt a reduction in engine power. He told ATC he had engine trouble and was cleared to land. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and deployed the CAPS. The airplane descended under canopy and contacted powerlines before coming to rest. A fire erupted from under the left wing; the pilot ordered his passengers to evacuate via the right cabin door.
