Czech Aircraft Works SportCruiser
July 1, 2016, Wyoming, Minnesota
At about 2206 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing on Interstate Highway 35 (I-35). The solo sport pilot received minor injuries. Night visual conditions prevailed for the local flight.
The pilot later stated he could not find his departure point because it was dark. The airplane was low on fuel and he could not see an airport beacon, so he landed the airplane on a road, I-35. During the landing roll, the airplane’s right wing hit a road divider, causing substantial damage.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
July 1, 2016, Bountiful, Utah
During an introductory flight for two passengers, the pilot flew into a canyon where the airplane encountered an “unforeseen immense downdraft.” He initiated a right turn to exit the canyon but terrain interfered. The pilot then decided to make an emergency landing on a mountain road. After touchdown, the airplane skidded off the dirt road and down an embankment. A post-crash fire resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
NTSB
Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG
July 1, 2016, Manhattan, Kansas
The pilot was receiving instruction in an airplane with retractable landing gear. The flight instructor was the pilot in command. On final approach, both pilots were on the controls. They first realized there was an issue when they heard metal scraping on pavement. The airplane impacted the runway with its landing gear retracted, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and bulkhead. A post-accident landing gear aural warning horn check/test was conducted, with no maintenance issues found.
Rans S6ES Experimental
July 1, 2016, Bridgeport, California
At about 1040 Pacific time, the airplane impacted terrain about 1 miles north of the intended destination. The solo pilot was seriously injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed.
Upon nearing his destination, the pilot flew over his parents’ home to let them know that he was landing at the airport. After passing over the home, he turned sharply to the right then remembers the ground coming up into view. The impact marks were consistent with the airplane colliding with the terrain in a nose-down attitude.
Piper PA-22-150 Tri-Pacer
July 2, 2016, Houghton Lake Heights, Michigan
The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with a wire fence and terrain while landing. The private pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the introductory flight conducted during an event hosted by a local EAA chapter.
While on final approach, as it passed over a tree line, the airplane encountered a downdraft and descended below a normal glide path. As the pilot increased engine power to arrest the airplane’s descent, the main landing gear collided with a wire fence located near the approach end of the runway. The airplane landed hard, collapsing the nose gear, and skidded to a stop on the runway. The fuselage, engine firewall and left wing were substantially damaged.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
July 2, 2016, Salmon, Idaho
At about 1100 Mountain time, the airplane was force-landed and collided with a fence, sustaining substantial damage. The student pilot receiving instruction and the flight instructor were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The flight instructor set the airplane up for simulated engine failure by pulling out the carburetor heat control and reducing throttle to 1200 rpm. The student pilot followed emergency procedures, used the checklist and prepared to land. After the carburetor heat control was pushed back in and the throttle advanced, there was a sudden loss of power; efforts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The airplane collided with the fence during the landing.
Cessna 182 Skylane
July 3, 2016, Llano, California
During takeoff from a private dirt airstrip with a density altitude near 6100 feet, the airplane became airborne in ground effect but was not able to “build airspeed sufficient to pitch for…best rate of climb.” The pilot reported wind pushed the airplane over an orchard and he intentionally put the airplane into an aerodynamic stall prior to impacting terrain. A post-impact fire ensued and the airplane was destroyed.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot heard a “bang,” which he initially assumed to be a rock hitting the fuselage, but later believed to be an engine failure. The airplane’s propeller, however, exhibited damage consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact.
Seawind Experimental
July 4, 2016, Buena Vista, Colorado
At about 1128 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-impact fire, after an apparent forced landing. The solo pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
A witness reported hearing the pilot declare a mayday on the airport’s CTAF, stating his intention for a straight-in approach to Runway 15, but did not state the nature of the emergency. The entire airplane was almost completely consumed by the post-impact fire. Remnants of all major components and control surfaces were located in the immediate vicinity of the main wreckage. No anomalies could be found with respect to the engine and its accessories, airframe, flight control system or engine control system; however, the extent of fire damage precluded a complete examination and testing of components.
Bellanca 7ECA Citabria
July 4, 2016, Oak Ridge, Louisiana
The airplane was substantially damaged when it hit a ditch during an aborted takeoff and runway excursion. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the attempted takeoff.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot did not feel the airplane was at the speed it should be when it was of the way down the runway, so he decided to abort. When he applied brakes and full aft input on the control stick, the airplane ballooned. Once it settled back down, he was unable to stop the airplane before it overran the end of the runway. The airplane hit a ditch just beyond the end of the runway, bounced up, hit a second ditch and nosed over, coming to rest inverted in the second ditch. The left wing separated from the airplane, and the fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged.
Cessna 305/O-1 Bird Dog
July 4, 2016, Narragansett, Rhode Island
At about 1250 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean after experiencing a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the banner-tow flight.
According to the pilot, he departed with five hours of fuel. About 3.5 hours into the flight, the airplane was flying about 500 feet over the ocean when the engine lost total power. Subsequently, the pilot performed a forced landing to the water. The airplane sank, and came to rest in about 30 feet of water. The pilot egressed and was rescued a short time later. The airplane subsequently was recovered but no reason for the engine failure could be determined.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
July 4, 2016, Brookings, Oregon
The airplane impacted the Pacific Ocean at about 2300 Pacific time, shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and two passengers were presumed to have been fatally injured. Night visual conditions prevailed for the local flight.
The pilot’s family contacted authorities when he failed to arrive at his planned destination. An Alert Notification was issued, but it was cancelled on July 7 when airplane wreckage washed up on shore nearby. Radar data depicted the airplane turning left shortly after takeoff, then climbing westward to about 700 feet agl. The last recorded radar target was about a mile west of the departure airport and less than two miles from where the airplane wreckage was found.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
July 5, 2016, Wonder Lake, Illinois
At about 1530 Central time, the airplane collided with terrain, sustaining substantial damage. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the flight instructor, he was instructing the student pilot on touch-and-go landings. While on final for a landing to Runway 18, another airplane announced intentions to take off on Runway 27. The approach path was low, and the instructor prompted the student to add power. As the instructor coordinated with the other airplane to deconflict flight paths, he did not monitor the student’s approach. When the instructor returned his attention to the approach path, there was insufficient time for the instructor to intervene before the airplane landed short. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the left wing was substantially damaged.
Champion 7EC
July 6, 2016, Placedo, Texas
The airplane was landed in a corn field at 1000 Central time following a loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot was not injured, but the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot reported the airplane had not been flown for some time while the wings were removed and reskinned, and an annual inspection was completed. The engine had been run on the ground, but the accident occurred on the first flight after the maintenance. The pilot stated 20 gallons of fuel were added to the airplane about 1 weeks prior to the accident. The airplane had been run on the ground about an hour since the fuel was added. The pilot reported he ran the engine for about 10 minutes prior to takeoff and it operated normally. He also checked the magneto and carburetor heat operation during the engine run-up. About 10 to 15 minutes into the flight, the engine sputtered. The pilot applied carburetor heat and checked the position of the fuel selector, and the magnetos. The engine operation smoothed out but a short time later, all engine power was lost.
Gulfstream American AA-5A Cheetah
July 7, 2016, Cheyenne, Wyoming
At about 1200 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The flight instructor reported the airplane encountered very windy conditions shortly after takeoff and he was unable to control it. The airplane was unable to climb out, and the flight instructor performed a forced landing to a road, during which the pilot had to maneuver the airplane to avoid a collision with a construction crew. The airplane’s right wing was substantially damaged when it impacted a construction sign.
Cessna 182 Skylane
July 7, 2016, Searcy, Arkansas
The pilot later described flying the approach to a 2000-foot-long private grass airstrip as “a little high and fast.” The pilot further reported the airplane touched down about midfield and he applied brakes, but the airplane overran the runway and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
Piper PA-32R-300 Lance
July 8, 2016, Houston, Texas
At about 1615 Central time, the airplane was destroyed during a post-impact fire following a loss of control shortly after takeoff. The private pilot and his three passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Numerous witnesses observed an open forward baggage compartment door shortly before the airplane rotated for liftoff. The airplane continued with the takeoff and climbed on runway heading to 100-150 feet agl before turning a left crosswind at a bank angle estimated to be 30-45 degrees. The airplane was observed to briefly roll into a wings-level attitude on the downwind leg before entering an aerodynamic stall/spin to the left and descending nose-first into terrain. The witnesses did not report hearing any engine anomalies during the accident flight.
Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six
July 8, 2016, Windermere, Florida
The airplane was substantially damaged when it was ditched following a total loss of engine power. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The accident flight was the airplane’s third flight of the day. After the first one, the airplane was fully fueled. The second flight, according to the pilot, consumed approximately 15 gallons of fuel from the right wing tip tank. The pilot stated he switched to the left wing tip tank before departing on the accident flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot heard a “popping” sound from the engine. The pilot later stated the engine initially sustained a partial power loss, and he performed the “engine power loss in flight” checklist, but was unable to diagnose the problem. The engine lost complete power shortly thereafter and the pilot ditched into a nearby lake.
Cessna 140
July 8, 2016, Salinas, California
At about 1604 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its left main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. The pilot/owner and his passenger were uninjured. Visual conditions prevailed.
The pilot stated he made a normal three-point landing and the left wing dipped during the rollout. He applied opposite aileron, but the airplane continued to roll to the left, and then the cabin floor beneath his legs deformed upward. The left wing and propeller struck the runway surface, and the airplane came to a stop on the runway. Post-accident examination revealed the landing gear leg support structure formed by two transverse bulkheads had failed.
Cessna 310Q
July 11, 2016, Bartow, Florida
The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1100 Eastern time during a forced landing. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to the FAA, the airplane lost right engine power on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to Runway 9L, then lost left engine power and subsequently impacted swampy terrain near the base leg. An FAA inspector noted the airplane came to rest in knee-deep water about a mile northwest of the airport and that neither propeller appeared to be feathered. The right engine’s propeller blades appeared to be bent aft while the left engine’s blades were straight.
Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III
July 16, 2016, Esperance, New York
At about 1845 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed by collision with terrain and a post-crash fire shortly after takeoff. The private pilot was seriously injured; the three passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
Several witness observed the airplane’s nosewheel lift off and then settle back to the runway during the takeoff roll. The witnesses stated that the airplane then lifted off with approximately 500 feet of the 2000-foot-long paved runway remaining. The airplane overflew a hangar at the departure end of the runway “at a very low altitude” as it began a left turn. Radar data depicted a target correlated to the accident airplane in a left turn after takeoff. The target climbed to about 100 feet agl before the radar track ended about 1000 feet laterally from the departure runway.
The airplane came to rest on flat, swampy, wooded terrain and was consumed by a post-crash fire. All major components were accounted for at the scene. The flap handle indicated a flap position of 10 degrees. The landing gear was retracted.
