December 30, 2010
Two People Killed in Minnesota Plane Crash
Two people were killed when a small plane crashed near Milaca, Minnesota on December 30, 2010. According to authorities, the Piper 46 plane lost radio contact with traffic control shortly before it crashed, killing the only two people on board. The plane was headed to Beaumont, Texas when it crashed. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the fatal plane crash.
December 24, 2010
Plane Crashes in Wyoming Mountains, Killing Three Members of Same Family
Authorities are investigating a plane crash that killed three members of the same family just before Christmas. The wreckage of a small plane was found on Christmas Eve in Wyoming’s snowy Wind River Mountains, authorities said. All three occupants of the single engine Commander AC11, the pilot, his wife and their 12-year-old son, were killed in the crash. According to authorities, the plane crashed at an elevation of about 11,700 feet near Christina Lake in Wyoming. The pilot had not filed a flight plan so authorities were unaware of a plane crash in the area. Searchers were alerted of a crash only after a larger plane flying over the area picked up the emergency locator beacon.
December 18, 2010
Skydiving Plane Crashes in Louisiana, Killing Three and Injuring Two
A skydiving plane crashed on Saturday in Louisiana, killing three people and injuring two others. According to authorities, the Cessna 182 lost power shortly after take-off at about 200 feet off the ground. The plane then plummeted to the ground and burst into flames. Three people on board the plane died at the scene of the crash and two others were taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries. Investigators have begun a probe into the fatal plane crash.
December 14, 2010
One Man Dead in Bahamas Cargo Plane Crash, Searchers Look For Missing Passenger
One man is dead and another person is missing after a small cargo plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in the Bahamas on Tuesday. According to authorities, a twin-engine Beechcraft-18 was flying from Fort Lauderdale when i t crashed near the Island of Nassau, the most populatedisland in the Bahamas. The deceased man was one of two people riding in the plane, authorities said. The small aircraft is registered to the Monarch Air Group. Officials are still searching for the missing passenger. The crash is under investigation.
December 11, 2010
One Person Seriously Injured in Single Engine Plane Crash
One person was seriously injured when a single-engine plane crashed at Chino Airport in Southern California on Saturday. According to authorities, the 1978 Mooney M20J plane was carrying two people when it crashed and caught on fire. One person inside the plane was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The other person in the plane was not hurt, authorities said. The plane was practicing takeoffs and landings when it crashed. The crash is under investigation.
December 4, 2010
Small Plane Crash Kills One and Critically Injures Another
A small plane crashed in Ponca City, Oklahoma, on Saturday, killing one man and critically injuring another. According to authorities, the single engine Piper Cherokee plane crashed into a field near Ponca City airport. Both men inside the plane were taken to area hospitals where one man died and the other was listed in critical condition. The cause of the crash is unknown. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will be conducting an investigation into the fatal plane crash.
December 3, 2010
NTSB will Hold Public Board Meeting on 2008 Helicopter Crash
On December 7, 2010, The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public Board meeting regarding a 2008 Forest Service helicopter crash which killed nine people. The hearing will focus on the NTSB’s final report on the crash, which occurred on August 5, 2008, after the contract firefighting Sikorsky helicopter lost power during takeoff and crashed. Killed in the crash were the pilot and eight passengers. Three others were seriously injured. The NTSB will release a summary of its final report on the crash, including a probable cause and safety recommendations, shortly after the hearing.
November 21, 2010
Small Plane Crash in Southern California Claims Three Lives
A small plane crashed in Southern California on Sunday, killing three people. The plane, a single-engine Beechcraft Muskateer, was carrying three people when it crashed near Newport Beach. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said that the plane crashed into the waters of Back Bay. All three people were pronounced dead at the scene. The fatal plane crash is being investigated by both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
November 15, 2010
After Terrifying Qantas Incident, Rolls-Royce to Replace Entire Engines on A380 Superjumbo Jets
In the wake of a Qantas flight scare, Rolls-Royce will temporarily replace engines on A380 Superjumbo jets, the Associated Press reports. Earlier this month, a Qantas flight suffered catastrophic engine failure after an engine caught fire and broke into pieces mid-air. Thankfully, the injured A380 was able to make an emergency landing and no one was killed. A post-landing inspection found that an oil leak in the Rolls-Royce engine caused the fire. Qantas grounded its fleet of A380’s after inspections found that three other engines also had oil leaks. The Associated Press is now reporting that Rolls-Royce will be temporarily replacing entire engines on A380s, a move that could take months. Rolls-Royce has declined to comment on the reports but ha s said that the engine fire in the Qantas flight was caused by a turbine-area component.
November 4, 2010
Mid-Air Engine Failure Prompts Qantas to Ground Airbus Superjumbo Jets
A Qantas flight experienced an engine blow-out in midair on Thursday morning, prompting the airline to ground its Airbus A380 aircraft. Qantas flight QF34, a double-decker Airbus A380 superjumbo jet, was carrying 459 people (433 passengers and 26 crew members) when it experienced engine failure about 15 minutes after take-off from Singapore. An hour and a half later, the plane was able to make a safe emergency landing back in Singapore. No one was injured. Federal investigators have begun a probe into what caused the engine to erupt in flames mid-flight, shedding smoke and debris. Qantas has decided to ground their A380s while officials inspect the damaged Rolls-Royce engine.
November 1, 2010
Searchers Locate Wreckage of Small Plane Crash in Wyoming, Find No Survivors
Officials say the wreckage of a small plane that crashed in Wyoming on October 25 has been found. Searchers located the crash site on Monday in the rugged Wind River mountains of Wyoming. Searchers determined that there were no survivors in the crash. The plane was carrying four passengers, a father and his three sons, when it departed from the Jackson airport during a snowstorm. It is unclear if the weather caused the crash. Federal officials are investigating the fatal plane crash.
October 21, 2010
Plane Crash in Los Angeles County Kills Three People and Three Horses
Three people were killed on Thursday in a small plane crash in Agua Dulce, California. Three horses were also killed when the Cirrus SR22 crashed into a horse corral in an area about 30 miles north of Los Angeles. The plane then caught fire. The single engine plane was carrying three people traveling from Van Nuys Airport to Parker, Arizona. According to officials the crash occurred during overcast weather conditions. It is unclear if poor visibility was a factor in the crash. The FAA and the N TSB are investigating the fatal plane crash.
October 19, 2010
Judge Orders Release of 2009 Buffalo Crash Cockpit Recording
A judge has ordered the release of the cockpit voice recording of a 2009 Continental Connection plane crash as evidence in the ongoing trial of the crash. Fifty people were killed when Continental Connection Flight 3407, a Bombardier Dash-Q400 aircraft operated by Colgan Air, crashed into a home in Buffalo, New York on February 12, 2009. Since then, the families of victims involved in the crash have filed at least 39 wrongful death lawsuits against Continental Airlines, Colgan Air, Colgan parent Pinnacle Airlines and aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Inc.
U.S. District Judge William Skretny is allowing the use of the recording because “the written transcript does not and cannot reflect tone of voice, pitch, volume or inflection… nor does it necessarily accurately reflect ambient and other noises pertinent to the aircraft’s operation.” The judge will allow the recordings to be filed under seal. Trial is expected to begin in March of 2010.
October 15, 2010
Four Americans Conducting a Medical Mission Died in a Mexican Plane Crash
A small plane crashed just after taking off from a Mexican airport on Friday, killing four Americans on Board. According to officials, the Beechcraft A36 lost contact with the ground shortly after take off. On board were two doctors, a pilot and a non-medical support team member. The four Americans were part of Flying Samaritans, a volunteer organization that provides free medical services and supplies to places around the world. The group was headed to San Quintin, Mexico when the crash occurred. After an extensive search the wreckage was found in rough terrain just 30 miles south of Ensenada, Mexico. The fatal crash is under investigation.
October 13, 2010
FAA Proposes Fines on Two Companies for Lapses in Safety
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $455,000 fine be imposed on Corporate Air for allowing their smaller airline to carry passengers for 80 flights on an aircraft that needed engine repair. The Montana based feeder airline flew the twin-engine turboprop Beech 1900C aircraft 80 times without fixing the right engine, which was consuming too much oil according to the FAA. Authorities said that the engine manufacturer’s service manual directed mechanics to repair the engine but Corporate Air mechanics repeatedly added more oil once the plane had landed. In a separate announcement the FAA has proposed imposing a fine of $644,000 on a California parachute jumping company for similar safety violations. The Parachute Center of Acampo, the FAA stated, flew an aircraft more then 2,600 times even though equipment needed critical replacement. The company also failed to make required inspections on the DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter. “The safety of the passengers and crew must be the top priority for any operator,” FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. “All operators must comply with maintenance requirements.”
October 8, 2010
Two Park Rangers Killed in Small Plane Crash
A small plane crashed on Friday night in Utah, killing two park rangers on board. The Cessna 172 aircraft had gone missing after taking off from the Bryce Canyon airport in Page, Utah on Friday. A search was mounted for the missing plane and its two occupants, both rangers for the Glen Canyon National Recreation area. The wreckage was found on Sunday in a rugged and remote area in Mount Dutton called Deep Creek. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the fatal plane crash.
October 3, 2010
Three People Hospitalized with Burn Injuries After Small Plane Crash in California
Three people received burn injuries when the small airplane they were in crashed near the airport on California’s Santa Catalina Island on Sunday. The aircraft, a twin-engine Cessna 310, crashed about half a mile from the Airport in the Sky airfield at about 3:40 p.m. The crash sparked a fire that burned three acres and took firefighters about an hour to squelch. According to the pilot, the left engine failed shortly before the crash. All three aboard the plane were flown to hospitals where they are being treated for burn injuries. The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
September 22, 2010
Pilots Mistakenly Engaged Parking Brake Before JetBlue Runway Tire Blow-Out, NTSB Says
Last month’s JetBlue Airways hard landing seems to have been caused by pilot error, said the National Transportation Safety Board in their preliminary report of the mishap. On August 26, 2010, JetBlue Flight 262, an Airbus A320, experienced four tire blow-outs after landing at Sacramento International Airport in California. The aircraft then caught fire and seven passengers were injured, including one represented by Baum Hedlund, during the evacuation process. According to the NTSB, the investigation of the incident found evidence that the main landing gear was locked on touchdown. Investigators also found that the parking brake had become engaged during landing approach and remained engaged throughout the landing.
September 2, 2010
Three People Killed After Small Plane Crashes into Lagoon
Three people were killed when a small plane crashed into a lagoon in Redwood City, California, on Thursday. The twin-engine Beech 65 Queen Air aircraft crashed just after taking off from San Carlos Airport, authorities said. All three people on board, including the 91-year-old founder of a steel company, were killed in the crash. Many people witnessed the plane plummet into the lagoon and some onlookers dove into the murky water in search of survivors. Witnesses recalled a terrible engine noise shortly before the crash. The plane was headed to Santa Clara County, authorities said. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the fatal crash.
August 31,2010
Medical Helicopter Crash Claims Three Lives in Arkansas
A medical helicopter en route to pick up a patient crashed in Arkansas on Tuesday, killing the three crew members aboard. The Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter, a Bell 206 aircraft, crashed as it traveled to pick up a patient injured in a traffic accident. According to authorities, the helicopter crashed near the Scotland community in Van Buren County, Arkansas. There was no distress call before the crash, authorities said. It is still unclear what caused the crash. The FAA and the N TSBhave begun an investigation into the fatal helicopter crash.
August 26, 2010
Tires Blow on Jet Blue Flight Upon Landing, Fifteen Passengers Injured
Baum Hedlund has been retained in this incident where fifteen people were injured when a Jet Blue flight made a hard landing at Sacramento International Airport on Thursday. According to officials, Jet Blue Flight 262 had two tires blow upon landing. The plane then caught on fire and passengers were evacuated through emergency slides. Fifteen people were injured during the emergency evacuation. The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening. The runway mishap is under investigation.
August 24, 2010
Four Americans Among Dead in Nepal Plane Crash
An Agni Air flight carrying 14 people, including four Americans, crashed during bad weather in Nepal on Tuesday. There were no survivors. The German-made Dornier turboprop aircraft crashed about 50 miles south of Nepal’s capital, Katmandu. According to officials, the flight was returning from a failed attempt to reach the Lukla airport near Mount Everest. On board were four Americans who were traveling with the other passengers as a part of a tour group. Officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the fatal crash, which has already implicated weather as a factor.
August 20, 2010
New Report Reveals Malware Infected Central Computer System of Plane Involved in Fatal Crash
An internal Spanair report has revealed that the central computer system of the aircraft that crashed in Madrid in 2008 was infected with malware. Only 18 people survived and 154 were killed when Spanair flight 5022 crashed shortly after taking off from Madrid-Barajas International Airport on August 20, 2008. According to authorities the malware, believed to be a type of Trojan Horse, infected the central computer system of the aircraft. If the bug was detected, authorities say, the fatal crash could have been prevented. The crash is still under investigation. The final report of the investigation is expected in December.
August 13, 2010
Two Men Killed After Plane Crashes in the Sierra Nevada
Two men have been confirmed dead after a small plane crashed on Friday near the Sierra Nevada’s Emigrant Gap in California. Authorities say the single-engine Piper Cherokee Arrow crashed into the mountainous area after taking off from Auburn. The wreckage was found by a hiker on Friday afternoon. The two men killed in the crash were the only people on board the plane, authorities say. It is still unclear why the plane went down. Authorities are investigating the crash.
August 11, 2010
Two People Confirmed Dead in Oregon Small Plane Crash
Two people are dead after a small plane crashed in Oregon on Wednesday morning. The twin-engine Aero Commander 500 B, registered to prominent California race horse breeder Frank Vessels, crashed about 70 miles south of Burns. Vessels was piloting the aircraft and has been confirmed dead along with his passenger. Authorities say that the plane crashed as it traveled to Montana from Redding, California. Witnesses reported seeing the plane break apart in the air before it crashed. The fatal plane crash is under investigation.
August 7, 2010
Two Men Killed After Plane Plummets into Home
A small plane crashed into a Pennsylvania home on Saturday morning, killing the only two people aboard the aircraft. Two men, a pilot and a flight instructor, were killed when their twin engine Beech Baron BE-58 prop aircraft plummeted into a house minutes after taking off from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The crash ignited a fire ball that burned for more than an hour. A man and his dog were in the basement of the home at the time of the crash. Both were able to escape unharmed. There was no radio distress call from the aircraft before the crash and it is still unclear who was piloting the aircraft, since both men were experienced pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
August 1, 2010
President Obama Signs Aviation Safety Bill into Law
President Obama has signed an aviation safety bill into law that among other things will greatly increase the number of flight hours required of pilots before they are hired to fly for passenger airlines. The bill, signed into law on Sunday, August 1, 2010, has made the Families of Continental Flight 3407 very pleased. The group had been pushing for the legislation since 2009, the year fifty people were killed when Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center, New York. Investigators later blamed the fatal crash on pilot error and pilot fatigue. The new law will more than quadruple the minimum flight hours from the current 250 to 1,500 hours. The aviation safety bill will also require the FAA to create a pilot records database and to write stronger regulations regarding pilot fatigue and professionalism.
August 1, 2010
Cargo Plane Crashes in Alaska, All Three People on Board Presumed Dead
Three people are presumed dead after the cargo airplane they were in crashed on Sunday in Denali National Park, Alaska. The Fairchild C-123, registered to an Alaskan freight company, crashed midday into Mount Healy. The plane then burst into flames, sparking a wildland fire that has since been contained. According to the National Park Service, the plane was already engulfed in flames when rescuers arrived. All three people on board the plane are believed to have perished in the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board has begun a probe into the fatal crash.
July 28, 2010
Plane Crashes in Pakistan, All 152 Aboard Dead
An Airblue plane crashed in the hills of Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, killing all 152 on board. Government officials have confirmed the deaths of 146 passengers and six crew members, adding that earlier reports of survivors were wrong. The cause of the fatal crash is not clear, although officials have said the flight attempted to land during rainy and cloudy weather. The Airbus 321 was traveling from Karachi to Islamabad, a routine two-hour flight. According to Pakistani officials, the plane lost contact with the control tower moments before the crash. The Airbus is one of the most popular jets in the world. Twenty-one Airbus 320 family jets (which includes the Airbus 321 involved in this crash) have crashed since 1988. Wednesday’s fatal crash is under investigation.
July 23, 2010
Four Missing After Plane Crashes into Lake Michigan
A plane carrying five people crashed in Lake Michigan on Friday morning. Only one person, the pilot, has been rescued so far and is reported to have suffered minor injuries. The Cessna 206 was traveling to Rochester, Minnesota when it crashed into the lake about five miles off the coast of Ludington, Michigan. Rescuers are still searching for the missing survivors as well as the wreckage. The crash is under investigation.
July 13, 2010
NTSB Releases Probable Cause of 2008 Denver Runway Excursion
The National Transportation Safety Board has released the probable cause of the 2008 Continental Airlines Denver runway accident. The runway excursion occurred on December 20, 2008, when Continental Airlines flight 1404 veered off a Denver International Airport runway during take-off. The captain and five passengers were seriously injured during the incident and the post-crash fire. According to the NTSB, the captain’s insufficient rudder control was the probable cause of the crash. A contributing factor, the NTSB said, was an inadequate air traffic control system as well as inadequate training.
July 12, 2010
Small Plane Crash Kills One and Injures Two Others
One person was killed and two others injured when a plane crashed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Monday afternoon. According to officials, the plane was attempting a landing at Horace Williams Airport before it crashed into a tree. The FAA is investigating the crash, which has left one man dead and two injured, one critically. The plane was registered to Thomas Pitts of Delaware .
July 4, 2010
Medical Plane Crash Kills Five
An air ambulance plane carrying five people crashed about a mile from Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport in West Texas on Sunday. Everyone on board – a patient, her husband, two nurses and the pilot – were killed. Authorities say the twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed shortly after take-off from the airport, overturning and bursting into flames during an attempted emergency landing. The plane was headed to Midland International Airport, according to officials. The NTSB and FAA are investigating the fatal crash, the first air ambulance crash in West Texas since 2004.
June 20, 2010
Pilot Killed in Single Engine Plane Crash
One person is dead after a single engine plane crashed at the Carmi Airport in Illinois on Sunday. According to witnesses, the small plane touched down on the tarmac before it became airborne again. The plane then veered to the left and smashed into the ground, killing a 62-year-old man piloting the aircraft. Officials say the man was the only person on board. The fatal crash is currently under investigation.
June 17, 2010
Five Dead, Two Seriously Injured in New Mexico Plane Crash
Five people have been confirmed dead and two others seriously injured after a small plane crashed at Sierra Blanca Regional Airport in New Mexico on Thursday. According to officials, the Cessna 310 aircraft is believed to have been carrying seven passengers when it crashed shortly before 10 a.m. local time. Authorities said five people were killed and two were air lifted to hospital with critical injuries. The crash is under investigation. June 14, 2010
June 14, 2010
California Small Plane Crash Kills Two
Two people were killed in a small plane crash on Monday evening. Authorities say the single engine Rans Coyotte aircraft crashed near Lincoln Regional Airport in Pacer County, California. The identities of the two victims have not been released. The fatal crash is under investigation.
June 11, 2010
Small Plane Crashes into Empty High School, Killing Four
Four people were killed after a single engine plane crashed into a high school in the town of Eagar, Arizona, on Friday afternoon. Thankfully, there was no one inside Round Valley High School when the single-engine Piper PA 32R 300 smashed through the roof and exploded into flames. According to officials, there was no distress call during the flight. The plane, headed for the Grand Canyon, had taken off from Springerville Airport shortly before crashing. Investigators are moving the wreckage to a secure facility in Phoenix where they will search for clues that will hopefully shed light as to what may have caused the fatal crash.
June 6, 2010
Small Plane Crash Kills One and Injures Two, One Critically
A single engine airplane crashed in western Colorado on Sunday, killing one person and critically injuring another. According to authorities, there were three people aboard the Beech G35 airplane when it crashed near Marble, Colorado, at about 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. Authorities said one person was found dead and two survivors were taken to the hospital, one with critical injuries. The cause of the crash is unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
June 2, 2010
Helicopter Crash Kills Two Medical Helicopter Crew Members
Two men were killed on Wednesday when a helicopter lost a rotor shortly after take-off and crashed in Ellis County, Texas. The two men, one a pilot and the other a mechanic, were CareFlite crew members. CareFlite is a medical air transportation service based in Texas. They were the only people on board the helicopter. According to officials, the Bell 222 helicopter had taken off post-maintenance and crashed after losing a rotor. The crash sparked a large grass fire, authorities said. The fatal crash remains under investigation.
June 1, 2010
Small Plane Crash Kills Child, Injures Four Others
A child was killed and four other people injured when a small plane crashed near downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say five people were on board the small plane when it clipped the roof of a building and crashed into a business district in Anchorage, before sparking a fire. Four people were sent to the hospital with unspecified injuries and a four-year-old child was pronounced dead. The fatal crash in still under investigation.
May 26, 2010
Light Plane Crash Injures Two
Two people were injured, one seriously, when a light plane crashed at Chandler Municipal Airport in Arizona on Wednesday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Piper Cherokee crashed between two runways in the airport. Authorities said there were two people on board, a flight instructor and a passenger. The passenger suffered serious injuries and the flight instructor suffered minor injuries. The crash is under investigation.
May 20, 2010
Four Injured, Two seriously, After Small Plane Overshoots Runway and Crashes
Two people were seriously injured and two others received minor injuries when a small plane overshot the runway and crashed at a small airport in Wallkill, New York on Thursday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna 172, carrying four people, crashed as it was attempting to land at the airport. Two people on board were airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries and the other two on board received minor injuries, officials said. The crash is still under investigation. No one on the ground was hurt.
May 17, 2010
Pilot and Passenger Killed in Florida Small Plane Crash
Two people were killed when a small plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in front of a crowded beach near the Martin-St. Lucie County line in Florida. The pilot and his passenger were found dead shortly after the single engine Soviet-era Yak-54 aircraft plunged into the ocean a few hundred yards from the shore. According to authorities, the pilot was raising money to send young people to a summer fly-in. Witnesses said the plane did not appear to be in distress, although it was flying very low before it plunged nose-first into the water. The crash is under investigation.
May 10 2010
158 People Mourned as Probe into Air India Crash Begins
Early reports indicate that Air India’s Boeing 737-800 veered off a hilltop runway upon landing at Mangalore Airport in southern India on Saturday, May 22, 2010, killing 158 people. The Air India Express plane was arriving from Dubai when it overshot the runway, broke into pieces and burst into flames. A large crowd looked on in horror as Indian rescue personnel hurried to put out fires and search for survivors. Only eight people out of the 166 aboard the plane survived in what is now the worst Indian air disaster in a decade.
Safety authorities (including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board) will begin an investigation into what caused this tragic accident. Investigators will look into possible technical failures as well as how far and how fast the plane landed on the runway. Weather conditions and visibility conditions were good at the time of the crash.
If early reports are correct, this catastrophic disaster will be dubbed a “runway excursion,” a term given by safety experts for crashes involving runway overruns. In the past 20 years, runway excursions have accounted for nearly 40% of all commercial aircraft accidents, with most occurring during landing. Many runway excursions are caused by unsafe runways or lack of cockpit discipline. Investigators will look at the size and makeup of the safety zone at the end of the runway in Mangalore Airport, which is reported to be about 300 feet, far shorter than recommended by international safety standards. Authorities will also look into the possibility of pilot error.
May 8, 2010
Four People Injured During Severe Turbulence on Continental Airlines Flight
Four people were injured, two seriously, during turbulence that shook Continental Airlines flight 2768 on Saturday afternoon as it approached Albany, New York. Two passengers were hospitalized for the injuries they suffered during the turbulence. The flight, en route from Cleveland, Ohio to Albany, New York, experienced severe turbulence during its approach, prompting the crew to call for medical assistance to meet them upon landing at Albany International Airport. According to an airport spokesman, the flight attendant and passenger who were hospitalized “struck their heads on the ceiling” before landing on the floor. Authorities are investigating the incident.
May 3, 2010
Southwest Flight and News Helicopter Nearly Collide Over Houston Airport Runway, NTSB Investigating
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begun an investigation today into the near collision of a Southwest jetliner and a news helicopter at Houston’s Hobby Airport. The near collision occurred over a runway at the airport on Wednesday, April 28, as Southwest Airlines flight 1322, carrying 140 people, and a Bell 207 news gathering helicopter were both departing the airport. According to the NTSB, the jetliner and the helicopter came within 125 feet vertically and 100 feet laterally from colliding and both aircraft carried out evasive maneuvers to avoid colliding. The NTSB is currently investigating a similar runway incident involving a 737 jetliner and a small private plane that occurred on April 19 over Burbank Airport in California.
April 27,2010
Wreckage of Small Plane Crash That Killed Two People Found in Eastern Kentucky
Authorities found the wreckage of a small plane on Tuesday which was carrying two people and was on its way from Maryland to Mississippi. There were no survivors in the crash. The twin-engine Beechcraft Baron was found in Western Leslie County in Kentucky on Tuesday night. The wreckage was spotted from the air. Searchers were then able to access the remote site using ATVs and chainsaws. Searchers found two people dead at the site. The NTSB and the FAA have begun an investigation into the fatal crash
April 21, 2010
Vermont Helicopter Crash Injures Two, One Seriously
Two people were injured, one seriously, in a helicopter crash in Brookline, Vermont on Wednesday morning. According to authorities, the MD-500 helicopter, which was carrying a two-person crew, crashed as it was assisting in the placement of a power line. Witnesses say the helicopter dropped about 60 feet to the ground, injuring the two people on board. The FAA has begun an investigation into the crash.
April 1, 2010
A Man and His Daughter Perish in Ohio Plane Crash
A well known philanthropist and his 21-year-old daughter were killed when their single engine plane crashed after takeoff from Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in Dayton, Ohio, on Thursday afternoon. Pilot and philanthropist Tom Hausfeld, 50, and daughter Kacie perished when the Beechcraft Bonanza they were in experienced problems immediately after takeoff. Officials say that after takeoff, Hausfeld reported a cargo door was open. According to witnesses, he attempted to turn around but banked too low. The wing of the plane then struck the ground, causing it to cartwheel and explode into flames. Hausfeld and his young daughter were the only people on board. The tragic crash is under investigation.
March 28, 2010
Two Women Injured in New York Small Plane Crash
Two women were injured, one seriously, when their small plane crashed in Palermo, New York, on Sunday. They were the only people on board the Piper Cherokee plane, which crashed as it tried to land on a roadway about 25 miles from the Syracuse Hancock International Airport. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane had run out of fuel shortly before the failed emergency landing. The crash is under investigation.
March 24, 2010
FAA Issued Cessna Inspection Warning Following Fatal New Jersey Plane Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an inspection warning following a small plane crash in New Jersey that killed five people on February 15. The warning urges owners of Cessna Skymaster 336 and 337 series aircraft with a wingtip tank modification to inspect their planes. The same aircraft crashed five minutes after take-off from Monmouth Executive Airport in February, after a six-foot portion of the right wing broke off. The warning was prompted by a preliminary report of the fatal crash issued by the National Transportation Safety Board. The crash remains under investigation.
March 2 1, 2010
Three People Injured in Small Plane Crash
Three people were injured when the small plane they were in crashed in Bullskin Township, Pennsylvania on Sunday night. The single-engine Cessna, carrying West Virginia University basketball fans returning from the NCAA tournament in Buffalo, ran out of gas and hit a power line before landing upside down in a field. The pilot and two passengers were injured, authorities said. An investigation into the crash is underway.
March 17, 2010
World War II-Era Plane Crashes, Killing Two People
Two people were killed when a World War II- era training plane crashed in Bakersfield, California on Wednesday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the single-engine plane crashed into an open dirt field about 7 miles from the Meadows Field Airport. Both people on board the fixed wing aircraft were killed. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
March 15, 2010
Man Jogging on Beach is Struck and Killed by Small Plane Making Emergency Landing
A man who was jogging on the beach in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, was struck from behind and killed by a small plane making an emergency landing on Monday evening. The man, a 38-year-old father of two, was listening to his iPod and likely did not see or hear that single-engine plane before it hit him. The Experimental Lancair IV-P aircraft, piloted by Edward I. Smith, had lost its propeller and was leaking oil. Smith told authorities the oil had splashed on the windshield, blocking his vision. There was also a passenger on board the aircraft who was not injured. The fatal crash is under investigation.
March 4, 2010
Pilot Killed When Small Plane Crashes into Virginia House
A twin engine plane crashed into a house on Thursday afternoon in Louisa County, Virginia, killing the pilot. According to officials, the Cessna T303 Crusader took off from Freeman Field at the Louisa County Airport before crashing into the home and exploding into flames. There was no one else on the aircraft at the time and the only person in the home was in the basement, and was able to escape unharmed. Firefighters worked to get the blaze under control on Thursday as investigators waited. The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the fatal crash.
February 26, 2010
Young Family and Pilot Killed in Belize Plane Crash
Five people were killed on Friday evening, when their single-engine private plane crashed while landing on the island of San Pedro. According to a family friend, the crash occurred as the small plane approached the airstrip at San Pedro Municipal Airport in Belize. Killed in the crash were a young couple and their two children, as well as the plane’s pilot, a former Belize senator and business magnate. The couple killed in the crash had been running a school in the village of Gallon Jug for the past nine years. According to friends and family, they were deeply dedicated to the children of agricultural workers in Belize. The school was founded by the pilot of the aircraft. The group were on their way to a fundraiser when the plane tragically crashed. The investigation in to the fatal crash is pending.
February 25, 2010
Pilot Killed in Florida Plane Crash, Passenger Critically Injured
A pilot was killed when his small plane crashed near the westbound lane of US 92 in Polk County, Florida, shortly after taking off from Winter Haven Municipal Airport. The passenger in the 1974 Beech C23 Sundowner aircraft was taken to an area hospital where he was placed in critical condition. According to the Polk County Sheriff, the plane lost power as it climbed to about 300 feet. The pilot then banked the plane right, hit the westbound lane of US 92, attempted to pull up and then hit a pine tree. Witnesses driving on the roadway said the plane was flying so low they feared it would crash into their vehicles. The pilot, 46-year-old James Trefz, was setting up “Adopt A Dream,” a foundation dedicated to helping underprivileged children experience the joys a flight. He was flying with his partner to Lakeland to pursue his dream of helping kids when the crash occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the fatal crash.
February 21, 2010
Single Engine Plane Crashes into St. Louis-area House, Two On-Board Presumed Dead
Two people are presumed dead after the single engine plane they were in crashed into a house and a hangar just east of St. Louis on Sunday. According to authorities, the crash occurred as the Piper Malibu aircraft was approaching St. Louis Downtown Airport in light rain. A distress signal was never sent, authorities say. Miraculously, no one on the ground was hurt and there was nobody in the home at the time, as the occupants had gone out for dinner. The crash occurred in the Euro Estates Court subdivision, a neighborhood built for aviation enthusiasts. Authorities believe two people were aboard the plane according to the pilot’s flight plan and relatives who confirmed that there was a passenger aboard. The fatal crash is under investigation.
February 18, 2010
Officials Believe Pilot Intentionally Crashed Small Plane into IRS Building
Officials are investigating whether a pilot who died after crashing his small plane into an office building in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, did so intentionally. Officials say that the pilot, 53-year-old Joseph Andrew Stack, was furious with the IRS, which has an office inside the building struck by the plane. The seven-story building erupted in a raging fire after the Piper Cherokee crashed into the lower floors at about 10:00 a.m. At least two people were taken to the hospital to treat unspecified injuries and one person in the building was unaccounted for. Stack had posted a suicide manifesto to a networking site earlier on Thursday which voiced his disgust with the IRS. Officials are saying this was an isolated incident and not an act of terrorism. The fire has been contained and the crash remains under investigation. In a related incident, firefighters responded to a fire at Stark’s home earlier on Thursday. A woman and her daughter (believed to be Stark’s wife and stepdaughter) were rescued by a neighbor while the house became completely engulfed by flames.
February 17, 2010
Small Plane Crashes into Palo Alto Homes, Killing All Three People on Board and Causing Widespread Power Outage
A small plane crashed into a neighborhood in the city of East Palo Alto, California on Wednesday morning, killing all three people on board, damaging three homes, and causing a widespread power outage. The twin-engine Cessna crashed shortly after takeoff, striking high-tension power lines which caused power outages lasting up to 10 hours across the city. Three houses, including an in-home daycare center, were damaged by the debris of the destroyed aircraft which broke apart after hitting the high tension transmission tower. It is unclear what caused the fatal crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. Nobody on the ground was seriously injured.
February 10, 2010
Pilot Killed and Cameraman Injured in Brazil TV Helicopter Crash
A television news helicopter crashed in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Wednesday, killing the pilot of the aircraft and seriously injuring a cameraman. The helicopter was filmed my another air news crew as it spun out of control and plummeted to the ground a few hundred yards away from one of the busiest highways in Sao Paulo. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene and the other person on board, a cameraman, was taken to the hospital with serious head injuries. No one on the ground or on the busy highway was hurt. The pilot seems to have avoided a greater tragedy by maneuvering the doomed aircraft away from the highway moments before the crash. The helicopter was completely destroyed in the crash.
February 9, 2010
PBS “Frontline” to Air 1-Hour Story About Airline Safety Issues this Week
This Tuesday evening, the PBS network’s award winning series “Frontline” will air a report on its investigation into the safety issues associated with outsourcing in the airline industry. The program, titled “Flying Cheap,” will focus on the fatal crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407, which killed 50 people when it stalled and crashed into a home in Clarence Center, New York on February 12, 2009. The National Transportation Safety Board released a final report on the crash last week which detailed the tragic mistakes made by both the pilots at the helm of the plane and Colgan Air, the regional airline operating the doomed flight. During the hour-long program, Frontline will address these issues and investigate how this terrible tragedy could have been avoided. According to the network’s website, the program will also “examine how well the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency responsible for overseeing safety of the airline industry, has been doing its job.” The one-hour long program will run nationally on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 9P.M. ET on PBS.
February 8, 2010
Four Killed in Single Engine Plane Crash
A single engine plane headed to Fayatteville crashed in Washington County, Arkansas this weekend, killing two adults and two teenagers. According to investigators, the plane lost contact with the Fayetteville control tower before it plummeted to the ground around the Brentwod Mountain area of Winslow. There were no survivors. The cause of the crash is not known.
February 3, 2010
Veteran Pilot is Severely Injured After Crop-Dusting Helicopter Crash
A crop-dusting helicopter crashed in an almond orchard on Wednesday, leaving the pilot in critical condition. The crash occurred a few miles southeast of Escalon, California. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash and has moved the wreckage to a hangar at Modesto Airport for a thorough examination. The pilot, a 30 year veteran crop-duster from Stanislaus County, received very serious injuries, including a torn aorta, punctured lung, broken back and broken ribs.
February 2, 2010
NTSB Determines Captain’s Inappropriate Reaction Caused Colgan Air Flight 3407 Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, which crashed into a home in Clarence Center, New York, on February 12, 2009, killing 50 people. The report, presented during a public NTSB board meeting in Washington on Tuesday, blamed the crash on the Captain’s inappropriate response to the activation of the stick shaker which caused the plane to stall.The NTSB determined that the Bombardier DHC-8-400’s stick shaker activated to warn the pilot of an impending aerodynamic stall. The captain then pulled aft on the control column when he should have pushed forward, which caused the aircraft to stall and plummet to the ground. A contributing factor to the crash, added the NTSB, was the flight crew’s failure to recognize low speed cues on their flight display. Also at fault was Colgan Air’s inadequate airspeed selection and management procedures in icing conditions.The NTSB has issued recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the future prevention of similar crashes. Among the recommendations were strategies to prevent pilot fatigue and crew monitoring failures. The NTSB also recommended better remedial training, stall training, pilot records and airspeed selection procedures. In addition, the Board addressed FAA oversight and use of safety alerts. The NTSB is expected to hold a public forum this Spring to further explore the issues encountered during the investigation of flight 3407’s fatal crash.
January 25, 2010
Boeing 737 Plummets into Mediterranean near Beirut, All Aboard Feared Dead
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800 jet carrying 90 people crashed into the Mediterranean Sea minutes after taking off from Beirut on Monday. The aircraft, carrying 83 passengers and seven crew members, took off in stormy weather and disappeared from radar just minutes after take-off. According to the airline, the doomed Boeing 737-800 was an eight-year-old jet leased from CIT Aerospace, a division of U.S. commercial lender CIT Group. So far, over 20 bodies have been recovered. There is no report of any survivors.
January 21, 2010
Wreckage of Missing Plane Discovered in California with Two Bodies Inside
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, two bodies were discovered when the wreckage of a missing plane was found early Thursday morning. The Cessna 340 aircraft, which had gone missing earlier this week, was found roughly six miles from the Rialto Airport in San Bernadino County, California. According to the FAA the plane had departed from Henderson, Nevada, and was on its way to Compton, California when it disappeared. The two men found dead inside the wreckage have not been publicly identified. The crash is under investigation.
January 19, 2010
Settlement Reached in Iowa Helicopter Accident Lawsuit
A settlement resolving all issues was reached for a lawsuit over a fatal helicopter crash that occurred during a movie shoot in June 2006. Last year, a jury awarded $7.2 million to the widow of cameraman Roland Schlotzhauer, who was killed when the helicopter stuck a power line and crashed near Walford, Iowa. Two others aboard the helicopter, the pilot and a film producer, were injured. The terms of the recent settlement were not made public.
January 18, 2010
Four Killed in Ohio Plane Crash, Aircraft Model Under Scrutiny
A plane crashed at the Lorain County Regional Airport in Ohio on Monday, killing all four people aboard. The plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, was approaching the airport when it slammed into the ground a few thousand yards short of the runway. Rescue workers rushed to the mangled wreckage but found no survivors. Among the dead were the pilot, co-pilot and two passengers; a Vermillion Township inventor and his wife. This is not the first time this aircraft model was involved in a fatal accident. According to a 2007 CNBC report, the MU-2B aircraft have been in 111 fatal crashes involving 330 deaths since its introduction in 1963. Also, in 2006, after several fatal crashes in Denver involving MU-2B aircraft, a Colorado legislator called for a congressional investigation into the model. Monday’s fatal crash is under investigation.
January 14, 2010
Cessna Crashes into Power Substation in Connecticut, Killing the Pilot
A small plane crashed into a power substation in Oxford, Connecticut on Wednesday, killing the pilot and leaving thousands without power. Connecticut State Police believe that the low-wing Cessna overshot the runway and crashed into the substation before breaking into pieces. The pilot of the plane, 50-year-old John Foster of Maryland, was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was the only person aboard the aircraft, authorities said. The power line and tower of the substation were damaged by the crash, temporarily cutting off power to about 5,800 people.
January 12, 2010
NTSB to Release Draft Report on Flight 3407 Next Month
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will release the first official report on its investigation into the crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 on February 2. Flight 3407, operated by Colgan Air, crashed in Clarence Center, New York in February of last year, killing 50 people. The report will outline the probable cause of the fatal crash as well as detail recommendations to prevent similar crashes in the future. The findings will then move to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA can then implement, modify or ignore the NTSB’s recommendations.
January 11, 2010
PBS’ “Frontline” to Investigate Crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407
The PBS network announced today that its award winning series “Frontline” will investigate the Feb. 12, 2009 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407 in Clarence Center, New York, which killed 50 people. According to a network press release, the one-hour long program called “Flying Cheap” will focus on the fatal crash and “the rise of regional and low-cost carriers and whether the aviation system is being stretched beyond its capacity to deliver service that is both cheap and safe.” The show will run nationally Feb. 9, 2010.
January 9, 2010
Ultralight Plane Crashes, Killing Two
An ultralight aircraft crashed in the Lake Isabella area in Kern County, California on Saturday. The two people aboard were killed. The aircraft seemed to suffer a mechanical failure at about 1,000 feet, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, who also said the occupants were ejected from the plane before it hit the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the fatal crash.
January 8, 2010
Two Biologists and Pilot Injured After Helicopter Crashes in Ohio
A helicopter crashed in the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho on Friday, injuring three men. Two Idaho Fish and Game biologists and the pilot were injured when the helicopter’s engine turned off as they were conducting a wolf predation research project. The Hughes 500 helicopter then crash landed on ice and rolled on its side. Medical helicopters were called to take the three men to an area hospital where they were treated for their injuries. The crash is under investigation.
January 6, 2010
Cargo Plane Crashes as it descends into Chicago Executive Airport, Pilot and Co-pilot Killed
A Learjet 35A cargo plane crashed as it made its final approach into Wheeling’s Chicago Executive Airport on Tuesday, killing the pilot and co-pilot. The small aircraft was cleared to land when it plummeted into a forest preserve about a mile from the airport, with the fuselage ending up partly immersed in the Des Plaines River. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and said they will focus on the plane, owned by Royal Air Charter of Waterford, Michigan. The two men killed were the only people on board the plane when it crashed.
January 5, 2010
Helicopter on Wildlife Surveying Flight Crashes in Sierra National Forest, Killing All 4 on Board
A California Fish and Game helicopter crashed in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, California on Tuesday afternoon, killing all four men on board. Two longtime state biologists, a scientists’ aide and the pilot were killed after the Bell 206 helicopter struck a power line and crashed in a narrow canyon near Redinger Lake. The crash sparked a fire that made the wreckage inaccessible for several hours. The men were surveying wildlife in the park during the routine aerial mission when the crash occurred. The helicopter was contracted from Landells Aviation of Desert Hot Springs. This is not the first Landells helicopter to crash in the area. In 2007 a Landells helicopter crashed during a deer monitoring trip, injuring those on board. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate Tuesday’s fatal crash.
January 4, 2010
Air France Settles 2005 Runway Mishap Lawsuits for $11.2 Million
Air France settled all of the class-action claims stemming from a 2005 plane crash which involved Air France Flight 358 which overshot a Toronto airport runway and burst into flames. No one aboard was killed but many were injured. A Canadian judge said Air France is to pay $11.2 million Canadian dollars to settle with the 184 passengers aboard that flight. The aircraft manufacturer Airbus S.A.S., as well as Goodrich Corp., the maker of the evacuation equipment on the jet, will pay an additional $1.65 million Canadian dollars to settle the claims against them.
January 1, 2010
FAA to Keep Close Eye on American Airlines After Three Botched Landings in one Month
American Airlines (AA) is now under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after the airline experienced three botched landings last month. On December 13, an MD-80 Aircraft operated by AA attempted to land in Charlotte, North Carolina when it veered off the side of the runway and struck the ground with its wingtip. On December 22, an AA Boeing 737 carrying 154 people overran the runway at Norman Manley International Airport in Jamaica stopping a mere 15 feet from the Caribbean Sea. Ninety-one people were injured. Finally, on December 24, another MD-80 operated by American also struck the ground with its wingtip as it landed in Austin, Texas. The FAA announced the review, which will involve increased scrutiny of the airline, on Friday, January 1, 2010.