January 21, 2012
Couple Killed in Indiana Plane Crash
A husband and wife were killed Saturday night when the small plane they were traveling in crashed in southeast Indiana. Authorities say the 1968 single engine Cessna airplane crashed at 8:41 p.m. in Jennings County, killing 55-year-old Gregory L. Wehr and his 55-year-old wife Candace S. Wehr. The crash site was roughly several hundred yards from County Road 600 South. One witness said she saw fire in the sky before the crash and another man reported hearing what sounded like a racing engine before hearing the sound of an explosion. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were on the scene after midnight Sunday to survey the damage. An investigation into the cause of the fatal small plane crash in Jennings County could take many weeks to complete.
January 19, 2012
Two Men Killed in Fiery Robinson Helicopter Crash
A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana on Thursday morning, killing the two men on board. According to authorities, the helicopter took off from the Houma-Terrebonne Airport about an hour before it crashed near Belle Isle. The helicopter, owned by Cenac Marine Services LLC, erupted into flames after crashing into a marshy area, authorities said. Killed in the crash were Cenac employee Lanny Ledet, 43, and experienced helicopter pilot Jason McKean, 40. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have sent investigators to the crash site. It is still unclear what caused the Robinson helicopter to crash. According to the NTSB, This is the eleventh fatal Robinson R44 helicopter crash in the past 12 months.
The aviation attorneys at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman have represented more than 575 victims in a wide variety of accidents, including many helicopter crashes. Our team has handled several crashes involving Robinson Helicopters, including three accidents involving the R44 model. Baum Hedlund is currently representing the families of men killed in Robinson R44 helicopters that crashed in Washington state and Arkansas, as well as the first crash of the newly designed Robinson R66 turbine helicopter that occurred in Colombia, South America.
January 15, 2012
Small Plane Crash in Cape Cod Kills Two
Two men were pronounced dead Sunday morning when the Piper Comanche airplane they were traveling in crashed in Cape Cod Bay near Saint's Landing and Cemetery Road in Brewster, Massachusetts. Early in the flight, the pilot of the small plane mentioned to air traffic controllers that smoke had filled the cabin but later said the smoke had cleared out. Air traffic controllers then lost contact with the small plane and a search began shortly after 10 a.m. The victims, a flight instructor and a licensed pilot training for advanced certification, were the only two people onboard the plane. A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the two men were simulating a holding pattern for a local airport when the crash occurred. The FAA is handling a preliminary investigation for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
January 9, 2012
Engineers Want Airbus A380's Grounded Due to Cracks in Wings
Aircraft engineers with the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association are calling on all Airbus A380 aircraft to be grounded after two A380's belonging to Singapore Airlines and one to Qantas Airlines were found to have cracks in the wings. The Airbus A380, used by seven airlines worldwide, is the largest passenger aircraft in the world. Along with Singapore Airlines and Qantas, Airbus admitted today that they too had discovered cracks in the wings of their A380 aircraft. Surprisingly, Airbus and the airlines say that the planes in question are safe and repairs to the cracks had already been made. Australian aircraft engineers disagree with both the airlines and the aircraft manufacturer. "We can't continue to gamble with people's lives and allow those aircraft to fly around and hope that they make it until their four-yearly inspection," said Steve Purvinas, secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association. There are currently 67 Airbus A380's in service around the world, with many more on order from Airbus.
January 3, 2012
Initial NTSB Report: Chopper Hit Trees Before Fatal Florida Crash
A preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated that a Bell 206 helicopter hit several trees before crashing in northern Florida on December 26, killing all three men onboard. The helicopter was on its way to pick up a heart for transplant when the fatal crash occurred at 5:54 a.m in a heavily wooded area 12 miles outside of Palatka Municipal Airport. A veteran pilot, a heart surgeon and a technician from the Mayo Clinic were killed in the crash. Several trees had breaks marking the descent of the chopper before it hit the ground and burst into flames. The first tree strike was about 30 feet above the ground, severing a 50-foot tree. The NTSB investigation into the cause of the fatal helicopter crash could take over a year to complete.
December 26, 2011
Bell 206 Helicopter Crash Kills All Three Onboard
A Bell 206 helicopter crashed early Monday morning in northern Florida while on its way to pick up a heart for transplant. All three people on board, the pilot, a heart surgeon and a technician, were killed in the crash. Officials say the chopper crashed in a remote area, roughly 12 miles northeast of Palatka, Florida. The helicopter departed from a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville early Monday morning and was heading to a hospital in Gainesville when it crashed. There was scattered debris covering a small area near the site of the crash.
Authorities with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) say there were reports of light fog in the area at the time of the crash, but no rain was reported. Records show the downed Bell 206 helicopter was owned by St. Augustine-based SK Jets. NTSB officials will be looking at potential mechanical problems with the chopper, along with environmental factors and the pilot's health and experience. The investigation into Monday's fatal helicopter crash is ongoing.
December 13, 2011
Relatives of a Couple Killed in Vegas Tourist Chopper Crash File Lawsuit
The families of an Indian couple killed in a tourist helicopter crash last week in Las Vegas are filing a wrongful death lawsuit. The families of Lovish Bhanot and Anupama Bhola were "heartbroken" to hear of the fatal crash. Two other passengers and the helicopter pilot were killed in the Sundance Helicopters sightseeing tour of the Las Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam. In their initial report on the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said there were "unexplained turns and a sudden climb" by the chopper before it crashed into a ravine four miles west of Lake Mead, Nevada. The chopper underwent maintenance the day before the fatal crash, where the engine and parts of the rotors were replaced. The maintenance performed the day before the crash could possibly explain the chopper's erratic maneuvers prior to the crash.
December 9, 2011
Plane Crashes and Explodes Killing Four in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
A two engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff and exploded near the Sioux Falls Regional Airport in South Dakota on Friday afternoon, killing all four people onboard the aircraft. The Cessna 421-C aircraft went down shortly after taking off from Joe Foss Field at around 2:24 p.m. Witnesses say after the plane left the ground it took a nosedive straight into the ground and exploded upon impact roughly a mile west of the air strip. At this time, investigators are uncertain what caused the Cessna to crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the fatal plane crash.
December 7, 2011
Five Killed in Chartered Helicopter Crash Outside Las Vegas, Nevada
A chartered helicopter taking people on a tour of the Las Vegas Strip and the Hoover Dam crashed early Wednesday evening, killing the pilot and all four passengers aboard. The Aerospatiale AS350 helicopter, operated by Sundance Helicopters, went down in the River Mountains roughly four miles west of Lake Mead. The fatal crash was heard by a security guard from Lake Mead National Recreation Area, who also saw smoke not far from the lake's edge. Sundance Helicopters runs only one tour, a 30-minute "Twilight City Tour" that takes passengers through downtown Las Vegas, the Strip and Hoover Dam. The company has had its share of fatal helicopter crashes in the past. In 2003, a Sundance Helicopters pilot and six passengers were killed in a crash east of Grand Canyon West Airport in Arizona. The probable cause in that crash was ruled as unsafe flying procedures and misjudgment. Authorities are uncertain at this time what caused the Twilight City Tour chopper crash. An investigation is ongoing.
December 3, 2011
Four Die in Small Plane Crash Near Telluride, Colorado
All four people aboard a Socata TB-21 plane were killed Saturday afternoon when the aircraft crashed in the mountains of southwest Colorado. The small plane crash occurred at around 3 p.m. roughly a mile north of Silverton. According to local authorities, the small plane was on its way to Aspen, Colorado from Durango, Colorado when the crash occurred. Debris from the wreckage covered over a mile. At this time investigators are uncertain what caused the aircraft to go down. An investigation into Saturday's fatal plane crash is ongoing.
November 17, 2011
Oklahoma State University Women's Basketball Coach Among Dead in Small Plane Crash
The head coach and an assistant coach of the Oklahoma State University (OSU) women's basketball team were killed Thursday afternoon when the single engine plane they were traveling in crashed in steep terrain near Perryville, Arkansas. Also killed in the crash was 82-year-old pilot and former Oklahoma state Senator Olin Branstetter and his wife Paula. The four were on a recruiting trip for the university when the fatal crash occurred. There were no survivors.Hunters in the area heard "spitting and sputtering" before seeing the plane briefly spiral and took a nosedive into the side of a heavily wooded hill the crash. The weather at the crash site was clear on Thursday, officials said. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicate that the plane was built in 1964 and registered to Mr. Branstetter.
This is not the first air disaster Oklahoma State University has suffered. In 2001, a Beechcraft King Air 200 plane crashed in a Colorado field near Denver killing 10 men affiliated with the school's men's basketball team. The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft took off in snowy conditions.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be heading an investigation into Thursday's fatal plane crash. They say it will take roughly nine months to determine the cause of the crash.
November 14, 2011
Fish & Game Helicopter Crash Trial Begins Today
A trial stemming from a January 2010 helicopter crash that killed a veteran pilot and three Fish and Game employees is set to begin today in a Los Angeles, California courtroom. The fatal crash occurred when pilot Dennis Donovan hit part of a power line running through the mountainous area of Madera County, California. The suit names Southern California Edison, the company that owns the power lines, as well as Landells Aviation, the company that owned the chopper. The allegations state that Southern California Edison did not have warning devices on the power lines, which is an industry standard. When the accident occurred, a Southern California Edison spokesman said the company did not mark the power lines because no one asked them to.
Judge Richard Fruin will hear the case at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles. Motions are set to begin today, with jury selections starting tomorrow and opening statements set to begin on Wednesday.
November 13, 2011
Two Killed After Small Plane Crashes in Florida Everglades
A two-seater plane crashed in the Florida Everglades on Sunday afternoon, killing both people onboard. Another pilot witnessed the Cirrus SR-22 aircraft go down, informing air traffic controllers at Palm Beach International Airport of the crash. Local authorities found the wreckage Sunday night in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge near Boynton Beach. At this time, investigators are uncertain what caused the small plane to crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be handling an investigation into the cause of the crash.
November 6, 2011
Two Killed in Florida Small Plane Crash
Two men were killed Sunday afternoon when their small plane crashed in a wooded area 30 miles southwest of Gainesville, Florida. The fatal crash occurred shortly after the 1956 single engine Beechcraft T-34 airplane took off on a private airstrip called "Wing Field" in a rural part of Levy County, Florida. The two men, 74-year-old Ralph Ken Terry and 47-year-old Mike Fuller, were the only two passengers aboard the small plane when it went down shortly after 4:30 p.m. The vintage aircraft was registered to Terry, who was giving Fuller flight lessons. Mr. Fuller was flying the aircraft when it crashed. An eye witness told investigators he heard the plane's engine "spit and sputter" as it was taking off. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fatal plane crash.
October 31, 2011
NASCAR Team Owner Injured in Small Plane Crash
Owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick, suffered a broken rib and a broken clavicle Monday night after his small plane crashed during a landing attempt at Key West International Airport. Hendrick and his wife, who was also injured in the crash, were one of four people on the Gulfstream 150 airplane. The two pilots of the aircraft were not seriously injured. Everyone aboard the plane was taken to a nearby hospital immediately following the 7:45 p.m. crash. Upon touchdown, the plane skidded off the runway, coming to a stop a mere three feet from the airport perimeter fence. Authorities say pilots told air traffic controllers the plane had no brake pressure after touchdown. The incident could have been catastrophic had Key West International Airport not recently completed a 500 foot safety zone along the edge of the runway. Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.
October 27, 2011
Small Plane Crash Near Vancouver Airport Kills One and Injures Eight
A twin engine plane with nine people onboard crashed onto a busy street near Vancouver International Airport last Thursday, killing the pilot and injuring eight others. The chartered Beechcraft King Air 100 plane was attempting to return to the Vancouver airport when it went down a mere half mile from runway and immediately burst into flames. Eye witnesses jumped into action and pulled all nine people from the burning wreckage. The plane's pilot died hours later in the hospital from burns sustained in the crash. Six people aboard the flight remain in nearby hospitals - one in intensive care, three in critical condition and two in stable condition. Two other passengers were released from the hospital last week.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada say a caution light went off in the cockpit about halfway between Vancouver and the plane's destination of Kelowna due to a small oil leak in one of the engines. In air traffic recordings, the pilot sounded calm as he swung the plane around back towards Vancouver, telling air traffic controllers that emergency equipment or assistance would not be needed. The official cause of last Thursday's crash has not yet been determined as authorities continue their investigation.
October 25, 2011
One Dead After Planes Collide in Oregon
One person is dead after two small planes collided on Tuesday afternoon near Champoeg State Park in Oregon. The mid-air collision occurred around 4 p.m. over the Willamette River when a Beech Bonanza V35 plane collided with the tail section of a Piper PA-44. The pilot of the Beech Bonanza, a retired Oregon State Police officer, tried to maintain control of the aircraft as it started to break apart in the air but was unsuccessful. The plane spiraled into some trees and killed the pilot. The Piper aircraft was able to land safely in a field adjacent to Champoeg State Park. The flight instructor and student aboard the Piper were uninjured. Officials believe both planes were flying level when the mid-air collision occurred, but that has yet to be confirmed. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the cause of the fatal crash. A preliminary report is expected within the next five days. A final report could take between six months to a year to complete.
October 12, 2011
Runway Incursions and Air Traffic Controller Errors on the Rise, Report Says
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Wednesday, revealing that errors made by air traffic controllers near airports as well as runway incursions have increased significantly.
According to the report, controllers working at facilities handling approaches and departures were three times as likely to make a mistake compared to three years ago. Runway incursions have also risen from 11 to 18 per million landings in the past six years. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a runway incursion is any occurrence at an airport "involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person" that threatens safety on the runway. This information is troubling, since the deadliest aviation accident to date occurred on an airport runway. On March 27, 1977 two Boeing 747s collided on the runway in the Canary Islands, killing 583 people.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the GAO believe that advances in error reporting could have contributed to the spikes in controller errors. Still, aviation safety experts have reason to be worried. "The increase in runway safety incidents raises significant concerns," said House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla).
October 12, 2011
Helicopter in Fatal East River Crash Was Inspected Two Days Prior to Crash
The Bell 206 helicopter that crashed into New York City's East River, killing two passengers and seriously injuring another, was inspected by mechanics only two days prior to the fatal crash. Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the chopper was taken into a shop for an annual inspection, where mechanics typically take apart the aircraft and put it back together again. Mechanics finished the inspection on October 2nd, two days before the East River helicopter crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has advised pilots in the past to be on the lookout for mechanical problems immediately after maintenance is performed on an aircraft. The pilot of the helicopter, Paul Dudley, told NTSB officials that the nose of the chopper swung to the left unexpectedly immediately after takeoff. He tried to recover by turning right but the helicopter went out of control before crashing into the East River. NTSB officials are still investigating what caused the Bell 206 chopper to go down. A full report will likely take months to complete.
October 2, 2011
Small Plane Crash in West Virginia Kills All Three Onboard
A single engine plane crashed in bad weather Sunday night in West Virginia, killing all three people onboard. The Piper PA-32 Saratoga plane dropped off the radar roughly 12 miles outside of Petersburg, West Virginia. Search teams found the wreckage Thursday night and family members have identified the victims in the fatal crash. No one is certain at this time what caused the single engine plane to crash. Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are conduction an investigation into the cause of the fatal crash.
September 22, 2011
New Theory Suggests Pilot Unconscious in Reno Air Race Crash
Veteran aviation experts are suggesting that pilot Jimmy Leeward may have lost consciousness prior to crashing his 1940's era plane into a crowd of spectators at the National Championship Air Races in Reno. The fatal crash, which occurred on September 16, killed 11 people and injured over 70 others. It will take months for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to conclude the investigation into what exactly caused the P-51 Mustang plane to crash, however some experts are saying Leeward probably lost consciousness due to abrupt and extreme acceleration. The vintage plane pitched straight up at around 400 miles per hour before it plummeted hard to the ground, which means Leeward's body experienced 11 times the normal force of gravity (or G's), likely causing him to lose consciousness. After viewing footage of the crash, structural engineer and aircraft consultant Ken Liano said, "my first thought when I saw the video was there's no way that pilot is in control. He went from horizontal to vertical so abruptly. No pilot would do that. Even an acrobatic pilot would probably not do that." Photographs of the plane seconds before impact show a cockpit without a pilot, which prompted Ernie Christensen, a former commander of the Navy's Top Gun fighter school to say, "he's not there. He's unconscious. The first thing you do when you get in those conditions is pull power, and that plane hit fast. The power was up and that's an indication he was not in control of the airplane when it hit."
The NTSB investigation is focusing on 74-year-old Jimmy Leeward's health as well as a possible mechanical defect with the plane's elevator trim tab, which stabilizes the aircraft. Video footage shows a piece of the plane's tail falling to the ground moments before the plane crashed. It appears likely the loss of the elevator trim tab caused a sequence of events that ended in tragedy.
September 12, 2011
FAA Proposes $1.1 Million Fine Against Aviation Technical Services
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants Aviation Technical Services to pay a $1.1 million fine for improper repairs to 44 Boeing 737 aircraft in the Southwest Airlines fleet. According to the FAA, Washington-based Aviation Technical Services (ATS) did not repair fuselage cracks properly when the agency mandated inspections after an in-air fuselage tear on Southwest Flight 812 on April 1, 2011. Although Southwest Flight 812 was a Boeing 737, that particular aircraft was not one of the planes that was improperly repaired by ATS. Some injuries were reported in the Southwest Flight 812 incident, as the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Yuma, Arizona due to rapid depressurization in the cabin. According to the FAA, "Aviation Technical Services allegedly failed to install fasteners in all the rivet holes within the time specified for the task." Aviation Technical Services has 30 days to respond to the FAA-proposed fine.
September 4, 2011
United Express Plane Skids Off Runway at Ottawa International Airport
For the third time since 2004, a United Express flight operated by Trans States Airlines slid off the runway during a landing attempt at Ottawa International Airport. On Sunday afternoon, pilots of the United Express flight from Chicago lost control of the aircraft after landing and slid off the runway. No one was injured in the runway mishap. The Brazilian-built Embraer-145 jet was badly damaged after the plane slipped off the runway, sustaining a fuel leak, punctured wing, and damage to the landing gear. The incident comes nearly 15 months after another Embraer jet operated by Trans States Airlines overshot the runway upon landing, injuring both pilots and 33 passengers. Trans States Airlines operates flights for United Express and US Airways Express. Authorities from the Canada Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of Sunday's runway incident at Ottawa International Airport.
July 20, 2011
Two Seriously Injured After Helicopter Crashes Near School in New Jersey
A 27-year old pilot crashed a helicopter 100 feet away from a South Brunswick, New Jersey elementary school on Wednesday, injuring himself and a 44-year old photographer. The crash occurred at 11:30 a.m. Witnesses say the choppter briefly circled close to the school before falling into a nose dive and crashing behind Indian Fields Elementary School. The chopper appeared to have a broken tail when it plummeted to the ground. Local authorities said the pilot took extreme measures to avoid crashing into the elementary school. Both the pilot and his passenger suffered head and chest injuries in the crash, and were taken to local hospitals. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the cause of the helicopter crash.
July 18, 2011
Lawsuits Over Continental Connection Plane Crash Will Have no Cap on Punitive Damages
A federal judge ruled that a 2009 Colgan Air crash that killed 50 people in Clarence Center, New York, will be governed by New York state law, which has no cap on punitive damages in air disasters. An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that Colgan Air flight 3407 crash was chiefly due to pilot error. Punitive damages in this case are based on Colgan Air and its parent company Pinnacle Airlines Corp. not implementing quality safety programs, negligently hiring employees, and failing to properly train flight crews. The ruling is a victory for plaintiff attorneys because both Pinnacle and Colgan wanted Virginia state law to govern the crash, mostly because Virginia state law caps punitive damages for air disasters at $350,000. Both corporations argued that Virginia law was applicable in this case because corporate training is done in Virginia. The U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny wrote in his ruling, however, that New York had a greater interest in this case with regard to punitive damages. "The air crash brought trauma to the neighborhood in which it occurred and left an indelible mark on the entire western New York community," Skretny wrote in his ruling. As of today, 11 families of victims from the crash have reached settlements with the airlines.
July 10, 2011
Small Plane Crash Kills Family of Seven
A family of seven died late Saturday night in a small plane crash near Demopolis, Alabama. The Cessna C421 was attempting to make an emergency landing at an airport in Demopolis after the aircraft lost its right engine. All seven of those onboard perished in the fatal crash, including five children. The family was on its way home to Florida from a family reunion in St. Louis, Missouri when the plane went down in a wooded area not far from the airport. First responders found the plane nose down in some trees at around 2:17 a.m. on Sunday morning. The aircraft is registered to Advanced Integrated Technology Solutions LLC in Niceville, Florida. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of this deadly plane crash.
July 3, 2011
Ventura County Plane Crash Kills Two
A fatal plane crash killed two passengers aboard a small plane in Ventura County, California Sunday night. There were only two people on the plane when it went down in a riverbed near the community of South Mountain. First responders found one of the victims inside the plane and the other victim was found near the crash site. The small plane took off from Santa Paula Airport around 8:30 p.m. Authorities say the plane apparently clipped a power line before it went down. Transportation officials have mounted an investigation into the cause of the fatal plane crash.
June 26, 2011
Plane Crash Claims Life of Pilot, Seriously Injures Passenger
A plane crash was discovered a few miles from Beluga lake in Alaska on Sunday evening, after the pilot's wife alerted the FAA of the missing plane. The pilot of the downed Cessna-150 was killed in the crash and his passenger was critically injured, authorities said. The wreckage was found three miles from the lake at 11:40 p.m., about 8 hours after the plane took off from Lake Hood. Authorities found the 45-year-old pilot dead and his passenger was flown to an Anchorage hospital in critical condition. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the fatal plane crash.
June 18, 2011
Three Dead, One Critically Injured in Fatal Alabama Plane Crash
Three people were killed and another critically injured Saturday morning when a small plane crashed in Guntersville, Alabama. Eye witnesses say the Piper Cherokee 140 plane went down shortly after takeoff from a Guntersville airport, where the plane had stopped to refuel before departing to Florida. The pilot of the plane, a 52-year-old man with a law practice in Nashville, Tennessee, died at the scene of the crash. Also killed in the crash was a 32-year-old mother and her four year-old daughter. The woman's seven-year-old son is the lone survivor from the crash. He is currently listed in critical condition at Huntsville Hospital. Officials from the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the fatal plane crash. The NTSB hopes to have a preliminary report within the next ten days and officials say the cause of the crash could take three to twelve months to determine.
June 12, 2011
Three Are Dead After Small Plane Crashes in Oregon Mountains
Two men and one woman were killed in a small plane crash in the mountainous area of eastern Oregon. Local authorities identified the pilot as a 74-year-old man. The other two victims were in their 50's. The single-engine Bellanca airplane crashed near the town of Ukiah early on Sunday. The plane was on its way to Wyoming after taking off from Dallesport, Washington when it crashed in a remote and rugged area. The Forest Service had to cut a road in order to give investigators a path to reach the crash site. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) were at the scene of the crash on Monday. The cause of the fatal plane crash is currently under investigation.
June 6, 2011
Grand Canyon Tour Plane Crash Leaves Six injured, Pilot In Critical Condition
Six people were injured on Monday when a Grand Canyon Airlines tour plane crashed short of the Monument Valley Airport runway in rural Utah. The pilot of the Cessna 201 aircraft, who is currently in critical condition, suffered the most severe injuries in the crash. Six people were on board the chartered tour plane, which was heading from the Grand Canyon National Airport to Monument Valley when it crashed just before landing. Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finished gathering data on Tuesday and a National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) investigation is currently ongoing. Initial reports indicate the cause of the crash is likely due to high winds that existed the day of the crash. There are no weather stations in the area, so reliable data on wind speed at the time of the crash is unavailable.
June 1, 2011
Plane Crash In Wendover Leaves Four Dead
Four men died Wednesday afternoon in a small plane crash at an airport in Wendover, Utah. The single engine Cessna 172 plane went down around 2:45 p.m. during an unsuccessful landing attempt. Authorities say the Cessna bounced on the runway during its first landing attempt, and then pulled up to circle back for a second landing attempt. On the second approach, the pilot banked hard to the right before plummeting to the ground. The four-seater plane was completely destroyed and all four men onboard were killed in the crash. Three of the men were Utah natives, the other an Indian national. The airport manager said the pilot of the downed plane was attempting to land and refuel. Heavy crosswinds may have played a part in the fatal crash. Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating.
May 28, 2011
Fuel Problems May Have Caused Plane To Crash Into Apartment Complex
Two people died when their plane crashed into an apartment complex just outside College Station, Texas on Saturday. There were two people in the plane, which was traveling from Fort Worth to Galveston. According to investigators, the plane was forced to attempt an emergency landing at a College Station airport, only three miles away from the site of the fatal crash. No one on the ground or inside the apartment complex was injured. A preliminary investigation into the crash has revealed that the small plane was experiencing fuel problems prior to crashing into the Z-Islander Apartments. The investigation also revealed that the pilot of the downed plane was very experienced, having logged many hours of flight time prior to the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still investigating the fatal plane crash.
May 25, 2011
Air France Flight 447 May Have Entered A Deep Stall Before Crash
Sources close to the investigation of the Air France Flight 447 crash say it appears the plane slowed into a deep stall before crashing into the Atlantic Ocean and killing all 228 passengers on board. German newspaper Der Spiegel is reporting that voice recorder data recovered from the crash details captain Marc Dubois frantically rushing to the cockpit from the crew rest area to deal with the emergency. Apparently two co-pilots were in the cockpit when the plane entered a deep stall, and sources told the German newspaper that speed sensor failure may have prompted the in-flight emergency. The question still remains whether the fatal jetliner crash was caused by human error or technical malfunction.
May 17, 2011
Initial Report Shows Nothing Wrong With Plane In Air France Flight 447 Crash
Investigators say it is too early to blame human error as the cause of the Air France Flight 447 crash that killed 228 people. The flight recorders or "black boxes" from the June 1, 2009 crash were recovered from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean just weeks before the second anniversary of the crash and sent to Paris for analysis. Early examinations of the flight data recordings suggest that there were no technical issues with the Airbus SAS A330 jet that crashed into the Atlantic. But crash investigators are also quick to point out that there is still a lot of data to be looked at before they reveal their conclusions on the cause of the crash. An interim report on the cause of the crash is expected to be released in July or August with a final report due in early 2012.
May 16, 2011
U.S. Pilots Convicted of Negligence in Brazil For 2006 Plane Crash
Two U.S. pilots were found guilty of negligence by a Brazilian court on Monday for their role in a 2006 plane crash that killed 154 people, one of the worst air disasters in Brazil's history. A federal judge later suspended the four-year sentence, instead requiring both pilots to do community service in the United States. The American pilots were flying a business jet that clipped the wings of a Boeing 737 operated by Brazilian carrier Gol, which caused the 737 to crash into the Amazon rain forest. The American pilots have repeatedly denied responsibility for the crash. A 2006 Brazilian Air Force report said both planes were cleared to be flying at 37,000 feet at the same time, which casted a shadow on air traffic controllers.
May 7, 2011
Two Dead in Single Engine Plane Crash Near Conroe Airport
Two people were killed Saturday morning when a single engine Ravin 500 plane crashed shortly after takeoff just a half mile north of Lone Star Executive Airport in Conroe, Texas. The two killed, a father and daughter flying to Temple for the Central Texas Airshow, were the only passengers on the aircraft. The plane's pilot declared an emergency shortly after takeoff, reporting smoke in the cockpit to air traffic controllers. The plane was attempting to return to the airport when it crashed and exploded. Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of this fatal crash.
April 22, 2011
Plane Crash Kills Family of Four Outside Topeka
A twin engine plane crashed into a cornfield outside of Topeka, Kansas, on Friday afternoon, killing a family of four. The pilot of the Beechcraft Baron 58 did not send out a distress call before crashing a mere eight miles away from the Phillip Billard Airport. Authorities from the Kansas Highway Patrol said the crash occurred around noon when the plane was circling back to the airport for another landing attempt after a failed first attempt. An eye witness said there was a sputter in the engine right before the plane went down. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.
April 11, 2011
Airbus A380 Jet Collides With Passenger Plane in New York's JFK Airport
A superjumbo Airbus jet operated by Air France clipped the tail of a smaller passenger plane as it taxied out to the runway at JFK International Airport Monday night, spinning the plane out as hundreds of passengers in both aircrafts sat helplessly. No injuries were reported in the runway incident. The Airbus A380, which is the world's largest commercial passenger jet, was taxiing to the runway when it's massive left wing clipped the tail of the smaller plane operated by Comair for Delta Airlines, causing the smaller plane to spin around 90 degrees. The weather and the darkness may have been factors in the runway incursion, as well the demanding nature of air traffic control duties at a congested JFK airport. "This wasn't just two airplanes bumping together. The Air France plane really creamed the regional jet," said the president of the Flight Safety Foundation. The National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate the cause of the collision.
April 5, 2011
FAA Orders Emergency Inspections For Boeing 737s
Coming on the heels of last Friday's massive fuselage failure on Southwest flight 812, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered an emergency inspection of older Boeing 737 airplanes. In a statement issued by the FAA, around 175 planes will need to be inspected around the world, including 80 in the United States.
Southwest flight 812 was heading to Sacramento, California from Phoenix, Arizona when a piece of the fuselage tore away, leaving a gaping hole in the airplane that caused a sudden drop in cabin pressure. Amazingly, only two people were injured. Investigators from the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) found other cracks in the plane after further inspection. Southwest cancelled hundreds of flights to inspect the 737s in their fleet with eddy-current technology, which reveals damage to metal not seen by the naked eye. These inspections revealed "subsurface cracks" in three of Southwest's 737s, which are now out of service. The FAA's emergency order calls for the same eddy-current technology to be used in the inspection of all 737s that have been in use for more than 30,000 take-offs.
April 4, 2011
Southwest Flight Makes Emergency Landing Due to Tear in Fuselage
A Boeing 737-300 operated by Southwest Airlines was forced to make an emergency landing in Arizona on Friday, after a large tear in the fuselage caused a dangerous loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft, carrying 118 people, had taken off from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport when the fuselage suddenly burst open at 34,400 feet, causing a five-foot-long gash. Fortunately, the pilots were able to make an emergency landing and no one was seriously injured. Authorities inspected the damaged aircraft and found the cause to be extensive cracking on the fuselage, a problem that was not discovered during routine maintenance. The mishap has prompted Southwest Airlines to cancel 300 flights and ground 80 planes. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident.
April 2, 2011
Twin Engine Plane Crashes Kills Four in New Mexico
A twin engine Gulfstream IV luxury business jet crashed shortly after take-off from Roswell International Air Center on Saturday, killing all four people on board. Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) say the tip of the plane's right wing hit the ground seconds before it was airborne. The plane was off the ground for mere seconds before it slammed back down to the ground and burst into flames as it skidded down the runway. The four people killed were all from Savannah, Georgia. The cause of the crash has not been determined as authorities continue their investigation.
March 30, 2011
Small Plane Crash Kills Two in Pike County, Kentucky
A twin-engine airplane crashed during a landing attempt at Pike County Airport in Pikeville, Kentucky on Wednesday, killing the only two men on board. The Cessna 310 airplane crashed into a road below the airport after noon. First responders found the bodies of two men in the plane, both were pronounced dead on the scene. The Cessna took off from Wright Brothers Airport in Dayton, Ohio with Pikeville as its destination. The small plane was registered to Miller Aviation out of Portland, Indiana. Authorities from the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) are working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine the cause of the fatal plane crash.
Small Plane Crash in Southern Michigan Kills Three
A single-engine Piper Malibu Mirage airplane crashed into a city soccer field in Monroe, Michigan on Tuesday afternoon, killing all three passengers on board. The small plane was heading to Custer Airport in Monroe from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, when the Piper clipped some trees and crashed into the soccer field. Eye witnesses ran toward the crash site only to find burning wreckage. The three men, who worked together at Ohio-based Conforming Matrix Corp., were returning to Monroe from a business trip. The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) is heading the investigation into the cause of the deadly crash with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
March 27, 2011
Vintage Plane Crash in Texas Kills All Three On Board
A single-engine 1946 Stinson 108 plane went down in Dickens County, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, killing all three people on board. The vintage plane was traveling from Dickens to Rockdale, Texas when it crashed in a field. The pilot of the aircraft was a 40-year-old man from Lubbock, Texas, and the two passengers on board were his parents, both from Rockdale. According to authorities, the owner of the field came upon the wreckage at around 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the cause of the fatal plane crash.
March 26, 2011
Pilot Killed in Horrific Plane Crash at Florida Air Show
A man was killed instantly Saturday when his single-engine Yak-52 plane spiraled out of control and crashed in front of thousands of air show spectators. The Cold-War era plane and its pilot were part of the Red Thunder Air Show team, performing Saturday and Sunday in Flagler, Florida. Three other planes were in formation with the Yak-52 when the pilot lost control. None of the other planes were affected. According to reports, the pilot killed in the crash had been flying for over 30 years. Authorities are unclear if the plane encountered technical difficulties potentially causing the pilot to lose control. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the fatal plane crash.
March 16, 2011
Five Confirmed Dead in Small Plane Crash Near Long Beach Airport
A twin-engine Beechcraft King Air plane caught fire during take-off on Wednesday morning, killing five of the six people on board. The small plane had just taken off from Long Beach Airport in California at around 10:30 a.m. when it crashed. First responders found the plane completely engulfed in flames, with five people dead on the scene. The only survivor was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. Three of the five people killed in the crash were identified to reporters as "community leaders" who were apparently traveling to Park City, Utah on a ski trip. The cause of the crash has not been determined as authorities continue their investigation.
March 15, 2011
NTSB Calls For Improvements in Rules Governing Pilot Fatigue
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) took a step toward changing the rules that dictate how airline pilots fight fatigue on Tuesday, saying that pilots should be allowed to take carefully monitored prescription sleep aids the night before a flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently prohibits pilots from using prescription sleep aids like Ambien within 24 hours of a flight, but according an NTSB senior human performance investigator, Ambien and similar drugs leave the system relatively quickly and can potentially give pilots the sleep they need while working odd hours.
The NTSB's call for reform stems from a 2008 plane crash in Minnesota that killed 8 people. Both pilots failed to get a good night's sleep the night before the fatal flight, and both may have had undiagnosed sleeping disorders. A spokesman for the FAA says they will study the NTSB's recommendation.
March 8, 2011
Two Men Dead in Twin-Engine Plane Crash
Two men from the Atlanta area were killed in a small plane crash near Tara Field in Henry County, Georgia late Tuesday morning. Officials say the twin-engine DeHavilland DHC-6-100 crashed into the woods near the airfield shortly after take-off. The aircraft was based in Texas, though National Aerotech Aviation was doing some maintenance work on it at Tara Field. The two men flying the plane worked for National Aerotech Aviation, and were conducting test runs on the aircraft when it crashed. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were at the crash site investigating on Tuesday, though it may take months to determine the cause of the crash.
March 7, 2011
Single-Engine Plane Crash Kills One and Injures Another
A Canadian search and rescue helicopter found the wreckage of a single-engine plane that crashed on the Maine-Canada border on Monday afternoon. The crash killed one man and the plane's other passenger was airlifted from the crash site and taken to a hospital in Quebec with serious injuries. The pilot of the Diamond DA-40 was heading to Quebec from Halifax, Nova Scotia when he radioed in to air traffic controllers that the plane was encountering icing problems. The plane's emergency responder was activated shortly thereafter. Emergency responders from Maine and Canada participated in the search for the crash site, and the wreckage was found Monday night in Somerset County, Maine. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fatal crash.
March 3, 2011
Contra Costa County Reviewing Towers After Fatal Plane Crash
Officials in Contra Costa County, California, have decided to review the permitting process for meteorological towers after a plane crash took a life earlier this year. On January 10, 2011, a man was dropping seed on Webb Tract Island in California when his small plane struck an unmarked meteorological tower. The crash killed the man, and authorities say it is likely he never saw the 198-foot tower. Local pilots have raised concerns about unmarked towers in the past, so it is possible that county officials will change the rules regarding tower permits to improve safety.
February 26, 2011
Investigation into Phoenix Area Plane Crash Begins
Authorities are beginning an investigation into the cause of a plane crash that killed all three people on board near Phoenix, Arizona last Friday. The single-engine Piper Cherokee, which departed from Deer Valley Airport at 7:30 p.m., was reported missing at around 8:30 p.m. when it failed to return. Search crews found the wreckage and the bodies of a TransPac Aviation Academy flight instructor and two students early Saturday morning in a mountainous area 19 miles away from the airport. The recovered wreckage was taken to a salvage yard in Phoenix where investigators will start reconstruction to determine the cause of the fatal crash.
February 19, 2011
Plane Crash Victim's Family Files Suit Against Aircraft Manufacturer
The parents of a Jacksonville Beach, Florida woman killed in a plane crash outside of Buffalo, New York in 2009 have filed suit against Bombardier, the plane's manufacturer. The lawsuit states that Bombardier was "negligent and careless" in the plane's design by not providing efficient mechanical systems. The family filed suit to avoid any claim being thrown out after a two-year statute of limitations took effect. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation concluded that the pilot of the doomed aircraft may have overreacted after an automatic warning system sensed the plane was dangerously slowing down. According to investigators, at around 1,600 feet the automatic warning system shut off the autopilot and moved the Bombardier Dash 8's nose down to regain speed. Authorities believe the pilot pulled back too hard, pitching the aircraft upward 31 degrees and causing it to plunge for about 26 seconds before smashing into the suburban home. The NTSB's report also blamed the fatal plane crash on "Colgan Air's inadequate procedures for airspeed selection and management during approaches in icing conditions." The attorney representing the Florida family maintains that their fundamental claim is against the airlines.
February 10, 2011
Family of 2006 Comair Plane Crash Victim Awarded Nearly $8 Million
A U.S. District Court judge on Thursday ordered a family to split $7.1 million in damages stemming from an August 27, 2006 Comair crash that killed 49 people. The Louisville, Kentucky judge also granted $750,000 to the victim's wife for her pain and suffering. This was the last lawsuit to be resolved from the crash of Comair flight 5191 that occurred near Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, when pilots failed to recognize they were taking off from a runway that aviation authorities deemed too short for commercial jets.
February 4, 2011
Small Plane Crash in Iraq Kills Seven
A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff in northern Iraq on Friday, killing seven. The plane, which went down close to the airport in Sulaimaniya, had executives from MerchantBridge and JPMorgan onboard, as well as a pilot and three crew members. There were no survivors in the crash. Airport officials said the executives had flown to Sulaimaniya to visit the offices of AsiaCell, one of Iraq's mobile providers. Investigators are currently looking into the cause of the crash.
February 3, 2011
One Dead and One Seriously Injured in Single Engine Plane Crash Near Cal Poly
Two men flying a World War II era aircraft had to make an emergency crash landing near California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California on Thursday morning, seriously injuring the pilot and killing an 86-year-old passenger. The two friends were out for a day of flying when the plane started sputtering, prompting the pilot to tell air traffic controllers there was an emergency. At around 10 A.M. witnesses saw the plane make an emergency crash landing in a creek bed. The two men were taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. The 86-year-old passenger, who was a World War II pilot, was pronounced dead on Friday. The crash is currently being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
January 31, 2011
Two Injured in Single Engine Plane Crash
A single engine plane crashed into a hillside near Glendora, California, on Monday afternoon, injuring a man and his flight instructor. Officials said the flight instructor took control of the Cessna 172 aircraft and for unknown reasons was forced to make a crash landing. Due to the terrain, the small aircraft remained wedged into the hillside brush overnight until officials could determine the best way to remove it. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
January 31, 2011
Fatal Helicopter Crash Kills One and Injures Three in Pima County
A helicopter operated by the Pima County Sheriff's Department crashed Monday morning northwest of Tucson, Arizona near the intersection of Waterman Mountain Road and Silverbell Road. Of the four people on board, one was pronounced dead at the scene. The three injured were taken to University Medical Center. The chopper was identifying potential locations for radio towers in a part of Ironwood National Forest when it crashed. The circumstances surrounding the crash have yet to be determined.
January 30, 2011
Three Dead in Eastern Oregon Plane Crash
A single engine plane crashed in eastern Oregon on Sunday, killing two men and one woman. The wreckage of the Cessna was found at 10 a.m. Sunday morning on the side of a hill after the plane failed to arrive in Nampa, Idaho. The three deceased are from the Boise area and their names have not been released. The fatal plane crash remains under investigation.
January 11, 2011
NTSB Study Says Airbags Needed on Airplanes
The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Tuesday that it has adopted a study showing that airbags can provide additional occupant protection in general aviation. According to the NTSB, the study found that airplanes equipped with airbags provided added protection in accidents involving survivable forward impacts. The study also found that shoulder harness/lap seat belt combinations provide much greater protection in General Aviation accidents than a lap belt alone. The board found that wearing just the lap belt alone raised the risk of fatal or serious injury by 50 percent compared to the combination lap/shoulder belt. The NTSB also is recommending that the Federal Aviation Administration require the retrofitting of shoulder harnesses on all general aviation airplanes, among other recommendations. The complete safety study will be available on the NTSB website by February 2011.
January 6, 2011
Two Killed in California Single Engine Plane Crash
A small plane crashed in Plumas County, California, killing two people. The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza crashed at Rogers Field Airport in Chester, California, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Authorities said the plane crashed at the end of a runway. It is unclear why the plane crashed. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
January 5, 2011
One Person Dead After Small Plane Crashes in Alabama
One person was killed when a small plane crashed in Birmingham, Alabama, on Wednesday. According to authorities, the Beech BE-58 crashed as it was approaching the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. The plane crashed in a neighborhood in an area about 50 feet from a house. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the fatal plane crash.
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 it crashed near the Island of Nassau, the most populated island 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.
Nobember 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 has 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 NTSB 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.
Septermber 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 NTSB have 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 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 Alabany, 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 21, 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.
December 22, 2009
Passengers Lucky to Survive After Plane Overshoots Runway
Two passengers were seriously injured when American Airlines Flight 331 skidded off the runway as it attempted to land at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica, on Tuesday night. No one on board the Boeing 737-800 aircraft was killed during the mishap. There were a total of 148 passengers and six crew members inside the aircraft when it touched down during a rain storm and skidded on the slippery runway. The aircraft then barreled through a fence and crashed into a sandy embankment just short of the Caribbean sea. The left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft's fuselage was significantly cracked during the accident. Both engines broke off on impact. Investigators for the FAA and NTSB have been sent to analyze the crash and determine what caused the plane to overshoot the runway.
December 21, 2009
New Rule Offers Passenger Protection During Long Tarmac Delays
The Transportation Department announced a new rule on Monday that allows passengers to deplane an aircraft that is delayed on a tarmac for more than three hours. Additionally, airlines are now required to provide food and water as well as operable lavatories if an aircraft is stranded on a tarmac for over two hours. The new rule is a reaction to cries for passenger rights after a nine month period this year saw 864 planes with passengers on board be delayed on tarmacs for over three hours. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the rule will become effective in 120 days.
December 16, 2009
NTSB Will Open Public Docket on Overflight Mishap of Northwest Airlines Flight 188
The National Transportation Safety Board released an advisory announcing that it will open the public docket on its investigation into the October 21, 2009 Northwest Airline overflight event. The mishap occurred when Northwest Airlines Flight 188, an Airbus A-320, overflew that Minneapolis airport by more than 100 miles. The public docket will be available on the NTSB's website on December 16 at around 10:00 a.m.
December 16, 2009
FAA Inspector and Pilot Injured in Helicopter Emergency Landing
A helicopter made an emergency landing in Maui, Hawaii, on Wednesday, injuring a Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector. The FAA inspector and a tour helicopter pilot suffered minor injuries when the chopper, operated by Sunshine Helicopters, experienced mechanical problems and made an emergency landing on a Maui shoreline near the town of Hana. The accident occurred during a routine, annual commercial pilot proficiency check. The accident is under investigation.
December 10, 2009
Flight Instructor and Student Killed in Ventura County Plane Crash
A single-engine plane crashed in Ventura County, California, on Thursday, killing a flight instructor and a student. The aircraft, a two-seat Piper Tomahawk registered to Aviation Pacific, Inc., crashed in the town of Ojai about an hour after taking off from Camarillo Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the fatal crash.
December 10, 2009
Crash Victims' Families Outraged Over FAA Stance on Airline Safety
The Families of Continental Flight 3407, a group formed after the crash near Buffalo in February 2009, chastised remarks made by FAA administrator Randolph J. Babbitt before the Senate aviation subcommittee on Thursday, December 10. In his testimony, Babbitt said the FAA was more interested in enhancing its existing pilot certificate system than increasing the number of flight-time hours for entry-level pilots. The family victims' group fears that Babbitt's comments could hinder legislation that would require higher flight-time requirements for pilots. Right now, entry-level pilots are required to have 250 hours of flight time, a number that is alarmingly low according to some aviation experts. A bill passed in the House in October will mandate that requirement be pushed up to 1,500 hours of flight time for entry-level pilots. The bill is awaiting its turn on the Senate floor after delays due to the focus on health care reform.
December 9, 2009
Private Contractor Posted TSA Airport Screening Manual Online, Napolitano Confirms
Janet Napolitano, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, confirmed on Wednesday that a private contractor inadvertently posted the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) airport screening procedures manual on the Internet. Napolitano added that her department is conducting an investigation into how such a massive security breach occurred. Among the sensitive security information released were sample CIA, Congressional and law enforcement credentials as well as detailed airport screening procedures. Some state officials are outraged and have said that this information could be used as a "road map" to those that want to do us harm. Napolitano insists, however, that the security of the public has not been placed at risk.
December 8, 2009
Jury Awards $7.1 Million to Family of Passenger Killed in 2006 Plane Crash
A jury has awarded $7.1M to the family of Bryan Keith Woodward, a passenger killed when Comair Flight 5191 crashed in Kentucky in 2006. Woodward was one of 49 people killed when Flight 5191 crashed after taking off from the wrong runway at Blue Grass Airport in Kentucky. An investigation found that the runway used was too short for commercial jets, and the pilots failed to notice they were on the wrong runway. This has been the only Flight 5191 case to reach trial. All other cases settled. The family also plans to sue Comair for punitive damages for its alleged gross negligence during a separate jury trial expected to take place in a few months.
December 4, 2009
Boeing Urges Airlines to Retrofit Engine Thrust Reversers on 777 Jets
Boeing has released a service bulletin urging airlines to begin replacing the thrust reversers on the engines of wide-body 777 jets. Thrust reversers are used to help slow planes on landing. According to Boeing, there is a potential for excessive heat damage that could deteriorate the inner wall of the thrust reverser. There is no word yet on how much the retrofit will cost.
December 1, 2009
Federal Pilot Fatigue Proposal Delayed
The FAA has decided to push back the release of a proposal addressing pilot fatigue to early 2010. The proposal was expected to have been put in place later this year. The delay was announced at a Senate hearing on Tuesday along with details regarding the agency's anti-fatigue effort. One such detail shocked and angered the chairman of the Senate's Aviation Operations, Safety and Security Subcommittee, Senator Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND). The FAA's proposal will not ban pilots from commuting on red-eye flights the night before flying in the cockpit. The co-pilot at the helm of doomed Continental Connection Flight 3407, which crashed near Buffalo in February, killing 50 people, had herself traveled on a red-eye flight before going to work that day. Although the final report on the accident has not been released, investigators have said that pilot error and pilot fatigue contributed to the fatal crash. "What I don't quite understand is that when we finish this whole process, nothing will have changed with respect to the circumstances that existed in that cockpit regarding fatigue," said Sen. Dorgan at Tuesday's hearing.
November 30, 2009
FAA to Delay Fixing Plane Engines Vulnerable to Icing, Despite Safety Warnings
The FAA has delayed replacing two parts in the engines of Boeing 777 aircrafts until 2011, despite repeated warnings by the NTSB and the Air Line Pilots Association of potential vulnerability to icing. According to safety experts, the engines in more than 130 Boeing jets are at risk of ice buildup in certain rare conditions. The FAA ignored these warnings, saying that the safety measures for the planes are sufficient, at the moment, to prevent any dangerous mishaps. Industry sources say that one reason for the later deadline is the limited availability of the Rolls-Royce engine parts.
November 29, 2009
Plane Crashes in Florida, Killing Two People Onboard
Two people were killed when a single-engine plane crashed in Plant City, Florida, on Sunday afternoon. Witnesses reported seeing the plane flying low to the ground before it sputtered and nose-dived into the backyard of a home. The only two occupants in the aircraft perished. No one on the ground was hurt.
November 28, 2009
Glider and Small Tow Plane Collide in Mid-Air, Both Pilots Killed
A Schleicher ASW 27 glider and a Piper 25 tow plane collided on Saturday morning at Crazy Creek Air Adventures in Middletown, California. Each pilot was killed in the mid-air collision, which occurred as both aircraft were approaching the same runway from different directions. Aviation officials were at the scene on Monday combing through the wreckage. A final report on the crash is expected in a bout six months.
November 24, 2009
Captain of 2005 Charter Jet Crash Charged with Fraud
The captain of a charter jet that crashed four years ago has been charged with fraud and lying to investigators. The crash occurred in 2005, when the aircraft failed to properly take off from Teterboro Airport and then crashed into a warehouse, injuring 20 people. Captain John Kimberling is now believed to have bee a part of a plot by Platinum Jet Management, the company he flew for, to save money by lying about the aircraft's weight in order to overload it with cheap fuel. Prosecutors allege that the overloading of fuel caused the accident.
November 23, 2009
Smaller Commuter Planes will get Enhanced De-Icing Systems, FAA Says
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced their plan to retrofit small commuter airplanes with enhanced de-icing systems. The proposed rule will require planes weighing less than 60,000 pounds after takeoff, mostly small turboprops and regional jets, to be equipped with improved ice-protection systems installed within the next two years. The FAA said the rule applies to 1,866 planes and it will cost operators about $5.5 million to implement.
November 20, 2009
British Airways Passengers Sue Boeing for Crash Landing
Boeing is being sued by 10 passengers aboard a British Airways flight that crash landed at Heathrow Airport in January 2008. The crash landing occurred when the Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 152 passengers, ran low on fuel flow to its engines as it came in to land. Everyone on board survived the crash. UK officials have yet to release a final report on the accident but a preliminary report suggests the possibility of ice accumulation in the plane's fuel system. The lawsuit claims that the aircraft was defective and that Boeing is responsible for the mishap.
November 19, 2009
FAA Proposes new Rule to Partially Shut "Revolving Door"
After years of criticism, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that they will partially close the so-called "revolving door" between the agency and the nation's airlines. The revolving door refers to the movement of employees between the airlines and the FAA. The proposal suggests that safety inspectors leaving the agency be barred from working at airlines that they have regulated for two years after leaving the FAA. The proposal will not, however, restrict any top level regulators from moving through the same door. Public comment on the rule is open until Feb. 10, after which the FAA is expected to finalize its proposal.
November 17, 2009
Twin Engine Plane Crashes on Take-Off
A twin-engine light aircraft crashed during take-off from Fort Worth airfield in Texas on Tuesday. Only the pilot was aboard the Piper PA-34 aircraft and he escaped the crash with no injuries. According to the pilot, the aircraft's nose trim malfunctioned shortly before the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident.
November 16, 2009
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of DJ AM's Estate
The estate of DJ AM (real name Adam Goldstein) has filed a lawsuit claiming that the charter company responsible for a plane crash that the celebrity Disc Jockey was involved in back in 2008 is also responsible for his recent death. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the charter company responsible for the Sept 2008 South Carolina crash which badly burned Goldstein. The DJ died this past summer from an accidental overdose of drugs. According to the complaint, the accident and the burns it caused led Goldstein to take various drugs which ultimately led to his death. Before the accident, the DJ had been sober and clean from drugs.
November 16, 2009
FAA Splits Airspace Over Hudson River
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced a plan to divide the airspace over the Hudson River into two separate zones. The decision comes at the heels of a deadly collision between a small plane and a sightseeing helicopter which killed nine people. The airspace will be split into low-altitude local traffic zone and a higher altitude zone for long-distance flights. The changes are expected to take effect on Thursday, November 19.
November 14, 2009
FAA Investigates Single Engine Plane Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration has begun its probe into a fatal plane crash that occurred in San Gabriel, California. The single-engine aircraft crashed on Saturday, November 14, killing the pilot. Federal Authorities are looking into a post crash fire that could have been the cause of the fatality.
November 13, 2009
NTSB Warned FAA of Problems with Airplane Involved in Numerous Fatal Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board has released an advisory regarding an experimental airplane that was involved in another fatal accident. Last April, the NTSB urged the Federal Aviation Association to ground the aircraft, a Zodiac CH-601XL, after a flight control problem was linked to six accidents that killed a total of ten people. The most recent crash occurred on November 6 near Agnos, Arkansas. The sole occupant of the aircraft, the pilot, was killed.
November 8, 2009
Two Young Boys and their Grandfather Killed in Plane Crash
A 60-year- old man and his two grandsons, 12 and 13 years old, were instantly killed when the Beechcraft Bonanza plane they were in crashed in Comal County, Texas, on Sunday. The grandfather was piloting the aircraft. FAA spokesman said that the plane disappeared from radar without emergency transmission before it crashed. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were rainy with limited visibility. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
November 5, 2009
Medical Helicopter Crashes in Reservation, Injuring 2
Two people were injured when a Native Air medical helicopter on a training flight crashed as it was landing at the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Arizona on Wednesday night. The 2 people injured remained hospitalized on Thursday. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
November 4, 2009
FAA Chief Calls for Refocus on Professionalism in the Cockpit
Aviation is facing an "extreme need to refocus on professionalism" said FAA Administrator Randy Babbit, who cited Northwest Flight 188 which overshot the Minneapolis airport by over 150 miles, as the most recent example of unprofessionalism amongst regional pilots. Babbit used the tragic regional airline crash over Buffalo that claimed 50 lives earlier this year as another example. Pilot error is believed to have caused that plane to plunge to the ground.
November 2, 2009
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Fatal Plane Crash
On Friday, October 30th, a Cessna 310 crashed into a home in Gwinnett County, Georgia, killing the pilot and a woman inside the home. The home was engulfed in flames and completely destroyed. NTSB investigators combed through the wreckage on Monday trying to piece together the events that lead to the fatal crash. Authorities said the investigation could take months
October 26, 2009
Pilots Who "Lost Track Of Time" While On Personal Laptops Lose Their Pilot License
Federal investigators reported that the pilots flying the plane that overshot the Minneapolis Airport by 150 miles were using their personal laptops in the cockpit during the flight, a violation of airline policy. The pilots told NTSB investigators that they "lost track of time" because one was tutoring the other on a new scheduling system put in place by Delta Air Lines after they bought Northwest last year. A week following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that they had revoked both the Captain and First Officer's pilot licenses.
October 22, 2009
Air New Zealand apologizes for crash 30 years later
Air New Zealand issued a public apology for an aviation disaster that took 257 lives 30 years ago. New Zealand's national carrier also unveiled a memorial dedicated to the nation's deadliest air disaster, which occurred when a DC-10 crashed into Mount Erebus in Antarctica on November 28, 1979. Rob Fyfe, Air New Zealand Chief executive stated that it was his hope the apology would make up for "many of the gaps and failings that occurred in the days, months and years" following the tragedy. Fyfe, however, did not apologize for the actual accident, which was attributed to pilot error and faulty navigational computers. The airline had also been accused of covering evidence at the time during a sub-judicial inquiry and investigation of the crash.
October 19, 2009
U.S. Surviving Families of Those Killed in Air France Crash Sue Airbus and Others
A lawsuit was filed against Airbus SA and others on behalf of surviving family members of eight of the 228 passengers killed when Air France Flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic ocean in June. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified compensation and claims that the Airbus that crashed was "defective and unreasonably dangerous." Other defendants listed in the complaint include aircraft parts makers Honeywell International, General Electric Co, Rockwell Collins Inc, Thales SA and chip maker Intel Corp.
October 16, 2009
Eminent Wolf Biologist Gordon Haber is Killed in Plane Crash
Eminent wolf biologist Dr. Gordon Haber was killed after the Cessna 185 plane he was in crashed in a remote area of Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. The pilot of the aircraft survived the crash and walked approximately 20 miles before he found help and was able to call authorities. The aircraft was significantly damaged by the impact and post crash fire.
October 13, 2009
Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Comair Plane Crash Widow
A federal judge has ruled in favor of a widow whose husband was killed in the 2006 Comair Flight 5191 plane crash in Lexington, Kentucky. Following a landmark ruling, the judge decided that Jaime Herbert of Louisiana can sue for the loss of her husband's physical and emotional companionship, also called loss of consortium. Kentucky law had previously stated that a surviving spouse could only sue for this type of loss if their spouse was incapacitated, but not if they had died.
October 8, 2009
Federal Official Says Helicopter that Crashed Lacked Safety Equipment
A medical helicopter crashed in South Carolina in September, killing three crew members. Now authorities are saying that the aircraft lacked safety features recommended by experts. An NTSB spokesman explained that the helicopter lacked certain night-vision equipment that would have warned the pilots that it was flying too close to obstacles. The reason for the crash is being investigated and has yet to be determined.
October 8, 2009
Air Traffic Controller Joked About Dead Cat Moments Before Hudson Crash, FAA Says
The Federal Aviation Administration has released a report confirming that an air traffic controller was involved in inappropriate conversations over the telephone moments before a small plane and helicopter collided over the Hudson River in New York. According to the FAA the air traffic controller was joking to a woman about a dead cat when the Piper Saratoga PA-32 plane crashed with a helicopter carrying mostly tourists over the Hudson River on August 8. All aboard both aircrafts, a total of nine people, were killed.
