ACCIDENTS & INCIDENTS

(3 – 10 August 2008)

Airline, Corporate, & AeroMedevac

Date/

Location

Aircraft/Reg.

Narrative

Casualties

Comments

3 August

Pitt Meadows, British Columbia,

Canada

Beech 65-A90  

Reg: N17SA

At approximately 1524 Pacific daylight time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ground during a forced landing after takeoff from the Pitt Meadows Airport.

The airplane is owned by Flanagan Enterprises Inc., Zephyr Cove, Nevada, leased by the Parachute Center, Lodi, California, and operated by Pacific Skydivers, Pitt Meadows, Canada.

Nonfatal

The airplane was operated as a skydiving flight with 7 passengers when the accident occurred. The pilot and 3 passengers received serious injuries, and 4 passengers received minor injuries. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power in both engines, and was returning to the airport.

3 August

Vancouver Island, Canada

Grumman Goose G21A

According to news reports the 5 victims - 4 passengers and the pilot - were aboard the amphibious plane that disappeared 10 minutes after takeoff on a routine flight from Port Hardy to a logging camp at Chamiss Bay, near Kyuquot Inlet.

5 Fatal

The charred wreckage was found hours later in dense brush on a hillside north of Port Alice.

Two survivors of the accident were rescued after one sent text messages to a friend with the whereabouts of the crash site.

4 August

Aniak, AK  

Piper PA-31  

Reg: N40YR

About 1550 Alaska daylight time, the airplane sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb, about 1/2 mile north of Aniak, Alaska.

The airplane was operated as Flight 8606, by Frontier Flying Service Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska.

Nonfatal

The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic commuter flight when the accident occurred. The pilot was not injured. One passenger received serious injuries, 2 passengers received minor injuries, and 4 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company procedures were in effect. The flight was en route to Grayling, Alaska.

General Aviation and Helicopter

Date/

Location

Aircraft/Reg.

Narrative

Casualties

Comments

3 August

Palakta, FL  

Piper PA-32RT-300T

Reg: N39758  

About 0246 eastern daylight time, the airplane was substantially damaged after making a forced landing in a wooded residential area shortly after takeoff from Palatka Municipal Airport, Lt. Kay Larkin Field (28J), Palatka, Florida.

Nonfatal

The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight from 28J to Herlong Airport (HEG), Jacksonville, Florida.

4 August

Gearhart, OR  

Cessna 172K Reg: N828CC

At 0648 Pacific daylight time, the airplane impacted a small neighborhood residence in Gearhart, Oregon.

5 killed, 3 injured, airplane destroyed

The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot under Part 91. The pilot, passenger, and 3 people on the ground were killed, and 3 people on the ground were seriously injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Seaside Municipal Airport, Seaside, Oregon, around 0645.
The airplane appeared to have been traveling in a northerly direction when it first struck a large pine tree, and then into the vacation home. A post impact fire erupted and destroyed the house.

5 August

Brownsboro, AL

Piper PA-12 Reg: N7820H

About 1440 central daylight time, the aircraft was substantially damaged after making a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Moontown Airport (3M5), Brownsboro, Alabama.

2 killed

The private pilot and a passenger were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The flight was conducted under Part 91. According to local police officials, the airplane had just departed runway 27, a 2,180-foot-long by 160-foot-wide turf runway, climbed to approximately 50 feet above ground level, before impacting the ground in a nearby field.

5 August

Erie, CO

Flynn Van Munk

Reg: N41832

At approximately 0950 mountain daylight time, a Flynn Van Munk airplane piloted by a commercial pilot was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Erie Municipal Airport (EIK), Erie, Colorado.

Nonfatal

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The local flight departed EIK approximately 0945.
Several witnesses reported that the airplane lost power after departing from EIK. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who traveled to the scene, the airplane impacted terrain in a right wing low attitude and cartwheeled. The outboard three feet of the right wing separated and the empennage separated partially from the fuselage and was bent to the left 90 degrees.

5 August

Weaverville, California

Sikorsky S-61N

Reg: N612AZ,

The helicopter, carrying 13 firefighters, lifted off slower than expected before striking trees and crashing more than 100 yards from the lift off point.

9 Fatal

9 of the 13 persons aboard were killed.

NTSB investigation underway. Probably overweight on liftoff; stay tuned for investigation.

5 August

Lockport, NY  

Beech B35  

Reg: N5208C

At 1000 eastern daylight time, the aircraft was substantially damaged while attempting to depart from North Buffalo Suburban Airport (0G0), Lockport, New York.

Nonfatal

6 August

Tyonek, AK  

Piper PA-18

Reg: N82057

At about 1700 Alaska daylight time, the tundra tire-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote airstrip, about 16 miles west-southwest of Tyonek, Alaska.

Nonfatal

The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Lake hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1600, and no flight plan was filed.

6 August

Alice Arm, Canada  

Hughes 369D  

Reg: C-GZIO

At about 0700 pacific daylight time, the helicopter, crashed while maneuvering in the vicinity of Alice Arm, British Columbia, Canada. The flight was operated by Prism Helicopters Inc., Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, as a local passenger flight.

3 killed

The flight was conducted under the provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations of Canada. The pilot and two passengers received fatal injuries.

9 August

Garden City, UT

Cessna 180K  

Reg: N63217  

At 0907 mountain daylight time, the airplane impacted a beach in Garden City, Utah.

2 killed

9 August

Bracketville, TX

Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2A
Reg: N777UN  and

AB Sportine Aviacija Genesis 2

Reg: N110RG  

At 1532 central daylight time, the glider collided with an AB Sportine Aviacija Genesis 2 glider, N110RG, during a gliding competition 4 miles north of Bracketville, Texas.

Nonfatal

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flights were being conducted under Part 91 without flight plans. The pilot of N777UN was uninjured, while the pilot of N110RG sustained serious injuries. Both flights departed Garner Field Airport (UVA), Uvalde, Texas, approximately 1200.

10 August

Sitka, AK  

Beech B-55

Reg: N98HA  

At about 2140 Alaska daylight time, the twin-engine Beech B-55 sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing in mountainous, tree-covered terrain, about 40 miles north of Sitka, Alaska.

2 killed

The airplane was being operated as an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country personal flight under the provisions of Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot and the sole passenger were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Sitka, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The accident flight originated at the Gustavus Airport, Gustavus, Alaska..

All entries are preliminary and subject to confirmation/correction by formal accident reports.