JUNE AVIATION ACCIDENT SUMMARYJimTimm
by Jim Timm


In this regular reporting of aviation accidents that have occurred in Arizona, we need to learn from the mistakes being made and take corrective action to prevent similar accidents from occurring.

In this last reporting period, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had issued reports on seven aviation accidents in Arizona. Of these accidents, one report stated that it was determined the pilot had died as a result of a self-inflected gunshot wound and that the manner of death was determined to be suicide. Of the remaining six accident reports, one accident resulted in one serious injury, one accident resulted in a minor injury and the other four accidents did not result in any injuries. The serious injury accident resulted from loss of engine power as the aircraft turned from base to final and the aircraft landed short of the runway in desert scrub. The minor injury resulted from a loss of aircraft control during landing and striking an obstruction while executing a go around. The remaining accidents were the result of various causes ranging from inadequate care during ground taxi to loss of power during cruise flight.

Additional aircraft accidents may have occurred in the reporting period that had not been recorded and reported by the NTSB, however, they will be available and covered in the next report. In some cases, accidents that are relatively minor in nature and do not include serious injuries may not have a report issued by the NTSB for several weeks and in some cases almost a couple of months from when the accident occurred.

The number of accidents reported are up a bit, however, some of them occurred in the previous reporting period. Lets try to do what we can to keep the numbers down and minor in nature.

In most cases the following information was taken from the preliminary reports that had been issued by the NTSB and contain only the initial information available and are subject to change and may contain errors. Any errors in the preliminary NTSB reports will be corrected when the more detailed final report is completed, which in some cases may be a year or more later.


Accident Date; Sunday, March 17, 2013 Reported 4/19/13
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; In Chino Valley
Aircraft; Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta
Injuries; 2 Uninjured Final Report

During a descent for an off airport pinnacle landing, the helicopter encountered a downdraft about 75 to 100 feet above ground level (agl), and the pilot receiving instruction, increased collective. The flight instructor instructed the pilot receiving instruction to be less aggressive using the collective as the flight continued the descent to the landing area. As the helicopter descended through about 10 to 25 feet agl, it encountered a second downdraft and the pilot receiving instruction increased collective followed by a decrease in rotor RPM. Subsequently, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter as it contacted the ground and then became airborne again. The helicopter yawned to the right, and landed upright on sloping terrain. Post flight examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom was structurally damaged just aft of the fuselage attach point. The pilots reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

No pilot information was made available.


Accident Date; Sunday, March 17, 2013 Reported 5/7/13
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Gila Bend
Aircraft; Cessna 172N
Injuries; 1 Minor Injury Final Report

The student pilot reported that while attempting to land the airplane drifted left and he decided to execute a go-around. During the go-around, the airplane struck a tree located about 178 feet left of the runway, and subsequently impacted the ground. Post accident examination revealed damage to the engine firewall and wings. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported that would have precluded normal operation.

No detailed pilot information was made available.


Accident Date; Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Reported 5/7/13
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Mesa
Aircraft; Boeing B75N1
Injuries; 2 Uninjured Final Report

The pilot reported that after touchdown, the tail wheel equipped airplane tracked left of runway center as it decelerated. He applied corrective actions; however, the airplane continued to track left and subsequently departed the runway edge. The right wing made contact with the ground during the runway excursion, and was substantially damaged. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.

No detailed pilot information was made available.

Accident Date; Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Gila Bend
Aircraft; Cessna 172
Injuries; 1 Uninjured Final Report

The student pilot reported that while taxiing to the ramp he misjudged the airplane's wing distance from the upper part of a fuel tank at the fueling station. The left wing contacted the tank and was substantially damaged. The pilot's taxi route was actually on the parking apron instead of the taxiway, which brought the airplane within close proximity to the fueling station.

The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

No detailed pilot information was made available.


Accident Date; Monday, March 25, 2013 Reported 4/22/13
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Maricopa
Aircraft; Owens Velocity 173
Injuries; 3 Uninjured

On March 25, 2013, about 1310 MST, an experimental Owens Velocity airplane, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise and made a forced landing on a dirt road near Maricopa, Arizona. The pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage.

The local area flight had departed Pegasus Airpark, Queen Creek, about 1230. According to the pilot, they had been airborne about 25 minutes when the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He identified a dirt road as a landing site. The pilot flew a normal pattern for landing on the dirt road. He landed the airplane successfully, however, on the landing rollout the airplane struck a berm and pitched the airplane up. The airplane became partially airborne, and came to rest in an open field. An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responding to the accident site reported that all three landing gear had separated from the airplane with damage to the fuselage and wings.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed.


Accident Date; Saturday, April 13, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; San Manuel
Aircraft; Beech 35-B33
Injuries; 1 Serious Injury

On April 13, 2013, about 1310 MDT, a Beech 35-B33, collided with a ditch during a forced landing near San Manuel Airport. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damaged to both wings during the accident sequence. The cross-country flight departed Pegasus Airpark, Queen Creek, about 1230, with a planned destination of San Manual. The pilot reported that he initially departed from Pegasus Airpark with the intention of getting fuel at San Manuel. He flew the trip at an altitude of 5,000 feet msl, and selected runway 29 for landing. He approached the airport in a right traffic pattern, and as he transitioned from the base to final leg, the engine lost all power. With limited time to troubleshoot, he performed a forced landing into desert scrub short of the runway.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.


Accident Date; Saturday, April 20, 2013
Title 14 CFR Part 91 Operation
Location; Bullhead City
Aircraft; Hoffman RV4
Injuries; 1 Fatal

On April 20, 2013, between 0600 and 0720 MST, an experimental amateur built Hoffman RV-4, crashed at Bullhead City Airport (IFP). The commercial pilot had sustained fatal injuries as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces. The cross-country personal flight departed Cottonwood, sometime after 0600 with an unknown destination. Airport personnel from IFP reported that during an airport safety sweep about 0720, they found the crashed airplane between the runway and the taxiway. They reported it was not present during the previous sweep at 0430. There were no identified witnesses to the airplane impact.

A witness at Cottonwood Airport (P52), reported that he heard what he believed to be the airplane departing sometime after 0600. He further stated the airplane was observed at the airport on Friday night.

On April 22, 2013, the medical examiner performed an autopsy on the pilot. It was determined that the pilot died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The manner of death was determined to be suicide.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

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