Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Sonex, N586RK: Incident occurred March 30, 2021 at Marana Regional Airport (KAVQ), Pima County, Arizona

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Aircraft landed, veered off the runway and gear collapsed. 


Date: 30-MAR-21
Time: 18:10:00Z
Regis#: N586RK
Aircraft Make: SONEX
Aircraft Model: SONEX
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: MARANA
State: ARIZONA

Jabiru J250-SP, N236X: Accident occurred March 30, 2021 near Treasure Coast International Airport (KFPR), Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

Location: Fort Pierce, FL
Accident Number: ERA21LA166
Date & Time: March 30, 2021, 11:05 Local 
Registration: N236X
Aircraft: JABIRU USA SPORT AIRCRAFT J250-SP
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 30, 2021, about 1105 eastern daylight time, a Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft J250-SP, N236X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, the airplane was in cruise flight when the engine began to experience “hiccups.” He switched fuel tanks and turned on the electric fuel pump, but engine issues continued. The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to a field road. As the airplane approached the road, the pilot maneuvered to avoid large trees; however, during the subsequent landing the left wing stuck tree branches, the airplane spun around and came to rest in a tidal canal.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, the airplane’s left wing was mostly separated, and the entire airplane was submerged.

The airplane and engine were recovered for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: JABIRU USA SPORT AIRCRAFT
Registration: N236X
Model/Series: J250-SP
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: FPR,24 ft msl 
Observation Time: 10:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C /19°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 2700 ft AGL 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 15 knots / , 130°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious 
Latitude, Longitude: 27.494306,-80.53901 

Embraer EMB-550, N56CH: Incident occurred March 30, 2021 in Boise, Ada County, Idaho

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise, Idaho

Aircraft cockpit window fell out. 

CMH Homes Inc


Date: 30-MAR-21
Time: 19:20:00Z
Regis#: N56CH
Aircraft Make: EMBRAER
Aircraft Model: EMB550
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: CORPORATE
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: BOISE
State: IDAHO

Bell OH-58C Kiowa, N513PD: Incident occurred March 28, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; East Michigan

Rotorcraft during lift-off, the tail rotor struck the main rotor of another helicopter, N312ST. 

City of Detroit 


Date: 28-MAR-21
Time: 01:20:00Z
Regis#: N513PD
Aircraft Make: BELL
Aircraft Model: OH58
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PUBLIC USE
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
City: DETROIT
State: MICHIGAN

Cessna 150L, N6544G: Accident occurred March 30, 2021 in Blairstown, Warren County, New Jersey

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Allentown Location: Hardwick Township, NJ
Accident Number: ERA21LA169
Date & Time: March 30, 2021, 14:32 Local 
Registration: N6544G
Aircraft: Cessna 150L 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N6544G
Model/Series: 150L
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: 
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.990412,-74.946555

Cessna 337A, N211EW: Accident occurred March 30, 2021 in Byars, McClain County, Oklahoma

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Aircraft lost engine power and crashed in a pasture. 


Date: 30-MAR-21
Time: 14:30:00Z
Regis#: N211EW
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 337
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: BYARS
State: OKLAHOMA

Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey, N2155A: Incident occurred March 30, 2021 at Grand Strand Airport (KCRE), North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbia, South Carolina

Aircraft veered off runway during takeoff and departed from the grass.


Date: 30-MAR-21
Time: 17:00:00Z
Regis#: N2155A
Aircraft Make: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE
Aircraft Model: SEAREY
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: NORTH MYRTLE BEACH
State: SOUTH CAROLINA

Beech C24R Sierra, N24LC: Incident occurred March 30, 2021 at Farmville Regional Airport (KFVX), Cumberland County, Virginia

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia

Aircraft landed and nose gear came off the aircraft.

First Eclipse Limited


Date: 30-MAR-21
Time: 18:46:00Z
Regis#: N24LC
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: 24
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: FARMVILLE
State: VIRGINIA

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Cessna 172M Skyhawk, N9313H: Incident occurred March 27, 2021 at Phoenix Goodyear Airport (KGYR), Maricopa County, Arizona

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona

Aircraft struck a bird leaving a dent on leading edge of wing. 

Flying Ten Flying Club


Date: 27-MAR-21
Time: 17:17:00Z
Regis#: N9313H
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: APPROACH (APR)
Operation: 91
City: GOODYEAR
State: ARIZONA

Mooney M20J, N9146Q: Accident occurred March 27, 2021 at Alturas Municipal Airport (KAAT), Modoc County, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Reno, Nevada

Location: Alturas, CA
Accident Number: WPR21LA148
Date & Time: March 27, 2021, 12:30 Local
Registration: N9146Q
Aircraft: Mooney M20J
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Mooney 
Registration: N9146Q
Model/Series: M20J 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
KAAT Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Lakeview, OR (KLKV)
Destination: Alturas, CA (KAAT)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 41.515,-120.55 (est)

Cessna 172K Skyhawk, N79087: Incidents occurred November 12, 2021 and March 26, 2021

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California 

November 12, 2021:  Aircraft experienced a gust of wind on landing and incurred a propeller strike at Riverside Municipal Airport (KRAL), California. 

Air Discovery LA LLC


Date: 12-NOV-21
Time: 18:53:00Z
Regis#: N79087
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: RIVERSIDE
State: CALIFORNIA

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Van Nuys, California

March 26, 2021: Aircraft veered off runway into the grass, across taxiway into the grass and then back onto taxiway at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY), California.

Air Discovery LA LLC


Date: 26-MAR-21
Time: 19:21:00Z
Regis#: N79087
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 91
City: VAN NUYS
State: CALIFORNIA

Piper PA-28RT-201T Arrow IV, N2205H: Incident occurred March 26, 2021 at Centennial Airport (KAPA), Denver, Colorado

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado

Aircraft gear collapsed on landing.

Tango Alpha IV LLC


Date: 26-MAR-21
Time: 21:03:00Z
Regis#: N2205H
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA28
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: DENVER
State: COLORADO

Diamond DA-20C-1 Eclipse, N392DC: Accident occurred March 26, 2021 at Tampa Executive Airport (KVDF), Hillsborough County, Florida

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida

Fly Dynasty Corporation 


Location: Tampa, FL
Accident Number: ERA21LA179
Date & Time: March 26, 2021, 16:05 Local
Registration: N392DC
Aircraft: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA20-C1 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC
Registration: N392DC
Model/Series: DA20-C1 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: VDF,21 ft msl 
Observation Time: 15:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C /14°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 2000 ft AGL 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / 4 knots,
Lowest Ceiling: Unknown 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Tampa, FL (VDF) 
Destination: Tampa, FL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 28.013987,-82.345259 (est)

Piper PA-28-161, N602FT: Incident occurred March 27, 2021 at Melbourne International Airport (KMLB), Brevard County, Florida

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

Aircraft veered off taxiway into the grass.

FIT Aviation LLC


Date: 27-MAR-21
Time: 16:38:00Z
Regis#: N602FT
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA28
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: FAR 141 PILOT SCHOOL
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Operation: 91
Aircraft Operator: FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
City: MELBOURNE
State: FLORIDA

Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N734ZG: Incident occurred March 27, 2021 in St. Augustine, Florida

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

Aircraft made a force landing in a field. 


Date: 27-MAR-21
Time: 20:07:00Z
Regis#: N734ZG
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: ST AUGUSTINE
State: FLORIDA

Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey, N851SR: Incidents occurred January 16, 2022 and March 27, 2021

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Juan, Puerto Rico

January 16, 2022:  Aircraft landed gear up at Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Davila Associates


Date: 16-JAN-22
Time: 17:40:00Z
Regis#: N851SR
Aircraft Make: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE
Aircraft Model: SEAREY
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: SAN JUAN
State: PUERTO RICO

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

March 27, 2021:  Aircraft landed gear up at Leesburg International Airport (KLEE), Lake County, Florida.

Progressive Aerodyne Inc


Date: 27-MAR-21
Time: 20:18:00Z
Regis#: N851SR
Aircraft Make: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE
Aircraft Model: SEAREY
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: LEESBURG
State: FLORIDA

Piper PA-18A 150 Super Cub, N6971D: Incidents occurred March 27, 2021 and September 10, 2016

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; South Florida

March 27, 2021:  Aircraft suffered a propeller strike during runup.  North Perry Airport (KHWO), Hollywood,  Broward County, Florida.

Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC


Date: 27-MAR-21
Time: 15:50:00Z
Regis#: N6971D
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA18
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: STANDING (STD)
Operation: 91
City: HOLLYWOOD
State: FLORIDA

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

September 10, 2016: Aircraft while in non-movement area with engine running and no person onboard, rolled into parked aircraft. Woodbine Municipal Airport (KOBI), Cape May County, New Jersey.

Van Wagner Aerial Media LLC

Date: 10-SEP-16
Time: 13:30:00Z
Regis#: N6971D
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA18
Event Type: Incident
Damage: Unknown
Flight Phase: STANDING (STD)
City: WOODBINE
State: New Jersey

Beechcraft King Air 200, N43TA: Incident occurred March 26, 2021 - Valdosta Regional Airport (KVLD), Lowndes County, Georgia

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

Aircraft encountered severe turbulence resulting injury to a passenger.

Kentucky King Air LLC


Date: 26-MAR-21
Time: 15:07:00Z
Regis#: N43TA
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: B200
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: MINOR
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: ON DEMAND
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 135
Aircraft Operator: TRITON AIRWAYS
City: VALDOSTA
State: GEORGIA

Cessna 172N, N5266D: Incident occurred March 27, 2021 at Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C), Illinois

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greater Chicago

Aircraft on landing veered off runway into the grass.  

Three B's Aero Inc


Date: 27-MAR-21
Time: 17:05:00Z
Regis#: N5266D
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: NONE
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: SCHAUMBURG
State: ILLINOIS

Cessna R182RG Skylane, N9076C: Incident occurred March 26, 2021 at Evansville Regional Airport (KEVV), Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Indianapolis, Indiana

Aircraft veered off runway into the grass.  

EVV Pilots Club Inc


Date: 26-MAR-21
Time: 21:21:00Z
Regis#: N9076C
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 172
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: EVANSVILLE
State: INDIANA

Boeing 747-446, N464MC: Incident occurred March 26, 2021 at Topeka Regional Airport (KFOE), Shawnee County, Kansas

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas

Aircraft taxiing for departure and front nose wheel became stuck in the mud.  

Atlas Air Inc


Date: 26-MAR-21
Time: 07:42:00Z
Regis#: N464MC
Aircraft Make: BOEING
Aircraft Model: 747
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: ATLAS
Flight Number: ATLAS8598
City: TOPEKA
State: KANSAS



TOPEKA, Kansas (KSNT) – A large passenger plane is grounded after slipping off a runway while preparing for departure at Topeka Regional Airport, also known as Forbes Field.

“The nose gear of an Atlas Air passenger 747-400 aircraft left the paved surface of (the) taxiway as it was making a 180-turn to position for departure at Topeka Regional Airport early this morning,” an Atlas Air representative told KSNT News. “The passengers and crewmembers who were on board have deplaned safely with no injuries. The aircraft will be returned to a maintenance facility at the airport where it will undergo a full evaluation before being returned to service.”

Atlas Air is used for charter, commercial and military transport.

Airbus A321-231, N982VJ: Incident occurred March 28, 2021 near Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT), North Carolina

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Charlotte, North Carolina

Aircraft struck a bird on final. 

American Airlines Inc


Date: 28-MAR-21
Time: 01:42:00Z
Regis#: N982VJ
Aircraft Make: AIRBUS
Aircraft Model: A321
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: APPROACH (APR)
Operation: 121
Aircraft Operator: AMERICAN AIRLINES
Flight Number: AAL1483
City: CHARLOTTE
State: NORTH CAROLINA

Embraer ERJ-145, N650AE: Accident occurred March 28, 2021 - Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT), North Carolina

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Charlotte, North Carolina

Piedmont Airlines

American Airlines Inc


Location: Charlotte, NC
Accident Number: DCA21LA109
Date & Time: March 28, 2021, 18:00 Local
Registration: N650AE
Aircraft: Embraer EMB-145LR
Injuries: 2 Serious, 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air carrier - Scheduled

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Embraer
Registration: N650AE
Model/Series: EMB-145LR
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Flag carrier (121)
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: 
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: 
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Serious, 2 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious, 2 Minor 
Latitude, Longitude:  35.218578,-80.948542 (est)

Robinson R44 II, N178DF: Accident occurred March 26, 2021 in Dustin, Hughes County, Oklahoma

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Brush Popper Aviation LLC


Location: Dustin, OK
Accident Number: CEN21LA173
Date & Time: March 26, 2021, 15:15 Local 
Registration: N178DF
Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Injuries: 2 Serious, 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

On March 26, 2021, about 1515 central daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 II, N178DF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Dustin, Oklahoma. The private pilot and one passenger received serious injuries, and two passengers received minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 hog eradication flight.

The pilot stated that while maneuvering, the low rotor rpm warning annunciated. He applied full throttle but was unable to regain rotor rpm. The pilot said he immediately performed a forced landing.

Postacccident examination of the helicopter revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter sustained substantial damage that included damage to the main rotor, fuselage, and tailboom.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
Registration: N178DF
Model/Series: R44 II 
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: OKM
Observation Time: 15:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 90 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C /7°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots / 21 knots, 150°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.89 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Henryetta, OK (F10)
Destination: Dustin, OK

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious, 2 Minor 
Latitude, Longitude: 35.2707,96.0308 (est)

Quicksilver Sport 2S N412DS: Accident occurred March 26, 2021 in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Juan, Puerto Rico

Aircraft made a forced landing in the bay for unknown reasons. 


Date: 26-MAR-21
Time: 11:00:00Z
Regis#: N412DS
Aircraft Make: QUICKSILVER
Aircraft Model: SPORT S2
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: SAN JUAN
State: PUERTO RICO

Bell OH-58A Kiowa, N1045C: Accident occurred March 27, 2021 in Pottsboro, Grayson County, Texas




This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; North Texas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Pottsboro, TX
Accident Number: CEN21LA169
Date & Time: March 27, 2021, 17:25 Local 
Registration: N1045C
Aircraft: Bell OH-58
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Bell 
Registration: N1045C
Model/Series: OH-58 Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: 
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point:
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None Latitude,
Longitude:  33.755615,-96.673141 (est)

Piper J3C-65, N42769: Accident occurred March 27, 2021 in Justin, Denton County, Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; North Texas Location: Justin, TX
Accident Number: CEN21LA168
Date & Time: March 27, 2021, 16:00 Local 
Registration: N42769
Aircraft: Piper J3C-65 
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 27, 2021, about 1600 central daylight time, a Piper J3C-65, N42769, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Justin, Texas. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that he turned westbound for his approach to a private landing strip when the engine lost power. The pilot then attempted to land the airplane in a wheat field; however, the airplane impacted trees, and came to rest in a stand of trees on the edge of a field. Both wings sustained substantial damage.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration Inspector noted fuel was present in the airplane. The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 
Registration: N42769
Model/Series: J3C-65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KDTO
Observation Time: 15:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C /14°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 180°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 5500 ft AGL 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.82 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: 
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 33.083147,-97.294813

Aviat A-1 Husky, N29HU: Accident occurred March 26, 2021 at Ogden-Hinckley Airport (KOGD), Weber County, Utah

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah

International Aircraft Sales LLC


Location: Ogden, UT
Accident Number: WPR21LA147
Date & Time: March 26, 2021, 17:45 Local 
Registration: N29HU
Aircraft: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC
Registration: N29HU
Model/Series: A-1
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility:
Altimeter Setting: 
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: 
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 41.19507,-112.01219 

Cessna 150L, N1390Q: Accident occurred March 26, 2021 at Marana Regional Airport (KAVQ), Pima County, Arizona

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona Location: Marana, AZ
Accident Number: WPR21LA150
Date & Time: March 26, 2021, 08:30 Local
Registration: N1390Q
Aircraft: Cessna 150L 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N1390Q
Model/Series: 150L 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time: 08:30 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 
Temperature/Dew Point:
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility:
Altimeter Setting:
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 32.509833,-111.32533 (est)

Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey LSA, N847SR: Incident occurred March 29, 2021 at Flagler Executive Airport (KFIN), Palm Coast, Flagler County, Florida

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

Aircraft landed and veered off runway into the grass, became airborne again, returned to land and veered off the runway into the grass. 

Progressive Aerodyne Inc


Date: 29-MAR-21
Time: 16:03:00Z
Regis#: N847SR
Aircraft Make: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE
Aircraft Model: SEAREY
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: PALM COAST
State: FLORIDA

Hughes 369D, N506CW: Accident occurred March 26, 2021 in Marshall Islands

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; New York International Field Office

Rotorcraft was ditched into the ocean during squall. 

Vertol Systems Company Inc


Date: 26-MAR-21
Time: 22:51:00Z
Regis#: N506CW
Aircraft Make: HUGHES
Aircraft Model: 369D
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
MARSHALL ISLANDS

Piper PA-32: Incident occurred March 29, 2021 at Harford County Airport (0W3), Churchville, Maryland

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baltimore, Maryland

Aircraft landed gear up. 

Date: 29-MAR-21
Time: 18:45:00Z
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: PA32
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: CHURCHVILLE
State: MARYLAND

Navion G Rangemaster, N2474T: Incident occurred March 29, 2021 at Hagerstown Regional Airport (KHGR), Washington County, Maryland

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baltimore, Maryland

Aircraft landed and gear collapsed. 


Date: 29-MAR-21
Time: 18:15:00Z
Regis#: N2474T
Aircraft Make: NAVION
Aircraft Model: NAVION G
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: HAGERSTOWN
State: MARYLAND

TL-Ultralight Stream, N37ST: Incident occurred March 29, 2021 in Aiken, South Carolina

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbia, South Carolina

Aircraft experienced engine issues and landed in a field. 

Zephair Aviation LLC


Date: 29-MAR-21
Time: 21:35:00Z
Regis#: N37ST
Aircraft Make: TL ULTRALIGHT
Aircraft Model: STREAM
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)
Operation: 91
City: AIKEN
State: SOUTH CAROLINA

Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, N665FL: Accident occurred March 29, 2021 in Yacolt, Clark County, Washington

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration/ Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Washington


Location: Yacolt, WA
Accident Number: WPR21LA151
Date & Time: March 29, 2021, 16:47 Local
Registration: N665FL
Aircraft: Piper PA-28-140 
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 29, 2021, about 1647 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N665FL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Yacolt, Washington. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that while at cruise altitude, about 8,000 ft mean sea level, the engine started to run rough. He applied carburetor heat and requested a lower altitude from an air traffic controller. Despite his actions, the engine was running worse. The pilot requested vectors to the nearest airport and while being vectored, and after exiting IMC conditions, he elected to make a force landing in a nearby clearing. During the landing, the airplane impacted several trees.

The airplane was the subject of a Federal Aviation Administration Alert Notification (ALNOT), and later that evening the airplane’s wreckage was located by Navy search and rescue in heavily forested terrain about 5 miles east of Yacolt, Washington.

The airplane was recovered to a secure location for future examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N665FL
Model/Series: PA-28-140 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPDX,107 ft msl
Observation Time: 16:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 21 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C /-2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 5500 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots / , 310°
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.36 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Bend, OR (BDN)
Destination: Tacoma, WA (TIW)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 45.851889,-122.2613 (est)
 
Craig Beles and Truman O’Brien, at Voice of Vashon just days after their plane went down deep inside the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. 

 Craig Beles’ and Truman O’Brien’s Piper PA28-140, was recovered on Monday —crumpled yet also still remarkably intact, thanks to O’Brien’s derring-do and skill in the cockpit.


In the past week, no news has been as celebrated on Vashon as the fact that Craig Beles and Truman O’Brien are still alive.

Their survival after the crash of their small plane has been the talk of the town, with an outpouring of relief and amazement expressed by islanders on social media and in person, as both men have been spotted working volunteer shifts for VashonBePrepared at the island’s vaccination site.

The duo has also been pursued by a pack of reporters from Seattle and regional media outlets, resulting in news accounts detailing how great piloting, good luck and a swift response by rescue teams all made it possible for the men to walk away from the twisted wreckage of their plane.

As for Beles and O’Brien, both now say how grateful they are for all the love expressed by their friends and families, as well as the heroics of their rescuers.

On Thursday, April 1, the amiable pair of friends — who are well known and beloved on Vashon for their civic engagement and volunteer work — showed up at the Voice of Vashon radio station to tell the story of how their plane had gone down deep inside the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington.

As they sat behind VoV’s console, the only signs of the ordeal on their smiling faces were a small scratch on Beles’ forehead, and deep purple shiners rimming both of O’Brien’s eyes.

Here is the tale they lived to tell.

The morning of Monday, March 29, Beles, age 71, and O’Brien, age 75, took off from Vashon Airport for a quick trip to Bend, Oregon and back.

The pair flew separately, each piloting a different plane — one to be left behind in Bend for a paint job. In a quick turnaround, O’Brien piloted the plane they flew back — a Piper PA28-140, with a 180 horsepower engine, weighing about 2100 pounds fully fueled and loaded.

Their trip back to Vashon proved how aptly Beles and O’Brien had named the company they formed as co-owners of the two planes — Treetop Flyers LLC, chosen originally in a nod to the towering trees that surround Vashon’s tiny airport, and the way pilots have to practically put their wheels on those treetops as they take off.

The name has a whole new meaning now.

On the flight home, at around 3:30 p.m., the engine of their plane began to sputter 8,000 feet above the ground in southwest Washington.

What happened next happened fast. First, O’Brien and Beles went through a checklist of possible actions to right what was wrong with the engine, but nothing worked. It kept cutting out.

O’Brien piloted the plane as it descended through thick clouds. Then, Beles and O’Brien saw the canopy of treetops of the forest on the south side of Mount St. Helens, just below them.

For O’Brien — a certified flight instructor and retired commercial airline pilot for Alaska Airlines — a lifetime of preparedness and experience had prepared him for his next maneuver.

As he looked at the forested terrain beneath him and realized the plane wouldn’t make it to the nearest airport, he decided to do some treetop flying.

Beles described O’Brien’s piloting as masterful, comparing him to the famed pilot “Sully” Sullenberger, who in 2009 sat his United Airlines jetliner down atop the freezing Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers and crew.

“You’ve heard of “Miracle on the Hudson,’” Beles said. “This was the miracle on the side of Mt. St. Helens.”

Putting the plane into a glide, O’Brien steered it away from a clearing that he knew would be full of dangerously tall tree stumps, and toward an adjacent forested area.

Beles described the feeling of being in the shaking plane as it descended at 80 miles per hour, with a “Hazard Terrain” warning flashing on the instrument panel, and an air traffic controller’s voice on the radio telling the pair they couldn’t go any lower.

“The trees start coming up below you, and you’re kind of thinking, well, this could be it — the odds are not in our favor,” he said.

And then, against all those odds, O’Brien somehow entered and then glided down through the treetops, slowing the plane enough so that it finally impacted upside down at the bottom of a stand of trees just adjacent to the stump-filled clearing. The clearing, he had decided, would be a fatal place to land, but a great spot to be rescued from.

For O’Brien, slowing the plane as it came to the ground was the goal.

“I’ve had mountain flying training years ago and I’ve flown in the mountains a lot in little airplanes, and you always think about what are you going to do and how are you going to do it, and all of that just came together,” he said. “But even if you did everything perfectly, which we pretty much did, the outcome is still absolutely not guaranteed.”

Beles described the wild ride through the trees.

“It was like you were in a blender, and you’re wondering, when is that tree limb going to come through the windshield, when is the cockpit going to get crushed, what’s going to happen when we finally get off the tops of the trees and drop down to the ground,” Beles said. “For various reasons, it couldn’t have [turned out] any better.”

Beles’ and O’Brien’s first task, after realizing they were both still alive, was to get out of the plane — which wasn’t easy, given that they were hanging upside down. But after falling face first in the mud as he scrambled free of his seat belt, O’Brien then looked up to see Beles and noticed that not a single hair on his friend’s head was out of place.

“I said, ‘Why does your hair look so good?’” O’Brien said with a laugh.

Other moments of levity came in the aftermath of the crash, they said, as they realized they were deep in the wilderness with no cellphone reception and a hand-held radio that didn’t work either, because of a malfunction with its charger.

The pair joked about how it would be just their luck to survive a plane crash, only to be eaten by bears or blown up in another eruption of Mt. Saint Helens.

But also, as they surveyed the scene, came the immediate and heavy realization that their wives had expected them to be home between 4 and 4:30 p.m. that day.

“The most difficult thing to handle was thinking ‘oh my God, our wives, what is going through their heads?’” said Beles. “We knew they were going to get a phone call and be told that their husbands’ plane went down.”

The pair prepared to hunker down for the night by ripping the airplane seats out of the plane and tearing off their sheepskin covers to use as blankets. Then came another challenge — building a fire without matches or a lighter.

“There was fuel still dripping out of the wing, so I thought, how do you start a fire? O’Brien said.

What Beles and O’Brien did was wrestle the heavy battery out of their upside-down plane, and then rip some wire out from under the instrument panel. After stripping down the wires with O’Brien’s Swiss Army Knife, they sparked a flame and lit their fuel-soaked flight charts on fire atop a pile of brush.

In another “MacGyver” move, Beles and O’Brien took the plane’s emergency locator transmitter (ELT) out of the plane and turned it on — it hadn’t gone off in the crash, perhaps because O’Brien’s crash landing had been so slow and smooth, they said. They attached a portable antenna to the device and stuck it inside Beles’ coat to keep it warm as it did its work — alerting a small army of first responders and rescue teams to their location.

That coat — a last-minute wardrobe choice made by Beles as he left his house on Monday morning — turned out to be a factor in their rescue as well.

Beles — who is known for his sartorial elegance at dress-up occasions on Vashon — had chosen the bright yellow jacket, with fluorescent hazard stripe across it, that he wears when volunteering at Vashon’s vaccination site.

The pair was rescued, well after dark, by a US Navy helicopter that had joined the rescue mission from the Whidbey Island Naval Base. As Beles and O’Brien heard the chopper overhead, O’Brien shined his flashlight on Beles’ coat, sending a beam of light up to the sky like a beacon.

In all, 10 agencies took place in the rescue, Beles and O’Brien said, expressing deep gratitude to all of them. These included the US Navy, The Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Sheriff’s Office Civilian Search and Rescue Team, Mount St. Helens Volcano Rescue Team, Washington State Emergency Operations Center, Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency, Department of Emergency Management, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, US Forest Service – LE Division and North Country EMS.

After being checked out at a small hospital, the pair spent the night in the Scappoose, Oregon home of Lauren Gundlach —who is the daughter of Vashonite Penni Symonds. There, they were welcomed by Lauren, her husband Andrew, and the couple’s four-month-old baby, Shiloh.

“Lauren is a nurse and sensed that I was still somewhat rattled from our experience, so she handed me her four-month-old beautiful baby, knowing her happy, smiling child would gently bring me back to earth,” Beles said.

The next morning, O’Brien and Beles were picked up by their wives, Mary O’Brien and Lynette Beles, and O’Brien’s daughter Molly O’Brien, who drove them back home to Vashon.

The next day, Beles was back at his volunteer station at the vaccination site, wearing his bright yellow jacket, directing traffic to the spot where other islander’s lives were being saved.







YACOLT, Washington — A pilot and passenger aboard a single-engine plane that crashed in rural Southwest Washington Monday afternoon were rescued hours later at night. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said the two people, whose identities were not released, were able to walk to a rescue helicopter. They only had minor injuries.

The two were spotted around 9:30 p.m. near Jack Mountain, a peak east of Yacolt, Washington, by a Navy search crew in a helicopter out of the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, WSDOT said. The Navy crew was able to load the pilot and passenger into the helicopter and fly them to the Yacolt Primary School parking lot for medical examination.

The pilot and passenger were taken to the North County EMS station in Yacolt and treated for minor injuries. They were then taken by Clark County deputies to the West Precinct Office where they were picked up by family.

A search began after the pilot Monday afternoon reported the plane engine was running rough and descending through clouds, unable to maintain altitude, according to WSDOT. The pilot was last heard from at 3:47 p.m. The plane's radar was last picked up in forest land near Yacolt, a small town northeast of Vancouver and south of Mount St. Helens.

There was no emergency beacon being picked up, WSDOT said, but the last known radar point is where crews began the search. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the search on the ground, while the Navy crew surveyed the area from above.

The plane, which is registered out of Vashon Island, was heading from Bend, Oregon, to the Tacoma Narrows Airport near Gig Harbor, Washington. No other details about the crash have been released.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.

Luscombe 8, N28461: Accident occurred March 29, 2021 at Jefferson County International Airport (0S9), Port Townsend, Washington

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Seattle, Washington Location: Port Townsend, WA
Accident Number: WPR21LA149
Date & Time: March 29, 2021, 12:00 UTC 
Registration: N28461
Aircraft: Luscombe 8A
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Luscombe
Registration: N28461
Model/Series: 8A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAWO,137 ft msl 
Observation Time: 11:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 27 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C /-3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 10 knots / , 320°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.35 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: 
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 48.053806,-122.81063

Beech E90 King Air, N521LB: Incident occurred March 29, 2021 at Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport (KRKS), Rock Springs, Wyoming

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado

Aircraft landed and gear collapsed. 

Poky Feeders Inc


Date: 29-MAR-21
Time: 19:15:00Z
Regis#: N521LB
Aircraft Make: BEECH
Aircraft Model: 90
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: CORPORATE
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: ROCK SPRINGS
State: WYOMING

Cirrus SR20 G3, N689PG: Accident occurred March 27, 2021 at Boerne Stage Field Airport (5C1), San Antonio, Kendall County, Texas











This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

Sky Flea Aero LLC


Location: Boerne, TX
Accident Number: CEN21LA170
Date & Time: March 27, 2021, 11:43 Local
Registration: N689PG
Aircraft: CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CIRRUS DESIGN CORPORATION
Registration: N689PG
Model/Series: SR20 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s)Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: 5C1,1384 ft msl 
Observation Time: 11:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0.5 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C /16°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / , 180°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 2100 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.89 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Boerne, TX (5C1)
Destination: Boerne, TX

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 29.723219,-98.694557