Saturday, February 06, 2021

Airbus A320, N463UA: Accident occurred December 23, 2020 in Houston, 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.

United Airlines Inc


Location: Houston, TX
Accident Number: DCA21LA058
Date & Time: December 23, 2020, 18:30 UTC
Registration: N463UA
Aircraft: AIRBUS INDUSTRIES A320-232 
Injuries: 1 Serious, 139 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 121: Air carrier - Scheduled

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AIRBUS INDUSTRIES 
Registration: N463UA
Model/Series: A320-232
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: 1 Serious, 5 None
Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger Injuries: 134 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 139 None
Latitude, Longitude: 29.816516,-95.442813 (est)

Sonex, N610DJ: Accident occurred December 24, 2020 at O'Connor Field Airport (8IL5), Pecatonica, Winnebago County, Illinois

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; DuPage, Illinois


Location: Pecatonica, IL 
Accident Number: CEN21LA100
Date & Time: December 24, 2020, 14:40 Local
Registration: N610DJ
Aircraft: WALTON DANIEL J SONEX 
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On December 24, 2020, about 1440 central standard time, a Sonex, N610DJ, was involved in an accident near Pecatonica, Illinois. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot of the personal flight reduced engine power during a visual approach for landing to O'Connor Field Airport (8IL5), Pecatonica, Illinois. The airplane engine lost power, and the pilot was unable to restart the engine. Witnesses located at 8IL5 saw the airplane enter a stall/spin on base to final for runway 9. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose low attitude and sustained substantial damage.

The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: WALTON DANIEL J
Registration: N610DJ
Model/Series: SONEX 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
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: KRFD,743 ft msl
Observation Time: 11:54 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: -9°C /-17°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2500 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots / 21 knots, 290°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3600 ft AGL 
Visibility: 8 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.84 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: 
Destination: Pecatonica, IL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 42.303868,-89.344838 (est)

Turbulence Encounter: Beechcraft B300 King Air 350, N862UP; accident occurred January 13, 2021 in Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina







Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Enfield, Connecticut

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: 

Wheels Up


Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Accident Number: ERA21LA115
Date and Time: January 13, 2021, 21:00 Local
Registration: N862UP
Aircraft: Beech 300
Aircraft Damage: None
Defining Event: Turbulence encounter 
Injuries: 1 Serious, 4 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled

Analysis

According to the operator, the airplane was cruising at flight level 250, about 1 hour and 40 minutes into the flight, when it encountered 30 to 45 seconds of severe turbulence. One of the three passengers was not seated and sustained serious injuries. The injured passenger reported that she struck her head on the overhead ceiling compartment, then fell onto the armrest. Another passenger assisted her to her seat, but the injured passenger had difficulty fastening her seatbelt. According to the operator, the crew reported the turbulence to air traffic control, advised the controller of the injury, and continued to the destination airport at the request of the passengers. At the destination airport, the passenger was met by emergency medical services personnel and declined additional medical treatment. The passenger reported that she sought medical treatment the following week and had a fractured rib. The pilot recorded the passenger’s seatbelt in the aircraft maintenance logbook. Mechanics performed a functional check of the seatbelt and found it to be operational, and the airplane was returned to service.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
An encounter with severe turbulence, which resulted in serious injury to an unseated passenger.

Findings

Environmental issues Clear air turbulence - Effect on operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute-cruise Turbulence encounter (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport 
Age: 45, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 23, 2020
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: February 24, 2020
Flight Time: 4685 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1650 hours (Total, this make and model), 3250 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Co-pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport 
Age: 38, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): 
Airplane Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 1, 2020
Occupational Pilot: Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 9, 2020
Flight Time: 7809 hours (Total, all aircraft), 45 hours (Total, this make and model), 4046 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 45 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 14 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Male
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification:
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Female
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s):
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech 
Registration: N862UP
Model/Series: 300
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2016 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Commuter 
Serial Number: FL-1061
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 11
Date/Type of Last Inspection: December 18, 2020 Continuous airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 15100 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 87 Hrs
Engines: 2 Turbo prop
Airframe Total Time: 3155 Hrs as of last inspection Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Canada
ELT: C126 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-60A
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 1050 Horsepower
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand air taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As: Wheel Up
Operator Designator Code: 02GA

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: SUT, 25 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 21:15 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 190°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  / Clear air
Wind Direction: 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  / Severe
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Naples, FL (APF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Norfolk, VA (OPF)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 19:22 Local
Type of Airspace: Class A

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: None
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 4 None
Latitude, Longitude: 34.0104,-78.0584 (est)

Cessna U206G Stationair, C-GWAS: Accident occurred January 23, 2021 in Denton, Davidson County, 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; Greensboro, North Carolina 

Questor Aviation Ltd

Questor Surveys


Location: Denton, NC 
Accident Number: ERA21LA112
Date & Time: January 23, 2021, 14:46 Local
Registration: C-GWAS
Aircraft: Cessna U206
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

On January 23, 2021, about 1455 eastern standard time, a Cessna U206G, Canadian registration CGWAS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Denton, North Carolina. The pilot and copilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight.

According to the pilot-in-command (PIC), she and the copilot had been flying mapping flights for the United States Geological Survey group. The PIC stated they would fly about 250 ft. above ground level in a grid pattern while mapping. She further stated that they had enough fuel on board for about a 6-hour flight. They departed Montgomery County Airport (43A), Star, North Carolina about 1300 and planned on returning to the same airport. After 2 hours of flight time, the engine “rolled back” and started to lose power. The airplane immediately began to lose altitude and the PIC turned the airplane to a field just ahead of them and set up for landing. During landing, the airplane bounced back in the air and then on the second touchdown, the nose gear fractured and bent under the fuselage. The airplane slid into some trees and both pilots egressed through the door.

The copilot’s description of the accident flight was consistent with that provided by the PIC.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the firewall was creased, and the aft right motor mount structure was cracked.

The airplane has been retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: C-GWAS
Model/Series: U206 G
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Certificate of authorization or waiver (COA)
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: KHBI,673 ft msl 
Observation Time: 14:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 8 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C /-15°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 20°
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.21 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Star, NC (43A)
Destination: Denton, NC

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 35.705403,-80.048596 (est)