Grumman American AA-1B, N6298L: Accident occurred June 01, 2022 in River Falls, Wisconsin

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; Minneapolis, Minnesota 

https://registry.faa.gov/N6298L

Location: River Falls, Wisconsin

Accident Number: CEN22LA220

Date and Time: June 1, 2022, 12:15 Local

Registration: N6298L

Aircraft: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP. AA-1B 

Injuries: 2 Minor

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On June 1, 2022, about 1215 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-1B airplane, N6298L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near the St Croix Riviera Airport (6WI2), River Falls, Wisconsin. The student pilot received minor injuries and the certificated flight instructor received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part91 instructional flight.

The student pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff, when the airplane was about 150-200 ft above the ground that the “engine locked up”. After the loss of engine power, a forced landing to a vacant field south of the airport was made.

The airplane came to rest upright in a field. The left outboard wing panel was substantially damaged.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP.

Registration: N6298L

Model/Series: AA-1B

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built:

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: KSTP, 700 ft msl 

Observation Time: 07:03 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 14 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C /9°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Unknown

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,

Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 2500 ft AGL 

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg 

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Departure Point: 

Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 Minor

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries:

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 Minor

Latitude, Longitude: 44.839775,-92.75065

Aircraft crashed in a field under unknown circumstances. 

Date: 01-JUN-22

Time: 17:30:00Z

Regis#: N6298L

Aircraft Make: GRUMMAN AMERICAN

Aircraft Model: AA-1B

Event Type: ACCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: SUBSTANTIAL

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)

Operation: 91

City: RIVER FALLS

State: WISCONSIN

Cameron Z-90, N65009: Accident occurred June 01, 2022 in Burlington, Wisconsin

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; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pure Magic Balloon Team LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N65009

Location: Burlington, Wisconsin

Accident Number: CEN22LA221

Date and Time: June 1, 2022, 20:15 Local

Registration: N65009

Aircraft: CAMERON BALLOONS Z-90 

Injuries: 3 Serious

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Business

On June 1, 2022, about 2015 central daylight time, a Cameron Z-90 balloon, N65009, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Burlington, WI. The pilot and 2 passengers were seriously injured. The balloon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal

Regulations Part 91 business flight.

The conductor on a Canadian National freight train reported that the train was traveling northbound when the balloon ran into the train. The conductor immediately put the train into emergency stop. Neither the conductor nor the engineer were injured.

The engineer reported that he saw the balloon descending and began to slow the train as he did not know where the balloon was going. He said that he saw the balloon approach the train in his side mirror at which time he applied the emergency brakes. The balloon then landed in the grassy area between the railroad tracks and a street. As the balloon began to lose air and become limp it started to blow toward the rail cars. The balloon envelope caught on one of the cars, 15 cars back from the engine, and the balloon was pulled off the ground. The envelope then ripped away from the basket and ascended about 200 ft into the air.

The pilot reported that he attempted to land on a road east of the railroad tracks. The balloon came to a stop near the railroad tracks and the balloon’s envelope caught on an empty lumber car.

A witness who was at the nearby dog park reported that the balloon came over the tree line south of the dog park about 50 ft above the trees. The balloon descended as if it were going to land in the park but continued over the adjacent street toward the railroad tracks, which at the time had a train traveling northbound. The balloon landed in the grassy area between the railroad tracks and the street, and the balloon envelope became limp. The balloon then caught on one of the train cars which pulled the balloon off the ground. The envelope tore away from the basket and the three individuals in the basket fell out. 

The balloon basket was intact and found inverted near the railroad tracks. Both propane tanks were intact and remained secured in the basket. One fuel line was separated from one tank. The fuel line to the second tank was separated near the burner attachment end. The envelope came to rest on the street, about 500 ft north of the basket. The envelope load tapes and basket cable carabiners that attach the basket and burners to the envelope were substantially damaged.

The balloon was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CAMERON BALLOONS

Registration: N65009

Model/Series: Z-90 

Aircraft Category: Balloon

Amateur Built:

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: KBUU,780 ft msl 

Observation Time: 19:55 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C /13°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,

Lowest Ceiling: None 

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg 

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Departure Point: Burlington, WI

Destination: Burlington, WI

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 2 Serious 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 3 Serious

Latitude, Longitude: 42.671222,-88.268074

 

Balloon crested trees, crashed in a field and then was sucked under a passing freight train.  

Date: 01-JUN-22

Time: 22:55:00Z

Regis#: N65009

Aircraft Make: CAMERON BALLOONS

Aircraft Model: Z-90

Event Type: ACCIDENT

Highest Injury: SERIOUS

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)

Operation: 91

City: BURLINGTON

State: WISCONSIN

BURLINGTON, Wisconsin — Federal investigators are sending a balloon specialist to explore an incident Wednesday night that injured three people after a hot-air balloon collided with a moving train.

The Burlington Police Department initially said three adult occupants of the hot-air balloon all suffered life-threatening injuries and were taken to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa.

By Thursday, all three were released from the hospital, identified as pilot Jimmy Winder, 62, of Bristol, Wisconsin, and passengers Nikolay Veltchev, 37, of Barrington, Illinois, and Elena Petrova, 36, of Arlington Heights, Illinois.

According to police, witnesses on the scene reported that the airborne balloon appeared "in distress" over Burlington and, during its descent, collided with a northbound Canadian National Railroad train.

Canadian National spokesman Jonathan Abecassis declined to comment on how fast the train was traveling or other details of the incident. Abecassis referred questions to local authorities.

The balloon operator, Lake Geneva Balloon Co., said Thursday a balloon pilot and two passengers were injured, and that two of them — it was not clear which ones — had been released by the hospital.

John Trione, chief pilot and manager of the balloon company, said the crash occurred as the pilot was attempting to land on a road in a park while a freight train was moving through the area.

"The balloon and its occupants were pulled into contact with the train," Trione said.

Weather conditions at the time were unremarkable, with clear skies and mild winds.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are helping state and local police investigate the incident.

NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said the federal agency should have a preliminary report within two weeks, and that it could take a year or longer to produce a full report on the incident.

Weiss said the NTSB gets involved whenever there is an accident involving an aircraft, including hot-air balloons.

A balloon specialist from Denver, Colorado, is being sent to help with the investigation in Burlington, Weiss said. Asked whether the government has ever before seen a collision between a hot-air balloon and a moving train, Weiss said: "We get a lot of unusual cases — let's just leave it at that. We see a lot of things."

Burlington police said they were called at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday to the scene of the incident in the 400 block of Calumet Street, near Downtown Burlington. Providing assistance with the injured people were the Burlington Fire Department and other fire departments from Waterford, Rochester and Kansasville.

Two patients were flown to Froedtert by helicopter ambulance, and one was transported by a ground ambulance.

Ryan Lamp, who works at the nearby Casey’s General Store, 100 S. Dodge St., told a reporter that many customers told him a hot-air balloon flying over an industrial building appeared to hit a chimney and then crash and collide with a moving train.

The police department asked that anyone with information about the incident contact the Burlington Police Department at 262-342-1104 or via email at rjones@burlington-wi.gov.

The department said Canadian National Railroad, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office and Racine County Communications also assisted at the crash site. Canadian National and the Wisconsin State Patrol are helping with the investigation.

On Facebook, some people posted photographs that they said showed the balloon in flight shortly before the crash. In some photos, it appeared that more than one balloon was present.

Lake Geneva Balloon Co., based in Lake Geneva, provides sightseeing balloon rides for tourists and other visitors. On clear days, the company's balloons are often seen floating high in the sky over the Lake Geneva area.

According to the company's website, Trione received a commercial pilot’s certificate for hot-air balloons in 2000, and he created Lake Geneva Balloon Co. two years later.

In the company's statement Thursday, Trione said the company has a 20-year record of safety, but that all flights are being suspended for a week because of the crash.

"Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our guests," he said. "Our entire company is devastated."

Of the three injured people, Trione said, "Their recovery is our most important consideration, and our hearts and prayers are with them."

https://journaltimes.com

Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six 300, N2899N: Accident occurred May 27, 2022 at Princeton Municipal Airport (KPNM), Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

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; Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tailwinds Flying Club

https://registry.faa.gov/N2899N

Location: Princeton, Minnesota 

Accident Number: CEN22LA218

Date and Time: May 27, 2022, 18:25 Local

Registration: N2899N

Aircraft: Piper PA-32-300 

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper 

Registration: N2899N

Model/Series: PA-32-300

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built:

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:

Departure Point: Minneapolis, MN (MIC)

Destination: Princeton, MN

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: 45.560397,-93.608442 

Aircraft landed, veered off runway striking taxiway lights. 

Date: 27-MAY-22

Time: 23:25:00Z

Regis#: N2899N

Aircraft Make: PIPER

Aircraft Model: PA32

Event Type: ACCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: SUBSTANTIAL

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)

Operation: 91

City: PRINCETON

State: MINNESOTA

Air Tractor AT-301, N3658T: Accident occurred June 01, 2022 in Pemberton, Burlington 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; Teterboro, New Jersey 

Jersey Devil Dusters LLC

https://registry.faa.gov/N3658T

Location: Pemberton Township, New Jersey

Accident Number: ERA22LA255

Date and Time: June 1, 2022, 21:15 UTC 

Registration: N3658T

Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-400A

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AIR TRACTOR INC

Registration: N3658T

Model/Series: AT-400A

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built:

Operator:

Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural aircraft (137)

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: N/A

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None

Latitude, Longitude: 39.944342,-74.629851 (est)

Landing gear damage on landing.  

Date: 01-JUN-22

Time: 21:15:00Z

Regis#: N3658T

Aircraft Make: AIR TRACTOR

Aircraft Model: AT-400

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: NONE

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: AERIAL APPLICATION

Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)

Operation: 137

City: PEMBERTON

State: NEW JERSEY

 

PEMBERTON, New Jersey - Authorities say a small plane made a "rough landing" in a field Wednesday afternoon in Burlington County.

The apparent emergency landing happened just after 5:30 p.m. near Rake Pond Road in Pemberton Township, according to authorities. 

No injuries were reported and its unknown how many people were aboard the aircraft. 

https://www.fox29.com

Cirrus SR22 GTS G3 Turbo, N432CP: Accident occurred June 01, 2022 in Wayne, Tredyffrin Township, Pennsylvania

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

Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances on a golf course.

https://registry.faa.gov/N432CP

Date: 01-JUN-22

Time: 19:27:00Z

Regis#: N432CP

Aircraft Make: CIRRUS

Aircraft Model: SR22

Event Type: INCIDENT

Highest Injury: MINOR

Aircraft Missing: No

Damage: UNKNOWN

Activity: PERSONAL

Flight Phase: EN ROUTE (ENR)

Operation: 91

City: PHILADELPHIA

State: PENNSYLVANIA

WAYNE, Pennsylvania (CBS) — A husband and wife are lucky they weren’t seriously injured after their plane crash-landed on a golf course. It happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at St. David’s Golf Club in Wayne.

A mechanical failure forced the pilot to make an emergency landing near a maintenance building on the course, which is located in the Wayne section of Tredyffrin Township.

We’re told about six or seven people were in the area when that plane went down. Everyone says they’re counting this ending as a blessing.

“It was miraculous, quite honestly,” a man said.

It’s being hailed as a miracle on Radnor Road after a plane landed on the golf course with little damage.

The plane reportedly suffered a mechanical failure.

“He looked for a safe place to land, he saw the golf course as he was going towards the other airport. He was able to land on the golf course. Unfortunately, when he came in it was an uphill slope, hit a little bit harder than he would have liked to,” Tredyffrin Township Police Chief Michael Beaty said.

Golfers pulled the pilot, his wife, and their two cats to safety. They were headed to Wings Field in Blue Bell from Fort Myers, Florida, with a stop for fuel in South Carolina.

“It could’ve been awful. If anybody had died on this golf course it would’ve been horrible for them and for us for sure,” Ken Jones said.

Jones is the president of the golf course. He relayed how members described the moments they noticed something was happening.

“Sally said to Bill, ‘I think that plane’s going to crash,’ and they didn’t even have time to move. Luckily, it was about 25 yards ahead of them. They said it hit the ground, bounced up, went over the tee box and into the trees,” Jones said.

The pilot found an open area on the course near the 14th hole for his emergency landing.

Many are grateful this wasn’t worse.

“It’s extremely rare. They’re very fortunate. I think the pilot did as good a job as you could given the situation. And it was nice to have the people here so close to help them out,” Beaty said.

The FAA and the NTSB are currently investigating the crash.

The couple on board was taken to Paoli Hospital where they are expected to be OK.

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com

WAYNE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Chester County emergency crews said two people were injured when a private plane crashed in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

The Cirrus SR22 went down at about 3:30 p.m. at the St. Davids Golf Club on the 800 block of Radnor Road.

Investigators said a male pilot and his wife were traveling to Wings Field in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania from Fort Myers, Florida with a stop for fuel in South Carolina.

The plane reportedly suffered a mechanical failure, and the pilot was able to locate an open area on the course near the 14th hole to make an emergency landing.

The plane reportedly suffered a mechanical failure, and the pilot was able to locate an open area on the course near the 14th hole to make an emergency landing.

Views from Chopper 6 showed the crashed plane near some trees on the course.

The pilot and passenger were able to get out of the plane with assistance from witnesses who were on the golf course, officials said.

Action News spoke with aviation expert and former Navy pilot John Gagliano. He says if there was any day to have this happen, Thursday was it.

"Actually on a day like today, where there's beautiful weather and not a lot of clouds around, there's an 85% chance you walk away from something like that," said Gagliano.

He also says when he hears the plane lost power, that means the engine failed and that could've happened from a variety of factors.

Gagliano says it takes skill when it comes to an emergency landing.

"You have to put the plane in the position to get to a clear area. So, there are a lot of things that can go wrong and everything has to go perfect and right. This pilot did that. He made every choice apparently well because he walked away," said Gagliano.

The couple was taken to Paoli Hospital as a precaution.

The FAA will begin its investigation to figure out what exactly went wrong.

No golfers were injured in the incident.

https://6abc.com

  

TREDYFFRIN, Pennsylvania - Authorities say two people were hurt when a plane made an emergency landing on a Pennsylvania golf course Wednesday afternoon.

The hard landing happened around 3:30 p.m. at St. Davis Golf Country Club in the Wayne section of Tredyffrin Township. 

Police Chief Mike Beaty told reporters that the plane was being piloted by a 70-year-old man, who had his wife and two cats aboard. 

During the flight, investigators said the plane experienced a "mechanical failure" and the unnamed pilot eyed the golf course for an emergency landing spot. 

The plane impacted a slight rise in the terrain before it came to a stop near a tree line, authorities said. 

The pilot, his wife, and their two cats were all safely removed from the plane with help from a group of witnesses. 

The passengers were taken to Paoli Hospital for treatment, according to police. 

FOX 29's Chris O'Connell reports that public records show the plane, a Cirrus SR22, is owned by a Montgomery County man.

Authorities said the plane was heading to Wings Field in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania from Fort Myers, Florida. 

Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will probe the crash. 

https://www.fox29.com