Category: 2013

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2013 C-182 C-185 Formation Flying Formation Flying Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Single-Engine Superior WI

C-182L/C-185 Non-Fatal Superior, WI November 2, 2013

A Cessna 182L (182), the lead airplane, and a Cessna 185F (185), the trail airplane, collided during a
formation skydiving flight. Both pilots flew the airplanes in a rectangular pattern until they reached the
jump altitude of 12,700 ft mean sea level. The 182 pilot established a jump heading and visually
confirmed that the 185 was to the left side and aft of the 182. The 182 pilot then called out “door open”
and jumpers “climbing out.” Subsequently, the four skydivers on board the 182 climbed out onto the
airplane’s right wing strut and right wheel step. Almost immediately, the 182 was struck by the 185. The
182’s windshield was shattered, and the airplane entered an uncontrollable descent. During the descent,
the right wing separated from the airplane, and the right wing fuel tank exploded. The 182 pilot exited
the airplane and parachuted safely to the ground. The 185 pilot reported that “when it was time for the
skydivers to climb out, the two planes began to drift together and in seemingly no time at all, the two
were colliding.” After the collision, the skydivers on board the 185 jumped from the airplane as it
inverted; the pilot was able to recover the airplane and land.

Video of the collision from NBC News

Read the NTSB report.

DD.com Blog discussion.

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11 2013 Blog Fatal Fatal Single-Engine Loss of Aircraft Control Mechanical Failure PC-6 Pilatus Porter

PC-6 Fatal (11) Marchovellete, Belgium October 18, 2013

At least 10 civilian parachutists were killed alongside a pilot today when their light plane crashed into a field in Belgium. Four of those on board the stricken Pilatus PC-6 Porter had been seen desperately trying to get out after the aircraft caught fire and a wing dropped off. But they were unable to open their chutes before the plane crashed into the ground near the town of Marchovelette, in the southern Namur region.

Crash site: A firefighter inspects the wreckage of the plane, which was carrying 11 people
Crash site: A firefighter inspects the wreckage of the plane, which was carrying 11 people

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2467472/Belgium-plane-crash-kills-10-parachutists.html#ixzz2iVbcMnCN
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebookhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2467472/Belgium-plane-crash-kills-10-parachutists.html

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2013 C-182 NM Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Single-Engine Santa Teresa

C-182J Non-fatal Santa Teresa, NM September 29, 2013

The pilot reported that he was making a circling descent to the airport after dropping parachutists and
that he used carburetor heat during the descent. As the pilot was on the base leg of the landing pattern,
close to the turn onto the final leg, the engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane short of the
runway, and the firewall buckled and the nose landing gear bent forward. The operator later functionally
tested the engine and it operated normally.

Read the NTSB report.

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2013 C-182 Casa Grande NM Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Single-Engine

C-182A Non-Fatal Casa Grande, AZ September 14, 2013

The pilot reported that, while on final approach, he performed the landing checklist and confirmed that
the carburetor heat was on. About 100 feet above ground level, he advanced the throttle; however, the
engine did not respond. The pilot verified that the mixture, throttle, and propeller setting were in the fullforward
position, but, despite his efforts, the engine would not restart. He subsequently initiated a forced
landing to an open area. During the landing, the airplane impacted a ditch and nosed over. Seven gallons
of fuel were found in the right fuel tank, and 11 gallons of fuel were found in the left fuel tank. A
postaccident examination and operational run of the recovered engine revealed no evidence of
mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the reported
weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at
glide power, the pilot reported that he used carburetor heat, which would have prevented the
accumulation of ice. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Read the NTSB report.

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2013 Boulder C-182 CO Fuel Exhaustion Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Single-Engine

C-182 Non-Fatal Boulder, CO September 1, 2013

The pilot reported that he had flown a group of skydivers to altitude for an intentional
parachute jump about 3 miles north of the airport and was returning for landing at the time of
the accident. The airplane was on final approach when the engine lost power. The pilot’s
attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and he ditched the airplane into a lake
short of the runway. The pilot reported using carburetor heat during the descent; however, the
pilot did not periodically apply engine power (clear the engine) during the descent. According
to FAA Advisory Circular 20-113, Pilot Precautions and Procedures to be Taken in Preventing
Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Induction System and Fuel System Icing Problems, "Heat
should be applied for a short time to warm the induction system before beginning a prolonged
descent with the engine throttled and left on during the descent. Power lever advancement
should be performed periodically during descent to assure that power recovery can be
achieved." A postaccident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent
with a preimpact failure or malfunction. Local weather conditions were conducive to the
formation of carburetor icing.

Read the NTSB report.

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1 2013 Brooklyn C-U206 Fatal Fatal Single-Engine IA

C-U206 Fatal (1) Brooklyn, IA August 16, 2013

Before departure for the positioning flight, the pilot was told that an observer/passenger would be
joining him for the flight. The airplane, which was typically used in skydiving operations, had its right
cabin door removed, and a fabric roll-up jump door had been installed; it was not closed during the
flight. The pilot reported that the passenger sat behind him on the right side of the airplane and that he
heard him attach his seatbelt. During the flight, the passenger moved forward in the cabin, which
resulted in the passenger’s reserve parachute inadvertently deploying and the passenger being pulled
through the open jump door. The passenger hit the doorframe, and the parachute became entangled with
the empennage, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. The
parachute eventually separated from the empennage, and the pilot was able to regain control of the
airplane and land it without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed that the passenger had
inadvertently attached his seatbelt to the handle that released the reserve parachute. Therefore, the
reserve parachute deployed when the passenger moved. The pilot did not conduct a safety briefing
before the flight; however, the improper routing of the seatbelt may not have been identified even if he
had conducted a safety briefing. Additionally, if the jump door had been closed, it is likely that the
passenger would not have been pulled out of the airplane.

Read the NTSB report.

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2013 C-206 Turbo-Charged C-P206 Fuel Starvation Mechanical Failure Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Single-Engine Sturgeon Bay WI

C-TP206 Non-Fatal Sturgeon Bay, WI June 1, 2013

The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during a skydiving flight. After the pilot switched
the fuel tank selector from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank position, the engine restarted. The pilot
continued the flight. While returning to the departure airport and preparing for landing, the pilot
switched the fuel tank selector back to the left fuel tank position because the fuel gauge indicated a
greater fuel quantity. About 1 minute later, the engine quit. The pilot landed the airplane left of the
intended runway, about 200 feet from its end, and the airplane flipped over and pivoted on its nose.
Examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank vent system was obstructed with an unknown
substance. It is likely that the obstruction prevented fuel flow to the engine and resulted in a total loss of
engine power.

Read the NTSB report.

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2013 C-182 Freemont Fuel Exhaustion MI Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Single-Engine

C-182C Non-Fatal Freemont, MI May 18, 2013

The pilot reported that the purpose of the accident flight was to release four skydivers at
10,500 feet mean sea level (msl). The pilot reported that, before the accident flight, he used a
calibrated dipstick to determine how much fuel was on board the airplane. The left and right
fuel tanks contained 10 and 5 gallons of fuel, respectively. He noted that the skydiving flight
typically took a single pass over the landing zone, which required about 20 to 25 minutes of
flight time and 8 gallons of fuel; however, the accident flight required two passes over the
landing zone at 10,500 feet msl, which added about 2 to 5 minutes to the accident flight. He
reported that the flight climbed to 10,500 feet msl and the skydivers were released without any
anomalies or malfunctions with the airplane. The pilot immediately initiated a descent to
reenter the traffic pattern at the departure airport, and the airplane experienced a loss of
engine power while on the downwind leg. A helicopter was approaching the airport at a similar
altitude, which delayed the turn onto the base leg. Believing he had insufficient altitude to
reach the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. The nose landing gear
collapsed shortly after touchdown, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. Following the
accident, the pilot reported to several individuals that the airplane "ran out of fuel,"
which resulted in the loss of engine power while in the traffic pattern. Additionally, the pilot
stated that there were no mechanical issues with the engine before the loss of engine power.
During a postaccident examination, 3.5 gallons of fuel were recovered from the airplane.
According to the Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane has 3 gallons of unusable fuel
while operating in level flight and 10 gallons of unusable fuel while in flight attitudes other
than level flight; therefore, the airplane did not have enough fuel for the accident flight.

Read the NTSB report.

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2013 C-182 East Moriches Non-Fatal Non-Fatal Single-Engine NY Tail Strike

C-182D Non-Fatal East Moriches, NY May 17, 2013

According to the pilot, he leveled the airplane at 8,500 feet for a tandem skydive. When the instructor
exited the airplane, the nose pitched up, then the airplane pitched over into a right, descending turn. The
pilot assessed the situation and determined that the right horizontal stabilizer was bent. He later
determined that the instructor’s drogue chute became trapped under the flap handle, resulting in a
premature deployment of the parachute. The drogue chute then caught the horizontal stabilizer, resulting
in a 45-degree downward bend. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures
with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Read the NTSB report.