Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage in Yoakum: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 2023 at 1036 LT
Registration:
N963MA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Memphis – Yoakum
MSN:
46-36453
YOM:
2008
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Memphis at FL260, the pilot initiated the descent to Yoakum Airport, Texas. On final approach to runway 31, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located about one mile southeast of the airfield. A passenger was able to get out from the cabin and was slightly injured while all four other occupants were killed.

Crash of an ATR72-500 in Pokhara: 72 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 2023 at 1057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9N-ANC
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kathmandu - Pokhara
MSN:
754
YOM:
2007
Flight number:
YT691
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
72
Aircraft flight hours:
28731
Aircraft flight cycles:
30104
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport at 1032LT on a schedule service (YT691) to Pokhara, carrying 68 passengers and a crew of four. On final approach to Pokhara Airport in excellent weather conditions, the airplane entered a slight pitch up attitude, rolled to the left up to 90° (the left wing apparently stalled) then crashed on the bank of the River Seti, bursting into flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and the wreckage was found about 1,9 km short of runway 12 of the new Pokhara International Airport that was open to traffic January 1st, 2023. Part of the debris were found on the top of the hill and others down in the river bed. No one is believed to have survived the crash.
Probable cause:
In a preliminary report, the Nepalese Authorities confirmed the following points:
- At 10:56:27, the PF disengaged the Autopilot System (AP) at an altitude of 721 feet Above Ground Level (AGL). The PF then called for “FLAPS 30” at 10:56:32, and the PM replied, “Flaps 30 and descending”. The flight data recorder (FDR) data did not record any flap surface movement at that time. Instead, the propeller rotation speed (Np) of both engines decreased simultaneously to less than 25%1 and the torque (Tq) started decreasing to 0%, which is consistent with both propellers going into the feathered condition. On the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) area microphone recording, a single Master Caution chime was recorded at 10:56:36. The flight crew then carried out the “Before Landing Checklist” before starting the left turn onto the base leg. During that time, the power lever angle increased from 41% to 44%. At the point, Np of both propellers were recorded as Non-Computed Data (NCD) in the FDR and the torque (Tq) of both engines were at 0%. When propellers are in feather, they are not producing thrust.
- When both propellers were feathered, the investigation team observed that both engines of 9N-ANC were running flight idle condition during the event flight to prevent over torque. As per the FDR data, all the recorded parameters related to engines did not show any anomaly. At 10:56:50 when the radio altitude callout for five hundred feet3 was annunciated, another “click” sound was heard. The aircraft reached a maximum bank angle of 30 degrees at this altitude. The recorded Np and Tq data remained invalid. The yaw damper disconnected four seconds later. The PF consulted the PM on whether to continue the left turn and the PM replied to continue the turn. Subsequently, the PF asked the PM on whether to continue descend and the PM responded it was not necessary and instructed to apply a little power. At 10:56:54, another click was heard, followed by the flaps surface movement to the 30 degrees position.
- When ATC gave the clearance for landing at 10:57:07, the PF mentioned twice that there was no power coming from the engines. At 10:57:11, the power levers were advanced first to 62 degrees then to the maximum power position. It was followed by a “click” sound at 10:57:16. One second after the “click” sound, the aircraft was at the initiation of its last turn at 368 feet AGL, the high pressure turbine speed (Nh) of both engines increased from 73% to 77%.
- It is noted that the PF handed over control of the aircraft to the PM at 10:57:18. At 10:57:20, the PM (who was previously the PF) repeated again that there was no power from the engines. At 10:57:24 when the aircraft was at 311 feet AGL, the stick shaker was activated warning the crew that the aircraft Angle of Attack (AoA) increased up to the stick shaker threshold.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Mweya

Date & Time: Dec 31, 2022 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-GBR
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Mweya Airstrip located in the Queen Elizabeth National Park, the single engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and collided with a house. All five occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It just completed a charter flight with three European citizens and two pilots on board.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Jetprop DLX in Goose Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 2022 at 1002 LT
Registration:
N5EQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nashua – Goose Bay – Nuuk
MSN:
46-36051
YOM:
1996
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Nashua Airport, New Hampshire, on December 13 on a flight to Nuuk, Greenland, with an intermediate stop in Goose Bay. Due to poor weather conditions at destination, the pilot diverted to Seven Islands Airport, Quebec, where the couple passed the overnight. On the morning of December 14, the airplane departed Seven Islands Airport at 0820LT bound for Goose Bay. On final approach to runway 08 at Goose Bay-Happy Valley Airport, the pilot was cleared to land when the airplane impacted the ground and crashed 5 km short of runway. Both occupants were seriously injured. The next day, the pilot aged 52 died from injuries sustained.

Crash of a Piper PA-42-1000 Cheyenne 400LS in Lewistown

Date & Time: Dec 13, 2022 at 1006 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GZPU
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Great Falls – Lewistown
MSN:
42-5527011
YOM:
1984
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 08 at Lewistown Airport, the twin engine airplane started to skid then veered off runway to the left. While contact a snow covered terrain, it slid for few dozen metres and came to rest with its left wing severely damaged. All three occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Learjet 45 in Batesville

Date & Time: Nov 29, 2022 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N988MC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Waterloo – Batesville
MSN:
45-352
YOM:
2007
Flight number:
DHR003
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Waterloo Regional Airport (ACO), Waterloo, Iowa, about 1757LT on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan and climbed to cruise at flight level (FL) 410. During the arrival to BVX, a non-towered airport, the air traffic controller cleared the airplane for the RNAV (GPS) Runway 08 approach and the crew cancelled IFR after visually acquiring the runway environment. The airplane crossed the final approach fix at 265 knots ADS-B groundspeed and the Runway 8 threshold at 190 knots ADS-B groundspeed. The airplane landed about 2,000 feet past the threshold of the 6,022 feet runway, which was wet due to earlier precipitation. Tire marks consistent with intermittent braking application started about 3,021 feet from the end of the runway. Tire marks consistent with continuous anti-skid braking application began about 2,069 feet from the end of the runway and continued until the end of the runway. The airplane exited the runway at an airspeed of about 100 knots ADS-B groundspeed, then continued forward and struck a ditch and the airport perimeter fence before coming to rest nearby a road, approximately 1,240 feet past the runway end. Both pilot were slightly injured and all six passengers escaped unhurt.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Decatur: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 2022 at 1510 LT
Registration:
N6797L
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Denton – Decatur
MSN:
421C-1050
YOM:
1981
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Denton Enterprise Airport runway 36 at 1459LT and continued to the west at an altitude of 2,000 feet. Eight minutes later, the pilot initiated a left hand circuit to land at Decatur Airport. While descending on final, the speed decreased and the airplane crashed nearby a wooded area located 6 km short of runway 35. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AT Expediter in Waukesha

Date & Time: Nov 15, 2022 at 0900 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N247DH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Orleans – Waukesha
MSN:
AT-626B
YOM:
1985
Flight number:
AMF7141
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed New Orleans-Lakefront Airport on a cargo flight to Waukesha, carrying three crew members and a load consisting of 53 dogs in dog crates. On final approach to Waukesha Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to snow falls. The airplane crash landed into the third hole on the Western Lakes Golf Course located about 5,5 km short of runway 10 threshold. The airplane slid on its belly for few dozen metres on a snow covered ground before colliding with trees. There was no fire. All three crew members and all 53 dogs were uninjured. Both wings were severely damaged due to the collision with trees.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian in North Platte: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 2022 at 0935 LT
Registration:
N234PM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lincoln – North Platte
MSN:
46-97200
YOM:
2005
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Lincoln on a flight to North Platte, Nebraska. While approaching North Platte-Lee Bird Airport Runway 30 in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on the shore of a small lake, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the wreckage was found 6 km from the runway threshold. Both occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, visibility was limited due to freezing rain.

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air in Slidell

Date & Time: Nov 6, 2022 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N809DM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nashville – Slidell
MSN:
LW-334
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Inbound from Nashville-John C. Tune Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in a wooded area located short of runway 36 at Slidell Airport, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.