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

Date & Time: May 12, 2024 at 1957 LT
Registration:
N241PM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pensacola - Batesville
MSN:
46-97150
YOM:
2003
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Pensacola Regional Airport, Florida, on a private flight to Batesville, Arkansas, with two people on board. About 1,5 hour into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 28,000 feet, the pilot initiated a descent when control was lost. The airplane crashed in an open field located southeast of Marianna and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Palmyra: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2024 at 0900 LT
Registration:
N690BM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Manassas - Georgetown
MSN:
690-11311
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After departure from Manassas-Harry P. Davis Field Airport, Virginia, the twin engine airplane continued to the southwest, bound for Georgetown, South Carolina. While cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet and approaching an area of marginal weather conditions, the pilot apparently elected to modify his route when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded area located in Palmyra. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-DC Skymaster in Fairbanks: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 2024 at 1003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3054V
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fairbanks – Kobuk
MSN:
10547
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
35547
Copilot / Total flying hours:
10769
Aircraft flight hours:
24726
Circumstances:
The purpose of the flight was to transport 3,400 gallons of unleaded fuel and two 100-gallon propane tanks from Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), to Kobuk Airport (OBU), Kobuk, Alaska. The airplane departed about 0955. An eyewitness reported seeing the airplane flying to the west and stated that the far left engine was not running. They also noticed a small, white plume of smoke coming from that engine. The airplane started to turn to the south, and at that point he noticed that the engine was on fire. About three minutes after departure, the pilot reported to air traffic control that there was a fire onboard and began a left turn back to the airport. Video surveillance showed white smoke begin to develop behind the No. 1 engine, followed by flames. Seconds later, a bright white explosion could be seen just behind the No. 1 engine. The airplane then entered an uncontrolled, descending left turn into terrain. The No. 1 engine separated from the wing about 100 ft above the ground and landed on a frozen river. About two minutes later, the video showed a large explosion. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) detected multiple low frequency sound (infrasound) signals associated with the accident. Based on the data collected by UAF, the first explosion was at 1001, the airplane impacted terrain at 1003, and the second explosion was at 1006. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both crew members were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
A loss of power of the No. 1 engine for reasons that could not be determined, and the incorrect installation of a B-nut fitting in the propeller feathering system, which allowed engine oil to spray onto the exhaust system when the propeller was feathered following the loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was an incorrectly repaired fuel leak, which resulted in an explosion that separated the aileron bell housing that resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage near Hartsburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 2024 at 1206 LT
Registration:
N451MA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Madison - Siloam Springs
MSN:
46-36541
YOM:
2012
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Flying over Missouri in marginal weather conditions, the single engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent at 1203LT and crashed about three minutes later in a wooded area located near Hartsburg. There was no fire. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity in the area. The pilot departed Madison-Dane County on a flight to Siloam Springs-Smith Field.

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air near Yarumal: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 2024 at 0720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-4684
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Montería - Medellín
MSN:
LJ-934
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Montería-Los Garzones Airport on an ambulance flight to Medellín, carrying two pilots, a doctor and a nurse. About 30 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 19,000 feet, the airplane initiated a descent and the speed started to decrease until it stalled and crashed in a prairie, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beriev A-50U near Yeysk: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 2024 at 1844 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF-50610
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
00834 84538
YOM:
1989
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While cruising at night in the region of Yeysk, the four engine airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in an open field located near Yeysk. All 10 occupants were killed. The airplane was operated by the 610th Center of Combat Application and coded 42 Red. Ukraine's military intelligence agency confirmed Russian A-50 military aircraft had been downed as a result of a joint operation with the Air Force.

Crash of a Hawker 900XP near Bitter Creek: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 2024 at 1047 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N900VA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grand Junction - Tacoma
MSN:
HA-0020
YOM:
2007
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Grand Junction Airport at 1037LT on a positioning flight to Tacoma, carrying a crew of two. About 10 minutes later, it entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a uninhabited area located near the Bitter Creek River, eastern Utah, near the border with Colorado. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the wreckage was found about 17 km west northwest from the Mack-Mesa Airport located in Colorado. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage near Itapeva: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 2024 at 1038 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PS-MTG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Campinas - Belo Horizonte
MSN:
46-36065
YOM:
1996
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Campinas-Campo de Amarais-Prefeito Francisco Amaral Airport on a flight to Belo Horizonte-Pampulha-Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport. After takeoff, the pilot continued to the east when he apparently encountered adverse weather conditions. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, suffered an in-flight breakup, lost a wing and eventually crashed in a prairie located less than 3 km south of Itapeva. The airplane was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C99 Airliner in Londonderry

Date & Time: Jan 26, 2024 at 0726 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N53RP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manchester - Presque Isle
MSN:
U-195
YOM:
1982
Flight number:
WIG1046
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Manchester-Boston Regional Airport Runway 06 at 0709LT on a cargo service (flight WIG1046) to Presque Isle. After takeoff, the airplane entered a left turn and climbed to 2,700 feet when the pilot reported problems to ATC. He followed several circuits over Manchester, Auburn and Merrimack with erratic courses and varying altitude and speed. Finally, the airplane entered a right turn and crashed in a forest located near Londonderry, about 8 km south of Manchester Airport. The accident occurred 17 minutes after departure. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-76M near Yablonovo: 74 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 2024 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF-86868
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Belgorod
MSN:
00134 28833
YOM:
1981
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
74
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow-Chkalovsky Airport on a flight to Belgorod, carrying 65 Ukrainian soldiers, three accompanying people and six crew members. The crew started the descent to Belgorod Airport when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, rolled to the left and eventually crashed in a snow covered field located in Yablonovo, about 55 km northeast of Belgorod Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 74 occupants were killed. The exact circumstances of the accident remains unclear as Russian Authorities claim that the airplane has been shot down, by error or voluntarily, by a Ukrainian missile. The 65 Ukrainian soldiers were transferred to Belgorod as part of a prisoner exchange program.
Crew:
Stanislav Bezzubkin, pilot,
Alexey Vysokin, copilot,
Andrey Piluev, flight engineer,
Sergey Zhitenev, technician,
Igor Sablinsky, radio operator.