Regional Investigations

The Office of Aviation Safety investigates almost 1700 aircraft accidents each year, most of which are general aviation accidents investigated by regional staff. While these generally do not have the public visibility of major air carrier accident investigations, these investigations can still involve safety issues important to the traveling public.

Selected Recent Investigations

October 2012

• 11/29 - About 5:20 PM CST, Perryton, TX. Cessna C-208B, operated as a Part 135 cargo flight by Martinaire, hit power lines during an emergency landing to a road following a loss of engine power.
• 11/27 - At 4 PM CST, Childress, TX. Hughes 369D Helicopter crashed following a possible loss of engine power.
• 11/26 - At 9:23 PM CST, Wells, TX. An ALNOT was issued for Cessna C-421, A/C departed West Houston Airport (IWS) 8:41 PM en route Richard Lloyd Jones Airport (RVS).
• 11/26 - At 3:37 PM PST, Scio, OR. RV-6 was observed in a turn when the left wing folded and separated from airframe.
• 11/25 - At 11:08 PM PST, Corona, CA. Robinson helicopter collided with the overhead canopy at the airport's fueling station.
• 11/24 - At 11:30 AM MST, Jackson, WY. Cessna 182D, subject of ALNOT since 11/17, was located in mountainous terrain in the Bridger National forest at the 10,300 foot level.
• 11/21 - Mancelona, MI. Cessna C310 departed 4Y4 and subsequently crashed.
• 11/21 - At 5 PM EST, Hillsdale, MI. Piper PA-28, crashed in wooded area
• 11/21 - At 3:15 PM MST, Denver, CO. Brian North RAF SE5A experimental airplane crashed in a field shortly after performing a touch and go landing at Front Range Airport (FTG).
• 11/19 - At 6 PM EST, Simsbury, CT. Piper P-28, impacted hill on visual approach to airport.
• 11/19 - At 6:55 PM EST, Savannah, GA. Cessna 172 crashed into marsh 8 miles south of airport on ILS approach.
• 11/18 - At 1:20 PM CST, Burlington, WI. Grumman AA-1B near Burlington Municipal Airport was observed departing controlled flight and impacting terrain in a descending spiral.
• 11/16 - At 5 PM EST, Rockland, ME. Cessna 172 struck private truck on takeoff, became airborne and crashed on airport property.
• 11/15 - At 6:30 PM MST, Huntsville, UT. Wreckage of American AA1 missing since 5:30 PM was located in hilly terrain near Huntsville.
• 11/11 - At 7:20 PM PST, Shaver Lake, CA. Cessna 421, on IFR plan flight level 270, entered rapid descent and disappeared off radar, no distress call. Wreckage located by Search and Rescue.
• 11/10 - At 5:02 PM MST, Denver, CO. Southwest #1905 B-737, while turning off runway onto high speed taxiway A/C slid onto grass.
• 11/8 - At 9:04 AM PST, Waterville, WA. North Wing UUM light sport aircraft crashed in a wheat field.
• 11/4 - At 10:45 PM EDT, Atlanta, GA. A OH-6A crashed.
• 11/4 - At 8:05 PM CST, Cessna 310 departed controlled flight and impacted terrain behind a house at Stotts City.
• 11/4 - At 10:30 AM CST, Gothenburg, NE. Cessna 150 crashed 30 yards E of Quinn Field.