These are the stories to close out this week...
Have a safe weekend!
Tom
Plane flips multiple times during takeoff and crashes in northern Arizona
No serious injuries
By David Baker
KAYENTA, AZ (AZFamily) — Two men
walked away without any serious injuries after crashing their plane during takeoff in northern Arizona on Wednesday.
It happened at the Kayenta Airport on the Navajo Nation around 3:30 p.m. Officials said the pilots had taxied to the east end of the runway and turned toward the west. While taking off, a sudden gust of wind caused the pilots to lose control of the single-engine plane. The plane veered off course and flipped multiple times.
The plane ended up in the brush near the airport fence. The two pilots had minor cuts and shoulder pain, but otherwise, were OK.
The plane was leaking fuel, so when
firefighters arrived, they used foam around the crash site to prevent any fires from starting. The airport was briefly closed.
Weather officials said northwestern winds gusted at about 25 miles an hour during the afternoon. Investigators said impairment wasn’t a factor in the crash.
“We are grateful that the pilots are safe and that no serious injuries occurred,” said Jarvis Williams, Town Manager for the Kayenta Township. “We also extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated public safety teams for their rapid and effective response to this emergency.”
Kayenta is about 130 miles northeast of Flagstaff.
https://www.azfamily.com/2025/06/20/plane-flips-multiple-times-during-takeoff-crashes-northern-arizona/
Mechanical issue prompts evacuation from United Airlines flight in Charleston
by: Tim Renaud
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Passengers were evacuated from a United
Airlines flight late Wednesday night after the plane experienced a mechanical issue.
One of the passengers aboard the flight from Dulles International Airport said they exited the plane via an inflatable slide after the aircraft had engine problems.
Spencer Pryor, deputy executive director and chief communications officer for the Charleston International Airport, told News 2 that an inbound United Airlines flight experienced a mechanical issue while landing at the airport just before midnight.
Pryor said the passengers were deplaned and taken to the terminal.
Details about the mechanical issue were not provided; however, another passenger said on Reddit that the pilot announced one engine was idle and added that the landing was smooth but there was “panic down the slides.”
News 2 has reached out to United Airlines for additional information. We are waiting to hear back.
https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/charleston-county-news/mechanical-issue-prompts-evacuation-from-united-airlines-flight-in-charleston/
Airplane crashes in hills south of Billings
By ALEX MITCHELL
An airplane crashed in the Blue Creek area
south of Billings Thursday at 2 p.m.
Members of Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, American Medical Response, Blue Creek Volunteer Fire Department and other emergency crews were seen responding to the crash Thursday afternoon.
The crash was several miles south of Billings in grassy hills alongside Wyman Creek.
The airplane was a four-seat 1969 Cessna 172. Owners for the plane are listed publicly as LA Partnership.
As of publication, it is uncertain whether there were any fatalities or injuries resulting from the crash, though a helicopter was seen responding to the crash. Nor was it clear what caused the crash.
https://www.wvnews.com/news/around_the_web/states/airplane-crashes-in-hills-south-of-billings/article_8e75f1ce-e3e8-57c7-b1ad-37ee1179224d.html
Airplane crash-lands in Wisconsin lake, pilot rescued by witness
by: Ben Newhouse
DANIELS, Wis. (WFRV) – The FAA is
investigating an airplane crash in northwestern Wisconsin after a plane crash-landed in a lake on Wednesday afternoon.
The Burnett County Sheriff’s Office posted about the incident on its Facebook page, saying dispatch got a call around 3:15 p.m. on June 18 reporting that an airplane had crashed into Mud Hen Lake in the Town of Daniels.
When authorities arrived, the pilot had already safely gotten out of the plane and was on a pontoon after being rescued by a Good Samaritan. Deputies say that the pilot was the only occupant in the airplane.
The pilot of the 1979 Cessna U206G was identified as a 79-year-old man from Hudson.
The FAA is reportedly investigating the crash.
No additional information was provided.
NTSB Final Report: Piper PA22 Conduct(ed) A Low Altitude Pass Over An Off-Airport
Conduct(ed) A Low Altitude Pass Over An Off-Airport Site With A 5 To 7 Mph Tailwind In His Tailwheel-Equipped Airplane
Location: Aleknagik, Alaska Accident Number: ANC24LA083
Date & Time: August 29, 2024, 19:00 Local Registration: N4NW
Aircraft: Piper PA22 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: According to the pilot, while conducting a low altitude pass over an off-airport site with a 5 to 7 mph tailwind in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the landing gear contacted a patch of alder brush.
The airplane subsequently came to rest in an area of tall brush, both wings, lift struts and empennage sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
14 Years ago today: On 20 June 2011 RusLine flight 9605, a Tupolev Tu-134A, crashed while on approach to Petrozavodsk Airport, Russia, killing 47 occupants; 5 survived the accident.
| Date: | Monday 20 June 2011 |
| Time: | 23:40 |
| Type: | Tupolev Tu-134A-3 |
| Owner/operator: | RusLine, lsf RusAir |
| Registration: | RA-65691 |
| MSN: | 63195 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 35591 hours |
| Cycles: | 20977 flights |
| Engine model: | Soloviev D-30-III |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 47 / Occupants: 52 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 1 km S of Petrozavodsk Airport (PES) - Russia |
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Moskva-Domodedovo Airport (DME/UUDD) |
| Destination airport: | Petrozavodsk Airport (PES/ULPB) |
| Investigating agency: | MAK |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
RusLine flight 9605, a Tupolev Tu-134A, crashed while on approach to Petrozavodsk Airport, Russia, killing 47 occupants; 5 survived the accident.
Flight 9605 had departed Moscow-Domodedovo (DME) at 22:24 on a domestic service to Petrozavodsk. The flight was operated by RusAir on behalf of RusLine. Flight RLU-243 could not be operated by RusLine's Canadair Regional Jets because it lacked the seating capacity needed for the service between Domodedovo and Petrozavodsk.Therefor RusAir was chartered to operate the flight using a Tu-134.
The Tupolev struck trees and crash-landed on a highway while on final approach to runway 01. It broke up and came to rest about 390 metres to the right of the runway's extended centreline and 570 m short of the runway threshold.
CONCLUSION:
The airplane flew an approach in conditions worse than weather minimums for the airfield and the crew failed decide to go-around. Instead the airplane descended below the minimum safe altitude in the absence of visual contact with approaching lighting and landmarks, which led to contact with trees and the ground in controlled flight.
Contributing factors were:
- Poor interaction of the crew and poor crew resource management (CRM) from the commander of the flight during the approach. The pilot subordinated himself to the navigator causing the co-pilot to be effectively excluded from decisions.
- The use during the flight of a navigator in a light level of alcoholic intoxication
- Incorrect weather forecast with regards to height of the cloud base, visibility and severe weather - fog.
- The use of navigation equipment that used satellite navigation to determine the aircrafts position, which was in violation of the Flight Manual Supplement for the Tu-134.
METAR:
19:49 UTC / 23:49 local time:
ULPB 201949Z 10002MPS 2100 RA BR OVC004 15 Q0993 TEMPO 1500 RMK QBB120 QFE741/0988 SC0, 6 =
Wind 100 degrees at 2 m/sec (3.8 knots); 2100 m (6900 ft) visibility in rain and mist; Overcast sky at 400 feet; QNH (Sea-level pressure): 993 hPa; visibility is expected to decrease to 1500m temporarily; cloud base at 120 m
