From Barcelona, Spain, we start the new week with the following stories...
Be safe out there!
Tom
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2 rescued after plane crashes in Salem County on Saturday, police say
By Brendan Brightman
Two people were rescued after their aircraft
crashed into marsh near Rainbow’s End Airport in Salem County, New Jersey, on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, police said.
The Delaware State Police and members of the Delaware Air Rescue Team from the Goodwill Fire Company responded to the crash, with both people who were on the plane having to be hoisted out from the area.
One of the people rescued had to be taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while the other came away unharmed, police said.
The FAA and NTSB is investigating the incident, police said. No further details were available at this time.
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/2-rescued-plane-crashes-salem-county/4291626/
Eyewitness recalls fatal plane crash near home in Lincoln
By: Madelyn Heath , John Riley
Update 6:40 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2025 — As first reported by KREM, the family of Spokane
dealership owner Dan Arrotta is reporting that he is the one who died in the plane crash. Arrotta's wife posted on social media that he was flying to Montana to go on a hunting trip with his brothers.
Original story — The Lewis and Clark Sheriff's Office and Lincoln Fire and Rescue are reporting that one man died in the Friday night plane crash near the Lincoln, Montana, airport.
Lincoln resident John Perkins was on his porch when the plane crashed less than 100 yards away from his home.
"I saw it and I dove onto the ground because of a big explosion," said Perkins.
According to officials, the pilot was flying into the airport to go hunting this weekend. While making his approach at around 9:15 p.m., the plane crashed about a half-mile from the landing strip into some trees.
"Could not really tell what happened," said Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse, "Just that there is a lot of debris and a lot of fire, so we worked the edges a little bit to keep it from spreading out into all this tall grass and being a threat to all of these houses."
Officials told MTN they are only aware of the man being listed as on the plane. However, due to the severe burning of the wreckage, they will need to conduct full forensics — including dental records — to identify the human remains that were found.
Perkins says huge flames and debris were scattered across his neighborhood that night.
“I knew nothing had survived when it hit, and I thought, oh my god, I can't even go over there to see,” he explained.
Perkins noted that maybe it was the adrenaline or the fact that he is a former firefighter, but rather than watching the blaze, he sprang into action.
“The first thing was protection for me, so I was watering all of the trees, and thank God I had all the hoses out,” noted Perkins
Since the crash happened after dark, he also wanted to make sure his neighbors were safe too.
“I was out here yelling fire, fire, fire and Julie said 'Oh you are alive! It didn’t hit your house,'” Perkins recalled.
Although Perkins' heart hurts for the life lost in the
crash, he believes there is one thing that kept his community safe.
“I guess God was with me,” he told MTN.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. Local officials believe the plane is a Cirrus single-propeller aircraft.
"Because of the complete incineration, there is no registration number available, but we are working with the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA to do flight logs of who was here, who was coming in here, who had a flight plan and things like that," explained Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton.
The identity of the deceased will be officially released by the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office once they can forensically determine the identity.
The full investigation of the incident is expected to take around three months.
In August, a medical helicopter crashed in the center of Lincoln. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in that crash. Click here to learn more about that event.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with quotes from Lincoln Fire Chief Zach Muse , Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton and resident John Perkins. An addition was also made after the family of Dan Arrotta publicly announced that he was the pilot who died.
https://www.ktvh.com/news/montana-news/update-on-fatal-plane-crash-in-lincoln
Small plane makes emergency landing on sand in Huntington Beach
By City News Service
Two people in a small airplane that made an
emergency landing on the sand in Huntington Beach after experiencing engine trouble were uninjured, Huntington Beach officials said
A helicopter pilot with the Huntington Beach Police Department overheard radio traffic from John Wayne Airport about the aircraft in distress and found it as its pilot searched for a place to land, said Corbin Carson, a spokesman for the city of Huntington Beach.
The emergency landing occurred on the beach between Lifeguard Towers 11 and 13 around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, after the airplane was unable to make it to John Wayne Airport, Carson said.
The pilot maintained visual contact and observed the plane touch down safely.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified, Carson said.
Small plane makes emergency landing on sand in Huntington Beach
NTSB Prelim: Lancair 320
During Cruise Flight At 4,500 Ft, The Engine Stopped Producing Power Without Any Warning
Location: Huron, IN Accident Number: CEN26LA008
Date & Time: October 4, 2025, 21:30 Local Registration: N431M
Aircraft: Lancair 320 Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On October 4, 2025, about 2130 central daylight time, a Lancair 320 airplane, N431M, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Huron, Indiana. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that during cruise flight at 4,500 ft, the engine stopped producing power without any warning. He attempted to restore engine power by increasing the mixture control to the fully rich position, adjusting the throttle position, and turning on the electric fuel pump.
He was unable to maintain altitude and executed a forced landing into trees. The airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees.
The airplane was retained for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Prelim: Toop Thomas A Glasair Super II FT
The Airplane’s Left Wing Struck The Windsock Pole Located Near The Runway, Which Had Been Constructed From A Telephone Pole
Location: Wallkill, NY Accident Number: ERA25FA367
Date & Time: September 27, 2025, 14:18 Local Registration: N45BT
Aircraft: Toop Thomas A Glasair Super II FT Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On September 27, 2025, at 1418 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Glasair Super II FT, N45BT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Wallkill, New York. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Preliminary Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the airplane departed Sky Manor Airport (N40), Pittstown, New Jersey, about 1040, and repositioned to Kobelt Airport (N45), Wallkill, New York, about 1127.
Family members reported that the pilot joined a group of seven other pilots and their respective airplanes that had convened for lunch at N45. Witnesses reported that, following the group gathering, the accident airplane was the last of the eight to depart, with the other seven departing in 1–2-minute intervals ahead of it. A witness near the accident site reported that, during the initial climb, immediately after takeoff from runway 3, the airplane pitched nose-up and entered about a 45° left climbing turn. The airplane’s left wing struck the windsock pole located near the runway, which had been constructed from a telephone pole.
The airplane then impacted the ground, and a postimpact fire ensued. The witness further stated that the sound from the airplane’s engine was smooth and consistent with the engine producing power until impact. The airplane came to rest inverted on a 55° magnetic heading about 166 ft west of the runway. The accident site was a relatively flat grassy area at an elevation of about 410 ft mean sea level. The first identified point of impact was the fallen windsock pole located about 1,100 ft from the runway threshold and about 78 ft west of the runway centerline. The wooden pole was about 18 ft in length with a diameter of about 9 inches. An impact mark that contained composite material was observed about 4 ft from the top of the pole. The wreckage path was about 250 ft long and oriented on a magnetic heading of about 355°. The left aileron and wingtip were located near the initial point of impact. The second point of impact was a ground scar consistent with a propeller strike, located about 190 ft from the initial point of impact. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site.
The airframe was mostly consumed by the postimpact fire. The instrument panel was destroyed leaving no observable/functional instrumentation or gauges. The throttle, mixture, and propeller controls were noted in the forward positions, and their control cables were impact separated from the engine. Both wings, flaps, and right aileron were mostly consumed by fire. The flaps were noted in the up position. The left aileron and wingtip were impact separated from the wing. The right aileron remained attached to the wing and its control tubes were continuous to the cockpit. The elevator and rudder remained attached to their mounts and exhibited thermal damage. The rudder control cables remained attached to the rudder pedal assembly and were continuous to the rudder bellcrank. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces through impact and thermal separations.
The left- and right-wing fuel caps remained attached to their receptacles and both fuel tanks were breached from impact and thermal damage. The fuel selector valve was observed in the main position, and continuity was established through the valve to both fuel tanks. The electric fuel boost pump and a majority of the fuselage mounted fuel lines were destroyed. The gascolator exhibited impact and thermal damage, and its bowl and screen were free of debris. The engine remained attached to the engine mount and a separated section of the firewall. Thermal damage was noted to the engine’s accessory section. The engine was equipped with
a dual electronic-type ignition system. The sparkplug electrodes were undamaged and exhibited normal coloration and wear when compared to the Champion spark plug chart. The ignition’s coils and control modules were destroyed. Oil was observed in the sump, and the oil pump suction screen was clear of debris.
Crankshaft continuity to the rear gears and valvetrain continuity was established during rotation of the crankshaft. Compression and suction were attained on all four cylinders, and no anomalies were noted to the interior of the cylinders during examination with an illuminated borescope. The exhaust system exhibited impact damage but there were no obstructions or anomalies noted to the heat muff.
The fuel injectors and lines were clear of obstructions. The fuel servo and engine driven fuel pump remained attached to the engine and their internal diaphragms exhibited thermal damage. The fuel servo’s throttle plate was in the open position, and the mixture was noted in the rich position. The throttle and mixture control cables were thermally separated. The fuel inlet screen was clear of debris. The two-bladed aluminum controllable pitch propeller was impact separated from the engine.
One propeller blade was deformed about 90° over the cambered side and exhibited leadingedge gouges and chordwise abrasions to its outboard area. There was no visible deformation or leading-edge damage noted to the other blade. The composite propeller spinner was fragmented. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Final Report: Gallow Daniel A Kitfox Classic IV
The Airplane Stalled Above The Runway Threshold, The Nose Dropped, The Nose Wheel Impacted The Runway, And The Airplane Flipped Over
Location: Waupaca, Wisconsin Accident Number: CEN25LA196
Date & Time: June 5, 2025, 11:55 Local Registration: N755SD
Aircraft: Gallow Daniel A Kitfox Classic IV Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aerodynamic stall/spin Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot reported that during the final approach for landing he made engine power adjustments to correct the airplane’s altitude, and the airplane slowed too much near the runway threshold. The pilot added power, but the airplane stalled above the runway threshold, the nose dropped, the nose wheel impacted the runway, and the airplane flipped over into an inverted position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 adequate air speed during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
53 Years ago today: On 27 October 1972 Air Inter flight 696, a Vickers Viscount, impacted a mountain, killing 60 occupants; 8 survived the accident.
| Date: | Friday 27 October 1972 |
| Time: | 19:20 |
| Type: | Vickers 724 Viscount |
| Owner/operator: | Air Inter |
| Registration: | F-BMCH |
| MSN: | 50 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1955 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 31413 hours |
| Cycles: | 26330 flights |
| Engine model: | Rolls-Royce Dart 506 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 60 / Occupants: 68 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 4 km W of Noirétable - France |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Lyon-Bron Airport (LYN/LFLY) |
| Destination airport: | Clermont-Ferrand-Aulnat Airport (CFE/LFLC) |
| Investigating agency: | BEA |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
Air Inter flight 696, a Vickers Viscount, impacted a mountain, killing 60 occupants; 8 survived the accident.
Flight IT696 departed Lyon for a night time flight to Clermont-Ferrand. It was raining in the area of Clermont-Ferrand, the visibility was around 5 miles with a low 4/8 ceiling at 2300 feet and an overcast at 8000 feet. Near Clermont-Ferrand, the crew had to fly a holding pattern before being cleared to descend to 3600 feet. Then the airplane's radio compass shifted 180-degrees, probably because electrical discharges in the rainfall blocked the signals of the Clermont-Ferrand (CF) NDB. The crew initiated their descent too early and the Viscount collided with a mountain (Pic du Picon) at 1000 feet, 44 km east of the airport.
Cause (translated from French):
The accident is a direct result of a collision with the terrain, which occurred at night in stormy conditions near a cold front, while the aircraft was following an apparently normal approach procedure, but shifted eastward by about 30 km.
The origin of this accident reveals two anomalies.
The first is that the crew was convinced that they were actually over CF when in fact the beacon was more than 30 km away. It seems to be explained only by a strong rotation of the direction finder, whose aberrant character could not be detected by the crew. Still it is necessary to admit moreover that the indications of the direction finder afterwards presented coherent variations with the successive positions of the plane during the double circuit of descent and with the second overflight of the CF beacon.
The second anomaly is characterized by the announcement of the beacon overflight by the aircraft, more than three minutes ahead of an estimated eight minutes. This difference may have been overlooked by the crew because of their confidence in the radio compass indication. One can also think that this difference went unnoticed by the crew either because they forgot to check the time or because of a reading error, as the crew had to face a difficult piloting due to turbulence and the presence of a training pilot could also have been a factor of concern and distraction at that time.
The work of the commission having made it possible to rule out the hypothesis of a pirate transmitter, the erroneous indication of the radio compass could have resulted either from a defect in the installation of the on-board antenna system associated with certain conditions of the electric field, or more probably from very localized precipitation which accompanied the cold front in the zone of the accident and which could have constituted a kind of transmitter (series of microdischarges) sufficiently powerful to be, during this phase of flight, detected by the aircraft's radio compass by suffocating the CF field.
The interception of the ILS localizer probably strengthened the crew's conviction.
In addition, it is not impossible that the light halo of the city of Thiers, perhaps visible at certain times, may have been an additional motivating factor.
Although the instructor pilot had the reputation of attaching great importance to a cross-checking of positions, which was possible in particular by the radial of Moulins, it seems that the crew did not do anything about it.
The commission, in definite, admits the possibility of an aberrant indication of a radio compass, but cannot explain the reasons that prevented the crew from correctly controlling the point from which the descent was started and continued.
