We start this week with the following stories...
Be safe out there!
Tom
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United flight strikes light pole, damages truck while landing in Newark
NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A United Airlines flight arriving from Italy struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon, damaging the truck and sending its driver to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.
A United Airlines flight arriving from Italy struck a light
pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon, damaging a truck and sending its driver to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said.
Despite the collision, the aircraft landed safely. There were 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board, and no injuries were reported among those on the plane. United said the aircraft taxied to the gate normally and sustained only minor damage.
"Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft and we will investigate how this occurred," United Airlines said in a statement. "We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process."
The Port Authority Police Department and New Jersey State Police responded to the scene on the Turnpike. Authorities said the tractor-trailer driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
Airport officials said runway inspections were conducted immediately following the incident, and normal operations were quickly resumed.
According to Chuck Paterakis, vice president of transportation for Schmidt Bakery and owner of H&S Family of Bakeries, the tractor-trailer involved belonged to Baker's Express and was en route to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot.
"The driver experienced a commercial plane's tires landing on the tractor or brushing the top of the tractor," Paterakis told ABC News. Dashcam video shows the moment of impact, either from one of the plane's tires or from falling debris.
The driver, Warren Boardley of Baltimore, was traveling northbound on the Turnpike at the time of the incident. Paterakis said Boardley was able to safely pull over after the strike and contact his employer.
"The trailer is not damaged, and the bread product was not touched," Paterakis said.
Boardley sustained cuts from broken glass to his arm and forearm but did not suffer serious injuries.
"Everybody, the driver and everybody on the plane, should be very fortunate," Paterakis said. "Because it could have been the opposite of what happened, and a little help from God went a long way tonight for everybody on the plane, and including the driver."
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Officials with the FAA and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority were on site Sunday evening, conducting inspections and gathering evidence.
https://abc7ny.com/post/united-flight-strikes-light-pole-landing-newark-airport/19030820/
Crashed plane recovered from water in New Salem
by Paul Franz
NEW SALEM — Crews convened at the Joseph P. O’Loughlin Pond on Sunday to recover a small plane that had crashed into the water on Friday night.
Petersham resident Jason Scott, who described himself as
a family friend of the plane’s pilot, Jeff Lett of New Salem, said his friend was experiencing engine trouble and was attempting to return to the Orange Municipal Airport at the time of the crash, which was called in by a witness at 7:40 p.m. on Friday. The Joseph P. O’Loughlin Pond, where the plane crashed, lies within the Quabbin watershed between Route 122 and the main reservoir, and is separated by a regulating dam.
New Salem Fire Chief Matt O’Donnell said in a statement on Friday that when firefighters responded to the reported crash, they confirmed there was an adult man in the water near Fishing Area 2 off of Route 122 on Regulating Dam Road. Firefighters maintained voice and visual contact with the man, who was identified as the plane’s pilot.
The first responding state trooper was equipped with a personal flotation device and a tether line. The trooper was able to rescue the pilot, who was taken back to shore and transported by an Orange Fire Department ambulance to the Orange Municipal Airport. From there, he was airlifted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
According to Scott, Lett is recovering from facial injuries. The pilot was the sole occupant.
To remove the plane on Sunday, Springfield, Tennessee-based AMF Aviation LLC’s aircraft recovery team attached a harness to the submerged 1947 Navion single-engine, four-seat aircraft that was manufactured by North American Aviation. A helicopter was then used to hoist the aircraft out of the water and carry it a short distance to the parking lot at Gate 31, where representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were on hand.
O’Donnell said on Sunday that there haven’t been any reports of fuel sheen on the surface of the pond, which feeds directly into the Quabbin over the regulating dam. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) supplied the recovery crews with boats to use to reduce the chance of water supply contamination.
O’Donnell added that the 911 dispatchers acting on the report directly contributed to Friday night’s successful rescue. Also on hand Sunday were members of the New Salem Police and Fire departments, the Athol Police and Fire departments, the Phillipston Fire Department and Massachusetts State Police.
2 in critical condition after small plane crash in Fairfield County
An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper said that the occupants were flying in from West Virginia to the Fairfield County Airport.
Author: 10TV Web Staff
LANCASTER, Ohio — Two people were hospitalized after a
small airplane crashed in Fairfield County Sunday night.
The Lancaster Police Department said that officers were called to Rainbow Drive between Noland Drive and state Route 188 for an airplane crash around 10:40 p.m.
Crews responded and found two adults, a pilot and a passenger, with injuries. They were taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition, according to authorities.
An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper said that the occupants were flying in from West Virginia to the Fairfield County Airport. The trooper said they were about five miles away when the plane descended and hit a tree, crashed and hit a second tree. It’s unclear why the plane descended early.
The plane is a single-engine Cessna, according to the Federal Aviation Administration registration website.
The FAA will investigate the crash. Rainbow Drive is closed due to the crash.
https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/lancaster-plane-crash/530-fb7b6e5d-08c7-41f1-a04b-fe8408c331be
Plane goes off runway at Bangor International Airport
By WABI News Desk
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - A plane went off the runway at
Bangor International Airport Friday afternoon.
Details are scarce at this time, but WABI reporters that reported to the scene spotted a small plane in the grass off of runway 33.
The tail number of the plane, N18516, is registered to Maine Instrument Flight, according to the FAA. Maine Instrument Flight is a flight school operating out of Augusta, Bangor and Brunswick. The aircraft is a 1981 BEECH C23 Fixed wing single engine.
There were no injuries reported, according to airport officials.
An airport spokesperson tells WABI the runway closed Friday afternoon as emergency crews responded to an incident that occurred shortly after 4 p.m. The runway opened again around 6 p.m., according to BIA.
Officials say four domestic flights scheduled to leave the airport during the incident were delayed, and four additional flights on their way to the airport were diverted to other locations. To check the status of flights, you can go to BGR’s website.
The incident is under investigation.
https://www.wabi.tv/2026/05/01/plane-goes-off-runway-bangor-international-airport/?outputType=amp
Single-engine plane makes successful emergency landing on Hwy 61 in Duluth
Dan Hanger, Fox 21 News
DULUTH, Minn. -- Drivers on Highway 61 in Duluth shared
the roadway with a small plane Saturday afternoon.
The Duluth Police Department said it responded to a report around 3 p.m. of a single-engine plane that landed on Hwy 61.
When officers arrived on scene, they located the pilot who was not injured.
The plane landed successfully without any visible damage.
Officers pushed the aircraft off to a grassy area off the highway on Eastridge Road.
"Initial information shows the pilot had to land due to an apparent engine malfunction," according to a news release.
NTSB Final Report: Kyle Koncak Aventura II
Pilot’s Blood Methamphetamine Level Indicates He Likely Had Abused Methamphetamine And Was Likely Experiencing Some Impairing Effects...
Location: DeLand, Florida Accident Number: ERA25LA256
Date & Time: July 3, 2025, 10:15 Local Registration: N508K
Aircraft: Kyle Koncak Aventura II Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The uncertificated pilot was attempting to depart in the accident airplane. Surveillance video from the airport captured the accident sequence and showed the airplane in a steep right bank with the wings near vertical and descending. The airplane impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident body camera video from first responders showed a seat cushion strap wrapped around the control stick. A mechanic who worked at the airport reported that they used the seat cushion strap as an improvised gust lock, with this strap wrapped around the control stick, the stick would be held fully aft and to the right. Postaccident examination found no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing of blood that had been collected from the pilot at the hospital on the day of the accident at 1045. Methamphetamine was detected at 536 ng/mL and amphetamine was detected at 62 ng/mL. Alprazolam was detected at 31 ng/mL. In living people, methamphetamine blood concentrations of 20-50 ng/mL are typical with medicinal use, while methamphetamine blood concentrations over 200 ng/mL generally represent abuse.
The pilot’s blood methamphetamine level indicates he likely had abused methamphetamine and was likely experiencing some impairing effects at the time of the accident.
Methamphetamine use can severely impair piloting abilities, as the effects of use include poor judgment, risky behavior, and cognitive dysfunction. However, the specifics of these effects cannot be determined from a single measured level. In addition, alprazolam and the conditions for which it is typically prescribed have the potential to cause impairment.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The uncertificated pilot’s failure to remove an improvised gust lock which resulted in a loss of aircraft control at an altitude too low to recover.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Final Report: Corp Waco YMF; Diamond Aircraft DA 40NG
The Pilot Of The Biplane Stated That While Taxiing, He Failed To Make S-Turns To Improve His Forward Visibility
Location: Galveston, Texas Accident Number: CEN26LA145
Date & Time: March 24, 2026, 10:40 Local Registration: N43000 (A1); N351L (A2)
Aircraft: Classic Aircraft Corp Waco YMF (A1); Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 NG (A2) Aircraft Damage: Substantial (A1); Substantial (A2)
Defining Event: Ground collision Injuries: 1 None (A1); 2 None (A2) Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal (A1); Part 91: General aviation - Instructional (A2)
Analysis: The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor of a single engine low wing airplane were completing a preflight engine run-up in the designated run-up area. The pilot of a tailwheelequipped biplane after landing was cleared by the tower controller to taxi to the company hangar. The pilot of the biplane stated that while taxiing, he failed to make S-turns to improve his forward visibility due to the tailwheel configuration. The pilot of the biplane reported that he never saw the other airplane until making contact. The flight instructor stated that by the time they saw the biplane, there was not enough time to take evasive action before impact.
The low wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the biplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing and wing struts. Both airplanes’ pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their corresponding airplanes 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 biplane pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout while taxiing, which included the failure to perform S-turns to compensate for limited forward visibility.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Prelim: Just Aircraft Highlander
The Pilot Stated That When He Decreased The Throttle To Idle, The Engine Lost Total Power
Location: Great Falls, MT Accident Number: WPR26LA152
Date & Time: April 8, 2026, 11:06 Local Registration: N563JA
Aircraft: Just Aircraft Highlander Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On April 8, 2026, about 1106 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur built Just Aircraft Highlander, N563JA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Great Falls, Montana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that after he departed Great Falls International Airport (GTF), Great Falls, Montana, he intended to land on a private grass surface airstrip about 5.5 nautical miles to the southwest. While on the final approach to the grass airstrip, he applied right rudder pedal to enter a left wing low slip to perform a steep approach along with reducing the throttle to idle to minimize the airspeed.
The pilot stated that when he decreased the throttle to idle, the engine lost total power. He aligned the nose of the airplane with the runway heading at the threshold, but the airplane’s airspeed was too fast. The airplane touched down in the last 1/3rd of the airstrip with the control stick full aft and he applied the brakes. Ground scars revealed that the nose of the airplane contacted the turf surface and skidded about six ft before the airplane nosed over near the departure end of the airstrip, which extended to the edge of the Missouri river.
A review of the airplane’s maintenance logs indicated that a condition inspection was completed on December 8, 2025, and a new SkyTrax propeller speed reduction unit and friction clutch upgrade was installed on January 18, 2026.
The wreckage has been recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
24 Years ago today: On 4 May 2002 EAS Airlines flight 4226, BAC One-Eleven (5N-ESF), crashed in a residential area after takeoff from Kano Airport, Nigeria. Four of the 77 occupants survived the accident and at least 30 persons on the ground were killed.
| Date: | Saturday 4 May 2002 |
| Time: | 13:35 |
| Type: | BAC One-Eleven 525FT |
| Owner/operator: | EAS Airlines |
| Registration: | 5N-ESF |
| MSN: | 266 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 24644 hours |
| Cycles: | 16844 flights |
| Engine model: | Rolls-Royce Spey 512-14DW |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 73 / Occupants: 77 |
| Other fatalities: | 30 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 3 km SW of Kano-Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN) - Nigeria |
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Kano-Aminu Kano International Airport (KAN/DNKN) |
| Destination airport: | Lagos-Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS/DNMM) |
| Investigating agency: | AIPB |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
EAS Airlines flight 4226, BAC One-Eleven (5N-ESF), crashed in a residential area after takeoff from Kano Airport, Nigeria. Four of the 77 occupants survived the accident and at least 30 persons on the ground were killed.
The One-Eleven, 5N-ESF, was bought by EAS Airlines from Romanian airline TAROM and joined the EAS fleet on August 2, 2001.
On March 9, 2002, however, its No.2 engine (Rolls-Royce Spey 512-14DW) developed some vibration and loss of power output as a result of which the aircraft was grounded, awaiting engine replacement.
Another One-Eleven aircraft in the EAS Airlines fleet, 5N-ESD, developed a ground-cooling problem on the April 30, which the operator estimated 7 days to be repaired. Due to the operational demand, the operator then decided to transfer one engine from 5N-ESD onto 5N-ESF's No.2 position. Thus the aircraft resumed flying on May 2, 2002.
On May 4, the aircraft operated flight EXW4227 from Lagos to Jos and Kano and flight 4226 from Kano back to Lagos. The flight to Kano was uneventful and the aircraft landed at 11:40 UTC. A total of 47 passengers remained on board and 22 passengers boarded the flight for Lagos.
At 12:22 UTC the aircraft was cleared to taxi to runway 23 for departure. The Tower controller reported a temperature of 36°C with wind from 170 degrees at 7 knots and issued takeoff clearance.
Takeoff was commenced at 12:28 but the acceleration seemed slow to the Tower controller. The aircraft was not able to lift off the runway and continued onto the 60 m blast pad and continued onto the adjacent grass terrain for 180 metres, which raised a huge burst of dust knocking off two approach lights.
After becoming airborne the undercarriage remained down and the aircraft barely climbed. Engine power was lost due to dust ingestion during the overrun. Flight 4226 then impacted the Gwammaja Quarters residential area, some 3 km past the end of the runway. The aircraft broke up and caught fire.
The investigation was severely hampered due to the uncontrollable crowd of people, for many days in the area after the crash. Also, the Cockpit Voice Recorder was never found and the Flight Data Recorder seemed to have never worked on flights in Nigeria.
An investigation of both engines showed that there was no pre-crash failure which could account for the long takeoff run. Other factors like air temperature, runway elevation, centre of gravity, takeoff weight (39243 kg, which was below the mtow of 47,400kg) were all discounted.
The investigators noted that the main 3000 m-long runway at Kano was closed for work and runway 05/23 was in use, which had a length of 2600 meters. Performance calculations showed that the aircraft needed 2347 metres. It was considered that the flight crew was accustomed to be operating from longer runways in Nigeria and this was likely the first time they were operating out of a 2600 m long runway. Contingencies of operating on the shorter runway were probably not seriously considered before the commencement of the takeoff roll.
Subsequently, after becoming airborne, the undercarriage remained extended which caused additional drag and the rate of climb would have increased by 200ft/min had it been raised. Together with the decrease in engine power due to dust ingestion led to the aircraft's failure to climb to a safe altitude.
Probable cause: The crew's inability to get the airplane airborne within the safe parameter of the available runway length.
The contributive factor was the breakdown of the crew's cockpit coordination procedure in executing a coercive reaction of initially,
i) getting the aircraft airborne;
ii) improving its climb performance by raising up the gear and
iii) flying the airplane to safe height before thinking of the next line of action.
