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Plane Carrying NASCAR Drivers Evacuated After Engine Blows Moments Before Takeoff
By Megan Grisham
NASCAR Drivers Heading To Mexico City
Were Forced To Evacuate Their Plane Just Before Takeoff In Charlotte, North Carolina
On Thursday, June 12, a group of NASCAR drivers boarded a charter flight to Mexico City, where the first points-paying Cup Series race since 1958 is set to take place this weekend.
But just before takeoff, everyone on board was ordered to evacuate the aircraft after one of the engines reportedly blew.
The news first broke when NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ryan Ellis shared the issue on his X account.
Initially, he posted a photo from his seat, showing him and the other drivers getting ready to take off.
But shortly after, he replied to his own post with an update.
He said they were no longer flying after hearing a “small boom” come from the plane.
Ellis later shared a photo of firefighters
arriving at the scene to make sure everyone got off the plane safely.
What Caused The Engine To Blow?
As of now, there hasn’t been an official confirmation on what caused the engine to blow on the charter plane.
However, motorsports journalist Matt Weaver weighed in on social media. He shared that the plane’s captain suggested a possible bird strike may have been to blame.
NASCAR is aware of the situation, and a plan to get the drivers to Mexico City on time is currently in the works.
According to the latest updates, the passengers have been sent home or back to their race shops while arrangements are made for a new plane that’s cleared to fly across the border.
Helicopter crashes moments after takeoff at Woods Cross hangar
By Cassidy Wixom, KSL.com and Shara Park, KSL-TV
WOODS CROSS — A helicopter crashed at
the Skypark Airport in Woods Cross Friday, just seconds after taking off.
Christian Galvan was working nearby when he heard a helicopter start to take off, so he and two colleagues hurried to watch. In a video Galvan captured, the helicopter lifted off the ground for a few seconds before one of the blades clipped a hangar door at Western Fab Hangar.
The helicopter then tipped over and crashed into the ground.
"The noise was a noise I've never heard before. Metal went everywhere. Debris was, it went everywhere," Galvan said.
Metal lodged into the side of the building just feet from where Galvan was standing. After realizing he and his colleagues were OK, the three of them ran to check on the pilot.
"First and foremost, no one was hurt. This
morning my pilot was in an accident in my helicopter ... no one else was in my heli and the pilot walked away without a scratch. Very grateful he was OK. You win some you lose some, such is life … but grateful everyone is OK," Farmington resident and YouTuber Keaton Hoskins (who also goes by "The Muscle) said in a post on social media.
Hoskins posted a video showing the wrecked helicopter lying on its side, surrounded by debris from the crash.
Police received word of the crash at Skypark Airport about 8:49 a.m. The aircraft was in "dozens and dozens of pieces," but the pilot walked away with only a few scratches, said Woods Cross senior police officer Sean Jones.
The pilot reported to police that there was no mechanical failure with the aircraft and showed no signs of impairment when police spoke with the pilot, Jones said.
Because the helicopter was airborne at the time of the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the incident.
https://www.ksl.com/article/51329915/helicopter-crashes-moments-after-takeoff-at-woods-cross-hangar
Small antique plane crashes during takeoff in Spokane Valley
Tori Luecking
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. -- A small plane
crashed while trying to take off at an airport in Spokane Valley on Sunday afternoon, according to Spokane Valley Fire Department.
Around 3 p.m. on June 15, SVFD and Spokane County Fire District 8 responded to a reported plane crash near Skymeadow Lane and 44th Avenue in Spokane Valley.
SVFD said the antique open cockpit biplane crashed as it attempted to take off from Sky Meadows Airpark.
Two people were onboard and were able to get out of the plane after the crash. One person was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
SVFD said the FAA was notified and responding to the scene.
No information about what caused the crash has been provided.
https://www.kxly.com/news/small-antique-plane-crashes-during-takeoff-in-spokane-valley/article_f1a49aac-28d4-48b3-a989-510281943c0f.html
Two killed in Tabor City plane wreck after aircraft diverts from planned Grand Strand landing
by: Adam Benson
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Two people
were killed after a small plane crashed just over the South Carolina line on Saturday afternoon, diverted from its flight path due to poor weather.
Tabor City Fire Chief Jeff Fowler told WSPA Sunday that crews were called to an area near Old Dothan Road for a reported airplane wreck. The twin-engine Beechcraft was en route to Grand Strand Airport in North Myrtle Beach from Spartanburg, according to flight records.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating, officials told News13.
Prior to Saturday, the plane most recently flew from Spartanburg to Grand Strand Airport on June 2.
The aircraft’s N-82UC tail number is registered under Majesty Air, Inc. in Wilmington, Del. a limited liability company established in July 2022. The plane was built in 1972.
Fowler said it took nearly two hours and assistance from a helicopter to locate the plane. The identities of those on board have not been released.
Air traffic control chatter obtained by News13 provides some insight into the search.
“I got some smoke in the trees at my nine ‘o clock. I’m on a zero-four-zero heading. I saw him on my (database),” a pilot says.
According to FAA records, the airplane departed Spartanburg just before 11:30 a.m. Saturday, reached a maximum altitude of 6,850 feet by 11:45 a.m. and was last tracked by radar at 12:44 p.m.
Robert Katz, a commercial pilot with more than 43 years of experience, believes the crash could have been prevented with a more conservative approach.
“It appears that his flight from Spartanburg was pretty much routine for the most part until he gets into the Myrtle Beach area where is warned about heavy weather. He’s not unaware of it,” Katz said. “He attempts to approach Grand Strand at exactly the wrong time, when severe weather is in the vicinity.”
Flight tracking data shows the airplane circling away from Grand Strand into the Tabor City area.
“He is, in effect, scared off, and then attempts to escape the area to the northwest only to find himself in thicker weather at that point, which overtakes him,” Katz said.
https://www.wbtw.com/news/grand-strand/horry-county/two-killed-in-tabor-city-plane-wreck-after-aircraft-diverts-from-planned-grand-strand-landing/
Trump says FEMA to be phased out after 2025 hurricane season
President Donald Trump said the federal government will begin shifting disaster funding and responsibilities to state governors after this hurricane season
Sarah Roebuck
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump
said his administration plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the 2025 hurricane season, offering the clearest timeline to date for his effort to dismantle the disaster relief agency and shift responsibility to states.
Speaking during a June 10 Oval Office briefing, Trump outlined the most definitive timeline yet for transitioning federal disaster responsibilities to individual states.
“We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it down to the state level,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “A governor should be able to handle it, and frankly, if they can’t handle it, the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn’t be governor.”
Trump signals funding shift away from FEMA
Trump said the federal government will begin reducing the amount of disaster recovery aid distributed through FEMA, according to CNN. Instead, funding will come directly from the president’s office. The announcement came as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted an especially intense and potentially deadly hurricane season, which officially ends on November 30.
For months, Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, have publicly criticized the agency. Noem reiterated those critiques Tuesday, calling FEMA “fundamentally” broken.
“We all know from the past that FEMA has failed thousands if not millions of people, and President Trump does not want to see that continue into the future,” Noem said.She added that while FEMA is supporting preparedness for the 2025 hurricane season, the administration is encouraging states to form mutual aid agreements and rely on one another.
FEMA Review Council to propose sweeping changes
Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are co-chairing the newly formed FEMA Review Council. The council is expected to deliver recommendations in the coming months that would significantly reduce FEMA’s size and reshape its mission.
Plans to eliminate FEMA have drawn criticism from emergency management officials, many of whom say most states lack the capacity to respond to large-scale disasters without federal support.
“This is a complete misunderstanding of the role of the federal government in emergency management and disaster response and recovery,” a former FEMA leader told CNN. “It is clear from the president’s remarks that their plan is to limp through hurricane season and then dismantle the agency.”
FEMA faces internal challenges amid hurricane season
FEMA has entered the 2025 hurricane season understaffed and under pressure. At least 10% of its workforce has departed since January, and projections show that by year’s end, the agency may shrink from 26,000 to roughly 18,000 employees, according to CNN.
To address immediate needs, Noem reopened FEMA training facilities and extended contracts for disaster-response staff. Still, internal challenges continue.
In May, Noem appointed David Richardson, a former Marine and DHS official, to lead FEMA. He has brought in several homeland security personnel to leadership roles, moving seasoned FEMA staff into secondary positions.
While Richardson initially said FEMA would release an updated disaster response plan, he told staff last week that the agency would instead operate under 2024’s guidelines to avoid preempting the FEMA Review Council’s decisions.
Delays in disaster declarations raise concerns
Recent reports suggest growing communication issues between FEMA and the White House. In several recent cases, Trump approved disaster declarations, but FEMA did not receive timely notice, delaying aid delivery to affected communities.
Trump’s long-term plans for disaster response remain unclear, but the administration has signaled it may raise the bar for states seeking federal disaster assistance.
“The FEMA thing has not been a very successful experiment,” Trump said. “It’s extremely expensive, and again, when you have a tornado or a hurricane or you have a problem of any kind in a state, that’s what you have governors for. They’re supposed to fix those problems.”
NTSB Final Report: Magniflight LLC M24 Orion Plus
Pilot Was Unable To Maintain Altitude And Made A Forced Landing In Tall Grass, During Which The Gyroplane Rolled Over
Location: Dauphin Island, Alabama Accident Number: ERA23LA251
Date & Time: May 30, 2023, 11:01 Local Registration: N1777W
Aircraft: Magniflight LLC M24 Orion Plus Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Unknown or undetermined Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot of the gyroplane reported several lane warnings during the flight, which indicated possible disruptions to the fuel/ignition timing by the engine’s digital engine control unit (ECU). The ECU was comprised of two modules that worked in sync with each other to monitor numerous sensors throughout the engine. Although the pilot tried to reset the lane warning several times, the engine lost partial power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing in tall grass, during which the gyroplane rolled over and substantial damage.
A postaccident examination and test run of the engine revealed no obvious mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have contributed to the accident. Data downloaded from the engine’s digital ECU and an electronic flight information system (EFIS) revealed that, at the time of the partial loss of engine power, the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) reading for the No. 4 cylinder dropped to levels indicating that combustion was no longer occurring within the cylinder. The loss of combustion in the No. 4 cylinder likely resulted in the partial power loss of the engine.
The cause of the loss of combustion in the No. 4 cylinder could not be determined with the available engine ECU and EFIS data. Along with the engine data, the fact that the engine ran after the accident indicated there was likely an intermittent issue with the fuel/air delivery or the ignition to the No. 4 cylinder that could not be duplicated.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- A partial loss of engine power due to a loss of combustion in the No. 4 cylinder for undetermined reasons.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Prelim: Rockwell Commander 114A
Security Video From A Nearby Business Captured The Airplane As It Descended And Impacted Terrain
Location: Hankamer, TX Accident Number: CEN25FA184
Date & Time: May 24, 2025, 16:58 Local Registration: N5903N
Aircraft: Rockwell Commander 114A Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On May 24, 2025, about 1658 central daylight time (CDT), a Rockwell Commander 114A airplane, N5903N, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Hankamer, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
ADS-B data for the accident flight was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. The recorded data showed the airplane as it departed from the Baytown Airport, Baytown, Texas, about 1627, and flew to the east, before making several turns between 2,500 ft to 4,000 ft mean sea level (MSL). Shortly before the accident, the airplane flew north and climbed to about 4,275 ft MSL while the airspeed decreased. About 1657:30, the airplane had decelerated to about 59 knots calibrated airspeed when it entered a steep descent. At 1657:48, the final recorded ADS-B data return indicated that the airplane was descending through 1,366 feet MSL with a descent rate more than 14,700 feet per minute. That final ADS-B return was about 790 ft south of the accident site.
Security video from a nearby business captured the airplane as it descended and impacted terrain. The airplane appeared to be intact and in a steep nose-low attitude. A review of the video did not reveal a significant change in the airplane’s roll or pitch attitude during the recorded descent.
The airplane impacted in a heavily wooded area; ground signatures and the associated debris field were consistent with a high-energy, high angle impact. The initial impact point were tree limbs and ground impact signatures consistent with a near vertical descent into terrain. Debris fanned out between 300° and 045° with left wing pieces and parts of the empennage located directly north of the impact point. The airplane’s cruciform tail section, to include the rudder and elevators, was located at the top of the impact site, and the remainder of the airplane was buried within the terrain with the engine located about 10 ft. down.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine land. On his most recent application for a FAA medical certificate, dated October 18, 2024, the pilot reported having accrued 1,230 total hours with 40 hours logged in the preceding six months.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Prelim: Hiller UH12E
The Helicopter Impacted On The Infield Of A Baseball Field And Came To Rest On Its Right Side
Location: Rockledge, FL Accident Number: ERA25LA167
Date & Time: April 6, 2025, 10:20 Local Registration: N48263
Aircraft: Hiller UH12E Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On April 6, 2025, about 1020 eastern daylight time, a Hiller UH-12E, N48263, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rockledge, Florida. The private pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ADS-B data and pilot information, the pilot made a left turn and proceeded in a southwest direction climbing to 600 ft barometric altitude. The helicopter remained on that heading, flying between 68 and 70 knots indicated airspeed until about 1019:48, when the pilot stated that he felt deceleration and the helicopter turned to the right and began flying in a northerly direction. The pilot stated that he had no recollection of anything that occurred after the right turn, but witness video depicted the helicopter yawing left and right about the vertical axis while descending vertically. Before the helicopter went out of view behind trees, the helicopter was yawing slightly to the left. During the video, sound from the rotor(s) and engine could be heard.
The helicopter impacted on the infield of a baseball field and came to rest on its right side. Fuel leakage was noted at the sight. The helicopter was recovered and retained for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
62 Years ago today: On 16 June 1963 A VEB-manufactured Ilyushin Il-14P, operated by Tarom, crashed near Békéssámson, Hungary, killing all 31 on board.
| Date: | Sunday 16 June 1963 |
| Time: | 10:52 |
| Type: | VEB 14P |
| Owner/operator: | Tarom |
| Registration: | YR-ILL |
| MSN: | 14803072 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 31 / Occupants: 31 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 3 km W of Békéssámson - Hungary |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | München-Riem Airport (MUC/EDDM) |
| Destination airport: | Constanta-Kogalniceanu Airport (CND/LRCK) |
| Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:
A VEB-manufactured Ilyushin Il-14P, operated by Tarom, crashed near Békéssámson, Hungary, killing all 31 on board.
The aircraft was carrying West-German tourists from Munich-Riem to Constanta. At around 10:00 a.m., it entered Hungarian airspace.
The flight reported some issues and elected to divert to Arad Airport. The aircraft was observed flying low while trailing smoke. Part of a wing collapsed and the aircraft crashed and burned, killing all 31 on board.
A fuel system failure had caused a fire inside the engine, spreading to the wing.
