I'm sort of stating the obvious here, but you'd better get off your ass and finish your Christmas shopping!
But before you do, here are the stories to start the week...
Be safe out there!
Tom
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Plane makes off-field landing on highway near Springfield, MSHP says
By KY3 Staff
GREENE COUNTY, Mo. (KY3) -A small plane made
an off-field landing on a highway in southwest Missouri, officials said Saturday afternoon.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the emergency landing happened just after 1 p.m. in the northbound lanes of U.S. 65, past Valley Water Mill Road, in Greene County.
The two occupants in the plane sustained no injuries. Troopers said the plane did sustain damage, but did not collide with any other vehicles on the highway.
Jacob Hargus, who saw the aftermath of the accident, said he was driving to Fair Grove when he saw what looked like a “high school bonfire” in the middle of the road.
“There was smoke going everywhere. I figured it
was a car on the side of the road that was on fire until I approached and saw an airplane sitting in the middle of the road with fuel fire all over the left lane,” said Hargus. “Honestly, I told my dad on the phone that this is something I’ve never dreamed of ever seeing in my life besides on the news. It took me by surprise, to say the least.”
FlightAware flight records show that the plane had taken off from Memphis, Tennessee, at 11:30 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Olathe, Kansas.
MSHP Troop D confirmed the FAA has been contacted and will perform an investigation.
https://www.ky3.com/2025/12/20/plane-makes-off-field-landing-highway-southwest-missouri-mshp-says/
Video shows plane in flames after forced landing with congressman and city councilman on board in Rondônia.
Federal deputy Maurício Carvalho and city councilman Márcio Pacele were on board the aircraft that experienced a malfunction. No one was injured.
By g1 RO and Rede Amazônica
Images recorded by residents on Saturday
afternoon (20) show the plane, where federal deputy Maurício Carvalho and councilor Márcio Pacele were, in flames after making a forced landing in the district of Extrema, in Porto Velho.
In the videos, it is possible to see the aircraft being consumed by fire in a vegetated area near a dirt road.
People at the scene tried to contain the flames by throwing water and removing objects from the aircraft to prevent the fire from spreading.
The information was confirmed by the congressman himself on his social media. In a video posted on Instagram, Maurício Carvalho reassured the public and explained what happened.
According to him, the aircraft experienced a malfunction during the flight, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. The congressman, the city councilman, and their aides were in the region on business.
About the aircraft
The aircraft is a twin-engine turboprop manufactured in 2009. The model is a Hawker Beechcraft and it belongs to the company Crescit Multi Investments and Aviation Solutions Ltda. The aircraft has a valid flight certificate until June 2026.
Registered under the registration PS-GAC, the aircraft is not authorized to operate commercially. It is registered for owner's use: this means it can only be used for private flights, without profit or commercial purposes.
G1 contacted the congressman for more details about the flight, but had not received a response by the time of this report's last update. The team is also trying to contact the company that owns the plane .
https://g1.globo.com/ro/rondonia/noticia/2025/12/20/video-mostra-aviao-em-chamas-apos-pouso-forcado-em-rondonia.ghtml
Helicopter crashes near training field in Fort Worth
By Tracy DeLatte
The Brief
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- A helicopter crashed Friday morning near the Bell Helicopter training field in Fort Worth.
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- The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m., leaving the aircraft damaged and resting on its side.
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- It is currently unknown how many people were on board, if there are injuries, or what caused the crash.
FORT WORTH, Texas - A small helicopter crashed
in Fort Worth on Friday morning.
What we know:
The crash happened around 9:30 a.m. in the 2800 block of Greenbelt Road in Fort Worth.
Images from SKY 4 showed a damaged small helicopter on its side near the Bell Helicopter training field.
Officials said an instructor and student were on board at the time. Both were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
What we don't know:
The cause of the crash is also unknown.
https://www.fox4news.com/news/helicopter-crashes-near-training-field-fort-worth
Plane makes safe emergency landing in Colorado without a pilot's help, in first "Autoland" use
By Sarah Horbacewicz
A plane landed at Colorado's Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport without a pilot's help on Saturday in what appears to be the first real-world use of new safety technology. According to Garmin, their emergency "Autoland" system was activated for the first time ever for the landing at around 2 p.m. Saturday. The landing was successful and the charter company for the plane told CBS Colorado that everyone involved was OK.
According to LiveATC and a pilot that heard the
communication at the time, a robotic voice over air traffic control communication can be heard saying, "Pilot incapacitation, two miles south… emergency Autoland in 19 minutes on runway 3-0."
It came not long after taking off from Aspen's airport reported a pressurization problem while flying over the Denver Metro area.
"We lost pressurization," the pilot told air traffic control.
Cases of pilot incapacitation are rare, but nearly always fatal. The Autoland system works with the push of a button and can be activated by anyone on board the aircraft or can self-activate after a prolonged period of no pilot activity.
In the air traffic control audio, the same robotic voice can also be heard describing the flight's tail number as N479BR. On Flight Aware, this tail number is shown landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport on Saturday afternoon, flying in from Aspen.
Local flight instructor Adam Lendi was with a student when he says he heard the traffic over his radio and went out to see the plane land.
"We saw the fire trucks starting to head out," Lendi went on to explain, "I was familiar with the auto land systems, and I recognized that's what was going on. So I told my student, I said, 'We might be witnessing something pretty cool here.'"
In a statement to CBS Colorado, Garmin said: "Garmin can confirm that an emergency Autoland activation occurred at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado. The Autoland took place on Saturday, Dec. 20, resulting in a successful landing. We look forward to sharing additional details at the appropriate time."
Flight Aware shows the operators of the plane that landed at that time as Buffalo River Aviation, who say everyone involved is OK, but did not clarify what happened or how many people were on board.
Garmin's Autoland technology for a general aviation aircraft came out in 2019, and the company says this is the first time it's ever been activated.
CBS News cameras were the first to be allowed on board to see the technology in action back in 2019 as it was being approved by the FAA.
Larry Anglisano, an aviation journalist for AVBrief, described Autoland as a fail-safe for when the airplane is in working order but the pilot might not be able to take control. He says Autoland can even turn itself on if the pilot fails to interact with the system for a long period of time.
"This is a smart computer that's smart enough to know the pilot is incapacitated and smart enough to know where to put the airplane down for a safe landing based on the amount of runway that's needed; it'll fly around weather," Anglisano said.
And on Saturday, the tech did just that as it brought anyone on board safely to the ground. Lendi says flights were kept out of the airspace for about an hour during this time.
"It's reassuring just to know that, if you know, as I progress in my flying career, that if I were in a situation where something happened to me, there could be an option for everybody in the plane to make it on the ground safely," Lendi said.
CBS Colorado has reached out to the FAA and airport leadership for comment, but as of Sunday evening, had not heard back.
https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/plane-emergency-landing-colorado-autoland/
Trump signs Honor Act, recognizing fire fighter cancer as line-of-duty death
The IAFF-backed legislation expands federal death
and education benefits for survivors.
In a landmark moment for America’s fire fighters, the IAFF-endorsed Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act has been signed into law, officially securing federal recognition of occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death.
The Honor Act passed both chambers of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support – receiving 312 votes in the House and 77 in the Senate. It was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Thursday, Dec. 19, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“We know the devastation occupational cancer has brought to our profession. When a fire fighter dies from job-related cancer, that is a line-of-duty death – and it is long past time the federal government recognized that truth,” said General President Edward Kelly. “The signing of the Honor Act marks a significant turning point. This legislation ensures our fallen are honored, and their families are not left behind.”
The Honor Act, led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Reps. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), updates the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to recognize occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death. The bill extends death and educational benefits to survivors and presumes certain cancers are job-related, removing the requirement to pinpoint a specific exposure.
This was a truly bipartisan effort, and I want to thank those lawmakers on Capitol Hill – both Republican and Democrat – who stood with us on this critical legislation. I also want to thank President Trump, whose support was crucial in passing what is easily one of the most impactful pieces of legislation in our union’s history.
General President Edward Kelly
“This was a truly bipartisan effort, and I want to thank those lawmakers on Capitol Hill – both Republican and Democrat – who stood with us on this critical legislation,” Kelly said. “I also want to thank President Trump, whose support was crucial in passing what is easily one of the most impactful pieces of legislation in our union’s history.”
The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act reforms existing federal law to include 20 types of cancers – including brain, lung, prostate, breast, esophageal, and other cancers prominent in the fire service – to the PSOB Program and presumes them as occupational for fire fighters.
For years, the IAFF has led the national fight to recognize occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death. The union prioritized the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act at the 2025 Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference and held multiple lobbying days with IAFF members and survivors on Capitol Hill.
“We always say the IAFF’s mission starts in front of a church, and that means taking care of our members and the families of our fallen,” Kelly said. “That’s exactly what this PSOB expansion does. It puts more than $461,000 in federal death benefits in the hands of surviving family members.”
To learn more about the PSOB Program and how the Honor Act will impact members, visit iaff.org/psob/faq.
NTSB Final Report: Lake Tahoe Properties Inc CA8
(Pilot) Corrected With Hard Left Rudder; However, The Airplane Then Veered To The Left And Exited The Runway Surface
Location: Davenport, Washington Accident Number: WPR25LA229
Date & Time: July 27, 2025, 20:00 Local Registration: N66LT
Aircraft: Lake Tahoe Properties Inc CA8 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that upon touchdown the airplane bounced twice. As the airplane slowed, the pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane veered to the right. He corrected with hard left rudder; however, the airplane then veered to the left and exited the runway surface. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped, and the left wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left aileron.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 24 with wind from 240° at 11 knots.
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 directional control during the landing roll.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Final Report: Cirrus Design Corp SR22
Pilot-Rated Passenger Reported That The Pilot Did Not Adequately “Round Out” The Landing Flare And The Airplane Bounced And Yawed To The Right
Location: West Milford, New Jersey Accident Number: ERA25LA376
Date & Time: September 28, 2025, 13:40 Local Registration: N283WT
Aircraft: Cirrus Design Corp SR22 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot stated he was on a stabilized approach to land and that when he believed he had the appropriate sight picture, he reduced engine power and flared the airplane. The airplane then bounced and he attempted to recover the landing, but it bounced a second time and veered left of the runway centerline. The pilot aborted the landing and increased engine power, but the airplane veered further left. The pilot then reduced engine power and the airplane came to rest in bushes adjacent to the runway.
The pilot-rated passenger reported that the pilot did not adequately “round out” the landing flare and the airplane bounced and yawed to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the yaw with excessive left and right aileron control inputs, and both of the airplane’s wing tips contacted the runway surface. The airplane then settled on the main landing gear and departed the runway to the left before it impacted an area of bushes resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.
Neither the pilot nor the passenger reported any pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported that would have precluded normal operations.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to recover from a hard bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Prelim: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K
The Airplane Experienced A Total Loss Of Engine Power
Location: Foley, AL Accident Number: ERA26LA061
Date & Time: December 3, 2025, 16:00 Local Registration: N57229
Aircraft: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On December 3, 2025, about 1600 central standard time, a Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, N57229, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Foley, Alabama. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to the pilot, the flight departed from Holk Field at Foley Municipal Airport (5R4), Foley, Alabama, with 54 gallons of fuel. The pilot flew to the north at an altitude 4,500 ft mean sea level and conducted several practice maneuvers, including steep turns, before returning to the airport about 1 hour later. The pilot switched the fuel selector tank position twice (every 30 minutes) based on his Garmin timer and he switched the fuel selector position a third time on his way back to 5R4. Shortly thereafter, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power.
The airplane was too far north to reach the departure airport; the pilot diverted to Bay Minette Municipal Airport (1R8), Bay Minette, Alabama, set best glide speed (80 kts) and attempted to restart the engine by completing the “engine out” checklist. The pilot’s attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful.
The airplane was unable to glide to 1R8, and the pilot performed an off-field landing to a farm pasture. During landing, the airplane impacted a barbed wire fence, which sheared the landing gear; it then landed on rough terrain where it skidded to a stop. The airplane’s wings were buckled and torn in multiple locations, and there was damage to the wing spar and underside of the fuselage. The two-bladed metal propeller exhibited no rotational damage.
An FAA inspector recovered an engine data monitor that was sent to the NTSB recorders laboratory for download. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
52 Years ago today: On 22 December 1973 A Caravelle, operating for Royal Air Maroc, impacted a mountain while on descent towards Tangier, Morocoo, killing all 106 occupants.
| Date: | Saturday 22 December 1973 |
| Time: | 22:10 |
| Type: | Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-N |
| Owner/operator: | Royal Air Maroc - RAM, lsf Sobelair |
| Registration: | OO-SRD |
| MSN: | 69 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1961 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 106 / Occupants: 106 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | ca. 40 km E of Tangier-Boukhalef Airport (TNG) - Morocco |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Paris-Le Bourget Airport (LBG/LFPB) |
| Destination airport: | Tangier-Boukhalef Airport (TNG/GMTT) |
| Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:
A Caravelle, operating for Royal Air Maroc, impacted a mountain while on descent towards Tangier, Morocoo, killing all 106 occupants.
Sobelair's Caravalle OO-SRD was leased to Royal Air Maroc on December 10, 1973. On December 22 it operated on a flight from Paris-Le Bourget Airport (LBG) to Casablanca, Morocco with an enroute stop at Tangier (TNG). The Caravelle approached Tangier in darkness and rain when the pilot extended the outbound procedural turn for runway 28 too far east, causing the plane to overfly hazardous terrain. At 22:10 the aircraft flew into the side of Mount Mellaline near Tétouan at 2300 feet.
It was considered possible that the aircraft had lost altitude as a result of turbulence or vertical mountain waves.
