We kick off the last week of 2025 with the following stories...
Be safe out there!
Tom
-
Aberdeen Airport to leave flights cancelled, delayed and diverted
A Loganair flight had a 'technical issue' on the airport's runway.
By Chris Cromar
“Normal operations” have resumed at Aberdeen
International Airport after a flight was cancelled and two were diverted.
It was due to a Loganair flight suffering a “technical issue” on the Dyce facility’s runway.
Pictures show smoke coming from a Loganair plane, with the airport’s fire services extinguishing it.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent two appliances to the scene at around 10.15am on Friday morning.
However, a spokesperson told The Press and Journal they were only there “standing by”.
The fire engines from North Anderson Drive left
the scene at 10.42am.
As a result, two flights were diverted.
They were the 10.15am KLM arrival from Amsterdam and the Alicante service due at 10.50am.
Both of these were terminated at Edinburgh.
The 10.50am KLM flight between Aberdeen and the Dutch capital was cancelled due to the knock-on effect.
The Dublin flight eventually took off at 1.35pm.
Normal operations resume at Aberdeen Airport
A spokesman for Aberdeen International Airport said: “Two flights were diverted after a Loganair aircraft had a technical issue.
“Normal operations have resumed.”
Loganair has been approached for comment.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6923772/aberdeen-airport-disruption-smoke-loganair-plane/
2 injured after plane crashes in DeKalb County neighborhood
By Atlanta News First staff, Mary Kate Hamilton and Justin Berger
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Two people
were hurt after a prop plane crashed in a DeKalb County neighborhood on Sunday morning, according to the fire department.
Emergency crews were called to Homeland Drive, a residential area on the cusp of Dunwoody and Doraville, at around 9:40 a.m. The two victims had minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.
Neighbors say they were shocked this morning when they heard the plane come down.
“I heard something go ‘ahhhh,’ and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, that must be a really loud truck on the freeway.’ Because, you know, you can hear sounds from the freeway. But I was like, ‘This is too close to home,’” neighbor Roxy Barlow said. “I came back out, and I saw the crowd and everything, and I realized it is a plane crash.”
The plane didn’t hit any homes, and nobody else was hurt. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.
The plane took off from Miami and was set to land at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, the fire department said. It clipped some trees on its way down.
According to the NTSB, the plane diverted due to an “engine problem.”
“I’m 89, I probably would have had a heart attack if I had been inside,” Dewitt King said.
King was at church when the plane crashed next to his Sudbury Road home, but said when he got back part of the engine and wheel were still on his property.
“My house is one thing but I wouldn’t want those people to lose their lives either so I felt very good that they were safe,” he said.
According to the NTSB, the FAA will be on scene to do the documentation of the airplane and a preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
A probable cause of the crash along with any contributing factors will be detailed in the final report, which is expected in 12-24 months.
“It is an absolute Christmas miracle that two people crashed in an aircraft and walked away from it,” Assistant Chief of the Doraville Police Department Brian Harris said.
1 dead after 2 helicopters collide mid-air in Hammonton, New Jersey
The FAA described the crash as a midair collision between an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and Enstrom 280C helicopter.
By 6abc Digital Staff and Amanda Pitts
HAMMONTON, N.J. (WPVI) -- Two helicopters
collided midair Sunday morning shortly after taking off from Hammonton Municipal Airport, killing one pilot and critically injuring another, authorities said.
The crash happened around 11:25 a.m. near the intersection of Route 30 and Basin Road, about a mile from the airport. Both helicopters went down in a nearby field, with one bursting into flames, police said.
Chief Kevin Friel of the Hammonton Police Department said early reports indicate the aircraft were flying close together shortly after departure.
"Reports were that they were flying in tandem, that they were flying close together, which is probably what caused the collision to occur," Friel said.
The helicopters - an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C - had just lifted off after the pilots stopped for breakfast at the airport café, where they were regular customers, according to the café's owner.
"They were just at our café having breakfast, they're regulars, they come in, they seem to be very nice people," said Sal Silipino, owner of the Apron Cafe. "I saw one go down, and then I saw the other one go down and it was a little disbelief, like, 'Is that really happening?'"
Witnesses across the area described seeing the helicopters flying unusually close before the collision.
"They were flying lower than I would presume a helicopter would be, and they were flying really close together, like too close," said Diana Cleuff of Shamong, New Jersey. "I say to myself, 'My God, I hope they are just flying too close, I hope they don't clip each other.' And the minute I said it to myself, the impact occurred."
Cleuff said she watched in horror as one helicopter crashed and the other appeared to struggle in the air.
"It was horrifying, I watched the one just crash and the other one, I felt horrible because he was trying to get control," she said. "It's something no one should actually see in their lives."
One of the helicopters came down in the backyard of Hammonton resident Caitlyn Collins, who said she and her husband heard the aircraft moments before the crash.
"I just heard this wub, wub, wub sound...and I was like, 'What is that?'" Collins said. "My husband just starts screaming, 'Call 911.'"
Collins said she and her husband, along with a neighbor who is an off-duty Hammonton police officer, rushed to the crash site.
"There was a man in there, he was conscious and
breathing, and kind of just looking around," she said. "The only thing I could think to do was hold his hand and talk to him, so I just laid in the ground next to him and was like, 'Hey, we're here, don't worry.'"
The injured pilot was taken to a trauma center, where he remains hospitalized, authorities said. The identity of the pilot who was killed has not yet been released.
"One of the helicopters burst into flames; luckily, there was not any industry or commercial buildings or populated areas it went down in," Friel said. "It could have gone a lot worse, and there could have been a lot more loss of life."
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The NTSB said an investigator is traveling to the scene and that the agency will lead the investigation, which will examine the pilots, the aircraft and the operating environment.
Both pilots were from the tri-state area, authorities said.
According to FAA records, one helicopter is registered to a charter company in Lancaster, Pa., while the other is privately owned out of Carneys Point, N.J.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days. A final report, including a probable cause, could take up to two years.
https://6abc.com/post/dead-helicopter-collision-hammonton-new-jersey/18327955/
Pilot, passenger escape unscathed after small plane crash in Northern Colorado
By Christa Swanson
Two people in Northern Colorado made a lucky
escape after their small plane crashed into a field on Saturday morning.
According to the Hudson Fire Protection District, crews were called to the scene of the crash around 9:22 a.m. The small prop plane took off from Platte Valley Airpark, about three miles northwest of Hudson, and crash landed upside down in a field.
Surprisingly, both occupants were uninjured in the crash and managed to extricate themselves before firefighters arrived. In a social media post, HFPD expressed their relief, stating, "We are grateful for the positive outcome and thankful everyone involved is okay."
The department said the crash is under further investigation by the Weld County Sheriff's Office.
https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/pilot-passenger-escape-unscathed-plane-crash-northern-colorado/
NTSB Report: Glasair Tailwheel Jam Caused Ground Loop
Tailwheel Assembly-Locking Mechanism Improperly Constructed
The NTSB has issued a final report on the landing of a Glasair SH2 at Prescott Regional Airport in Prescott, Ariz. on December 26, 2023.
The NTSB report says when the experimental amateur-built Glasair SH2 File photo, shown), N29TT, airplane's tailwheel touched the ground during landing, the airplane immediately swerved and ground looped, causing substantial damage to the fuselage due to sideloads on the landing gear.
The pilot was uninjured.
The weather conditions were not a factor, and examination revealed that the tailwheel was jammed 45° relative to the direction of travel. Further examination revealed that the tailwheel assembly-locking mechanism was significantly worn and had been incorrectly constructed, so a positive lock was not possible.
Under this condition, with light side loads as are often encountered during landing, the tailwheel could unlock and be pushed into an over-center position. This resulted in the airplane aggressively swerving as observed.
The pilot reported that, after an uneventful wheel landing, he held the tail off the ground until the airplane had decelerated to about 30 mph. As soon as the tailwheel touched the ground, the airplane swung hard to the right, ground looped, and came to rest on the runway edge.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be loss of directional control during landing due to an improperly constructed and maintained tailwheel locking assembly.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Final Report: Piper PA-28R-201
Pilot Subsequently Advised The Controller That The Engine Had “Stopped” And Declared A “Mayday”
Location: Wiggins, South Carolina Accident Number: ERA24LA080
Date & Time: January 2, 2024, 11:11 Local Registration: N125MT
Aircraft: Piper PA-28R-201 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Unknown or undetermined Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot departed, requested flight following services from air traffic control while flying at 3,000 ft msl, and was then assigned a transponder code and identified 4 miles east of the departure airport. The airplane climbed on the runway heading for about 4.5 miles before turning north in a continued climb. The pilot subsequently advised the controller that the
engine had “stopped” and declared a “mayday” while looking for a place to land. The controller offered multiple potential landing options to the pilot; however, she stated that she could not make the nearest and that she was going to land in a field. The airplane’s descent continued and groundspeed decreased until track data was lost about 1.2 miles from the accident site.
The airplane came to rest partially submerged in a pond. Postaccident examination of the airframe and fuel-injected engine, including an engine test run, did not reveal evidence any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
During a magneto timing check, the right magneto would not time to the engine. However, the engine started and operated with the right-hand magneto in the as-found condition.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Final Report: Mooney M20C
Video Data Are Consistent With The Pilot Losing Control Of The Airplane During A Climbing Turn During A Go-Around
Location: Plano, Texas Accident Number: CEN24FA042
Date & Time: November 21, 2023, 17:48 Local Registration: N1204X
Aircraft: Mooney M20C Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot attempted a landing at the airport and subsequently conducted a go-around. During the go-around, witnesses observed the airplane’s left wing dip perpendicular to the ground before the airplane entered a near-vertical descent. According to a study conducted with video evidence, the airplane transitioned from stable flight at a speed close to the airplane’s stall speed to flight with a large bank angle and crashed shortly thereafter.
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted in a nose-low attitude and came to rest inverted; a postimpact fire ensued, destroying the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot’s medical history and age placed him at increased risk of medical impairment or sudden incapacitation. Whether such impairment or incapacitation occurred on the accident flight could not be determined from available medical evidence; however, witness observations and the video data are consistent with the pilot losing control of the airplane during a climbing turn during a go-around, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a climbing turn during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Final Report: Grumman G-44A
The Pilot’s Distraction And Failure To Monitor The Airplane’s Flight Path, Which Resulted In Controlled Flight Into A Lake
Location: Beaver Cove, Maine Accident Number: ERA25LA341
Date & Time: September 6, 2025, 09:20 Local Registration: N402E
Aircraft: Grumman G-44A Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: After performing a flyby of nearby event, the pilot of the vintage amphibious airplane flew the airplane out over a lake near the seabase. While maneuvering, he attempted to contact people on the ground utilizing the common traffic advisory frequency he had heard people using earlier in the week. After failing to reach anyone, the pilot set the flight controls for a slow descent. Then he used his mobile phone to send a text message asking a friend for the radio frequency in use, and upon reply, changed the frequency. After setting the phone down, the pilot looked up as the airplane impacted the surface of the lake. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the front fuselage and hull, left wing, and both sponsons. 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 distraction and failure to monitor the airplane’s flight path, which resulted in controlled flight into a lake.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
53 Years ago today: On 29 December 1972 Eastern Air Lines flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, descended into marshland of the Everglades, Florida, at night, killing 101 occupants; 75 survived the accident.
| Date: | Friday 29 December 1972 |
| Time: | 23:42 |
| Type: | Lockheed L-1011-385-1 TriStar 1 |
| Owner/operator: | Eastern Air Lines |
| Registration: | N310EA |
| MSN: | 1011 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1972 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 986 hours |
| Cycles: | 502 flights |
| Engine model: | Rolls-Royce RB211-22C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 101 / Occupants: 176 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Everglades, FL - United States of America |
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK/KJFK) |
| Destination airport: | Miami International Airport, FL (MIA/KMIA) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
Eastern Air Lines flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011
TriStar, descended into marshland of the Everglades, Florida, at night, killing 101 occupants; 75 survived the accident.
Flight EA401 departed New York-JFK at 21:20 EST for a flight to Miami. The flight was uneventful until the approach to Miami. After selecting gear down, the nosegear light didn't indicate 'down and locked'. Even after recycling the gear, the light still didn't illuminate. At 23:34 the crew called Miami Tower and were advised to climb to 2000 feet and hold. At 23:37 the captain instructed the second officer to enter the forward electronics bay, below the flight deck, to check visually the alignment of the nose gear indices. Meanwhile, the flight crew continued their attempts to free the nosegear position light lens from its retainer, without success. The second officer was directed to descend into the electronics bay again at 23:38 and the captain and first officer continued discussing the gear position light lens assembly and how it might have been reinserted incorrectly. At 23:40:38 a half-second C-chord sounded in the cockpit, indicating a +/- 250 feet deviation from the selected altitude. None of the crewmembers commented on the warning and no action was taken. A little later the Eastern Airlines maintenance specialist, occupying the forward observer seat went into the electronics bay to assist the second officer with the operation of the nose wheel well light.
At 23:41:40 Miami approach contacted the flight and granted the crew's request to turn around by clearing him for a left turn heading 180 degrees. At 23:42:05 the first officer suddenly realized that the altitude had dropped. Just seven seconds afterwards, while in a left bank of 28deg, the TriStar's no. 1 engine struck the ground, followed by the left main gear. The aircraft disintegrated, scattering wreckage over an area of flat marshland, covering a 1600 feet x 300 feet area.
Five crew members and 94 passengers died in the accident. Two passengers died more than seven days after the accident as a result of their injuries.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the fight crew to monitor the flight instruments during the final 4 minutes of flight, and to detect an unexpected descent soon enough to prevent impact with the ground. Preoccupation with a malfunction of the nose landing gear position indicating system distracted the crew's attention from the instruments and allowed the descent to go unnoticed."
