These are the stories to start the week, and it starts on a very sad note…
A Legend, mentor and friend to many in the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) community passed away this past Friday, the 16th.
Paul Looney was one of the founding fathers of
the ARFF Working Group, a man who lived and breathed the fire service in general, but the ARFF community specifically.
the ARFF Working Group, a man who lived and breathed the fire service in general, but the ARFF community specifically.A few of Paul’s stops through life were as a veteran of the United States Air Force, a member of the New Haven, Connecticut Fire Department, a consultant for the famous ARFF equipment company Crash Rescue and as an instructor who visited many locations throughout the United States as well internationally in locations such as Libya, Argentina and Chile to name a few.
I am including some thoughts from two of Paul’s many friends from the ARFF community, and I could have gone on with many more, but these speak volumes…..
ARFF Legend Bob Relyea stated in a letter he posted on hearing of Paul’s passing:
“It will a heavy heart we hear the news of Paul’s passing.
Paul was the biggest cheerleader for the ARFF community. He was instrumental in developing the South American ARFF region. He took on the challenge of developing a Spanish version of the ARFF NEWS. He also organized a NFPA committee meeting in Argentina to bring them in the fold.
His dedication, commitment and leadership helped solidify this organization. Paul was the 2nd chairman of the ARFFWG. He took on the task and poured every ounce of energy into the organization.
We owe a great deal of respect and gratitude for his guidance.
Paul, may you rest in peace.
It was my pleasure to have served with you. You exemplify the true spirit of being a LEGEND in our industry”
ARFF Legend Bill Hutfilz, retired ARFF Training Officer with the Clark County, Nevada Fire Department provided the following:
Here’s to a great man, a devoted firefighter and a
true ARFFWG legend.
true ARFFWG legend.Paul answered the call to serve his country in July 1961 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force, proudly serving until February 1965, including a tour in Guam. After his service, his journey took him briefly to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, before he returned home and continued his calling as a firefighter with Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
In 1967, Paul began a long and honorable career with the New Haven Fire Department, serving at every fire station in the city and protecting countless lives until his retirement in 1997. Even then, his service did not end. Paul combined his deep firefighting knowledge with his passion for aviation, becoming an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting consultant and a leader within the ARFF Working Group. He worked with Crash Rescue in Dallas, served as Chairman of the ARFF Working Group, and traveled the world teaching others—sharing his wisdom through training in the United States and abroad, including Libya, Argentina, and Chile.
Paul dedicated his life to the safety of others. His legacy lives on in the firefighters he trained, the lives he helped protect, and the respect he earned across the fire service and ARFF community worldwide. He will be remembered not only for what he did, but for who he was—a man of service, leadership, and heart.
Our thoughts and prayers go to Paul’s wife Bernice, his daughter Hope, his son Paul and all of his family.
May He Rest in Peace…..
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Paul William Looney - October 26, 1942 - January 16, 2026
Paul William Looney, 83, of North Haven, CT passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, January 16, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.
Paul was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 26,
1942. He was raised in Port Washington, NY, and Guilford, CT, before moving to New Haven in 1950. He attended St. Francis School and St. Mary High School and later graduated from Wilbur Cross High School.
In July 1961, Paul proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving until February, 1965. He was stationed in Guam during his military service. After his discharge, Paul moved to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, in 1965. Upon returning home, he worked as a firefighter at Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
In 1967, Paul began his long and distinguished career with the New Haven Fire Department. Throughout his career, he worked at every fire station in New Haven and retired in 1997. Following retirement, Paul integrated his firefighting experience with his aviation passion and became an ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) consultant and worked with Crash Rescue in Dallas. He later became Chairman of the ARFF Working Group, serving both nationally and internationally. He also worked for New England Fire Equipment, North Haven.
Paul conducted seminars and training for the ARFF Working Group across the United States and abroad. His final major training classes were held in Libya, Argentina and Chile. These were proud and treasured highlights of his career. He worked tirelessly for the safety of others.
Paul is survived by his devoted wife, Bernice Looney, with whom he shared 48 years of marriage. He was the son of the late Francis W. Looney and Frances Richardson Looney.
Paul will be lovingly missed by his daughter Hope E. Looney of East Haven and his beloved son, Paul W. Looney, II of North Haven. His children were the love of his life.
He is also survived by his sister, Hope Richardson Troy (Phil); his nephews, Alexander and Joseph Troy; and his grandnephews, Liam and Finn Troy.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to his sister-in-law, Rosemarie V. Bradley, for her unwavering support during Paul’s illness. He is also survived by his nieces, Teresa Jackson (Jason and Tayah) and Rosemarie Hurley (Curtis), as well as his many first cousins of the Richardson clan in Branford, Naugatuck, Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois, Arizona and Texas.
Paul, his wife, and family spent much of their time traveling, including New Zealand. One of their most memorable and cherished trips was visiting Cuba.
Paul’s famous sayings included “Life is Good”, “Family Values”, “You can’t be afraid to take chances”, and "The Flesh is weak".
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the management and staff of Sister Virginia Grimes Rehabilitation Center, Chapel Street, New Haven, for their excellent and compassionate care.
Paul’s family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, January 22nd from 5:00 unti 8:00 p.m. at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. His funeral cortege will depart the funeral home on Friday, January 23rd at 10:45 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. in St. Barnabas Church (St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish), 44 Washington Ave., North Haven. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. Contributions in Paul’s memory may be made to Grimes Rehabilitation Center, 1354 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06511.
Plane makes emergency belly landing at McClellan Airfield during touch-and-go practice
By Cecilio Padilla
A pilot doing practice runs at McClellan Airfield
had an emergency landing Friday without gear after a malfunction, officials say.
Metro Fire of Sacramento says the small airplane – a Piper PA-28 Cherokee – was practicing touch-and-go landings when their landing gear malfunctioned and wouldn't properly engage.
The pilot then had to make a controlled belly landing on the McClellan runway.
No injuries were reported, Metro Fire says.
Officials say the plane appears to have suffered minor damage and will be moved off the runway shortly.
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/mcclellan-airfield-belly-landing-piper-cherokee/
No injuries reported after plane lands short of Anchorage runway, NTSB says
Nose gear collapsed on Beechcraft King Air aircraft
By Joey Klecka
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A small commuter
plane carrying four people suffered a rough landing Friday afternoon at Anchorage’s Merrill Field Airport.
No injuries were reported, according to a spokesperson with the National Transportation Safety Board in Alaska.
The Beechcraft King Air flying from Soldotna to Anchorage was carrying two pilots and two passengers when it landed just short of the runway, the NTSB said.
The NTSB spokesperson said the plane landed short of runway 16, collapsing the nose gear and causing the aircraft to slide up the runway.
The tail number on the plane is registered to a Soldotna address where a nonprofit named Missionary Aviation Repair Center is located.
A website for the nonprofit — which has been around since 1964 — states that its purpose is to “serve pastors, missionaries, churches and other Christian organizations in these hard-to-reach places to advance the Kingdom of God.”
When contacted by phone, the organization confirmed that it was flying a few staff members to Anchorage to catch another flight to the Lower 48.
Online data for the flight showed it taking off from Soldotna Municipal Airport at 2:37 p.m. and landing at 2:57 p.m.
The incident occurred on a day when warming temperatures created icy and hazardous conditions for roadways in Anchorage and surrounding areas in Southcentral Alaska.
NTSB Prelim: Alon A-2A
(Pilot) Heard A “Pop” Sound, And After That Point The Left Rudder Acted Like, “It Was Loose And Went All The Way In.”
Location: Winter Haven, FL Accident Number: ERA26LA089
Date & Time: December 19, 2025, 09:18 Local Registration: N818SW
Aircraft: Alon A-2A Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On December 19, 2025, about 0918 EST, an Alon A-2A, N818SW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Winter Haven Regional Airport (GIF), Winter Haven, Florida. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that he experienced no issues with the rudder control system while taxiing prior to departure. After takeoff the flight proceeded uneventfully to GIF with no rudder flight control issues in-flight. The airplane was landed smoothly in the first 200 ft of the runway and during the landing roll he applied right rudder to maintain runway centerline and slightly overcorrected, causing him to apply left rudder input. He heard a “pop” sound, and after that point the left rudder acted like, “it was loose and went all the way in.” The airplane began veering to the left which he could not correct with right rudder. At that point he pulled the mixture control, and turned the magneto switch and electrical systems off. The airplane went off the runway onto grass, impacted a sign with the tie down ring of the left wing damaging the left-wing main spar, then came to rest on a taxiway.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Final Report: Diamond Aircraft DA20-C1
After The Nosewheel Was Located On The Runway, The Flight Instructor Received A Phone Call From The Airplane Operator...
Location: Terre Haute, Indiana Accident Number: CEN25LA392
Date & Time: September 19, 2025, 13:56 Local Registration: N544KC
Aircraft: Diamond Aircraft DA20-C1 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis: The flight instructor and pilot-receiving-instruction were conducting an instructional flight when the nosewheel separated from the nose landing gear strut during takeoff. The flightcrew reported that the takeoff was normal and that there was no indication that the nosewheel had separated from the airplane. However, after the nosewheel was located on the runway, the flight instructor received a phone call from the airplane operator and then via subsequent radio calls over the operator dispatch frequency it was determined that the separated nosewheel was likely from their airplane. Then the airplane operator and airport tower controller each visually confirmed that the nosewheel was indeed missing from the airplane. During the subsequent landing, the nose landing gear strut collapsed aft when it contacted the runway.
The composite fuselage structure sustained multiple cracks, the nose landing gear box delaminated, and the firewall delaminated from the fuselage during the landing. The lower portion of the nose landing gear strut welded assembly terminates with a threaded stud where a castellated nut and cotter pin secure the nosewheel fork assembly to the strut pivot. A postaccident examination determined that the threaded stud fractured which allowed the nosewheel fork to separate from the strut pivot. The castellated nut and cotter pin remained installed to the threaded portion of the fractured stud.
In January 2023, the airplane manufacturer issued Service Information Letter (SIL) No. SIL20C1-014 to address cracks at the top of the nose landing gear strut pivot and/or at the top of the threaded stud. Additionally, the airplane manufacturer cautioned that a single hard landing may severely reduce the service life of the nose landing gear strut, and that improper assembly of the nose landing gear could result in cracking at the threaded stud which may result in the separation of the nosewheel fork assembly. The airplane manufacturer recommended a thorough examination of the nose landing gear strut pivot and threaded stud every 100 hours in accordance with the airframe maintenance manual instructions. The airplane manufacturer further stipulated that it was imperative that “all suspected hard landings are reported and the airplane inspected.”
According to a postaccident review of maintenance documentation, there were no cracks observed on the nose landing gear strut when it was last examined during a 100-hour examination completed about 30.7 flight hours before the accident flight.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The failure of the nose landing gear strut and associated nosewheel separation during takeoff.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
NTSB Prelim: Gregory A Spicola AR-1
The Gyroplane Entered The Second Pond And Rolled Over To The Right Coming To Rest In About 2 To 3 Ft Of Water
Location: Fort Myers, FL Accident Number: ERA25LA369
Date & Time: September 28, 2025, 10:00 Local Registration: N107AR
Aircraft: Gregory A Spicola AR-1 Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On September 28, 2025, about 1000 EST, a Spicola AR-1 gyroplane, N107AR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Buckingham Field Airport (FL59), Lehigh Acres, Florida. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14?Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot stated that prior to departure he added 7 gallons of 100 low lead fuel bringing the total fuel capacity to 14 gallons. After fueling he checked the fuel tank for contaminants and there were none. He also performed a preflight inspection with no discrepancies noted. As part of his briefing to the pilot-rated passenger he informed him how to enter and exit, to keep his hands free of all controls, and do not exit the gyroplane until the main rotor blades had stopped turning. He also informed him how to put and take off the passenger restraint system including the chest strap which most aircraft do not have and therefore most pilots are not accustomed to a chest strap. Weight and balance calculations showed the gyroplane was 37 pounds below design gross weight. After engine start he taxied to the approach end of the runway where he performed an engine run-up with no discrepancies reported.
He then lined up at the end of runway 32, and with about 4,400 feet of runway available, pre rotated the main rotor to 200RPM, the higher end of the pre rotation speed due to my higher weight than solo, and released the brakes. He reported acceleration was fine and the engine RPM was 5700 and climbing, rotor speed was 250RPM and climbing. After rotation he pushed over to stay in ground effect and accelerate to the takeoff safety speed of 55 knots and started to climb at 60 knots indicated. The climb rate was good until approximately 100-150 feet above ground level, when a noticeable reduction in climb performance was observed. He ensured he had full throttle applied and visually checked that his left hand was full forward. He then checked that both electric fuel pumps were on, and there was no illumination of turbocharger caution or warning lights, the alternator lights were out, and that both magneto switches were on. He glanced at the engine RPM gauge and noticed it was reading around 5,100 RPM. It was at this time that he knew a forced landing was imminent and his primary concern was of my passenger and that he needed to maintain a proper airspeed above all else.
He pushed the nose down to maintain 55 knots and realized that the flight was no longer high enough to clear the trees at the end of the runway and was still losing altitude. He surmised that there was not enough runway and overrun available to land straight ahead. The west side of the airport had a large field but with two retention ponds running 32/14. He kept the nose down maintaining 50-55 knots and made a left turn trying to get more available landing area and to avoid the trees. At approximately 20 ft he rolled level, flared, and landed between the ponds on the upslope of the bank of the first pond, which sheared the nose landing gear. The gyroplane entered the second pond and rolled over to the right coming to rest in about 2 to 3 ft of water. He extracted himself and then moved back to help extract the passenger who had already self-extracted.
The gyroplane was recovered for further detailed examination of the engine.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
65 Years ago today: On 19 January 1961 Aeronaves de México flight 401, a Douglas DC-8-20, crashed when the takeoff from New York-Idlewild was aborted and the aircraft went through a blast fence and caught fire, killing 4 occupants; 102 survived the accident.
| Date: | Thursday 19 January 1961 |
| Time: | 20:17 |
| Type: | Douglas DC-8-21 |
| Owner/operator: | Aeronaves de México |
| Registration: | XA-XAX |
| MSN: | 45432/105 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1960 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 529 hours |
| Engine model: | P&W JT4A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 106 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL) - United States of America |
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL/KIDL) |
| Destination airport: | Mexico City-Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX/MMMX) |
| Investigating agency: | CAB |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
Aeronaves de México flight 401, a Douglas DC-8-20, crashed when the takeoff from New York-Idlewild was aborted and the aircraft went through a blast fence and caught fire, killing 4 occupants; 102 survived the accident.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The probable cause of the accident was the unnecessary discontinuing of the takeoff as a result of the action by the check-pilot, who was not in either pilot seat, in reaching forward without warning and pulling the throttles back This action caused power to be decreased on all four engines. Contributing factors were the marginally poor weather, snow on the runway, and the possibility of the pitot head heat not have been on."
