Here are a couple of stories to close out the week...
Have a safe weekend!
Tom
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Aircraft crashes in Huejotzingo, Puebla; at least 4 people died
potosinoticias.com
An aircraft crashed near the San Mateo Capultitlán – Santa Ana Xalmimilulco highway, in the municipality of Huejotzingo, Puebla, in an air accident that left at least four people dead.
This was confirmed by the state Civil Protection
directorate, which indicated that the events occurred minutes before 1:00 p.m. in farmland next to the San Miguel Quetzalcóatl Industrial Park , in the town of Santa Ana Xalmimilulco in the municipality of Huejotzingo , where a C172 model airplane crashed.
The aircraft took off from Hermanos Serdán International Airport bound for Poza Rica, Veracruz; however, minutes after takeoff the aircraft crashed, apparently due to an engine failure, although the corresponding investigations are being carried out to confirm this.
Farmers from the Santa Ana Xalmimilulco auxiliary council recorded the moment of the accident, when the small plane was flying low until it plummeted and was destroyed, so they called the emergency numbers to report the accident.
The crash resulted in three deaths at the scene and one more at a public hospital. The deceased were identified as Paulo Antonio Vélez V., Marcos Omar Martínez Tavera, and Ramsés Olin Zaragoza Burgos (pilot and passenger).
Meanwhile, Emilio Gil Ramírez managed to survive and be stabilized, for which reason he was transferred by ambulance to a hospital in the capital of Puebla, where minutes before 3:00 p.m. he also died.
According to the Mexican Aeronautical Registry of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), the crashed aircraft was registered on January 22, 2022, and the owner's name is confidential.
It had a hangar at the Cuernavaca International Airport in Morelos, and in Puebla it was not linked to any aviation school.
The aircraft, a Cessna 172 model, crashed in a cultivated area, according to information from the state Civil Protection agency.
With information from: El Financiero.
VIDEO | Aeronave se estrella en Huejotzingo, Puebla; al menos 4 personas murieron
Pilot escapes injury in light plane crash at Albion Park Rail near Wollongong
By Bridget Murphy
The pilot of a small plane has escaped injury after crashing into a field in the New South Wales Illawarra region, 80 kilometres south of Sydney.
Emergency services were called to the field
beside the Illawarra Highway at Albion Park Rail, near Wollongong, about 8:30am on Good Friday, to reports a light plane had come down.
"On arrival, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District located the pilot — a 53-year-old man — and sole occupant of the plane," a spokesperson for NSW Police said in a statement.
"He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics as a precaution; however, is uninjured."
The incident occurred about 200 metres from Shellharbour Airport at Albion Park Rail.
Aerial images of the crashed aircraft show the left wing of the plane severely damaged, as well as the left edge of the cabin.
A spokesperson for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the body that investigates air incidents and crashes, confirmed it is aware of the incident.
"The ATSB has been notified of an accident involving a Cirrus SR20 light aircraft near Shellharbour Airport this morning," the spokesperson said in a statement.
"We'll gather further information prior to making an investigation decision."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-03/pilot-uninjured-nsw-plane-crash-albion-park-rail/106529716
NTSB Final Report: Temco GC-1B
The Airport Manager Reported There Was A 20 Knot Crosswind At The Time Of The Accident
Location: Toledo, Washington Accident Number: WPR25LA306
Date & Time: September 18, 2025, 12:56 Local Registration: N78316
Aircraft: Temco GC-1B Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot reported that as he prepared for takeoff in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he did not observe any movement of grass or trees due to wind. During the takeoff roll, the right wing rose suddenly, which the pilot counteracted with aileron inputs. The airplane bounced, and the right wing rose a second time, which the pilot counteracted. Subsequently, the airplane banked steeply to the left, exited the runway, and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right aileron, and the elevator.
Prior to taxiing to and departing runway 24, the pilot observed a windsock, which indicated the wind was from about 260° at 2 to 6 knots. The airport manager reported there was a 20 knot crosswind at the time of the accident.
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 failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff in crosswind conditions.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
65 Years ago today: On 3 April 1961 A Douglas DC-3C passenger plane, operated by LAN Chile, was destroyed when it impacted a mountainside near Linares, Chile
| Date: | Monday 3 April 1961 |
| Time: | 19:45 |
| Type: | Douglas DC-3C |
| Owner/operator: | LAN Chile |
| Registration: | CC-CLDP |
| MSN: | 9716 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1943 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 18299 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 24 / Occupants: 24 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 44 km ESE of Linares - Chile |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Temuco Maquehue Airport (PZS/SCTC) |
| Destination airport: | Santiago-Los Cerrillos Airport (ULC/SCTI) |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
A Douglas DC-3C passenger plane, operated by LAN Chile, was destroyed when it impacted a mountainside near Linares, Chile.
LAN Flight 621 was a domestic passenger flight from Castro to Santiago with en route stops at Puerto Montt, Osorno and Temuco.
On board the flight were members of the Green Cross football team.
The DC-3 took off from Temuco at 18:30 hours local time for the last leg of the flight, following Airway 45 and 40 at an altitude of 8500 feet. Estimated flying time was 2 hours and 30 minutes. While en route the flight was instructed to climb to 9500 feet because of other traffic at 8500 feet. At 19:10 the crew requested a descent to 9000 feet because of ice formation on the wings.
The controller didn't authorize the descent because of conflicting traffic (LAN flight 205) on Airway 4. The controller later cleared the flight to turn back on Airway 45 and then descend to 6500 feet on the same Airway, pass over Curico and to continue on Airway 40 to the Santo Domingo beacon. There was no more radio contact with the flight.
After seven days of search operations, the wreckage was found on April 10. The airplane had impacted Cerro La Gotera, a mountain located in a sector of Sierra de las �nimas, and east-northeast of a hill named Lástimas del Pejerrey. The aircraft was flying in a south-westerly direction, impacting 50 m below the summit of the mountain, at an elevation of about 3500 m (11480 feet). The wreckage slid down about 14 meters before coming to rest.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The aircraft crashed on La Gotera Hill in the Lastima-Pejerrey Range. From the wreckage's position it was determined that the flight was on a south-west heading, although owing to the aircraft's being entirely destroyed and burnt out it was not possible to state its speed or altitude, or whether the left engine had failed. At impact it appeared that the right engine was functioning normally. It was not possible to determine the cause of the accident from the navigation instruments or the wreckage."
