We close out this busy week with the following stories...
Have a safe weekend!
Tom
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2 killed in small plane crash in Southern California
by: Lily Dallow
Two people were killed when a small plane crashed in Southern California on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The single-engine Aeronca Champion aircraft went down
around 9:45 a.m. in the area of Summit Valley Road and Maple Avenue in Hesperia, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
Firefighters responding to the crash found two people inside the aircraft. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
A photo released by the Fire District shows the badly damaged aircraft resting in a brush-covered area behind sheriff’s tape. The tail of the plane remained upright following the crash.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed both occupants of the plane were killed and said deputies were working at the crash scene.
Summit Valley Road remained open to traffic, though sheriff’s officials asked the public to stay clear of the area while investigators worked at the scene.
No information about the identities of those killed was immediately released.
It was not immediately clear where the aircraft had taken off from or where it was headed.
The circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation. Sheriff’s officials said additional information would be released as it becomes available.
The FAA said in a statement to KTLA that the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.
https://ktla.com/news/california/2-killed-in-small-plane-crash-in-southern-california/
Chinook helicopter lands in field after bird strike
Chloe Harcombe - West of England
A military helicopter has made an emergency landing in a field after a bird strike during a routine training flight.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) said the Chinook helicopter,
which had flown from RAF Odiham in Hampshire, landed in a field near the A4 in Pewsham, Wiltshire, earlier as a precautionary measure.
A spokesperson for the RAF said the crew on board were not injured and an engineering team from the helicopter's base had been dispatched to assess the damage to the aircraft.
"We would like to thank the landowners for their patience and assistance whilst we look to rectify the aircraft," the spokesperson said.
Emergency landing near Spring Creek: Plane rolls 50 feet before ditch stop
by Kenneth Dunn
A pilot escaped with minor injuries after a small plane lost engine power and made an emergency landing in a field near Spring Creek on Thursday morning. 
Deputies responded to the area of State Routes 228 and 227 around 9:58 a.m. on Sept. 24 after a witness reported seeing a small single-engine plane crash several hundred yards from the highways.
Authorities located the aircraft in a field near the intersection. The pilot, identified as John Rice, told deputies he had been conducting test flights around the Elko Regional Airport for several days.
Rice said he flew farther into the Spring Creek area Thursday when the plane’s engine lost power and the aircraft began descending.
He initially considered landing on State Route 228 but determined there were too many vehicles on the highway to safely attempt a landing. Rice instead directed the plane toward a large field nearby.
After touching down, the aircraft traveled on its wheels for about 50 feet before hitting a small ditch. The impact caused the front wheel and nose of the plane to dig into the ground, bringing the aircraft to a stop.
Rice was the only person aboard and suffered minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Authorities credited Rice with choosing a landing area that avoided traffic and prevented a potentially more serious collision.
https://mynews4.com/news/local/emergency-landing-near-spring-creek-plane-rolls-50-feet-before-ditch-stop
NTSB Final Report: Rocky Mountain Kitplanes LLC S-6S
The Pilot Noticed That The Airspeed Was Indicating Lower Than Normal
Location: Marvel, Arkansas Accident Number: CEN26LA232
Date & Time: June 23, 2026, 15:30 Local Registration: N164GR
Aircraft: Rocky Mountain Kitplanes LLC S-6S Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The airplane departed the pilot’s private grass strip airport. Shortly after, the pilot noticed that the airspeed was indicating lower than normal. Presuming that the pitot tube was partially obstructed, the pilot decided to land the airplane. Due to the inaccurate airspeed, the pilot flew a faster than normal approach. Upon landing, the airplane bounced, and the nose gear strut broke. The propeller struck the ground, the airplane nosed over, and it came to rest inverted on the grass runway. The right wing and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. Other than a possibly obstructed pitot tube, the pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pitot-static system was unable to be functionally tested due to the pitot-static system being damaged in the accident sequence. A post-accident examination of the pitot-tube and the pitot-static tubing did not reveal any blockage or obstruction; however, it is possible it was dislodged during the impact sequence.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- A partial blockage of the pitot static system that precluded the airspeed indicator from displaying the correct airspeed which led to the faster landing speed and bounced landing.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
15 Years ago today: On 25 September 2011 Buddha Air flight 103, a Beechcraft 1900, crashed while on approach to Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, Nepal, killing all 19 occupants.
| Date: | Sunday 25 September 2011 |
| Time: | 07:31 |
| Type: | Beechcraft 1900D |
| Owner/operator: | Buddha Air |
| Registration: | 9N-AEK |
| MSN: | UE-295 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1997 |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 8 km SSE of Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM) - Â Nepal |
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM/VNKT) |
| Destination airport: | Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport (KTM/VNKT) |
| Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:
Buddha Air flight 103, a Beechcraft 1900, crashed while on approach to Kathmandu-Tribhuvan Airport, Nepal, killing all 19 occupants.
There were total of 16 tourists and 3 crew members on board.
The weather was overcast with very low clouds on the approach. Flights were operating normally under VFR rules at the time of the accident. The Beech 1900 was on the base leg of the approach following an 'Everest Experience' sightseeing flight.
The accident location was a hill side near Kotdanda, approx. 5,5 km (3 NM) short of the runway 02 threshold and 5 km (2,7 NM) to the east of the extended centreline.
METAR:
00:50 UTC / 06:35 local time:
VNKT 250050Z 00000KT 6000 -RA FEW010 SCT020 OVC100 20/19 Q1013
01:50 UTC / 07:35 local time:
VNKT 250150Z 00000KT 6000 FEW010 SCT025 OVC100 20/19 Q1014
Calm wind, Visibility: 6000 m; Few clouds, at 1000 feet; Scattered clouds at 2500 feet; Overcast sky at 10000 feet; Temperature: 20 degrees Celsius; Dewpoint: 19 degrees Celsius; QNH (Sea-level pressure): 1014 hPa
