ARFF Daily News

Thursday the 27th of February, 2025

3 injured when plane crashes into Vermont mountainside

“Rescue crews faced extremely difficult conditions, navigating through snow up to four feet deep near the top of the mountain.”

By Dialynn Dwyer

Authorities are investigating after a small plane crashed into a Vermont mountain during the predawn hours on Wednesday, prompting a rescue effort that required the use of a helicopter and snowmobiles to reach the three injured people onboard. 

In a statement, an FAA spokesperson said the Piper PA-28 crashed in Manchester, Vermont, around 3:50 a.m. 

Manchester police said they were notified of the crash around 8:30 a.m., learning that the plane crashed on the side of Mount Equinox, near the summit. The three people on board were reported to have injuries that were not life-threatening. 

Multiple agencies responded to assist with the rescue efforts to reach the crash site, police said. 

“Rescue crews faced extremely difficult conditions, navigating through snow up to four feet deep near the top of the mountain,” police said. “Crews attempted access via Skyline Drive, which is unmaintained in winter, while others approached from West Union Street in Manchester.”

Rescuers reached the crash site around 10:16 a.m. and New York State Police Aviation then lowered rangers from a helicopter, helping to airlift the three crash victims from the hillside. 

Police said the three people were taken to the Manchester Public Safety Facility, with one of the individuals later being taken to Albany Medical Center for additional evaluation.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the greater Northshire community for their invaluable assistance,” police said. “Your support—whether through providing snowshoes, snowmobiles, or food—played a crucial role in ensuring a successful rescue operation.”

The FAA said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2025/02/26/3-injured-when-plane-crashes-into-vermont-mountainside/

NTSB Final Report: Alisport SRL Silent 2 Electro

...Glider’s Encounter With Flutter During Cruise Flight That Resulted In Structural Damage To The Fuselage

Location: Giddings, Texas Accident Number: CEN23LA405
Date & Time: September 7, 2023, 16:25 Local Registration: N321AD
Aircraft: Alisport SRL Silent 2 Electro Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aircraft structural failure Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis: The pilot stated that the glider was in cruise flight at approximately 81 kts and 4,800 ft when the cockpit began to shake violently and noisily side-to-side. When the glider slowed to about 60 kts, the shaking ceased. The pilot landed the glider without further incident. The side-to-side shaking described by the pilot was consistent with a vibration event associated with flutter in straight and level flight. The vibrations dissipated as the airplane slowed, also consistent with flutter. The damage pattern in the aft portion of the fuselage showed multiple cracks oriented at ±45° relative to the horizontal plane, which was consistent with damage from torsion loading in both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation directions. 

Thus, the flutter likely produced high alternating torsion loads on the fuselage. The observed damage likely resulted from these high alternating torsion loads. Flutter could occur due to operation outside the design flight envelope, loose flight controls, changes in control surface mass, or reduced stiffness in control panel, wing, stabilizer, or fuselage structure. As discussed in more detail below, the examination found no clear evidence of preexisting damage or weakness that could have led to reduced stiffness of the fuselage structure.

The glider manufacturer was no longer in business and information received by the investigative staff was limited. The glider had unbalanced horizonal and vertical control surfaces. The ailerons were balanced. A verification of proper flight control cable rigging, elevator trim tab free play, static balance of the control surfaces was not performed due to the lack of available instructions for continued airworthiness.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The glider’s encounter with flutter during cruise flight that resulted in structural damage to the fuselage.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Today in History

67 Years ago today: On 27 February 1958 A Manx Airlines Bristol 170 impacted Winter Hill, U.K.,killing 35 occupants; 7 survived the accident.

Date: Thursday 27 February 1958

Time: 09:45

Type: Bristol 170 Freighter 21E

Owner/operator: Manx Airlines

Registration: G-AICS

MSN: 12762

Fatalities: Fatalities: 35 / Occupants: 42

Other fatalities: 0

Aircraft damage: Destroyed, written off

Category: Accident

Location: Winter Hill -   United Kingdom

Phase: En route

Nature: Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi

Departure airport: Isle of Man-Ronaldsway Airport (IOM/EGNS)

Destination airport: Manchester International Airport (MAN/EGCC)

Confidence Rating:  Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:

A Manx Airlines Bristol 170 impacted Winter Hill, U.K.,killing 35 occupants; 7 survived the accident.

The Bristol 170 aircraft was being operated by Manx Airlines on a flight from the Isle of Man to Manchester, United Kingdom. Prior to takeoff, in order to avoid delay, a clearance to fly at 1500 ft was offered and accepted. In the light of past experience the captain anticipated that he would be cleared to a higher altitude on crossing the English coast. Between Ronaldsway and the reporting point at Squire's Gate the flight was made below cloud practically all the way. Visibility was reasonably good. The captain went below to talk to the passengers for approximately a five minute period. During his absence the first officer set the radio compass on what he thought was Wigan Beacon, but, was in fact Oldham Beacon. The Oldham Beacon is a more powerful NDB with a morse recognition signal 'MYL'. Wigan NDB has a recognition signal 'MYK'. On his return to the cockpit the captain took over the piloting of the aircraft. He assumed that the radio compass was tuned in to Wigan.

Just prior to 09:38 hours the aircraft reported to Preston Control "abeam Blackpool at this time estimating Wigan at 43". At 09:39 the Preston controller radioed: "You are cleared to Wigan 1500 feet remaining contact. Call Manchester Zone for onward clearance."

At 09:44, one minute after it would have been over the Wigan NDB, the flight was in cloud and out of contact with the ground. Manchester Control the radioed, "Charlie Sierra will you make a right turn immediately on to a heading of two five zero. I have a faint paint on radar which indicates you're going over towards the hills." Shortly thereafter in the course of making the right turn as ordered, the aircraft crashed on the northeast slope of Winter Hill, at a height of approximately 1460 ft.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The error of the first officer in tuning the radio compass on Oldham Beacon instead of on Wigan Beacon. A contributory cause was the failure of the captain to check that the radio compass was tuned on the correct beacon."