Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

En route from Puebla to Guadalajara, the pilot encountered engine problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The twin engine airplane crash landed in a pasture located near Villa Mendoza and was destroyed by a post crash fire. All five occupants escaped with various injuries.

The pilot departed Deer Lake Airport Runway 25 at 1727LT on a local solo flight. Following a circuit, the airplane made an apparent touch and go then the pilot initiated a new departure. While climbing out, the airplane entered a left turn then descended to the ground and crashed near the airport, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Temuco-La Araucanía Airport, the pilot encountered with an unexpected situation and lost control of the airplane that crashed in an agricultural zone located south of the airport, bursting into flames. All four occupants were rescued, only the pilot suffered injuries. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

A Piper PA-31 Navajo operated by Airborne Energy Solutions Inc. was conducting a round robin instrument flight rules flight from Calgary International Airport (CYYC), AB, to Hinton/Entrance Aerodrome (CEE4), AB, and back to CYYC with only the pilot on board. The plan was to conduct the flight without refueling in CEE4. Prior to departure from CEE4, the pilot determined there was sufficient fuel for the return flight to CYYC. While in cruise, with the left engine being supplied by the left outboard tank, the pilot observed the left engine fuel pressure start to fluctuate, and the engine operation became erratic. The pilot then selected the left engine to run on the left inboard fuel tank. Concerned about the fuel quantity in the left-wing fuel tanks, the pilot elected to cross feed the left engine from the right-side fuel system. During the final approach into CYYC the right engine stopped running. The pilot secured the right engine, feathered the propeller, declared a Mayday with ATS and elected to continue the approach. Two to three minutes later, the left engine stopped operating, and the pilot proceeded to perform a forced approach onto a golf course located directly south of the approach end for Runway 35R. The aircraft came to a rest approximately 1/2 nm south of the threshold for Runway 35R. The pilot received minor injuries; however, the aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no post-accident fire. On site post-accident examination of the aircraft found the left-hand fuel selector in the outboard position, the right-hand fuel selector in the off position and the cross-feed valve in the off (normal) position. The aircraft was subsequently removed from the golf course and transported to a secure location for further investigation. The investigation found that there was no fuel remaining in the left inboard, left outboard and left nacelle fuel tanks. The right nacelle tank was empty, however approximately 24 USG were recovered from the right inboard, and approximately 29 USG were recovered from the right outboard fuel tanks.

The twin engine airplane was on a charter flight from Coyhaique to Chile Chico, carrying six passengers and one pilot. Halfway into the flight, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located northwest of Las Horquetas, Aysén Region. The wreckage was found in the afternoon on the slope of Cerro Aislado. All seven occupants were killed.

The pilot departed runway 19 at Albany International Airport on a ferry flight to Montreal. After takeoff, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about engine trouble and was able to climb to an altitude of about 800 feet when the airplane entered a left descending turn. It later gained a little altitude then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a residential area, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. The airplane was en route to Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

The pilot was flying the airplane on an FAA Special Flight Permit to another location to complete maintenance and an overdue annual inspection. The airplane had been abandoned, with its most recent flight being 8 years before, and chained to a tree in an agricultural field adjacent to the airport from August 2021 until December 2022 when it was purchased by the current owner. Before the accident flight, an attempt was made to top off the airplane’s fuel tanks. However, fuel started to leak from multiple locations and only three fuel tanks were able to be fueled. The pilot asked the mechanic about the leaks; the mechanic stated that the filler necks were leaking, and the lineman had attempted to top off the fuel tanks instead of the previously agreed upon lower level. The pilot then completed a brief preflight inspection before starting the airplane. During engine start, the pilot requested the mechanic’s assistance three times to ask about various issues that the mechanic talked him through. The pilot then taxied to the runway and departed without performing an engine run-up. Multiple cellphone video recordings of the takeoff sequence showed the airplane veer to the right and attempt to rotate before settling back to the runway. The recordings then showed the airplane become airborne near the end of the runway end and initially yaw to the right before it entered a shallow climb. The witnesses observed the airplane barely clear a line of trees past the departure end of the runway and make a left turn before it disappeared behind trees. Analysis of the video recordings showed that rotation was at a ground speed of about 70.8 knots, corresponding to an estimated air speed of about 74.8 knots, which was significantly below the recommended rotation speed of 85 knots. A witness north of the airport heard a loud airplane that appeared from behind trees and headed toward his residence. He observed the airplane strike two static wires on a power transmission line before it impacted the canopy of a large tree in his front yard. The airplane continued in a left bank toward a nearby soybean field and impacted the terrain in a nose-low, left bank attitude. The airplane was partially destroyed by a post impact fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were departing on an instrument flight rules flight in the multi-engine airplane. ADS-B information showed that, just after takeoff, the airplane entered a climbing right turn, reaching a peak altitude about 300 ft above ground level and a highest ground speed about 102 knots (kts). The airplane continued in a descending, tightening right turn as its speed decreased. Analysis of the ADS-B data indicated that the airplane’s bank angle was initially about 42° with a load factor of 1.36g. As the turn continued, the bank angle increased to about 46° with a load factor of 1.44g. Under these conditions, the airplane’s stall
speed would have been about 77 kts calibrated airspeed. The airplane’s last calculated true airspeed was about 81 kts. The airplane impacted terrain adjacent to the airport and was consumed by a postimpact fire. Examination of the engines revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions; however, the scope of the examinations was limited due to postimpact fire damage. A sound spectrum study conducted from surveillance video of the airplane indicated that at least one of the airplane’s engines was operating around 2,550 rpm throughout the takeoff and right turn; however, the study was unable to distinguish whether the recorded sound was from one engine or both engines operating at the same rpm. Examination of the flight control system did not reveal any anomalies. During the postaccident examination of the airplane, an aileron balance cable was found separated from a swaged terminal end with a portion of the cable not located. Metallurgical examination of the separation revealed that it was consistent with being cut, most likely during recovery of the wreckage or the accident sequence. Toxicological testing revealed the presence of ethanol and n-propanol in specimens from the pilot. Although the presence of ethanol in the tested specimens means that the possibility of alcohol consumption could not be excluded, at least some of the detected ethanol was likely the result of postmortem production. Toxicological testing of the passenger revealed the potentially sedating antihistamine, cetirizine, in muscle and liver tissue; however, whether the passenger was experiencing any impairing effects from the use of cetirizine could not be determined. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering immediately after takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain; however, the circumstances that resulted in the pilot’s decision to conduct the steep right turn at low altitude could not be determined.

The pilot encountered an unexpected situation and elected to make an emergency landing in an open muddy field. He lowered the landing gear and upon touchdown, the airplane overturned and came to rest upside down. All five occupants were rescued and the airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Zvikomborero Nyamakura, pilot,
Passengers:
Salfina Karimazondo, Murowa Diamonds’ security officer,
Obey Mabvundwi, constable of CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit,
Petros Chaguruka, Fawcett's guard,
Fredrick Maroyi, Fawcett's guard.