VFR encounter with IMC: Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar, N100PB, fatal accident occurred on July 6, 2023, near Burlington, Colorado

• Location: Burlington, Colorado 
• Accident Number: CEN23FA285 
• Date & Time: July 6, 2023, 13:30 Local 
• Registration: N100PB 
• Aircraft: Piper PA-60-601P 
• Aircraft Damage: Destroyed 
• Defining Event: VFR encounter with IMC 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192561/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192561

On July 6, 2023, at an unknown time, a Piper PA-60-601P airplane, N100PB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Burlington, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot departed the airport about 1330 local time for an unknown destination in visual flight rules conditions. The accident site was located about 12 nautical miles (nm) from the airport; however, the airplane’s flight path and time of the accident are unknown as there was no flight track or recorded data available; there were no witnesses to the accident.

Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact anomalies with the airplane or engines that would have precluded normal operation. Weather conditions after the airplane’s departure suggest the airplane may have encountered an area of deteriorating weather and instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) that reduced visibility and obscured terrain. However, as the accident time is unknown, the investigation was unable to determine if the airplane crashed during a time of deteriorating weather. The pilot was also operating the airplane with an inoperative GPS, which could have decreased the pilot’s ability to maintain situational awareness. The accident site signatures were consistent with a loss of control and impact with terrain.

An autopsy was conducted on the pilot; however, due to the condition of the remains, it could not be determined if an impairing condition or natural disease contributed to the accident. An unknown quantity of ethanol detected by toxicological testing may have been from postmortem production; however, the limited results also do not exclude the possibility of ethanol consumption or related impairment.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control in flight and subsequent impact with terrain.

Loss of engine power (partial) : Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, N4420K, fatal accident occurred on June 27, 2023, near Ravelli County Airport (KHRF), Hamilton, Montana

• Location: Hamilton, Montana 
• Accident Number: WPR23FA244 
• Date & Time: June 27, 2023, 07:59 Local 
• Registration: N4420K 
• Aircraft: Curtiss Wright P-40E 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Loss of engine power (partial) 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192470/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192470

On June 27, 2023, about 0759 mountain daylight time, a Curtiss Wright P-40E, N4420K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hamilton, Montana. The pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. 

Witnesses reported that the airplane departed from runway 35 after a successful runup. During the initial climb, multiple witnesses reported that they heard a loss of engine power and saw the airplane make a left turn before it descended and impacted terrain.

Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit control to each flight control surface. The crankshaft was manually rotated by the reduction gear and mechanical continuity of the engine was established throughout the rotating group, valvetrain, and accessory section. Though mechanical continuity was established, the engine could not be placed on the test stand due to impact and thermal damage. Damage to the propeller blades indicated they were under low to no power at impact.

The pilot's postmortem toxicological testing detected Citalopram, a prescription medication commonly used to treat depression and anxiety, However, according to a Federal Aviation Administration medical review, the pilot received multiple renewal letters, medication follow-up checklists, and reports of formal evaluations of his medical conditions within the pilot's medical certification file, indicative of successful management of his condition from 2014 to 2023. Based on the pilot's medical history, he was likely not impaired by his condition; witnesses reported that the pilot was in a good mood during the preflight.

The pilot was likely attempting to make a forced landing to a field about 1/2 mile from the departure airport. The airplane appeared to hit hard on the nose/engine in a nearly wings-level attitude and skidded about 216 ft. Based on the available information, the reason for an engine loss of power could not be determined.

- Probable Cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Collision during takeoff/land: Cessna 180H Skywagon, N91361, fatal accident occurred on June 16, 2023, near Shaktoolik, Alaska

• Location: Shaktoolik, Alaska 
• Accident Number: ANC23FA042 
• Date & Time: June 16, 2023, 11:35 Local 
• Registration: N91361 
• Aircraft: Cessna 180 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Non-scheduled 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192387/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192387

On June 16, 2023, about 1135 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180H airplane, N91361, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Shaktoolik, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand charter flight.

The airplane was operated by Golden Eagle Outfitters, Inc. in support of a remote bear hunting excursion. Two hunting guides were waiting on a remote off-airport mountain ridgeline airstrip near their camp to be picked up and flown to Unalakleet Airport (PAUN) after a hunting trip. An hour before the accident, the pilot departed with two hunters/clients and told the guides he would be back to pick them up. When the pilot returned, he boarded one of the guides and some of their gear, then arranged to return for the other and the remaining gear.

The pilot and passenger were departing downhill in a southwesterly direction from a remote, sloped airstrip located on a mountain ridgeline. According to a witness, the pilot had three trips planned to the airstrip that day, transporting hunters and gear to a nearby village. The witness stated that, upon the pilot’s return to the airstrip following the first flight of the day, he reported to the pilot that, since his previous departure, the winds had increased and were “gusting and  hanging a lot.” He watched the initial portion of the takeoff roll; nothing appeared abnormal, and he did not watch the remainder of the takeoff. He stated that, during previous departures, the airplane would typically dip out of sight below the departure end of the airstrip before continuing its climb out of the valley. When he did not see the airplane continue the climb, he went to the edge of the ridgeline and saw that the airplane had impacted tundra about 300 ft below the airstrip.

A small cluster of trees was present about 2/3 of the way down the left side of the 750-ft-long airstrip. One tree was fractured and displayed fragments of red paint that matched the accident airplane’s paint color. The left horizontal  stabilizer displayed a concave dent perpendicular to the leading edge about 1 ft outboard of the stabilizer root. Tree sap and embedded tree fibers were observed in the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. 

Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Review of weather information indicated the presence of north/northeasterly surface wind conditions in the area of the accident site. Another pilot, who responded to the accident site about 45 minutes after the accident, reported that the wind was “unusual” and variable, gusting 10-12 knots from the north before gusting 5 knots from the south and repeating. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot encountered gusting tailwind conditions during the takeoff, which resulted in the airplane veering left and impacting a tree, followed by a loss of control and impact with terrain.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s encounter with gusting tailwind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in impact with a tree, a loss of control, and subsequent impact with terrain.