Flight Safety Information November 24, 2011 - No. 240 In This Issue Plane crashes in Papua after avoiding runway jaywalker American Airlines jet makes safe emergency landing Boeing monitor will save fuel Small Plane Crashes In Arizona FAA WINGS PROGRAM Plane crashes in Papua after avoiding runway jaywalker A poorly managed runway in the Bintang Mountains in West Papua, took its toll on Wednesday morning as a Twin Otter airplane operated by Susi Air crashed onto a mountain slope after it attempted to avoid a local resident passing the runway. The accident killed copilot Albert Citores Gallego of Spain. Pilot Jessie Becker, a New Zealand national, survived and was in critical condition at a Timika hospital. "Both were alive when we evacuated them. Albert died on the way to the hospital," National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) spokesperson Gagah Prakoso said, adding that the agency had evacuated the aircraft, found dozens of miles from the Supaga airport. Susi Air spokesperson Capt. Androyogi said the airplane, which carried food cargo and gasoline from Nabire, was in good condition and the pilots were among the most experienced in the company. There was a person passing the runway at Sugapa Airport when the plane attempted to land, he said. "The pilot decided to fly back up, but the area was surrounded by mountains and cliffs, making it very difficult to do," Androyogi told The Jakarta Post. Androyogi said Becker had been deployed to Papua earlier this year. Becker had also flown with Susi Air in Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan. Director general for Air Transport Herry Bhakti said initial investigations confirmed Androyogi's statement. Herry said the airplane had to make an emergency maneuver. "It takes a very experienced pilot to handle the difficult terrain in Papua ... However, we cannot determine the exact cause of the accident until further investigation," Herry said in a radio interview. The crash in the Bintang Mountains was the second deadly accident involving Susi Air in Papua. Susi Air's Cessna 208-B Caravan crashed in September in the mountainous Yahukimo district on its way to Kenyem from Wamena, killing its two foreign pilots. Susi Air vowed to thoroughly evaluate the latest incident and to meet with its customers, but would not stop its operations in Papua. "We don't see Papua as an object for business. Our aircraft carry staple foodstuffs and gasoline for Papuan residents on a daily basis. We can't imagine if we had to leave," he said. Aviation expert Chappy Hakim said that no parties could be blamed for the accident before the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) completed its investigation. "We can evaluate a few things, including the operator, the runway and the pilots ... How a civilian could be on the runway and so on. This way, we will find which party was responsible for the accident," Chappy said. Over the past three months, there have been six airplane accidents, including the still missing Cessna belonging to Nusa Flying School. The National Search and Rescue Agency announced it had stopped the aerial search on the seventh day of searching on Tuesday. (swd) http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/11/24/plane-crashes-papua-after-avoiding- runway-jaywalker.html Back to Top American Airlines jet makes safe emergency landing LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An American Airlines flight has made a safe emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after the crew reported the smell of smoke aboard the aircraft. Airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles says Flight 10 took off about 9:48 p.m. Wednesday headed for New York's Kennedy Airport. She says the crew detected the smell of something burning and the Boeing 767-200 returned to the airport and landed without incident about five minutes later. Castles says there were 164 people aboard the aircraft. A phone message left with American Airlines was not immediately returned Wednesday night. Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/23/4077592/american-airlines-jet-makes- safe.html#ixzz1ed1MLbS3 Back to Top Boeing monitor will save fuel The largest aerospace company's new InFlight Optimization Services will help cash strapped airlines save fuel and money. The system updates wind conditions during flight and suggests route adjustments to improve fuel efficiency. Second only to labor, fuel costs account for almost one-third of operating costs for airlines. Alaska Airlines (ALK), which flies an all-Boeing (BA) fleet is testing the wind update component and its pilots have responded positively. http://news.investors.com/Article/592725/201111231836/Boeing-monitor-will-save- fuel.htm Back to Top Small Plane Crashes In Arizona; 6 Aboard Feared Lost (AP) A small plane carrying three adults and three children crashed in flames in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix on Wednesday night, leaving one child confirmed dead and no signs of survivors, authorities said. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said preliminary reports indicate the twin-engine plane flew from Safford to Mesa's Falcon Field to pick up three children for the Thanksgiving holiday and was headed back to Safford in southeastern Arizona. A pilot, a mechanic and another adult were also on board, Babeu said. No names of passengers were immediately released. The children aboard were reportedly between the ages of 5 and 9. Sheriff's spokesman Elias Johnson said the body of one child was recovered late Wednesday night from the crash scene, but additional details weren't released. Rescue crews flown in by helicopter to reach the crash site reported finding two debris areas on fire, suggesting that the plane broke apart on impact. Rescue personnel were using infrared devices to search for bodies, but had not been able to detect any sign of movement, according to Johnson. "It does not look promising," Babeu said at a news conference. "We will search throughout the night." Authorities started getting calls reporting a mushroom-like explosion near the peak of a mountain, 40 miles east of downtown Phoenix, at about 6:30 p.m. MST. Flames could still be seen from the suburban communities of Mesa and Apache Junction hours after the crash. Some witnesses told Phoenix-area television stations they heard a plane trying to rev its engines to climb higher before apparently hitting the mountains. The elevation is about 5,000 feet at the Superstition Mountains' highest point. Sheriff's spokeswoman Angelique Graham said people reported hearing an explosion near the Flat Iron area close to Lost Dutchman State Park. "People said it sounded like fireworks going off," Graham said. Witnesses reported a fireball and an explosion. "I looked up and saw this fireball and it rose up," Dave Dibble told KPHO-TV. "All of a sudden, boom." Video showed several fires burning on the mountainside, where heavy brush is common. The region near Lost Dutchman State Park and the Superstition Wilderness is filled with steep canyons, soaring rocky outcroppings and cactus. "The fuselage is stuck down into some of the crevices of this rough terrain, and we're doing our best at this point in the darkness," Babeu said. "This is not a flat area, this is jagged peaks, almost like a cliff-type rugged terrain." Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the Rockwell AC-69 was registered to Ponderosa Aviation Inc. in Safford. A man who answered the phone Wednesday night at Ponderosa Aviation declined comment. Calls to Falcon Field, which mostly serves small, private planes, weren't immediately returned Wednesday night. Kenitzer said the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board would be investigating the cause of the crash. *********** Date: 23-NOV-2011 Time: 18:30am LT Type: Rockwell Commander 690A Operator: Ponderosa Aviation Inc. Registration: N690SM C/n / msn: 11337 Fatalities: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 Other fatalities: 0 Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Apache Junction, Pinal County, AZ - United States of America Phase: Initial climb Nature: Private Departure airport: Falcon Field Airport - KFFZ Destination airport: Safford Regional Airport - KSAD Narrative: A Rockwell Commander 690A aircraft crashed and burst into flames in rugged terraine near Apache Junction tonight about 18:30 local time, shortly after takeoff from Falcon Field Airport - KFFZ, AZ. All six occupants were killed. www.aviation-safety.net Back to Top FAA WINGS PROGRAM Welcome to the WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program! The objective of the WINGS Program is to address the primary accident causal factors that continue to plague the general aviation community. By focusing on this objective, we hope to reduce the number of accidents we see each year for the same causes. As you will see, it is not a simple "Award" program but is instead a true proficiency program, designed to help improve our skills and knowledge as pilots. The WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program is based on the premise that pilots who maintain currency and proficiency in the basics of flight will enjoy a safer and more stress-free flying experience. You select (in your Airman Profile) the category and class of aircraft in which you wish to receive training and in which you wish to demonstrate your flight proficiency. Requirements for each aircraft category and class include specific subjects and flight maneuvers. To ensure you receive a well-rounded learning experience, only certain flight activities fulfill specific credit requirements. More information about how these subject areas are selected is available on your MY WINGS page. The program encourages an on-going training program that provides you an opportunity to fly on a regular basis with an authorized flight instructor. The program is most effective if the training is accomplished regularly throughout the year, thus affording you the opportunity to fly in different seasons and in different flight conditions. Reviewing and refreshing your knowledge is just as important as actual flying. To meet this goal, we provide you many opportunities to complete online courses, attend seminars and other events, and participate in webinars. Many 3rd party activities, such as those offered by AOPA, ASA, Sporty's, Gleim Publications, and others, qualify for WINGS credit and will indicate such credit on their web site. In almost all cases, arrangements have been made with the FAASTeam to automatically provide WINGS credit after the activity. However, please allow at least 24 hours before inquiring about WINGS credits. Remember, if you have questions about a course or activity, check with the provider. If you have a question about the WINGS Program, contact Support@FAASafety.gov Note that completion of any Phase of WINGS satisfies the requirement for a flight review. So not only will you complete a review of the most common weak areas that have led others to the accident site, but you end up with a flight review, as well! In addition, we have two excellent resources to help you navigate the WINGS Program: the FAA Advisory Circular on the WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program, AC61-91J, available by clicking here, and a WINGS User's Guide, available by clicking here. An expanded explanation of the WINGS Program is available by clicking here. Thank you for participating in the WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program! http://www.faasafety.gov/WINGS/pub/learn_more.aspx Curt Lewis, P.E., CSP CURT LEWIS & ASSOCIATES, LLC