GeneralAviation Archives - Aviation Today

Two Student Pilots Killed After Plane Crashes In Canada During Flight Training

Aviation Today News Desk / September 21, 2026

Kisbey, Canada: Two licensed student pilots were killed when a Cessna 172 registered to Manitoba-based flight school Harv’s Air crashed […]

Parkdale, United States: Two people were killed after a small plane crashed near Parkdale in Oregon’s Hood River County on Monday, August 31, 2026 with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) set to investigate the accident. The crash was reported at about 11:31 a.m. local time after the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office received information about a possible aircraft accident near Old Parkdale Road. As additional callers reported different possible locations in the upper Hood River Valley, deputies began searching the area. The sheriff’s office aircraft and personnel from the Parkdale Fire Department also assisted in the search. At approximately 12:32 p.m., authorities located the wreckage on private property near an orchard along Trout Creek Ridge Road. The two people aboard the aircraft were found dead at the scene. The victims were identified as James Crain and Scott Perry, both residents of Hood River. The aircraft was identified by the NTSB as a Mooney M20C, a small, four-seat, single-engine aircraft. The available reports do not provide a confirmed account of what happened immediately before the aircraft went down. There has been no official finding indicating whether the crash was caused by a mechanical problem, weather, pilot action or another factor. The NTSB investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the accident and determine its probable cause. Following the discovery of the wreckage, the aircraft was secured at the scene pending the arrival of investigators from the FAA and NTSB. The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office said additional information would be released as it becomes available. The initial response involved Hood River County sheriff’s deputies, the sheriff’s office aircraft and Parkdale Fire Department personnel, who searched the upper Hood River Valley after receiving reports of the crash. The search ultimately led authorities to the wreckage near the orchard along Trout Creek Ridge Road. The NTSB subsequently confirmed that it was investigating the crash involving the Mooney M20C. Federal investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, available flight information and other evidence as they work to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. No information reviewed so far indicates that the aircraft was operated by a commercial airline or charter company. The available reports describe it as a small single-engine aircraft. The investigation remains ongoing, and the cause of the fatal crash has not been determined.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed As Mooney M20C Aircraft Crashes Near Parkdale In Oregon’s Hood River County

Aviation Today News Desk / September 1, 2026

Parkdale, United States: Two people were killed after a small plane crashed near Parkdale in Oregon’s Hood River County on

Aircraft Crashes

13 Killed After Aerodiana Plane Crashes Near Peru’s Nazca Lines; Probe Underway

Aviation Today News Desk / August 3, 2026

Nazca, Peru: All 13 people aboard an Aerodiana sightseeing flight were killed after a Cessna Caravan C-208 (Grand Caravan) crashed

Goldsby, United States: Two people were killed after a small aircraft crashed into a field and caught fire shortly after taking off from a private airfield in McClain County, Oklahoma, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The accident occurred on the afternoon of June 29 near East Cottonwood Road in Goldsby, approximately 30 miles south of Oklahoma City. Emergency responders from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), local fire departments and other agencies rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a plane crash. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the aircraft had departed from Paradise Air Haven Airport, a privately owned airfield near Goldsby, when it encountered difficulties shortly after takeoff. OHP Lt. Mark Southall said preliminary information gathered from witnesses indicated the aircraft failed to climb as expected. "Witnesses reported the aircraft did not gain enough altitude after takeoff before descending into a nearby field," Southall said. The aircraft crashed into a pasture near East Cottonwood Road before erupting into flames. First responders found the wreckage engulfed in fire. Authorities confirmed that both occupants died at the scene. No injuries were reported on the ground. Officials have not yet publicly released the identities of the two victims, pending notification of their families. The FAA and the NTSB have launched separate investigations into the accident. The FAA is assisting with the initial investigation, while the NTSB will lead the inquiry and determine the probable cause of the crash. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, pilot qualifications, maintenance records, weather conditions, operational history and witness statements as part of the investigation.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed As Small Plane Crashes And Burns After Takeoff In Oklahoma’s McClain County

Aviation Today News Desk / July 1, 2026

Goldsby, United States: Two people were killed after a small aircraft crashed into a field and caught fire shortly after

Kasganj, India: A trainee pilot survived after a Cessna 152 trainer aircraft operated by Chetak Aviation made an emergency landing and crash-landed in a field near an expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district on June 29, prompting an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The aircraft, registered as VT-AFB, had departed from Aligarh Airport on a solo training sortie with only the trainee pilot on board. According to the DGCA, the flight was part of a routine solo training exercise when the aircraft encountered an emergency, forcing the pilot to carry out a precautionary landing in an open field near an under-construction expressway in Kasganj. The trainee pilot has been identified by multiple local media reports as aged 28 years. Chetak Aviation confirmed that she had accumulated the required flying hours to undertake solo flights and had been training with the flying training organisation for over a year. According to the flying school, the aircraft took off from Aligarh at approximately 1:05 p.m., while the emergency occurred at around 3:00–4:00 p.m. near Kasganj. Soon after exiting the aircraft, the trainee pilot contacted the academy to report the occurrence, following which local police and emergency responders were alerted. The DGCA, in its official statement, said, "Chetak Aviation Cessna 152 aircraft VT-AFB engaged in solo flying at Aligarh has crash landed in a field in Kasganj. She (trainee pilot) is reported to be safe. DGCA is investigating the occurrence." Chetak Aviation stated that the aircraft came down beside the expressway and that the pilot remained safe. Kasganj Police said she was taken to a local hospital for medical examination and her condition was stable. The exact cause of the emergency landing has not yet been established. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft experienced a technical snag while airborne, compelling the pilot to attempt a forced landing. The flying training organisation said it would determine the cause only after examining the aircraft and speaking with the trainee pilot. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft descend rapidly before coming to rest in a field adjacent to the roadway. Some local reports claimed the aircraft may have struck overhead power lines before landing, although this has not been confirmed by the DGCA. The crash site drew large crowds of local residents, while police officials quickly secured the area and facilitated the pilot's evacuation. Photographs and videos circulating online showed the aircraft lying on its side with visible damage to one wing and the rear fuselage after skidding off the landing area. Following the occurrence, the DGCA initiated a formal investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the emergency landing. According to subsequent reports, all training flights operated by Chetak Aviation have been suspended until the investigation is completed. The incident marks the second trainer aircraft occurrence in Uttar Pradesh within four days. On June 26, a trainee pilot sustained serious injuries at Kanpur's Chakeri Airport after disembarking from a Tecnam P2006T trainer aircraft operated by Garg Aviation while its engine was still running and was struck by the rotating propeller. That incident is also under investigation by the DGCA.

Aircraft Crashes

Trainee Pilot Survives Cessna 152 Crash Landing Near Expressway During Solo Flight

Aviation Today News Desk / July 1, 2026

Kasganj, India: A trainee pilot survived after a Cessna 152 trainer aircraft operated by Chetak Aviation made an emergency landing

Fochville, South Africa: Two people were killed after a Bird Aviation training aircraft crashed near Fochville in South Africa's Gauteng province on Saturday afternoon, with aviation authorities launching an investigation into the cause of the accident. Bird Aviation confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the accident at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time on June 27. The academy said emergency services responded immediately and the relevant aviation authorities were notified in accordance with regulatory requirements. In an official media release, the flight school said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation and that no additional details can be released until investigators have completed their work. The academy stated that the families of the aviators had been informed and extended its condolences to those affected by what it described as a devastating loss. Bird Aviation also said it would withhold the identities of the occupants until all required family notifications had been completed and the necessary permissions had been granted. South African emergency response agencies, including ER24, Netcare911 and Gauteng Emergency Medical Services, responded to the crash after the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre activated its emergency response network. Both occupants of the aircraft were found to have sustained fatal injuries. Following recovery operations, the crash site was handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), which has opened an official investigation into the accident. Bird Aviation said it is fully cooperating with investigators and will continue assisting the relevant authorities, including SACAA, SAPS and the appropriate consulate. The academy also thanked emergency medical personnel, first responders, law enforcement agencies and aviation authorities for their professionalism and support during the response. Authorities have not yet disclosed the aircraft's planned route, the circumstances leading to the crash or a possible cause. As of June 29, the identities of the two people killed have not been publicly released. Separately sources indicated that the deceased were Indian nationals; however, Aviation Today has been unable to independently verify their identities at the time of publication. According to Gulte, one of the victims was N. Charan Teja, a Telugu trainee pilot from Andhra Pradesh, India, who was undergoing flight training at Bird Aviation in South Africa. The report said Teja had moved to South Africa to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial pilot and was among the two occupants killed in the June 27 crash near Fochville. However, South African authorities and Bird Aviation had not officially confirmed the identities of the victims at the time of publication. The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C, registered ZS-ESZ, although investigators have not yet issued an official preliminary report. The investigation remains ongoing.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Killed After Bird Aviation Training Aircraft Crashes In South Africa, Probe Underway

Aviation Today News Desk / June 29, 2026

Fochville, South Africa: Two people were killed after a Bird Aviation training aircraft crashed near Fochville in South Africa’s Gauteng

La Baule-Escoublac, France: A twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed during its approach to La Baule-Escoublac Airport in western France on June 19, 2026, killing both people on board and triggering an investigation by French aviation authorities. The aircraft went down in a field near the airport while preparing to land after a flight from Rennes. Emergency services responding to the scene found the wreckage engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to nearby vegetation. Despite the rapid response of firefighters and rescue teams, both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims were identified as 69-year-old Claude Guillemot, co-founder of video game publisher Ubisoft and chairman of Guillemot Corporation, and a flight instructor from Rennes who was accompanying him on the flight. French authorities had not publicly released the instructor's name as of June 22. According to local officials, the aircraft involved was a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle, a pressurized twin-engine piston aircraft widely used for private and business aviation operations. Local authorities indicated that the aircraft was owned by Guillemot. The flight had departed Rennes earlier in the day and was arriving at La Baule when the accident occurred. Several reports indicated that Guillemot was expected to attend an aviation gathering in the coastal town over the weekend, though authorities have not formally linked the flight to the event. Witnesses quoted by French media reported seeing the aircraft maneuvering during the final stages of its approach before it descended and impacted the ground. However, investigators have not confirmed the circumstances leading to the crash. The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) and other relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. No preliminary findings have been released, and officials have not indicated whether weather, mechanical issues, operational factors, or other circumstances may have contributed to the crash. Guillemot was one of the five Guillemot brothers who founded Ubisoft in 1986. While his brother Yves Guillemot became the company's longtime chief executive, Claude played a key role in the group's development and later served as chairman of Guillemot Corporation, the gaming hardware company behind brands such as Thrustmaster and Hercules. Under the leadership of the Guillemot family, Ubisoft grew into one of the world's largest video game publishers, producing globally recognized franchises including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Rayman, Just Dance, and The Division. French investigators continue to examine the wreckage and gather evidence as they work to determine what caused the fatal crash near La Baule.

Aircraft Crashes

Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Among Two Killed In Fatal Cessna 421 Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / June 22, 2026

La Baule-Escoublac, France: A twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed during its approach to La Baule-Escoublac Airport in western France on June

Bowie, United States: Three people were killed after a single-engine Piper PA-28-181 Archer II crashed into a wooded area near a residential neighborhood and playground in Bowie, Maryland, late on June 20, prompting a multi-agency overnight search and a federal investigation into the cause of the accident. According to Maryland State Police (MSP), the aircraft went down at approximately 11:30 p.m. local time in a wooded section of Archer Park near Scarlett Oak Court, just east of Washington, D.C. The aircraft, identified as a Piper PA-28-181 Archer II bearing registration N249WF, was operating a flight from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Authorities said the aircraft was believed to be associated with a Montgomery County-based flight school named Washington International Flight Academy and may have been conducting a training flight at the time of the accident. All three occupants onboard the pilot and two adult passengers were fatally injured. Emergency medical personnel pronounced them dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet publicly released their identities pending notification of next of kin. The crash occurred only a short distance from homes in a townhouse community and near a neighborhood playground. No injuries were reported among residents on the ground. "We are very fortunate that nobody else was injured in this crash," Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo said during a press briefing. "Of course, it's an absolute tragedy that we've lost three individuals in this incident, but we're also very fortunate that nobody else in the neighboring residential area was hurt." A large-scale search operation was immediately launched involving Maryland State Police, Prince George's County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Bowie city officials, and Prince George's County Fire and EMS personnel. Ground units and aviation assets searched through the night before locating the wreckage at approximately 3:45 a.m. on June 21. Officials said darkness, dense vegetation, and the absence of eyewitness reports complicated search efforts and delayed the discovery of the aircraft. Residents living near the crash site reported hearing a loud boom shortly before midnight. Some initially believed the sound was fireworks or distant thunder. Photographs and video from the scene showed debris scattered across a wooded area, with some wreckage reportedly landing near a playground and in residential backyards. "It was an absolutely tragic incident," Russo said. "It could have been even worse because of the proximity to a town home community in Bowie." Aviation enthusiasts familiar with local flight operations also assisted in narrowing down the aircraft's last known location using publicly available flight-tracking data. One flight instructor told local media that he and several others followed the aircraft's final radar track into the wooded area while first responders were searching for the wreckage. At present, investigators have not identified a cause for the crash. Authorities have not disclosed whether the pilot reported any emergency or technical difficulties before the accident. Online flight-tracking enthusiasts have suggested the aircraft may have transmitted a 7700 emergency squawk and experienced a loss of altitude before impact. However, those observations have not been confirmed by investigators and remain unofficial. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have opened a formal investigation. The NTSB is leading the inquiry and is expected to examine the aircraft's maintenance history, pilot qualifications, weather conditions, flight track data, air traffic communications, and wreckage evidence. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive at the crash site on June 21. Federal investigators have indicated that no preliminary conclusions regarding the cause of the accident are available at this stage. The wreckage remains secured as investigators continue documenting evidence and reconstructing the aircraft's final moments.

Aircraft Crashes

Three Killed After Piper PA-28 Archer II Crashes Near Maryland Homes; NTSB Probe

Aviation Today News Desk / June 22, 2026

Bowie, United States: Three people were killed after a single-engine Piper PA-28-181 Archer II crashed into a wooded area near

Tennessee, United States: Two brothers were killed when a small aircraft crashed in Warren County, Tennessee, on June 17, prompting a federal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to Warren County Sheriff Jackie Matheny Jr., the aircraft departed from a private airstrip in the Viola community before crashing in a cornfield near Morrison Industrial Park, west of McMinnville. The crash site was located near Doyle Frazier Road in Morrison. Preliminary information released by the sheriff's office indicates investigators believe the aircraft may have struck a tree shortly after takeoff. Despite the apparent impact, the airplane continued flying for a short period before ultimately crashing while likely en route to Warren County Memorial Airport. Sheriff Matheny said the aircraft appeared to have entered a nose-down descent before impact, leaving behind a large debris field across the crash site. Family members confirmed that the victims were brothers from the Viola community. The aircraft involved was a Cessna 177RG Cardinal. Authorities confirmed that both occupants died in the accident. Emergency crews responded to the scene shortly after the crash was reported at approximately 12:19 p.m. local time. The accident occurred in a rural area near Morrison Industrial Park, and no injuries on the ground were reported. Federal investigators have now assumed responsibility for determining the cause of the accident. The NTSB is leading the investigation with assistance from the FAA. Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, aircraft records, pilot information, weather conditions, and other factors as part of the inquiry. As of the latest reports, officials have not publicly released the names of the victims. Authorities have also not disclosed the aircraft's registration number or ownership information. The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report in the coming weeks, while a final determination of probable cause could take considerably longer.

Aircraft Crashes

Two Brothers Killed In Tennessee Plane Crash After Aircraft Struck Tree

Aviation Today News Desk / June 18, 2026

Tennessee, United States: Two brothers were killed when a small aircraft crashed in Warren County, Tennessee, on June 17, prompting

Pennsylvania, United States: A former New Jersey flight instructor who continued teaching students despite losing his FAA pilot certification has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison following a fatal 2022 training flight crash that killed one of his students and exposed a broader fraud scheme involving a Pennsylvania flight school named ProFlite Aero Services. On June 11, 2026, Philip Everton McPherson II was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his role in the September 28, 2022 crash of a Piper PA-28-140 near Allentown, Pennsylvania, which claimed the life of a student pilot identified in court documents only as K.K. The sentence followed McPherson's guilty plea in October 2025 to involuntary manslaughter, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obstruction of an administrative proceeding, and 40 counts of serving as an airman without a valid certificate. According to federal prosecutors, the accident occurred when McPherson departed Queen City Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as pilot-in-command of a Piper PA-28-140 with student pilot K.K. on board. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed, killing the student pilot. McPherson survived the accident but suffered serious injuries. The crash later became the focus of a federal criminal investigation after authorities discovered that McPherson was not legally qualified to act as pilot-in-command at the time of the flight. Court filings stated that McPherson knew he lacked the competence and legal authority required to safely operate the aircraft. Federal investigators alleged that McPherson had been involved in two prior aircraft accidents and nearly a third incident. He failed an FAA re-examination, commonly known as a "709 ride," on September 29, 2021 due to a lack of demonstrated competence. He voluntarily surrendered his pilot certificate on October 7, 2021. He allowed his Temporary Airman Certificate to expire on November 8, 2021. Despite those circumstances, he continued operating aircraft and instructing students. Prosecutors argued that these actions demonstrated gross negligence and formed the basis for the involuntary manslaughter charge. The investigation found that McPherson continued flying even after surrendering his certification. Federal authorities charged him with 40 counts of serving as an airman without a certificate, alleging that he acted as pilot-in-command on dozens of flights carrying passengers between October 12, 2021 and September 20, 2022 without possessing a valid FAA pilot certificate. Initially, prosecutors said the charges carried a theoretical maximum penalty of 128 years in prison and more than $10 million in fines. As investigators dug deeper into the case, attention turned to ProFlite Aero Services, a Pennsylvania-based flight school where McPherson worked as an instructor. Federal prosecutors alleged that McPherson and flight school owner Nouman Saleem knowingly concealed the fact that McPherson no longer held a valid FAA certificate. According to the superseding indictment, the two men exchanged text messages discussing how to hide McPherson's failed FAA re-examination from students. Investigators alleged that students continued paying for flight instruction despite the instructor lacking the credentials legally required to provide training. Court records state that students paid approximately $101,000 to ProFlite Aero Services for instruction conducted by McPherson. Authorities said those flight hours were effectively invalid because McPherson did not possess a valid FAA pilot certificate during that period. Federal authorities further alleged that McPherson and Saleem attempted to obstruct an FAA administrative proceeding. According to prosecutors, both men submitted false affidavits claiming that FAA personnel had informed them McPherson could continue providing flight instruction despite his certification status. Investigators later concluded those statements were false. The investigation eventually led to criminal charges against ProFlite Aero Services owner Nouman Saleem. In February 2025, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging both McPherson and Saleem in connection with the fatal crash and the alleged fraud scheme. Saleem faced charges including, conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obstruction of an administrative proceeding. On May 21, 2025, Saleem pleaded guilty to all three charges. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to pay $101,528 in restitution to victims affected by the scheme. On October 14, 2025, McPherson pleaded guilty before the U.S. District Judge John M. Gallagher in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The guilty plea covered. one count of involuntary manslaughter, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of obstruction of an administrative proceeding and forty counts of serving as an airman without a certificate. The plea effectively ended the criminal case that began with the fatal 2022 crash. On June 11, 2026, McPherson was sentenced to 78 months (6.5 years) in federal prison, three years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, $19,530 in restitution and a $4,300 special assessment. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General with substantial assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The case stands out as one of the rare instances in which a fatal flight-training accident resulted not only in aviation-related charges but also in involuntary manslaughter, fraud, and obstruction convictions tied to a broader scheme involving unlicensed flight instruction and deception of paying students.

Aircraft Crashes

Former Flight Instructor Sentenced After Student Pilot Dies In Training Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / June 12, 2026

Pennsylvania, United States: A former New Jersey flight instructor who continued teaching students despite losing his FAA pilot certification has

GeneralAviation

Two Student Pilots Killed After Plane Crashes In Canada During Flight Training

Two Killed As Mooney M20C Aircraft Crashes Near Parkdale In Oregon’s Hood River County

13 Killed After Aerodiana Plane Crashes Near Peru’s Nazca Lines; Probe Underway

Two Killed As Small Plane Crashes And Burns After Takeoff In Oklahoma’s McClain County

Trainee Pilot Survives Cessna 152 Crash Landing Near Expressway During Solo Flight

Two Killed After Bird Aviation Training Aircraft Crashes In South Africa, Probe Underway

Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Among Two Killed In Fatal Cessna 421 Crash

Three Killed After Piper PA-28 Archer II Crashes Near Maryland Homes; NTSB Probe

Two Brothers Killed In Tennessee Plane Crash After Aircraft Struck Tree

Former Flight Instructor Sentenced After Student Pilot Dies In Training Crash

Quick Links

Navigate

General Support

News Desk Support