ARFF Daily News

Today is Friday the 28th of March, 2025

We close out the week with the following stories...

Of note, we're getting to the season where we see more crop-dusting operations, which means we'll be seeing more incidents involving these aircraft. Remember they can be carrying insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or fertilizers, all of which pose a risk of chemical exposure to first responders. Wear all your PPE and treat them as Haz-Mat runs so you can safely get home to your family after your shift!

Have a safe weekend!

Tom

Cropduster crash reported in Craighead County

By K8 Newsdesk

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) - Emergency crews responded Friday morning to a cropduster crash in western Craighead County.

An E-911 dispatcher confirmed to K8 News that a plane crashed around 8:15 a.m. near U.S. Highway 67 and State Highway 226, west of Cash.

Captain Jason Allen with the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office said the pilot survived the crash with no injuries.

Sheriff’s Lieutenant Logan Thomas told K8 News the pilot was spraying a field when he clipped the top of a farm machine.

Allen said the Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating the crash.

https://www.kait8.com/2025/03/28/cropduster-crash-reported-craighead-county/

Plane flips while making emergency landing in Pasco County: Firefighters

By Nancy Gay

The Brief

• A plane flipped over after making an emergency landing in Pasco County. 
• No injuries or hazards have been reported.
• Pasco County firefighters said the plane made an emergency landing after losing power.

HOLIDAY, Fla. - A plane made an emergency landing in Pasco County on Thursday and flipped over. 

It happened near Grand Blvd. and Dove Dr. in Holiday. 

Pasco County firefighters said the plane made an emergency landing after losing power. 

No injuries or hazards have been reported. 

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and coordinating with the FAA. 

What we don't know:

It is unclear how many people were on board the plane at the time of the emergency landing. It is also unclear where the plane took off or where it was headed. 

The Source: This story was written with information posted by Pasco County Firefighters Local 4420.

https://www.fox13news.com/news/plane-flips-while-making-emergency-landing-pasco-county-pcf

Small downed plane damages Kunia home, sends passenger to hospital in serious condition

By Kayli Pascal-Martinez and Kristen Consillio

KUNIA, Hawaii (Island News) – The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) responded to a downed small aircraft that was reported near the Royal Kunia Country Club on Anonui St. on Thursday afternoon at approximately 12:08 p.m.

HFD reported that a small Piper Cherokee aircraft landed in the bushes and rescuers said that the aircraft was not on fire and that the two passengers were able to get out on their own.

Crews were able to airlift a 22-year-old man and a 38-year-old man to a landing zone where their medical care was transferred to the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at 12:37 p.m.

As a result of the crash, the 22-year-old was taken in serious condition. According to EMS, he received a bruise on his head and was taken to a nearby emergency room.

Paramedics also reported that the 38-year-old man received a minor arm injury but declined to be taken by EMS.

The aircraft accident left a hole in the roof of a Kunia home, broken into by the plane's propellor.

Bob Steen, the owner of the home said his wife was cutting pineapple and walked away from the kitchen moments before the unthinkable happened.

Bob Steen, Homeowner "There's probably two or three minutes after that, you heard boom, like an explosion, a bomb or what the hell I go back out around. I can't even tell what's going on. everything. I'm 100% my wife wasn't in there because that propeller came down right where she was cutting that pineapple and threw the pineapple all over on her counter and everything prop flipped over and landed in the family room. It was like a bomb went off and there was a mess," Steen explained.

He patched up the hole in his roof. The homes are close to one another in this densely populated neighborhood in Royal Kunia.

Steen and his neighbors are still in shock at what could've been a huge tragedy.

The cause of the incident and where the plane landed is still unknown, but the National Transportation Safety Board has retrieved the propeller and begun an investigation.

https://www.kitv.com/news/local/small-plane-crash-in-kunia-sends-one-to-hospital-in-serious-condition/article_c7f178bc-b9d9-422a-b3bc-19ab06fec1ce.html

NTSB Final Report: Epic Aircraft LLC E1000

The Pilot Realized He Had Forgotten To Extend The Landing Gear

Location: Arcola, Texas Accident Number: CEN25LA087
Date & Time: January 22, 2025, 22:50 Local Registration: N44BN
Aircraft: Epic Aircraft LLC E1000 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Landing gear not configured Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Business

Analysis: The pilot reported that he thought he put the landing gear down on the base leg of the traffic pattern before the landing. It was dark with no wind and his approach and landing flare were normal with no indication of any issues until the airplane began to vibrate and he heard noise from the propeller and saw sparks. The pilot realized he had forgotten to extend the landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. 

The pilot said that thinking back on the sequence of events that he could not recall hearing any type of aural warning from the avionics indicating that the landing gear was not extended. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s failure to extend the airplane’s landing gear before landing.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov