Small plane crashes on New Jersey Interstate 287

[Carbon Bootprint]

A small plane has crashed on a motorway in the US state of New Jersey, aviation officials have said.

The aircraft went down on Interstate 287 at the town of Harding in the north of the state, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters.

Policeman Christopher Kay told the Associated Press news agency there was a report of three possible deaths.

TV news helicopter footage showed wreckage strewn across the motorway, which is closed in both directions.

One witness, Shona Sternberg, said she was about three cars away at the time of the crash.

She told the Star-Ledger of Newark newspaper (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/small_plane_crashes_on_i-287_i.html) that there was an explosion as the aircraft went down.

"Something was breaking off the plane as it was coming down," she said. "It was coming down fast. It looked like the right wing was breaking off."

Interstate 287 is a heavily used motorway that wraps around the New York City area.
Source article here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16274727).

[Jetblu]

I think this is an old report as I recall something very similar in the same area with a TBM not so long ago.

Unless wings falling off TBM's are common practice now ?:confused:

[Gomrath]

No this was today around 11:40 EST . TBM-700 departed Teterboro for Georgia and came down on I 287.
All a bit speculative at present. Fortunately, nobody on the freeway was injured.
Small Plane Crashes On Busy New Jersey Interstate | digtriad.com (http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/204539/175/Small-Plane-Crashes-On-Busy-New-Jersey-Interstate)

[AdamFrisch]

Wasn't there another TBM on a freeway just a month or so ago? What's going on with these TBMs?

[Jetblu]

You might be thinking of this one Adam :

Update: Engine failure forced plane down to turnpike, NTSB says - Broward - MiamiHerald.com (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/12/2450682/single-engine-plane-crash-lands.html)

Number of engine failures with them too. One not so long ago over water and ditched. Here :

http://www.pprune.org/caribbean-latin-america/470015-single-engine-turbine-ditches.html

[thcrozier]

http://archive-server.liveatc.net/klns/ZNY-MDT-Dec-20-2011-1500Z.mp3

According to flightaware, he was climbing through 17 when the track stops.
I think you hear him try to declare an emergency at about 03:43. There is a lot of talk about icing at 17,000. One pilot reports it as severe. If I'm not mistaken, the operations in severe icing are prohibited in the 700. :confused::confused:

[mad_jock]

I don't know an aircraft that is cleared for severe icing conditions.

My POM states get the hell out of it as quickly as possible. Using not quite those words.

[thcrozier]

Does your plane have an A/D, such as U.S. FAA 98-04-22, which specifically addresses the issue?

[mad_jock]

Nope it states it is cleared for operation in moderate icing conditions.

As severe icing is defined by.

Severe Icing -- The rate of ice accumulation on an aircraft is such that de-icing/anti-icing equipment fails to reduce or control the hazard. Immediate diversion is necessary.

I really can't see how anything can be.

[thcrozier]

I see your point. Being a pilot who avoids icing altogether (it's unusual in Southern California and when its in the forecast I just don't go) I am not up to speed on all of the definitions. On the other hand, the 700 POM addresses the issue specifically and at length, as does 98-04-22.

SOCATA - Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Model TBM 700 Airplanes (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/0/09de59381815b33786256a65006f48f7!OpenDocument)

To this admittedly uninformed reader of the AD, it implies a definition of "severe icing" as a condition into which some planes can fly and others cannot. My B36TC Bonanza is restricted from flight into any "known icing conditions". Does that mean that for it, all icing is "severe"?

A little more reading and I see I'm not the only one to be confused:

http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar01-91.pdf

[mary meagher]

Having invested in an aeroplane with all the fancy equipment, the pressure to fly one's family and friend and the family dog from Teterboro to Atlanta, was irresistable. Despite known icing conditions.

I was stuck in Norfolk a while ago at Thankgiving and watched a similar family leave for Long Island, attempt 3 diversions, and return, with the family grumpy and upset that Daddy's super toy couldn't perform as promised. They were lucky.