DA40NG N907L forced landing on a highway

[mfdutra]

https://wlos.com/news/local/plane-crash ... ls-confirm

Airplane is 3 months old. Catastrophic Austro engine failure.

N907L

[Boatguy]

How do we know it was catastrophic engine failure?

The registration still says Diamond Aircraft Sales, USA, but that it was operated by Lift Training Academy. Lift racks up hours very fast and does their own maintenance. There are a lot of ways for an engine to fail.

It was the fourth flight of the day, starting at 0747. The plane had flown 5hrs 40min today, before this flight began. If it was the same crew, they had to be tired by 2013. Lift has a base in Myrtle Beach so it could be that this crew flew Myrtle Beach to Knoxville, had dinner, and was returning; maybe they were doing a night XC.

They were in cruise at 6,000' and it looks like they were in a full speed descent for a couple of minutes, then pulled up to about best glide and proceeded for another four minutes.

Do we have any other sources of information?

[thefoxx]

LiveATC:

[Chris]

I listed to some of the ATC audio and at one point he said he "got the engine restarted" followed by "just heard a big bang so we may lose it again". I think they mentioned getting "about half power" and "some smoke" after that.

Nearby areas reported power outages after the crash, indicating that they may have hit some power lines in the dark on the way down. The pilot sounded pretty sharp and calm through all of it and probably thought they had the freeway made. It seems like they came down about two miles short of KAVL. Looks to be a tragic outcome from the images.

[A Dopo]

Our instructor is now at the MB location. I haves a text and call into him to make sure he's ok, and the voice I don't think is his. We purchased the NG for a variety or reasons, but near the very top is safely. Not many fires in any of the crashes, and I was surprised to see the fire. But jet A does burn, no doubt about it if you rupture those tanks or fuel lines. Still impressive that they obviously survived, and got out with only one going to the hospital. I'll ask our friend if he knows anything. My guess is all they know now has been revealed in the above audio. One of our biggest fears is dual ecu failure. And at night....

[A Dopo]

Just got an answer to my text. No serious injuries reported, they were from the Indianapolis location and in MB for winter training. I think all they know now is what is revealed on the audio. Loss of oil pressure and dual ecu failure.

[Chris]

Great to hear that both occupants were able to get out without serious injuries!

Some quotes from a news article:

"Plane is on the ground and the two passengers made it out before it caught on fire," the tower said.

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the plane hit power lines that cross I-26 and one wing hit a tractor-trailer.

[mfdutra]

Loss of oil pressure and dual ecu failure.

Dual ECU failure is the consequence, not the cause. Both ECU will indicate loss of oil pressure at the same time.

[Soareyes]

Our instructor is now at the MB location.

What is an MB location?

[russewm2]

MB = Myrtle Beach