Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Kerry Lynch

Gordon Gilbert

Moments before the Feb. 13, 2022, fatal crash of a Piper Meridian just after takeoff from Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kansas, the pilot of the single-engine turboprop radioed an “urgent need to return to the airport,” according to the recently published NTSB final report. The airplane stalled and crashed, killing the 51-year-old pilot and sole occupant.
Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Due to the extent of damage, the NTSB could not determine the nature of the emergency.
The 2012 PA-46-500TP had recently undergone an annual inspection, and the pilot planned to fly the airplane under Part 91 IFR back to his base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Weather was day VMC with wind from the north at 15 knots. Once airborne from Runway 36, the airplane drifted slightly right, and the pilot radioed an urgent need to return to the airport. The controller cleared the airplane to land but no further transmissions were received.
Flight path data showed the aircraft slowing before turning back, with the speed continuing to decrease. Final data recorded the airplane at a groundspeed of 45 knots. “The groundspeed would equate to 60 knots airspeed when considering the 15-kt headwind,” said the NTSB. “The stall speed chart for the airplane listed the minimum stall speed for any configuration as 64 knots.”

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

NTSB: Unknown Emergency Preceded Piper Meridian Fatal Aircraft Crash

An investigation did not find mechanical failures 

The pilot involved in a fatal Piper Meridan crash declared an emergency after departing from Olathe but investigators could not determine the cause.

NTSB: Unknown Emergency Preceded Meridian Fatal Crash

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Preliminary report does not mention if parking brake was pulled

Pilot Reported No Braking Action before CJ4 Overrun

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department deployed investigators to the crash site

Cessna 208 Crash in Kenya Kills All 11 Onboard

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Flight crew were not seriously injured after windshield cracked at FL360

WindBorne Weather Balloon Payload Impacts United 737

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

No injuries reported in crash of uncrewed test aircraft

Air One eVTOL Prototype Crashes in Florida

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

In this article

Piper Meridian

Piper

More In Accidents

Pilot Reported No Braking Action before CJ4 Overrun

Preliminary report does not mention if parking brake was pulled

Cessna 208 Crash in Kenya Kills All 11 Onboard

Kenya’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Department deployed investigators to the crash site

WindBorne Weather Balloon Payload Impacts United 737

Flight crew were not seriously injured after windshield cracked at FL360

Air One eVTOL Prototype Crashes in Florida

No injuries reported in crash of uncrewed test aircraft

Expectation Bias, Distraction Led to Runway Collision

Hawker took off without clearance and hit a Citation Mustang at a runway intersection

AINsight: What’s Going On with Bizav Runway Excursions?

Runway excursions account for a third of business aviation accidents

Bizav Accident Fatalities Climb 24% in First Nine Months

But U.S. business jet accidents and fatalities are down YOY

Hop-A-Jet Files Lawsuit against OEMs, Service Providers

Complaint alleges Naples accident caused by corrosion of engines’ variable guide vane systems

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