Surprising Return to 2019-Era Numbers, With Increases Across the Board to Make up for Lost Ground

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association released the year-end 2021 General Aviation Aircraft Shipments and Billings Report at its State of the Industry press conference. How are things looking? Overall, when compared to 2020, all aircraft segments saw increases in shipments and preliminary aircraft deliveries were valued at $25.2 billion, an increase of 10.2%. Of course, with the black-swan performance of 2020, nearly any increase would be expected. Despite the erratic behavior of a range of economic indicators, the general aviation market still found a healthy number of buyers, ultimately delivering $22.8 billion worth of aircraft.

'Airplane Was At The Same Altitude As The Top Of A Flagpole Before It Collided With Trees'

On February 1, 2022, about 1340 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182T airplane, N716MC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Heath, Ohio. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal crosscountry flight. At 1338, the pilot completed a touch-and-go landing at Newark-Heath Airport (VTA), Newark, Ohio, then departed to the east. The airplane climbed to about 500 ft above ground level (agl), then descended to 85 ft agl over a residential area. During the last 30 seconds of the flight, the airplane flew about 100 ft agl and about 145 kts groundspeed before it descended into tr