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At about 1515 Mountain time, the airplane collided with desert terrain. The Airline Transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. The operator recently purchased the airplane, outfitting it with numerous recording devices in an effort to obtain aerodynamic information of the airplane. The accident flights test protocol encompassed standard banks and maneuvers. The airplane wreckage was situated on level desert terrain, comprised of dirt and brush. The airplane sustained extensive thermal damage from a post-impact ground fire….

The two airplanes collided in mid-air at approximately 2500 feet msl at 1653 Central time. One aircraft was destroyed by ground impact and fire; its pilot, co-pilot, and passenger were fatally injured. The other aircraft was substantially damaged but its crew made a successful emergency landing at nearby Dodge County Airport, Juneau, Wis. Visual conditions prevailed; both airplanes departed the General Mitchell International Airport. The flights were performed to verify the fuel flow rates for auxiliary fuel tanks that had been recently installed on both airplanes. Prior to departure, both flight crews decided that they would join up after departure in order to take video and still photograp…

At about 0107 Eastern time, a DC-8 freighter operated by United Parcel Service landed at the Philadelphia International Airport after declaring an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit. The airplane was immediately engulfed in fire and the three flightcrew members evacuated the airplane via the cockpit window and L1 door slide. The flightcrew was not injured and the airplane was destroyed….

The Private pilot was on a VFR cross-country flight when he began encountering instrument conditions. The pilot continued into the instrument conditions for about 30 minutes before asking Atlanta Approach Control for directions to the nearest airport for landing. The controller directed the pilot to two different nearby airports but both were below minimums. The pilot informed the controller that he was low on fuel and needed to land as soon as possible. The controller directed the pilot to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Columbus, Ga. The pilot attempted four unsuccessful instrument approaches with the controllers talking him through each approach. On the fifth approach, at five miles fr…

The warbird was substantially damaged and its Airline Transport-rated pilot fatally injured at 1633 Central time after colliding with power lines and crashing during cruise flight. Instrument conditions prevailed but no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses driving nearby stated the ceiling was low and the visibility poor when the airplane was observed. The airplane continued along an Interstate highway and struck a power line…

The airplane was partially destroyed an the Airline Transport pilot fatally injured on colliding with trees and the ground while maneuvering at 1820 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. One passenger received serious injuries. One witness observed the airplane take off and climb to about 500 feet. He then observed the airplane make a steep left 90-degree bank back towards the runway, in a slight nose-down attitude. The witness could not hear the engine. The witness stated the airplane appeared to be mushing/dropping down in a flat slight nose down attitude until it disappeared from view. Two other witnesses stated the engine sounded like it was shutting down and quit. They then heard…

The airplane was presumed destroyed at about 2115 Eastern time when radar contact was lost over Lake Erie. The Commercial pilot and two passengers were presumed fatally injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. According to FAA radar and communication records, the airplane approached Niagara Falls from the south at about 2050. The airplane then completed four 360-degree turns in the vicinity of the falls. Shortly, the pilot requested flight following services to Pennsylvania and was established on an approximate 210-degree ground track. Soon, the airplane began a sharp turn to the left. Over the next 70 seconds through 270 degrees of turn, its altitude varied between 4700 and 4400 feet bef…

At 1020 Central time, the airplane collided with terrain following loss of engine power on takeoff.The Airline Transport pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot reported experiencing a total loss of engine power on takeoff. He banked to the left to avoid a 30-foot dike off the end of the runway and the left wing contacted the ground. The airplane then rocked to the right and the right wing contacted the ground prior to the airplane coming to rest….

The glider was substantially damaged during a forced landing following an aborted aero tow at 1245 Mountain time. The Private pilot and passenger were not injured; visual conditions prevailed. The glider pilot said the tow started normally. He said the towplane started pulling up and then touched back down and the glider pilot saw a puff of smoke. He elected to release and perform an emergency landing at an altitude of approximately 75-100 feet. The pilot said that after turning 90 degrees right, the glider was close to the ground so he leveled the wings and tried to flare and the glider impacted terrain and ground looped. The right wing was severed from the aircraft and the fuselage…

At about 1139 Pacific time, the airplane collided with terrain, fatally injuring the pilot. Visual conditions prevailed. According to a witness, the airplane appeared to be doing aerobatics. He saw it complete a loop and began a second one. The airplane appeared to be fighting the wind and moving very slowly. The airplane then came down, completing the second loop. The airplane then went back up into a third loop and came straight down, out of sight, and into the trees. Another witness stated the airplane appeared to stall and descend in a tailspin….