Aviation Safety

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1556 Mountain time when it impacted terrain. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.Witnesses reported the accident airplane flew over their location from the north and made a 360-degree left turn, followed by a 180-degree left turn.

At 0914 Pacific time, the single-seat fighter, operated under contract to the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command as a civil public aircraft, crashed upon landing. The solo pilot aboard was killed and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces and fire. The flight was attempting to return following an adversary training mission. The pilot initiated two ground control approaches to Naval Air Station Fallon and then attempted to divert to Reno, but was unable to land there as the field was reporting below minimum weather conditions. The pilot then turned back toward Fallon and stated he was in a critical fuel state.

At about 1034 Eastern standard time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The flight instructor, private pilot and passenger, were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.While in cruise at 6000 feet msl, the engine lost power. The flight instructor established best glide speed and turned toward a nearby airport while the private pilot declared an emergency to ATC.

At approximately 1645 Central time, the amphibian-float-equipped airplane was substantially damaged during landing. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.Witnesses observed the airplane as it approached a lake, making a gradual descent as if to land. The witness said the airplane did not level off as it got closer to the water. Another witness said, “Rather than a normal seaplane landing, what I saw was the plane hit the water and flip.

At about 1730 Pacific time, the airplane collided with a tree. The flight instructor and his student both received fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed.After the flight was reported overdue, a search was initiated, an emergency locator transmitter signal was detected and a follow-up “pinging” of the cell phone of one of the occupants lead to the discovery of the wreckage.

The airplane experienced a loss of elevator control during landing at about 1545 Eastern time but was not damaged. The commercial pilot and flight instructor were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.The two were practicing landings. The pilot conducted one landing and stated that the approach for the second landing was normal, but “slightly high.” During the landing flare, the pilot heard a “boom,” the airplane’s nose dropped and the airplane contacted the runway.

The airplane was substantially damaged at 1725 Eastern time during an aborted takeoff. The student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The student pilot reported successfully completing three takeoff-and-landings before attempting a soft-field takeoff. The airplane began to veer left as the nose gear lifted off the runway. He attempted to correct with right rudder but was unable to regain directional control and decided to abort the takeoff.

At 1112 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted an open field under unknown circumstances. A post-impact fire ensued. The non-instrument-rated private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed.Several witnesses reported hearing an airplane flying low and hearing a loud snap or pop consistent with a gunshot. One witness heard a second explosion as the airplane struck the ground.

The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight at about 0930 Mountain time. The pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road and the airplane was substantially damaged as it slid to a stop with retracted landing gear. Neither the commercial pilot nor passenger was injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot reported his preflight inspection included observing each fuel tank contained about 20 gallons of fuel. While cruising at 9500 feet msl, the engine’s exhaust gas temperature was hotter than normal, and fuel flow was lower than normal. Suddenly, all engine power was lost.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0843 Central time following an engine fire on the ramp. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, both engines started normally and all indications were “in the green.” He began to smell an odor of “burned paint” and observed smoke in the area of the left engine nacelle. He shut down the engines and observed smoke coming from the area of the rudder pedals.