Aviation Safety

At 0834 Eastern time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain about 120 feet short of the runway during an attempted go-around. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured, but a third passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. After executing the GPS-A instrument approach and circling to align the airplane with the runway, the airplane was maintaining about 90-85 KIAS and descending at about 400 fpm. About mile from the runway, the pilot thought the airplane was too high, but “a few seconds later” the airplane felt like it “literally just dropped out of the sky.”

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with mountainous terrain at approximately 1100 Mountain time, The solo pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. A preliminary review of radar data revealed a VFR target proceeding north-northwest before making a left turn toward the west and continuing on a westerly heading toward rising terrain before radar data ended at approximately 1100.

At about 1745 Eastern time, the airplane crashed in an empty parking lot. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger received serious injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. Immediately after takeoff, witnesses observed the airplane maneuver in a “quick,” sharp, right turn at low altitude. Several minutes later the airplane was observed to “swoop” down toward the approach end of the runway and pulled up until it was in the opposite direction from whence it came; this maneuver was performed twice at an estimated altitude of 250 feet agl.

At about 1630 Pacific time, the tailwheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage during the landing roll. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot performed a straight-in approach and wheel landing. As the airplane slowed and the tail dropped, the pilot applied full aft elevator. As he approached the desired taxiway, he applied brakes; a wind gust caught the right wing, tipping the airplane onto its left wing.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at about 0809 Eastern time, shortly after takeoff. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the non-scheduled Part 135 international cargo flight. Witnesses reported the airplane did not sound like it was developing full power. The airplane impacted a tree, a fence and two vehicles before coming to rest in a residential area.

At about 1440 Pacific time, the airplane experienced an uncommanded retraction of the right flap while on the downwind leg for landing. The commercial pilot and two medical flight crewmembers were uninjured; the airplane was undamaged. Visual conditions prevailed.About the time the flaps reached their maximum limit, the pilot heard a popping sound, and the airplane simultaneously rolled about 80 degrees to the right. He counteracted with full left aileron, retracted the flaps and applied full engine power.

The student pilot stated he did not flare the airplane properly, resulting in a hard landing. The nose landing gear collided with the runway; he then made a go-around and landed uneventfully. Another pilot subsequently flew the airplane and returned it early due to a “different sound in engine noise.”

The special light sport aircraft was destroyed when it impacted wooded terrain at 2328 Eastern time. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. Radar data indicated that at 2327:53, the airplane was proceeding northbound over a residential area at 6500 feet. At 2327:57, the altitude readout was 6400 feet. At 2328:02, the altitude readout was 6000 feet, indicating an average descent rate of about 4800 fpm during the previous five seconds.

The aircraft was substantially damaged during collision with terrain at 1030 Eastern time, shortly after takeoff. The private pilot/owner and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed, The flight was destined for a nearby airport, for a fuel purchase. The pilot reported he turned the airplane to the right immediately after liftoff, to avoid a tree. The engine stopped producing power, the stall warning activated and the airplane remained in a right bank until ground contact.

The light sport airplane collided with terrain after takeoff at about 1600 Pacific time. The private pilot/owner sustained fatal injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe and wings from impact forces and a post-crash fire. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the airplane went to an extremely nose-high attitude after liftoff, estimating it never climbed to more than 100 feet agl.