Aviation Safety

The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing at 1522 Eastern time. The solo airline transport pilot incurred minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The accident flight was the first after the airplanes engine was removed and replaced with a used Rotax 912 ULS. After an extended engine run-up, the airplane took off.

The airplane was destroyed at approximately 1245 Central time when it nosed over and collided with a fence on landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was fatally injured.

The pilot was chasing coyotes at low level over open snow-covered terrain when he noticed the airplanes engine was beginning to lose power and run rough. He applied carburetor heat and full power, but just as the engine started to regain power, the airplanes main wheels broke through the crusty snow layer.

At about 1530 Eastern time, the airplane crashed in an open field. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane incurred substantial damage. Two of the passengers were killed, the pilot and a third passenger received serious injuries. The flight was receiving flight-following services from ATC. The last radar contact was at 1528, at an altitude of 1900 feet msl and a groundspeed of 87 knots. There were no distress calls received by ATC.

The airplane collided with a power pole about one-half mile short of the approach end of the runway at 1758 Mountain time, then made contact with trees and two homes. The solo instrument-rated private pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Instrument conditions prevailed.

At about 1150 Eastern time, the helicopters pilot performed an emergency landing next to a roadway after impacting electrical wires. Visual conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the two passengers were not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated under Part 135.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted a field at approximately 2200 Central time. The private pilot was fatally injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. At 2052, the pilot reported his destination in sight and ATC radar service was terminated. Between 2053 and 2201, radar data depicts the airplane making multiple circles with altitude variations from 8400 feet msl at 2100 to 700 feet msl at 2138.

The airplane impacted a building and several parked, unoccupied vehicles at 1445 Central time, before impacting terrain. The private pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane wreckage was located by the Civil Air Patrol on December 24, after ELT signals received by overflying aircraft were reported. The first report was received by Salt Lake Center at 1653 Mountain time on December 23, 2010. Available information indicated the airplane departed Jasper, Texas, with Jackson, Wyo., as its destination.

At about 1030 Pacific time, the airplane was involved in a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot was uninjured; the commercial pilot receiving instruction sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail and fuselage. Visual conditions prevailed.