Aviation Safety

At 2100 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a total loss of engine power. The private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he was at 2500 feet when he heard a knocking sound in the engine. He proceeded toward the nearest airport, declared an emergency, and noted that the oil pressure gauge read “0” and the oil temperature gauge was “high.”

The airplane incurred minor damage during a landing overrun at 1334 Eastern time. The two airline transport pilots, one flight attendant and eight passengers were not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed. Before landing, the pilots programmed the flight management system with the current winds and temperature, which provided landing distance and reference speed (ref) of 136 knots. The approach was briefed and the pilots elected to add 10 knots to the ref speed due to the wind conditions and executed the localizer approach for Runway 6, (6013 feet by 150 feet).

At about 1535 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain immediately after takeoff. The non-instrument-rated owner-pilot and one passenger received minor injuries; one passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The previous day, the pilot flew the passengers to Catalina Island and then flew back to the mainland. On the day of the accident, the pilot arrived and joined the passengers for lunch. The pilot then noticed weather was deteriorating and suggested they depart.

At about 1040 Central time, the airplane was destroyed by ground impact and post-impact fire after a loss of control during a go-around. The private pilot and right-seat passenger received serious injuries. The rear-seat passenger received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness saw the airplane landing with its right wing almost hitting the ground. He then saw the airplane at about 100 feet agl, at a slow airspeed and in a nose-high attitude.

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power and collided with terrain at about 1145 Pacific time during a forced landing. The private pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The cross-country flight departed Palm Springs, Calif., about 1000, with a planned destination of North Las Vegas, Nev. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane impacted the approach end of the runway at 1140 Pacific time and was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 0900 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing after loss of engine power. The commercial pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. One passenger was killed. Visual conditions prevailed. At 0828, the pilot aborted takeoff and taxied to parking. At 0843, the pilot requested a taxi clearance and the airplane departed at 0851. At 0855, the airplane was cleared for a touch-and-go landing. At 0857, while on final approach, the pilot requested a go-around.

According to the flight instructor, the flight departed for a night cross-country with a student pilot in the left seat and a student pilot in the rear seat. After completing a full-stop landing, they taxied back to the runway to complete additional pattern work. As the student pilot began to rotate the airplane during takeoff roll, the flight instructor “saw an animal directly in front of the airplane on the centerline” and grabbed the flight controls in an effort to “miss the animal.”

The airplane impacted a horse stable in mountainous terrain at 1210 Pacific time. The private pilot and his two passengers were killed, and the airplane was severely fragmented and consumed by a post-impact fire. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Van Nuys, Calif., about 1200.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1545 Eastern time during a forced landing after total loss of engine power. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries and a passenger was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noted that the oil pressure gauge was below the green arc, and he elected to return. He then noted smoke in the cockpit, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a highway, about 1000 feet south-southeast of Runway 5.