Aviation Safety

The airplane was on initial climb-out at 1440 Eastern time when the lower half of the main cabin door came open. The pilot reversed course and returned to the departure airport. The right main tire blew out on the landing roll. The airplane went off the right side of the runway, struck a tree, caught fire and came to a complete stop. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 0940 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power seconds after taking off. The pilot reversed course and made a forced landing back at the airport. The airplane touched down hard and came to rest with a collapsed nose gear and a broken wing. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane was substantially damaged at approximately 1000 Mountain time when it made a hard landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot and two passengers were not injured.

At 2249 Eastern time, the airplane collided with a tree and the ground during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The flight instructor and private pilot located in the left front seat were killed. The rear seat passenger received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage.

The airplane impacted a salt-water lagoon at about 1158 Pacific time, shortly after takeoff. The airline transport pilot, the pilot-rated airplane owner and the passenger were killed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. After takeoff, the airplane appeared to climb normally and was about mile beyond the runway when a “slight right rudder turn” was observed, followed by a correction. Three to four seconds later, the airplane rolled and turned to the right, descending steeply into the water.

At about 1830 Alaska time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees while taking off on an on-demand passenger flight under FAR Part 135. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and the two passengers received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 0815 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree and light pole shortly after takeoff. The private pilot was killed and his three passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. A tower controller noted the airplane remained on the runway until just after the 4000-foot point and did not appear to be climbing. The controller cleared the flight for a left turnout to clear rising terrain, and asked the pilot if he was making a left downwind departure.

The pilot was landing to the west. Winds reported at the time of the accident were from 330 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot said he was about five to seven feet above the ground and about to touch down when “a big crosswind” came under his right wing and he lost control. The airplane impacted the grassy area to the left of the runway.

At about 1800 Eastern time, the aircraft was substantially damaged when it impacted a residential structure during a forced landing shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. Upon reaching about 200 feet msl, the pilot noticed engine coolant temperature had risen above 210 deg. F, with the normal range being between 160 and 180 deg. He responded by reducing engine power and turning in an attempt to land in an overrun area for the perpendicular runway at the airport.

I had flown my experimental airplane from California to Kansas to attend a plane-builders reunion. I departed early in the morning, after drinking a lot of coffee. Soon, it needed relief. I tried everything to ease the pressure but after two hours, I had to land pronto. I used the NRST button on the Garmin and found my way to Pratt, Kan. The landing was uneventful.