Aviation Safety

At approximately 1755 Central time, the airplane sustained minor damage during an in-flight separation of the elevator trim cable following runaway activation of the electric trim system. The airplane was in visual conditions at approximately 6000 feet msl on an autopilot descent from an en route cruise at 19,000 feet. The solo pilot was not injured.

During the landing roll, with the tail wheel on the ground, the airplane veered to the left. To correct, the pilot applied right rudder and brake. The airplane immediately turned hard right; the pilot responded by applying left rudder and brake. Despite the pilots control inputs, the airplane continued veering to the right and the left main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the left wingtip contacted the ground, resulting in structural damage to the wing spar.

At about 1100 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial climb. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. At about 100 to 200 feet above ground, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a left 180-degree turn towards the runway and executed a forced landing.

At about 1230 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it was struck by a taxiing Cessna 140. The private pilot in the Lancair and the private pilot in the Cessna were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The Cessnas pilot reported taxiing to Runway 27, and following the Lancair in front of her at “a safe distance” while conducting “proper turns.” As she taxied up to the runway hold-short line, she lost sight of the Lancair, and then felt her airplanes propeller “strike something.”

The flight instructor was giving the private pilot some training in tailwheel aircraft. The pilot taxied onto the runway, lined up on the centerline and applied power for takeoff. The takeoff roll was normal until the tail wheel lifted off and the nose turned left. The flight instructor said the pilot overcorrected to the right and then back to the left. The flight instructor then got on the controls with the pilot, and, as the aircraft turned right a second time, the turn progressed into a ground loop. Subsequently, the left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing was bent.

The two airplanes collided at about 0945 Mountain time, at 4500 feet msl. Neither the flight instructor or student in the PA-18-161 were injured, but one of the private pilots in the Cessna 152 received serious injuries, and the second private pilot was killed. At the time of the collision, the Piper PA-28-161 was in a holding pattern associated with a nearby GPS approach while the Cessna 152 was in an en route climb after departing an unrelated airport. The airplanes were operating in visual conditions.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted Lake Russell at approximately 1106 Eastern time, killing the non-instrument-rated private pilot and the passenger. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed. According to the NTSB, the pilots most recent third-class medical certificate was issued in January 1992.

The airplane struck a radio tower guy wire and the ground at 1042 Central time. Instrument conditions prevailed. The five persons on board were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated at approximately 1035. A seven-strand steel guy-wire, supporting the 600-foot tower on its west side and located approximately 150 feet up from the towers base, was severed approximately 50 feet from where the wire was attached to the tower.

The pilot reported encountering a downdraft that dropped the [air]plane below the glide slope while on short final. He immediately noticed a reduction in airspeed. The pilot applied power and pulled the nose up in an effort to regain proper altitude. Subsequently, the airplane landed very hard and collapsed the nose landing gear. Examination revealed the firewall was bent and the fuselage behind the aft seating area was buckled. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplanes systems prior to the accident.

At 1750 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing shortly after takeoff. The solo pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. During initial climb, the pilot experienced an abnormality in the flight controls and executed a downwind landing to a taxiway. The airplane veered off the taxiway and impacted terrain.