Aviation Safety

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at about 1849 Pacific time, shortly after taking off. The private pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the airplane seemed like it was not climbing and started to descend. Subsequently, the airplane impacted an open field about one-half mile southeast of the airport and nosed over. A passenger reported the pilot performed an engine run-up and did not notice anything irregular.

At about 1537 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. During descent from cruise, the engine began vibrating/shaking. The pilot executed emergency procedures, advised ATC and continued toward the nearest airport. Unable to make the airport, the pilot secured the engine and configured the airplane for an off-airport landing in an open field when it collided with the tops of pine trees.

At about 1415 Eastern time, the airplane collided with trees and terrain in a residential area. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the solo private pilot was killed. A few minutes after takeoff, the pilot told ATC he was flying around the city a little bit and was trying to stay below the clouds. Approximately 65 seconds later, the pilot informed ATC he wanted to return for a landing. After several vectors for traffic, ATC advised the pilot to fly a heading toward the airport and to advise when it was in sight; the pilot acknowledged the heading. A controller turnover briefing then occurred, during which the controller being relieved informed the relieving controller of the accident airplanes status.

At about 1750 Eastern time, the airplane collided with terrain. The private pilot and three passengers were killed, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. At 1745, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and an engine-compartment fire. Between 1745 and 1749, ATC offered an airport three miles closer to the airplane than the destination, but the pilot declined, adding that the smoke was dissipating. At 1750, the pilot advised ATC he was going to land on a highway. The pilot then reported the airplane was on fire; this was the last transmission from the airplane.

At about 2025 Central time, the airplane crashed into an unoccupied residence while executing a go-around. The airplane and the residence were destroyed in a post-crash fire and the solo pilot was fatally injured. Dark night visual conditions prevailed. The runway lights were inoperative following a recent lightning strike; the pilot was attempting to line up on the runway using the runway edge reflectors. A witness received an in-flight cellular telephone call from the pilot and parked his car with the headlamps illuminating the runway.

The airplane impacted terrain at about 0608 Central time following a takeoff into instrument meteorological conditions. The non-instrument-rated commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed without a flight plan but under an SVFR clearance. One witness observed the airplane taxi, take off and climb to about 100 feet agl. He stated the airplane appeared to be flying normally. The witness stated weather at the time was being reported by the AWOS as 300 feet overcast and five miles visibility. Another witness described fog at the airport at the time of departure. A witness who was about one mile from the impact site described heavy fog in the area when he left for work at 0550.

The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire when it hit trees and terrain at 1237 Eastern time. The solo instrument-rated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was conducting touch-and-go operations at an airport in Michigan before being issued an IFR clearance for a round-robin flight to the Traverse City Vortac at FL250. The pilot became unresponsive during the flight; the airplane was subsequently intercepted by National Guard F-16s who escorted the airplane until it crashed in a cornfield.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at about 0715 Eastern time, while maneuvering. The solo private pilot was killed. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilots wife, the pilot normally flew with a copilot, who was also a flight instructor. She stated the flights purpose was to practice takeoffs and landings.

The weather wasnt too bad for my Thanksgiving holiday trip south to see the folks, but the headwinds were fierce. So I decided the smart thing to do would be stopping at North Carolinas Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CLT) for fuel, a stretch of the legs and another dose of weather information before pushing on. The flying clubs Hershey-bar-wing Piper Arrow I rented for the trip had seen better days, but nothing was amiss. Until, that is, I put down the landing gear as I neared the runway at CLT. I heard the system operating, felt the gear thunk into place and noticed the increased drag, but didnt have any of the three green lights I expected.

A repair station has replaced several upper torque links after finding them bent at inspection (approximately five have been found). Only one was found cracked. The submitter believes landing impact with more than the recommended strut extension (five inches maximum), according to the service manual. Strut extension is adjusted by adding shims (p/n 1243618-2.)