Aviation Safety

The airplane collided with the ground at about 0905 Eastern time, receiving substantial damage. Instrument conditions prevailed. The non-instrument rated private pilot was killed. The pilot did not file a flight plan or receive a weather briefing before departing on a VFR flight. A witness heard a small airplane northeast of his home. The engine was at a very high rpm and sounded like it was under “a lot of strain.” The engine noise lasted about three seconds, and then there was complete silence, followed by an impact sound which he attributed to thunder.

At about 1255 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed following impact with terrain. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Four witnesses observed the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers for approximately 15 minutes at an altitude too high to make out details. They observed the airplane pull up vertically and perform a wing-over or roll-type maneuver.

The airplanes crew executed a forced landing at about 1000 Pacific time, following an in-flight fire. The flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. During flight review, they encountered smoke in the cockpit, which was originating in the area of the copilots rudder pedals. The pilots performed the emergency procedures for an electrical fire, which included shutting down the electrical system. The CFI attempted to clear the smoke by opening the window vents. The smoke seemed to subside, but did not stop. The pilots elected to momentarily energize the electrical system to lower the landing gear.

The student pilot and his instructor were returning to their home airport after night cross-country instructional fight. As they descended toward the airport, the airplanes wheels contacted terrain on a ridge about nine miles from the planned destination, and about 1650 feet higher than the airport elevation. Although the airplane initially rolled across the terrain at a high rate of speed, it soon contacted a road, resulting in loss of control and further contact with the terrain.

At about 1620 Pacific time, the airplane struck a building and crashed into a parking lot. The airline transport pilot, a pilot-rated passenger and a non-rated passenger were killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot was moving his float-equipped airplane from his pier to the other side of the lake in order to dock his airplane at his friends pier temporarily. He decided to fly it to the other side of the lake instead of performing a water taxi. He departed into the wind. During climbout, he encountered heavy rain showers which obscured his forward visibility out the windshield. He executed a downwind landing to the lake by looking out the side window.

At approximately 1905 Central time, the airplane was destroyed during a forced landing after a loss of engine power. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane impacted terrain at about 1210 Pacific time while maneuvering and was destroyed. The pilot and one passenger were killed. Visual conditions prevailed. According to a witness, he saw the accident airplane at about 2000 feet, and reported hearing “throttle adjustments,” the sound of an “engine surging.” The airplane performed an “aerobatic maneuver,” which he described as a “flip,” followed by a loop, and then the airplane stalled.

At about 1005 Alaska time, the float-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with tree-covered terrain after takeoff. No one among the commercial pilot and four passengers aboard was injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot subsequently reported he assessed the wind and water conditions indicated a downstream takeoff with a quartering left crosswind. As the airplane climbed to about 20 feet above the water, the wind subsided, and the airplane stopped climbing.

At about 0852 Central time, the airplane lost power during climbout and executed a forced landing next to a busy city thoroughfare. The airplane impacted trees and a light pole, but remained upright and came to rest in a grassy area next to the road. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was fatally injured and the four passengers onboard were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.