Aviation Safety

At about 1430 Pacific time, the two aircraft collided in flight while maneuvering to land. None of the three aboard the two airplanes was injured; the Piper sustained minor damage while the Glastar was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. As the Piper approached the runway to land, its pilot heard a thump and then saw the Glastar climb out from below. He noted damage to the Glastars rudder. The Piper landed; the Glastars pilot encountered control difficulties and flew to a nearby airport for an uneventful landing.

The aircraft lost engine power during final approach and collided with the ground at 1545 Eastern time. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed; the solo pilot was uninjured. The pilot later stated that, at about 100 feet agl, he reduced power to idle and the engine quit. He then made a forced landing short of the runway.

At about 1348 Alaska time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with the ocean following loss of control shortly after takeoff. The airplane was being operated as an on-demand Part 135 charter flight. Of the 10 people aboard, the airline transport pilot and five passengers were fatally injured, three passengers sustained serious injuries and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with a fence and trees during a forced landing at 1545 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot reported minor injuries. The pilot later stated he was in cruise flight at 5000 feet when the engine started to run a little rough. A short time later he smelled fuel. He opened air vents but the smell persisted. After querying ATC on the nearest airports location, the pilot observed an open field and initiated a forced landing to the field. The engine stopped less than a minute after he informed ATC that he needed to land. The airplane touched down in the field, went through a fence, collided with trees and came to a complete stop.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it crashed into Old Tampa Bay at about 1538 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. A witness reported seeing the airplane flying at an estimated altitude of 100 feet, then saw the airplane in an estimated 90-degree right bank. The airplane then rolled into a 45-degree left bank, followed by rolling wings-level. The airplane was then observed in a 10-15 degree nose-up attitude. The airplane then stalled and descended in a nose- and left-wing-low attitude.

At 0508 Hawaiian time, the aircraft was lost from radar over the ocean. The airplane was operating as an on-demand Part 135 cargo flight. The airline transport pilot was killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Night visual conditions prevailed. A witness heard a radio transmission from the flight, stating it was seven miles out. The runway lights, approach lighting system and precision approach path indicator were functioning at the time of the accident. Debris from the airplane was identified on the ocean surface at 0848. Water depths in the search area are up to 4800 feet.

The airplane was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain at 2243 Central time following loss of control shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Night instrument conditions prevailed for the Part 135 cargo flight. Soon after takeoff, the pilot reported gyro problems. The airplane was given instructions to turn left, but the pilot initiated a right turn. The aircraft made two steep right 360-degree turns and disappeared from radar.

At about 1230 Central time, the airplane was destroyed upon impact with terrain following loss of control while on an instrument approach. The instrument-rated private pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed. According to radar and voice data for the flight, the pilot attempted to intercept an ILS localizer three times without success. The pilot reported having trouble performing a coupled approach. A witness, a retired Navy instructor pilot, observed the accident airplane and stated, “The [airplane] exhibited a classic approach turn stall maneuver I had taught many times, but this time with no altitude to recover.”

The airplane broke up in flight at approximately 1400 Pacific time. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. A witnesses reported hearing a loud screaming noise overhead. He observed an airplane traveling south to north, suddenly “disintegrate,” and described the wings and fuselage floating to the ground. Air traffic controllers reported the pilot requested a frequency change while climbing, and when the airplane was at around 7000 feet they lost radar contact. No other radio communications with the pilot were reported.

At about 1534 Pacific time, the two aircraft collided in flight while approaching to land. The midair collision occurred at a location and in a flight direction consistent with the 172 entering the left-hand traffic pattern, and the 150 being in the patterns downwind leg. All four aboard both aircraft were fatally injured; a person on the ground also was killed. Both airplanes were fragmented during the midair collision and were subsequently destroyed upon falling nose down into buildings, automobiles and parking lots. A witness reported continuously observing both airplanes cruise toward each other for at least five seconds preceding the collision. No maneuvering was observed during the seconds immediately prior to the impact.