Aviation Safety

The airplane landed long at about 1100 Mountain time, overrunning the departure end of the runway and sliding down an embankment. The airplane came to rest on its tail and left wing, and was substantially damaged. The private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 2040 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airline transport pilot executed a forced landing in an open dirt field. Neither the pilot nor the two passengers were injured. The airplane, which slid to a stop on uneven terrain with retracted landing gear, was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.

At 0707 Eastern time, the airplane made a forced landing to an open field on its initial takeoff climb. Visual conditions prevailed. A post-crash fire destroyed the airplane. The private pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The remaining passenger was transported to a local area hospital with serious injuries and died that evening. A witness who is also a pilot and flight instructor observed the accident airplane taxi for takeoff. The witness later said the tail of the airplane was low, “as if the airplane was overloaded.” The witness also reported the accident airplanes takeoff roll was slow and long, and it used about 3000 feet of the runway before the pilot “forced [it] off the runway.” Once the airplane became airborne, its climb was “flat.” The airplane cleared trees by about 100 feet and disappeared from view behind another tree line. The witness stated he observed a plume of black smoke and knew the airplane had crashed.

At 1305 Central time the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After the accident, the pilot told investigators the aircrafts engine began to experience a gradual reduction in rpm while in cruise flight. After unsuccessful attempts to restore power, the pilot determined the only suitable site for a forced landing was an area of reclaimed land. After the aircraft touched down, the nose wheel “got trapped in loose soil” and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.

The airplane impacted two houses during a forced landing following a loss of engine power and sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, who was the only person on board, received fatal injuries. One person on the ground received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. According to preliminary information, the airplane had just taken off and was cleared by ATC to make right closed traffic to return for a landing. On the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power, and during the ensuing forced landing impacted homes in a residential area. No distress calls were received from the airplane.

The pilot reported the landing approach was normal. He asked the local controller for the winds, and was told they were from 260 degrees at seven knots with no reported gusts. He flared the airplane for a touchdown in “a three-point landing attitude.” As expected, he heard the stall warning horn go off, felt the tailwheel begin to touch the runway and was expecting the main gear wheels to touch when he “felt the airplane quickly surge up and then slam down.”

According to the pilot, with a crosswind at 10-plus knots, I attempted a takeoff on runway 15. After the tailwheel had lifted but before takeoff, a [wind] gust suddenly drove the aircraft towards the right edge of the runway. Rather then incur a ground loop for the amount of correction necessary, I decelerated straight ahead, whereupon I hit what I later found out was a large runway sign off the side of the runway in the grassy area. The pilot added, I should have requested runway 6, which was almost aligned with the wind. Additionally, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane.

At approximately 1310 central time the airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during landing. The private pilot and airline transport pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated by the Mooney Airplane Company. Visual conditions prevailed. At touchdown, the airplane bounced and the pilot “felt it was hard.” The pilot then applied full throttle in an attempt to execute a go-around but there was “no power response from the aircraft.” Subsequently, the airplane drifted to the right, contacted the grass between the runway and taxiway, and came to rest on the side of the taxiway. The pilot reported the wind was from 220 degrees at 10 knots and the temperature was greater than 90 deg. F.

The airplane was destroyed by impact and post-impact fire when it collided with trees and a residence at about 1255 Alaska time during an RNAV GPS instrument approach. The private, instrument-rated pilot, and the three passengers aboard received fatal injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed. According to the FAA, the airplane had been cleared for the RNAV GPS 11 approach; the pilot reported he was planning a circling approach to runway 29. Witnesses reported that the weather in the area included low clouds and reduced visibility due to rain. One witness saw the airplane descending from the base of clouds, which he estimated as 500 feet above the ground. The airplane collided with several trees, separating the outboard portion of the left wing. The inboard section of the left wing separated from the fuselage just prior to the airplanes collision with a house. An extensive postcrash fire consumed the residence, and destroyed the airplane.

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impacting terrain at 0510 Central time. The private pilot and sole occupant received fatal injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed. The pilot was departing on a local flight.