Aviation Safety

The airplane was destroyed at about 1215 Eastern time during an on-ground fire following a forced landing. The Airline Transport pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the operator, the airplane had undergone routine maintenance and was being repositioned to pick up passengers. While in cruise flight at 4000 feet msl, the pilot heard a “loud bang,” and saw that the right forward windscreen and right side window had broken. He then saw that the right engines top cowling was missing and felt the aircraft “shudder” as it began to descend.

At approximately 1320 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The Private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After the pilot reported a two-mile base leg for landing, a witness on the ground heard a loud bang and looked up to see blue-gray smoke coming from the aircraft. Another witness saw the aircraft making a low left turn when it flipped inverted and spiraled to the ground. A post-impact fire consumed the airplane.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during a go-around at 0805 Pacific time. The Private pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane, with the Private pilot and a Flight Instructor aboard, flew the pattern and made a full-stop landing. The Flight Instructor exited the airplane after informing the tower the pilot would be performing his first solo flight in the airplane.

At 1617 Pacific time, the airplane landed uneventfully after losing engine power in cruise flight at 17,000 feet msl. The Private pilot and passenger were not injured and the airplane was not damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane had accumulated 48.2 hours. The left turbochargers turbine wheel had separated from the shaft and was missing. During the examination, the NTSB was informed of two similar incidents in May. The two airplanes involved had accumulated less than 20 flight hours. Both were landed successfully.

The pilot reported encountering a gust of wind on landing, which caused the airplane to ground loop. The pilot and three passengers on board were not injured. An examination of the airplane showed the left wing bent aft. The left main landing gear was broken aft as well and the firewall was bent. An examination of the airplanes systems showed no anomalies. Reported wind conditions for the airport 10 minutes after the accident were 180 degrees at five knots. The wind conditions were calm 30 minutes prior to the accident.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1500 Eastern time during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial climb. The Flight Instructor and Commercial pilot aboard were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. While at 3500 feet, a simulated engine failure was performed. The simulation ended with a recovery at 700 feet. As the airplane climbed past 1700 feet, the engine lost power then failed. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful, and the CFI performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplanes left wing struck a tree stump. Initial examination did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an aborted landing attempt. The Student pilot was conducting her first solo landing. After turning final and selecting 40 degrees of flaps, she reduced engine power once she “knew that [she] had the runway made.” Then, she “flared too soon,” the airplane “landed hard” and bounced back into the air.

The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 1600 Eastern time when it collided with terrain following a loss of engine power during takeoff and initial climb. Neither the Airline Transport pilot (ATP) in the right seat nor the Private pilot/owner in the left seat were injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

At approximately 1143 Central time, the airplane was destroyed on impacting terrain following a loss of control. The Instrument-rated Commercial pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed. The Waco Approach Control received a distress call from the pilot moments before losing radar contact. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. A review of Nexrad radar for the area included an area of heavy precipitation in close vicinity of the accident site along the intended route of flight. A county trooper reported heavy rain limiting the visibility around the time of the mishap in the general area of the accident site.

At about 0606 Pacific time, the airplane collided with power lines during takeoff. The Private pilot and the Commercial-pilot passenger sustained fatal injuries; one person on the ground sustained minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. A weather observation taken less than 20 minutes before the accident included calm winds, an indefinite ceiling at 100 feet and visibility of mile.