Aviation Safety

At about 1400 Central time, the airplane was destroyed during an in-flight collision with trees and terrain while maneuvering. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries. An individual in a second airplane, who was following the accident airplane, reported seeing the accident airplane in a 45-to-60 deg. banked turn below the tree line. He stated: I then saw a spray, maybe fuel, and then saw that the plane had stopped.

The airplane was destroyed by an impact with terrain at 2035 Central time following an in-flight encounter with weather while maneuvering. The non-Instrument-rated Private pilot and his two passenger were fatally injured. Night instrument conditions prevailed. At approximately 2032, the pilot reported that he was descending to 2500 for avoid clouds at his altitude.

At 1140 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged following a loss of control while landing. The Airline Transport pilot, the Commercial pilot acting as first officer and the seven passengers aboard were not inured. Visual conditions prevailed. Tower personnel reported the airplane veered to the left and departed the runway during landing.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at approximately 0650 Mountain time following a loss of control while maneuvering. The Private pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to preliminary ATC information, the airplane entered a 5000-fpm descent and executed a left 180-deg. turn.

The airplane impacted Runway 23 at 1211 Pacific time, shortly after takeoff. The Commercial pilot and sole occupant sustained serious injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. According to a witness, the airplanes takeoff roll and initial climb appeared normal. When the airplane reached about 100 feet agl, the nose pitched down and remained in this attitude until impact.

At approximately 1215 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its right wing struck the ground during a landing attempt. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot, flight instructor and passenger were not injured. After three ILS practice approaches to Runway 25, the airplane circled to land on Runway 23. The pilot selected 12 degrees of flaps and an approach speed of 85 knots. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the pilot believed he was too low and pitched up.

At about 1230 Eastern time, the float-equipped airplane experienced a loss of engine power and an in-flight fire, and was landed on a lake. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged; the Private pilot and sole occupant was not injured. While nearing the destination airport, the engine suddenly experienced a total loss of engine power.

At 1943 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees and a residential street during an instrument approach. The Airline Transport pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed. The flight was attempting a localizer approach when a witness traveling in her car noticed the airplane approach in a wings-level descent, just above treetop height.

The airplane was in cruise flight at 12,500 feet when the pilot disengaged the autopilot to maneuver over mountains. Shortly, the airplane began banking uncontrollably; the pilot steadied the airplane with rudder. The flight controls were difficult to manipulate, a difficulty that grew in intensity as airspeed was reduced.

The single-engine homebuilt helicopter sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain at approximately 1500 Central time following a loss of control during cruise flight. The Airline Transport pilot sustained serious injuries; the unrated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the passenger, during cruise flight at approximately 1500 feet agl, the pilot and passenger heard a “pop” from the rear of the helicopter.