Aviation Safety

At 0830 central time, a Beech A36 Bonanza was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power five miles north of the Lone Star Regional Airport. The pilot and one of two passengers aboard sustained serious injuries; the other passenger had minor inuuries. Shortly after takeoff, the engine started to misfire and sputter and the pilot turned back toward the airport. At an altitude of 2,000 feet, the engine quit. The FAA inspector who examined the wreckage repoerted that the fuel selector was observed in the right position. A small sample of fuel consistent with 100 low lead fuel was extracted from the left main fuel tank. A four-ounce fuel sample from the…

Shortly after 2200 local time, a Cessna 182P impacted trees and the ground about 5 miles south of the departure airport of Brooksville, Fla. Marginal VMC prevailed at the time. The airplane was destroyed and the non-instrument rated Private pilot was fatally injured. A witness who lived about 1/4 mile from the crash site, heard the airplane fly over his house and said it sounded to be real low. In less than a minute he heard a thud. The witness said at the time he heard the airplane go overhead, it was dark, cloudy and there was light rain, which intensified after he started to search for the airplane….

At about 1703 Pacific time, a Mooney M20K crashed into a residence 0.53 nm south-southeast of the Santa Monica Municipal Airport. The airplane was destroyed and the two private pilots aboard were fatally injured. Weather at the time of the accident included visibility of 1/2 mile in mist and an overcast ceiling at 200 feet. The flight was cleared for a VOR approach and subsequently advised that it was going around. Instead of executing a missed approach procedure, the airplane never departed the area. Several witnesses reported hearing the airplane flying over the area. In summary, the auditory witnesses indicated that the airplanes noise sounded like it was circling over the area….

At approximately 1600 central time, a Piper PA-28 was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power while landing on a private grass strip. The sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. According to the pilot, he was on the downwind leg when the engine began to run rough. The pilot advanced the throttle, however the engine continued to run rough. The aircraft landed in heavy brush, approximately 150 yards short of the runway. An FAA inspector who inspected the accident site reported that the fuel pump circuit breaker was tripped….

During an early-morning flight, an experimental Wallace Skybolt broke up while executing an aerobatic maneuver near Reno/Stead Airport. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The pilot reported that he was executing an outside loop. At the bottom of the loop, while inverted at about 8,000 feet msl, the pilot felt a vibration for 1 to 2 seconds. Subsequently, the right wing departed the airplane. As the airplane disintegrated, the pilot was able to release his seat belt and exit the airplane, deploying his parachute just before impacting the ground….

At 1842 central time, a Cessna 414 was damaged following during an in-flight fire shortly after takeoff from Midland International Airport. The pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The pilot reported that he noticed the fuel flow and hydraulics systems had become inoperative and that the engine controls for the right engine became too stiff to operate. He shut down the right engine with the magneto switch to off. The pilot performed an emergency gear extension and landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed a small in-flight fire occurred in the leading edge of the right wing and heat damage to wiring, carrying hoses and a…

Around 1700 eastern time, a Piper PA-24-250 airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain about 12 miles northeast of West Palm Beach, Florida, during an emergency landing following a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. There were no injuries to the pilot or passenger during what was described as post-maintenance test flight to check various systems and repairs. Work performed on the airplane prior to the flight included replacing the right main fuel tank and reconditioning the right fuel tank selector. The pilot later said he was flying with both the left and right fuel tank selectors in the main position, presumably drawing fuel from both main tanks. A little…

At 1220 Pacific time, a Cessna 182E collided with obstacles during an off-airport forced landing following loss of engine power. The pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. While establishing a cruise configuration, the engine began to lose power, ran intermittently and then stopped. The pilot thought that the accident could have been prevented if he had accurately checked the fuel quantity prior to departure….

It was about noon Pacific time when a Piper PA-28-180 made a hard landing at Reno/Stead Airport. A witness reported that he saw the airplane on final approach in a very high angle of attack. About 50 – 60 feet above ground, the airplane stalled and the nose gear contacted the runway surface with the main landing gear following immediately thereafter. The airplane was about 10 to 15 degrees in a nose down attitude when it contacted the runway. The nose wheel broke off immediately after contact and the airplane skidded on its nose a short distance down the runway….

At 1400 Pacific time, the Skyhawk collided with terrain during a go-around from the pilots private dirt strip and was substantially damaged. While attempting to land, the pilot lowered about 20 degrees of flap but noted that he was higher than normal on final appproach. After touching down in soft dirt about 700 feet down the runway, the pilot attempted a go-around by adding full power and leaving the flaps down. The pilot climbed to about 100 feet and turned left, but the airplane began to lose altitude. After completing a 180-degree turn and lowering the nose in an effort to regain airspeed, the airplane settled into brush and collided with terrain. The pilot later reported the temperatur…