Preliminary Reports

The airplane encountered obstacles during a forced landing at about 1240 Pacific time. The private pilot and passenger/owner were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The owner had just purchased the airplane, and was returning to his home field. After taking off and climbing to 1500 feet, the engine began to run rough and surge, and smoke appeared from the cowling. The pilot successfully landed on a gravel road, but the wings contacted trees at the edge of the road resulting in substantial damage.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff at 1835 Eastern time, killing the private pilot and his two passengers. Visual conditions prevailed. According to eyewitness reports, the airplane departed runway 23, became airborne, and at approximately 100 feet agl, “began to make a left bank.” The airplane continued until the wings were almost perpendicular to the ground, lost altitude and crashed adjacent to the parallel taxiway.

At 0937 Eastern time the airplane crashed into a residential area and was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed; the solo private pilot received serious injuries. About 10 miles from his departure airport, the engine started running rough, and the pilot turned back to the airport. While on short final, the engine stopped and he made a forced landing in the backyard of a private residence. Post-crash examination of the engine revealed the No. 1 and No. 2 connecting rods were broken and came through the top of the aft section of the engine case and the No. 5 piston had failed.

At about 1950 Mountain time the two airplanes collided in flight over the approach end of runway 34 at the McCall Municipal Airport. Both airplanes were destroyed in the collision, uncontrolled descent and post-crash fire. Of the four occupants aboard one airplane, the private pilot and two passengers were killed; the third passenger received serious injuries. The commercial pilot and passenger aboard the other airplane sustained minor injuries. Both airplanes were ending cross-country flights; visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

This was the first flight after removing the motor glider from storage and reassembling it. During initial climb, the glider started rolling left despite the pilots control inputs. He aborted the takeoff and landed straight ahead while attempting to maintain control of the powered glider. However, the left wing struck the ground and the glider began to cartwheel. The glider was substantially damaged and its pilot seriously injured.

The airplane impacted terrain and was destroyed at approximately 1545 Mountain time following a partial loss of engine power. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger sustained serious injuries. Instrument conditions were reported by the passenger. In a statement, the passenger reported the airplane was cruising at 16,000 feet msl and entered clouds containing light snow. Thereafter, the airplane would not maintain altitude and its engine began to sputter. The passenger recalls that the pilot stated that they were experiencing a “mixture problem.” The passenger stated the airplane would “nose over” as the pilot attempted to control it. The airplane impacted a mountain at 10,400 feet msl.

At about 1500 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a hard landing and sustained substantial damage during a post-crash fire. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After making six successful touch-and-go landings, the student noticed the winds were increasing. During the seventh approach, winds were variable and started to gust. While maintaining 55 knots over the approach end of the runway, the airplane suddenly drifted to the left. The student used ailerons and corrected to the centerline, but the airplane touched down hard and bounced. After the airplane came to rest, he saw smoke and fire, and evacuated the airplane.

The airplane departed the right side of JFKs Runway 13L at 2014 Eastern time during the landing rollout. Night visual conditions prevailed; the airplane received substantial damage. The airline transport rated pilot-in-command and co-pilot (CP) reported no injuries. After touchdown, the CP stated he did not have nosewheel steering, brakes or any feeling of engine thrust reverse at approximately 80 knots. The crew applied emergency air brakes, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right with visible skid marks present on the runway. The airplane collided with a dirt divider, sheared off the left main landing gear, buckled the nosegear and the left wing dug into the sand before the airplane came to a complete stop. Prior to the landing, the crew encountered problems with the “A” hydraulic system and performed checklist procedures.

The private pilot was on the final leg of a cross-country flight and landing on Runway 21 at his destination airport. The pilot reported that while landing he struck a “few” landing lights and initiated a go-around. The pilot reported that when he applied engine power the airplane rolled to the left and the wing struck the ground. The airplane received structural damage to both wings and empennage. The wind at the time of the accident was from 240 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 32 knots. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

At approximately 1450 Central time the airplane sustained substantial damage after a section of propeller blade separated in cruise flight. A forced landing to a wheat field ensued. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.