Preliminary Reports

The airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with a power line at about 1240 Pacific time during an attempted forced landing. The commercial pilot and sole occupant received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, who talked briefly with rescuers before being taken to the hospital, the airplanes engine lost all power while he was in the pattern for a touch-and-go landing. He then attempted to glide to the approach end of the runway, but was unable to maintain enough altitude to clear a power line. After hitting the power line, the airplane rolled to a steep angle of bank, and then descended into the terrain.

The airplane was destroyed when it collided with terrain at about 1845 Central time following loss of control while in cruise flight. The non-instrument rated private pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. At about 1830, the airplane initiated a descent from 6500 feet. Prior to disappearing from radar at 1844, the airplane made a single, descending “S” turn, beginning at an altitude of 2400 feet, and ending at the last radar plot at 1100 feet. A witness, who lived near the crash site, reported hearing the airplane engine “winding up.” A few moments later he heard the impact. The witness also reported the weather at the time of the crash was extremely foggy, with visibility less than a tenth of a mile.

At 2054 Central time the aeromedical helicopter crashed into water while maneuvering to a temporary landing zone. Visual conditions prevailed. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The airline transport-rated pilot-in-command, the flight nurse and the flight paramedic were fatally injured. A review of recorded Air Traffic Control radar data shows the helicopter flew to its intended destination at altitudes ranging from 700 feet to 1100 feet msl. It then overflew the destination at 800 feet; eyewitnesses observed it entering a left turn. Radar data shows the helicopter continued in the left turn and crashed two miles west of the destination. Weather reported at a station nine miles west include 8 miles visibility with scattered clouds at 1000 feet and overcast clouds at 1400 feet. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported the visibility as good, but no stars were visible.

As the commercial pilot/owner was preparing to taxi, he dropped something on the floor. When he realized he could not reach the object, he moved his seat back so he could reach down to the floor. At that point, he felt motion and realized that he could not reach the brake pedals. Before the pilot could release his seatbelt and turn off the engine, the airplane struck two parked airplanes, resulting in minor damage to his airplane and one of the parked airplanes. However, the other parked airplane sustained substantial damage.

During cruise flight at 3500 feet agl, a bird impacted the leading edge of the right wing, inboard of the wing lift strut attach point. The flight instructor did not see the bird until just before it impacted the wing. The CFI evaluated the damage in-flight and decided to continue the flight to his intended destination and landed without further incident. Examination of the right wing revealed the leading edge was crushed aft and two internal wing ribs were damaged.

At about 2026 Pacific time the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and the ground during an emergency landing following a reported loss of engine power. The flight instructor, pilot-rated student receiving instruction and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Dark night visual conditions prevailed. During a descent, the instructor noticed turbulence was becoming stronger and initiated a climb back to the original cruising altitude of 3500 feet. As the airplane climbed through about 3000 feet, a severe jolt shook the airplane followed by a loss of power in both engines. The instructor initiated a forced landing to an area that appeared dark to avoid hitting structures, and was unable to see the ground until the airplane was about 50 feet above ground level. Subsequently, the airplane stuck trees and impacted the ground.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1845 Mountain time when its left main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. The commercial pilot and sole occupant was not injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later reported making a normal left traffic pattern. During the landing roll, the pilot thought he had blown the left tire, followed by the airplane settling onto its left side a second or two later. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway before coming to rest upright.

At 1018 Pacific time, the airplane collided with terrain and was substantially damaged. The private pilot in the right seat, the private pilot/owner in the left seat and the passenger were killed. A witness about two miles west of the accident site heard an engine revving up and down repeatedly. He saw the airplane come out of a cloud layer about 2000 feet agl. The right wing pitched down; the airplane was in a corkscrew pattern clockwise, at a descent angle of approximately 45 degrees, with its engine running. The witness then heard the airplane impact the ground. Earlier, the flight had been cleared to climb to 13,000 feet msl. At 1017, radar data recorded the airplane at 10,400 feet msl, and the pilot reported an emergency. Radar contact and communication were lost with the airplane at 1018.

The airplane was substantially damaged at approximately 1139 Central time following a forced landing after initial takeoff. The private pilot and sole occupant was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to a witness, the airplane was departing the runway and climbed to approximately 400 feet above ground level when the engine began “sputtering.” As the airplane began a “sharp” turn back to the runway, the engine quit and the airplane descended towards the field. Both main landing gear were separated from the airplane and both wings sustained impact damage.

The student pilot later stated he was instructed to enter a right base and later was cleared to land. Four nm from the runway, the student pilot stabilized the approach and maintained a constant 65 knots. As the airplane descended over the end of the runway, the pilots attention shifted to runway markings. The airplane bounced on landing; the pilot recovered with power but the airplane bounced again, impacting the runway nose-low. The airplane sustained damage to its landing gear, limiting right rudder pedal travel.