Preliminary Reports

At 2015 Central time, the airplane made an emergency landing in a parking lot, colliding with cars and receiving substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot and three passengers received minor injuries. The pilot stated he observed all four fuel gauges were between the and full position during his pre-flight inspection and that he believed the airplane had been topped off prior to its last flight. After takeoff and as the airplane was leveling at FL210, the pilot happened “to look at the two left gauges and noticed that they were practically empty.” He diverted but, while on short final, the left engine “quit” first, followed immediately by the right engine.

The airplane crashed into a restaurant at about 1010 Eastern time and was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire; the private pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses near the crash site reported low clouds in the area and seeing the airplane emerge from them. The airplane was then observed banking right, then descending until it impacted a parking lot, then traveled into the restaurant where an explosion was heard.

At about 1455 Eastern time, the airplane was ditched in the Ohio River. Visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Earlier, before takeoff, the pilot added four quarts of oil to the engine. Upon arrival at a second airport, he noted an oil leak and discovered the vacuum pump he had installed earlier in the day was installed incorrectly, causing the oil leak. He corrected the discrepancy and added more oil to the engine. He then took the airplane for a test flight and returned. The pilot then attempted the flight home.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage at 1000 Mountain time when it descended uncontrollably, struck trees and impacted terrain. Visual conditions prevailed. The solo student pilot was maneuvering in a low-lying area surrounded by trees. While making a right turn, the helicopter began to settle. The main rotor struck a tree and the helicopter impacted terrain.

During an attempted return to the departure point in response to an in-flight fire, the airplanes engine lost power and the pilot subsequently performed a wheels-up landing at approximately 0830 Mountain time in rough terrain one mile south of the airport. The airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated at 0815.

The airplane was destroyed by fire after landing about 1748 Pacific time. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot received minor injuries; the passenger received serious injuries. The pilot later reported that within minutes following takeoff on the two flights preceding the accident flight, he had experienced smoke in the cockpit and promptly landed. The accident flight followed repairs to his airplane.

At 1033 Eastern time, the airplane impacted up-sloping terrain and was destroyed. The commercial-rated pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about 1029. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the airplane landed at approximately 1001 hours, taxied to the south side of the airport, and without securing the engine, boarded two waiting passengers. The airplane then was observed taxiing towards a runway, but an airplane was being towed on the taxiway at that time. The accident airplane turned around and taxied to the opposite end of the same runway and began its takeoff roll.

The airplane was destroyed after collision with terrain and a post-crash fire at 1105 Eastern time; the private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The flights purpose was to search for a windsock that detached from its mount due to strong winds earlier in the week. A pilot-rated witness observed the accident flight from start to finish. After some maneuvering, he observed the airplane in “a very low, tight left downwind.” The airplane then entered a tight, steep, low-speed left bank the witness estimated was greater than 45 degrees. After overflying the runway centerline, the pilot pulled the nose over sharply and was in about a 45-degree bank when the left wing dropped and the aircraft dove to the ground.

At about 0533 Eastern time, the airplane impacted trees during a forced landing following loss of engine power. Visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot was not injured; the airplane incurred substantial damage. While in cruise flight at 11,000 feet, the engine failed without warning. The pilot declared an emergency with ATC and was advised the closet airport was on a heading of 080 at 29 miles. He turned toward the airport and went through the engine-out procedures. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The pilot set up the airplane for best glide speed; the glide was approximately 22 miles.

The airplane sustained substantial damage at about 1608 Pacific daylight time, during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on initial takeoff climb. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, as the airplane climbed through 500 feet, the engine “sputtered” and subsequently “quit.” He executed a forced landing to a construction site. The airplane touched down in rough terrain and its landing gear sheared off.