Preliminary Reports

The airplane, operated by the Civil Air Patrol as CAPS flight 4940, was destroyed when it impacted terrain and caught fire at approximately 1700 mountain time. Marginal visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot and two non-pilot observers were fatally injured. The flight was engaged in a search and rescue mission for a missing hiker. At 1756, search and rescue teams located the hiker and, at approximately the same time, a forest fire was discovered. After several water drops were made on the fire, the accident airplanes wreckage was discovered.

At 2021 Eastern time, the airplanes airframe parachute was deployed after the non-instrument-rated private pilot entered encountering instrument flight conditions. The airplane received substantial damage. The pilot received serious injuries and one passenger received minor injuries. While approaching the Nantucket (Mass.) Airport, the pilot was advised of low ceilings requiring an IFR clearance, but reported he was capable of executing the ILS approach. The tower controller handed off the pilot to Cape Approach. Shortly thereafter, Cape Approach informed the controller the pilot had deployed the airframe parachute.

At about 1900 Eastern time the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After a flight from North Carolina to New Jersey, the airplane was fueled with 13.5 gallons added to each wingtip fuel tank. No additional fuel was added to the main fuel tanks. The airplane then departed for another New Jersey airport. During the subsequent landing approach engine experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot performed a forced landing on a racetrack, incurring substantial damage. Inspection revealed both main fuel tanks remained intact and did not contain any fuel. The airplanes tip tank switches were found in the “Off” position.

At approximately 1615 Central time, the airplane was destroyed when it collided with terrain following a power loss. Visual conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. FAA inspectors who examined the airplane at the accident site reported finding evidence of catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation induced by an unsecured oil line to the wastegate actuator.

The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing at about 1720 Eastern time. The private pilot and sole occupant was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to preliminary information, the pilot contacted ATC, stating he was approximately 5 miles north of the airport with minimal fuel and requested to land quickly. After being cleared to land, the pilot reported that he was out of fuel and declared an emergency. The airplane impacted a wooded area in a nose-down attitude. Examination revealed there was no fuel in the tanks and no evidence of fuel throughout the fuel system.

The pilot was attempting a landing on the unimproved runway, and porpoised, with the airplane bouncing and veering to the right. The pilot reduced power to idle, and manipulated the controls to hold the nosewheel out of the runway ruts. The airplane then encountered a three-foot-deep ditch, which angled it towards a power pole. The pilot applied left rudder and brake, diverting the airplane slightly to the left and into the rear quarter of a metal building at the end of the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

At 1000 Eastern time, the float-equipped airplane nosed over during landing on Lake Kezar at the completion of a sightseeing flight and was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, one passenger received serious injuries and three passengers received minor injuries. Subsequently, the passengers reported they were given a very good briefing on emergency evacuation procedures. As the airplane touched down, they felt like it skipped and immediately went over on its nose in a somersault. The cabin filled with water immediately, and it got dark and quiet. The adult male egressed by kicking out the windshield, and the adult female egressed with her son out the emergency exit in the back. On reaching the surface they realized that the pilot and their daughter had not escaped.

The airplane landed long at about 1100 Mountain time, overrunning the departure end of the runway and sliding down an embankment. The airplane came to rest on its tail and left wing, and was substantially damaged. The private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane, was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 2040 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airline transport pilot executed a forced landing in an open dirt field. Neither the pilot nor the two passengers were injured. The airplane, which slid to a stop on uneven terrain with retracted landing gear, was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.

At 0707 Eastern time, the airplane made a forced landing to an open field on its initial takeoff climb. Visual conditions prevailed. A post-crash fire destroyed the airplane. The private pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The remaining passenger was transported to a local area hospital with serious injuries and died that evening. A witness who is also a pilot and flight instructor observed the accident airplane taxi for takeoff. The witness later said the tail of the airplane was low, “as if the airplane was overloaded.” The witness also reported the accident airplanes takeoff roll was slow and long, and it used about 3000 feet of the runway before the pilot “forced [it] off the runway.” Once the airplane became airborne, its climb was “flat.” The airplane cleared trees by about 100 feet and disappeared from view behind another tree line. The witness stated he observed a plume of black smoke and knew the airplane had crashed.