Preliminary Reports

The airplane impacted rising mountainous terrain during a course reversal turn at about 1620 Mountain time. The airplane was destroyed, and the two Private pilots aboard were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. On-scene examination of the accident site revealed the airplane impacted a rocky outcrop adjacent to the upsloping north side of a box-like canyon. The airplane was located on the north side of a drainage area that leads up the center of the canyon, and it was approximately 250 feet below the canyons ridgeline.

At 1115 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff. Instrument conditions prevailed. The Airline Transport pilot and four passengers were not injured. The pilot later reported that, upon reaching approximately 75 knots during the takeoff roll, he felt a “surge” from the left engine. He noted that the “surging continued and positive directional control could not be regained,” at which point he closed the throttles and rejected the takeoff.

The airplane nosed over while landing on a 2450-by-55-feet turf runway. The 27,500-hour Airline Transport pilot later reported a normal touchdown and landing roll until the airplane rolled onto a graded area. At that point, the airplane bounced slightly, slowed, then flipped over. Subsequently, it was determined the pilot failed to notice the large white X on the approach end of the runway. The pilot further reported that was unable to access online Notam information and did not check any other sources.

At about 1337 Eastern time, the airplane experienced a collapsed nose landing gear during the landing roll. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged, although the Private pilot and single passenger were not injured. The pilot later stated he confirmed the landing gear was down and locked while turning final. He maintained approximately 85-87 knots on final and landed with two notches of flaps extended.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees at about 0910 Eastern time while on approach to land. The Private pilot and single passenger aboard were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was in cruise at 7000 feet msl when the pilot declared a medical emergency and requested to divert. The pilot advised ATC he believed his passenger was experiencing diabetic “tremors.”

At about 2313 Eastern time, the airplane collided with an aerostat cable and crashed. The Private pilot and two passengers received fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated in Key West, Fla., at about 2300. Night visual conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The pilot had been in radio contact with ATC and had been informed of the aerostat, which was being operated normally at an altitude of 8000 feet.

The airplane was destroyed upon impacting terrain at 1543 Eastern time. The Private pilot/owner and the Commercial pilot/passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness heard it “sound as if it was taking off again.” The witness stated the airplane was climbing away from the runway at an “unusually steep angle,” and then turned to the left at a 50-degree angle from the runway, into the wind. As the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 200 feet, it “appeared to stop in midair, while still at a steep angle.”

At approximately 1210 Central time, the airplane was destroyed after impacting terrain while maneuvering. The airplane was registered to the United States Border Patrol Air Operations Unit and was engaged in a routine air patrol mission. The Airline Transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. A border patrol agent who witnessed the accident reported that the airplane was circling left. The agent stated that while turning downwind from a heading of south to a heading of east the airplanes angle of bank steepened.

The airplane impacted terrain at approximately 1100 Mountain time during an attempted engine-out landing. The Airline Transport pilot and sole occupant received minor injuries; the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, during the initial climb after takeoff, just after the aircraft passed 400 feet agl, he shut off the fuel boost pumps in preparation for the en route climb.

At approximately 1730 Mountain time, the glider was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain, fatally injuring the Commercial pilot. A witness observed the glider enter a left bank to the left, level, then initiate another left turn. The witness stated that the left wing dropped and the glider dove straight to the ground. The glider then disappeared behind a ridge.