Preliminary Reports

The airplane was substantially damaged while landing at 1615 Eastern time. One Private pilot aboard received serious injuries; another Private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. One of the pilots later reported the airplane was floating on final approach when it was caught in a gust of wind. The airplane subsequently nosed over, impacted the ground, and caught fire. A witness observed the airplane about 10 feet over the runway, during what appeared to be a normal landing. Then it was lifted in a vertical motion to an altitude of approximately 30 feet. The airplane nosed over and impacted the runway. Recorded weather at the field included variable winds at 3 kn…

The airplane lost power and collided with objects during a forced landing at 1130 Pacific time, sustaining substantial damage. The Commercial pilot received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was on a left downwind and the pilot had completed the before-landing checklist when the engine quit producing power. The pilot performed the emergency checklist but the engine did not restart. According to FAA inspectors, approximately inch of fuel or less remained in the left wing when it was placed in a level position. Slightly more remained in the right fuel tank. According to the pilot, the recovery personnel drained three gallons of fuel from the left fuel tank and five…

At about 1915 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power. A post-impact fire occurred. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was being flown on its first flight after an annual inspection. A cylinder was replaced, a turbocharger leak was fixed, and the right fuel bladder was removed and reinstalled during the annual inspection. At 1907, radar data showed the airplane descending to 4800 feet and slowing to 160 knots; ATC cleared it to 3000 feet but the pilot responded that he had lost engine power and needed the closest airfield….

The airplane experienced an in-flight break-up during a visual approach to Kansas City International Airport at 1912 Central time. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. The flight was operating on an IFR flight plan. The flight originated from the Grand Glaize Airport (K15), Osage Beach, Mo., at approximately 1724….

At approximately 0830 Pacific time, the float-equipped airplane was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing in Puget Sound. The Airline Transport pilot and his 10 passengers were not injured. The flight was being as a Part 135 air taxi; instrument conditions prevailed. The pilot later said that as he approached Port Townsend, the flight encountered lowering ceilings and visibility. Water conditions were glassy smooth with no visual definition. As he began to turn back, conditions worsened and he elected to perform a precautionary landing on the water. With no visual definition, he misjudged the landing and landed hard. The airplanes fuselage was bent/deformed, the fuselage skin…

At approximately 1420 Mountain time, the airplane sustained substantial damage following a total loss of engine power and uncontrolled descent. The Private pilot, the airplanes sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. An interview with the pilot revealed that the airplane had just undergone its most recent inspection and engine overhaul. The pilot reported that following the takeoff, and in a left turn to return to the airport he experienced a yoke control problem, followed by the aircraft impacting terrain north of the airport boundary. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplanes fuel selector was positioned in the vertical position, between the…

At about 1130 Eastern time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a gear-up landing in visual conditions. The pilot later reported that, during initial climb, he smelled smoke and felt heat in the cockpit, then turned back toward the airport. He said several aural warnings sounded. During the descent back to the airport his communications radio malfunctioned, and he was unable to contact the tower after declaring the initial emergency. The pilot said he thought the airplane was on fire, and landed gear-up in the dirt between the taxiway and the runway….

June 1, 2006, Port Townsend, Wash.
de Havilland DHC-3T
At approximately 0830 Pacific time, the float-equipped airplane was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing in Puget Sound. The Airline Transport pilot and his 10 passengers were not injured. The flight was being as a Part 135 air taxi; instrument conditions prevailed. The pilot later said that as he approached Port Townsend, the flight encountered lowering ceilings and visibility. Water conditions were glassy smooth with no visual definition. As he began to turn back, conditions worsened and he elected to perform a precautionary landing on the water. With no visual definition, he misjudged the landing and…

At about 1430 Mountain time, the glider collided with terrain during takeoff. The Private pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries; the glider was substantially damaged. The tow pilot subsequently stated that, with the towplane at about 40 feet agl and the glider airborne, the glider assumed a severe pitch-up attitude. The tow rope separated and the glider climbed to about 150 feet agl. The glider stalled, making a right turn while descending toward terrain….

Its crew lost control of the business jet on a maintenance test flight at about 1800 Central time. The event occurred while setting up for a stall series at 17,000 feet msl. The two pilots and four passengers sustained minor injuries. The crew calculated that the stick shaker was to activate at 115 knots, with stick pusher activation at 107.5 knots. Aerodynamic stall was expected at 105.5 knots. As the airplane slowed through approximately 126 KIAS, it abruptly rolled off onto the right wing and the nose dropped rapidly. There was no vibration or abnormal indication. The airplane rolled five to seven times, both to the right and the left. After neutralizing the ailerons, the pilot began a h…