Preliminary Reports

May 8, 2006, Levelland, Texas / Cessna 150L

The 23-hour Student pilot was flying his second solo flight in a tricycle gear single-engine airplane. While attempting a second landing, he misjudged the landing flare and the airplane bounced. During the recovery, he inadvertently pushed the yoke forward into a nose-low attitude. The nose landing gear impacted the runway and separated from the airframe….

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May 8, 2006, Marathon, Fla. / Cessna 421B

At about 0755 Eastern time, the airplane collided with two telephone poles and wires during a go-around. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged; the Commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. According to witnesses, the airplane was observed near the middle of the runway approximately 20 feet above ground with its landing gear retracted. One witness-who recently witnessed a gear-up landing-reported hearing a scraping noise similar to that incident. The airplane climbed to an estimated altitude of 100 feet, then disappeared from view….

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May 8, 2006, Bishop, Texas / Beech C23

The airplane was substantially damaged at 1956 Central time in a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial takeoff. The Commercial pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger had been performing maintenance on the engine and elected to take a short flight to verify its operation. On the initial climb, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to return to the airport, and while attempting to make the airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane. The airplane impacted in a nose-low attitude into a cotton field approximately 300 feet west of the runways extended centerline. There was no fir…

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May 10, 2006, Camp Hill, Ala. / Piper PA60-602P

At 0921 Central time, the airplane experienced an in-flight breakup while maneuvering in a Level 5 and 6 thunderstorm. Instrument conditions prevailed at altitude; an IFR flight plan had been filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the Private pilot and single passenger received fatal injuries. A review of radar and performance data revealed that the airplane was at 16,000 feet msl when it entered an area covered by a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and which was the subject of a Convective SIGMET for a line of thunderstorms 40 nm wide. Tops of the thunderstorms were reported at 44,000 feet, with 2-inch hail, and possible wind gusts up to 60 knots….

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May 10, 2006, Hemingway, S.C. / Piper PA-28-180

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power at 1815 Eastern time while descending for a landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the airplane received substantial damage and the Private pilot reported minor injuries. While descending through 6000 feet, the pilot heard a pop sound and the engine began to run rough with partial power. The pilot declared an emergency and requested a clearance direct to the nearest airport. After a 180-degree turn and descending through clouds, the pilot observed the airport straight ahead. The pilot descended over the airport to lose altitude and turned on final approach, but the engine quit at 300 feet. Unable to reach the airport, the pilot initiated a for…

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May 10, 2006, Somerset, Penn. / Lancair IV-P Experimental

At 1525 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed following a loss of engine power and an uncontrolled descent shortly after takeoff. The two Commercial pilots aboard were fatally injured; visual conditions prevailed. At takeoff, the airplane accelerated smoothly and rotated at a point along the runway that was later than usual, according to witnesses. The airplane pitched nose-up about 20 to 30 degrees in the climb, and the airplanes landing gear retracted. When the airplane reached treetop height, black smoke trailed from the engine exhaust system, the engine sputtered and then stopped producing power. The airplane entered a smooth roll to the left, yawed left, then plunged to th…

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May 11, 2006, Leesburg, Fla. / Cessna 152

The airplane crashed into Lake Harris at about 2030 Eastern time while attempting to land. Visual conditions prevailed; the airplane was substantially damaged. The Private pilot sustained minor injuries while the passenger was not injured. The pilot subsequently stated that, after flying locally, he waited for thunderstorms to move away from the airport. He then flew to the airport and entered the traffic pattern but performed a go-around. He reentered the traffic pattern and, while on the base leg, he noted the precision approach path indicator lights indicated the airplane was low. He added full power but the engine did not respond. He turned onto final approach and after recognizing that…

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May 12, 2006, Cumming, Ga. / Cessna 150L

At 1145 Eastern time, the airplane collided with the ground shortly after takeoff. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces; the Airline Transport pilot and Private-rated passenger were fatally injured. A witness stated the pilot had topped off the airplanes fuel tanks. The witness noted that the takeoff roll was much longer that expected. The airplane climbed to approximately 50 feet, followed by a left turn. The witness stated that the airplane never exceeded 50 feet agl. The airplane came to rest a mile from the airport in a residential subdivision….

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May 12, 2006, Del Norte, Colo. / Piper PA-46-350

The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing at approximately 1645 Mountain time. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and three passengers were not injured. The pilot later said he made his final approach to 85 KIAS with two notches of flap. About 150 yards from the runway threshold, the airplane fell and began to sink excessively in a nose-high attitude. He attributed this to windshear. The airplane landed hard and bounced. A pilot-witness said the wind was about 5-10 knots down the runway with no gusts. The accident airplanes approach was low and with a high power setting. When the airplane touched down, it rolled forward on its nose wheel. He heard power appl…

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May 14, 2006, Pompano Beach, Fla. / Cessna 414A

At about 1647 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a road. Visual conditions prevailed. The Commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The pilot subsequently stated that when the flight was approximately three miles north of the airport, the right engine surged. He checked the fuel selector and turned the electric boost pump to no effect. He then secured the right engine, turned onto base leg and requested a priority to land but declined declaring an emergency. The controller advised him to continue on the downwind leg which he complied with. Then, the left engine began experiencing problems. The pilot declared an emergency, an…

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Pilot in aircraft
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