Preliminary Reports

The airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a road sign at about 1607 Mountain time during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the solo Private pilot was not injured. The pilot subsequently reported that, while in cruise flight, the engine manifold pressure dropped followed by a loss of oil pressure. The pilot elected to divert to Artesia, N.M., when the airplanes engine seized. The pilot performed a forced landing to a highway. During the emergency landing, the airplanes right wing struck a road sign, causing substantial damage to the airplane….

At 1830 Eastern time, the business jet received substantial damage when the left engine cowl separated and impacted the horizontal stabilizer during cruise at flight level 250 near Stilesville, Ind. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot and copilot were uninjured. The flight originated from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI), Springfield, Ill., at 1700 Central time and was en route to Dayton, Ohio. The flight diverted to SPI where it landed without incident….

The airplane was destroyed following an inflight fire and subsequent emergency landing at approximately 1455 Central time. The Private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; visual conditions prevailed for the local flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot heard a poof come from behind the instrument panel, smelled an odor consistent with an electrical fire, and observed dark gray smoke and flames around his feet. The pilot turned off the master switch; no change was noted. The pilot performed an emergency landing to a cotton field. Shortly after touchdown the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position….

At approximately 2040 Mountain time, the airplane impacted the terrain during an off-field forced landing about one and one-half miles northwest of the approach end of Runway 12 at Gallatin Field, Belgrade, Mon. The Commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured, but the aircraft was destroyed by the post-crash fire. According to the pilot, when the aircraft was about three miles from the approach end of the runway, the engine suddenly developed a loud howling sound, the torque became very erratic and the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) exceeded its normal limits. Soon thereafter the engine lost all power, and the pilot executed a forced landing. Although the touchdown was successful, af…

The Cessnas wing contacted the runway during the landing roll at approximately 1200 Pacific time. The Private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircrafts wing structure sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, the touchdown was uneventful, but during the landing roll a gust of wind lifted the left wing, and the aircraft began to veer from the runway heading. During her attempt to realign the aircraft, it turned sharply to the left, and the right wing and right elevator came in contact with the runway….

At approximately 1350 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted water while landing. The Private pilot and sole occupant of the airplane was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the Canadian authorities, while conducting touch-and-go landings, the airplanes left float dug into the water, followed by the left wing impacting the water. The airplane cart-wheeled, nosed over and sank….

The airplane was destroyed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at 1318 Eastern time. The Private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger, his son, was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The surviving passenger subsequently stated there were no anomalies noted during the preflight, engine start, run-up or during taxi. The takeoff was normal, and the airplane climbed to about 1500 feet. At that point, without warning, there was a loud metallic-sounding explosion, and oil sprayed onto the windscreen. At the same time, a section of the propeller departed the airplane. The airplane struck trees, burst into flames, and then collided with terrain. It was dest…

April 1, 2006, Hudson, Colo.
Rans S-7 Experimental
At 1625 Mountain time, the aircraft was substantially damaged when it impacted an oil tank while landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the Airline Transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot subsequently stated they were attempting to land on Runway 15 when the airplane impacted the oil tank on the left side of the runway. The right wing separated, and the right horizontal stabilizer was bent up and wrinkled. The closest official weather observation at the time of the accident included winds from 340 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 27 knots. A peak wind recorded at 29 minutes past the hou…

At about 1030 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff. The Private pilot was not injured; visual conditions prevailed. The pilot subsequently reported completing a preflight inspection and an engine run-up, both per the checklist, and noting no anomalies. After the takeoff, as the landing gear retracted, there was a loud noise and the engine began to vibrate severely. The pilot immediately checked the engine gauges and cycled the landing gear back to the down and locked position. The pilot elected to land straight ahead, and completed an emergency-landing checklist. The airplane came to rest approximately 500-700 feet beyond the de…

The single-engine retractable sustained substantial damage when it impacted the runway after a gear-up landing. The pilot reported that he had performed four practice instrument approaches. After the final approach, the pilot was cleared to circle to land on Runway 23. The pilot reported that he failed to lower the landing gear prior to landing, and the airplane touched down about 300 feet from the threshold in a gear-up configuration. The pilot reported that the landing gear warning horn did not sound prior to touchdown….