Preliminary Reports

The Private pilot was on a VFR cross-country flight when he began encountering instrument conditions. The pilot continued into the instrument conditions for about 30 minutes before asking Atlanta Approach Control for directions to the nearest airport for landing. The controller directed the pilot to two different nearby airports but both were below minimums. The pilot informed the controller that he was low on fuel and needed to land as soon as possible. The controller directed the pilot to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Columbus, Ga. The pilot attempted four unsuccessful instrument approaches with the controllers talking him through each approach. On the fifth approach, at five miles fr…

At about 1900 Central time, the helicopter collided with trees and terrain. The helicopter was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire; the Commercial pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated about five minutes earlier from the parking lot of a nearby hotel. Instrument conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office that the helicopter landed in a parking lot of a hotel and the occupants inquired at the hotel about the price of a room. After being told about the price the occupants walked to a restaurant located at a truck stop across the street from the hotel. The occupants ate at the restaurant, departed there and went to the he…

The airplane was substantially damaged while ditching in the Hudson River, following a total loss of engine power in cruise flight at 1152 Eastern time. The Private pilot and Flight Instructor sustained minor injuries; visual conditions prevailed for the instructional flight to familiarize the Private pilot with the VFR corridor along the Hudson River. The airplane was in cruise flight at about 900 feet agl when, without warning, the engine sputtered and lost all power. The instructor took control of the airplane and transmitted a distress signal. His attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful, and he then ditched the airplane in the Hudson River. The New York City Police Department and…

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an attempted forced landing at approximately 1055 Pacific time. The Instrument-rated Private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was executing a practice ILS approach to Runway 12. As the airplane approached the airport, at approximately 3.5 nm, the pilot told ATC that the airplane was loosing power and that he was going to land on a grass airfield. Several residences of the Sunset Air Strip, North Plains, Oregon, reported hearing a loud noise; subsequently they found the airplane adjacent to one of their taxiways….

December 1, 2005, Raymond, Miss.
Piper PA-30
At 1357 Central time, the airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain following a loss of control during takeoff from Runway 30 at the William John Bell Airport, (M16). The Instrument-rated Commercial pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. The flight was intended as a ferry flight to have required maintenance performed. Visual conditions prevailed. All aircraft components of the 1964-vintage airplane were original equipment on the aircraft since new and showed a total time according to the logbooks of 5123 hours. Several witnesses reported hearing abnormal engine sounds during the takeoff. At approximately 100 feet…

At 1357 Central time, the airplane was destroyed on impact with terrain following a loss of control during takeoff from Runway 30 at the William John Bell Airport, (M16). The Instrument-rated Commercial pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. The flight was intended as a ferry flight to have required maintenance performed. Visual conditions prevailed. All aircraft components of the 1964-vintage airplane were original equipment on the aircraft since new and showed a total time according to the logbooks of 5123 hours. Several witnesses reported hearing abnormal engine sounds during the takeoff. At approximately 100 feet agl, they also heard a pop or bang followed by an immediate rig…

The airplane was presumed destroyed during a collision with water at 1644 Eastern time while on approach to the Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK). The Commercial pilot was not located, and presumed to be fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey, about 1530. Earlier in the day, the pilot flew his son to TEB, dropped him off, and refueled the airplane to capacity. Radar contact and radio communication were lost when the airplane was approximately one mile from the airport, at about 200 feet msl. The weather at ACK at 1653, included wind from 020 degrees at 17 knots; visibility 2 miles in light rain and mist; ov…

At 1244 Eastern time the airplane made an emergency landing following an uncommanded pitch-up during takeoff. Although the airplane was substantially damaged, the pilot did not report any injuries. During takeoff, the airplane pitched up violently, climbing to approximately 200 feet. The pilot made an emergency landing. The airplane landed hard and veered off the right side of the runway 1000 feet from its departure end. The bolt connecting the stabilator trim tab to the stabilator control arm was missing….

One person on the ground died and 12 others suffered injuries when the Southwest Airlines flight slid off the runway at Chicago Midway Airport while landing. The airplane slid off the runway and went through a barrier fence and onto a roadway. There were 98 passengers onboard and five crew members on board. An emergency evacuation was accomplished….

At 1716 Central time the airplane was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain near Arco, Minn. Instrument and marginal visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and two passengers sustained fatal injuries. The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) had deployed as a result of the impact sequence and not as an intentional activation by the pilot….