Preliminary Reports

The airplane collided with mountainous terrain at about 1000 Pacific time and sustained substantial damage; the Private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane departed the Santa Ynez Airport, Santa Ynez, Calif., at about 0900, and the pilot was planning to fly over a remote area located near the accident site. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was reported as missing on May 9 and an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued. Later that day, the airplane wreckage and its occupants were located. According to search-and-rescue personnel, the pilot reported engine problems. The pilot force-landed the airplane in the rough, mountainous terrain….

At about 2135 Alaska time, the wheel-equipped airplane was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway and collided with a ditch during the landing roll at the Homer Airport. The airplane was operated by the Student pilot/owner, who was accompanied by a flight instructor, neither of whom was injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The flight instructor later reported the student was practicing touch-and-go landings on Runway 21 at Homer; the wind was from 230 degrees at 11 knots. As the airplane touched down, it veered slightly and the student corrected for the swerve. A gust of wind from the right then lifted the right wing, and the airplane began to veer to the left. The student appl…

At about 1915 Eastern time, the Experimental airplane lost engine power while in cruise flight, and was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The Private pilot was not injured; visual conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that the airplane was descending through 2000 feet at 160 knots when the engine lost power. He turned toward a nearby airport, switched fuel tanks, placed the mixture control to full rich, and confirmed that the fuel boost pump was in the on position. The airplane continued to descend and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a ditch and flipped over….

The aircraft experienced a loss of engine throttle control at about 0955 Eastern time, resulting in a forced landing short of Runway 31 at the St. Augustine Airport. Visual conditions prevailed for the flight from Green Cove Springs, Fla., to St. Augustine. The airplane was substantially damaged; the Private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. On final approach, the pilot reported the throttle …was just loose in my hand (like it completely disconnected from the carburetor). Unable to increase power, he ditched the aircraft in a marsh short of the runway. The airplane flipped inverted during touchdown. The engine throttle control was found separated from the throttle control arm of…

At approximately 1745 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged on impacting terrain during initial climb after taking off. The Commercial pilot received serious injuries, while the sole passenger received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed; the flights destination was the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport in Lewiston, Idaho. After taking off, witnesses observed the airplane was below a ridgeline south of the airstrip, but then began a left climbing turn in an attempt to clear trees to the east. Witnesses reported that as the aircraft continued its slow ascent, its nose continued to rise until the airplanes left wing clipped a tree top. The airplane subsequently impacte…

The aircraft collided with a fence at about 0916 Eastern time during an aborted takeoff from the Boca Raton Airport. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged; the Commercial pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The pilot stated he performed a flight control continuity check before taxiing onto the runway for takeoff. During the takeoff roll and at the calculated rotation speed (70 knots), he applied back pressure to the control column but the elevator control stuck in position. The takeoff roll continued and he performed trim adjustments, and moved the flap selector without any effect. He then aborted the takeoff by applying maximum braking and the…

At 1745 Central daylight time, the airplane collided with trees and the ground while maneuvering on initial climb. Visual conditions prevailed; the airplane was destroyed. The Private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. A witness observed the airplane departing from Runway 1. After departure the airplane went into a fairly quick climbing turn. The climb appeared to get steeper and the bank angle got steep and then it started going down. The left wing dropped down and the nose of the airplane pitched down. Another witness heard the airplane collide with the ground….

The airplane broke up in flight at 1620 Eastern time while performing aerobatics during a mock combat operation. Visual conditions prevailed; the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight instructor and the Commercial pilot/student were fatally injured. Witnesses on ground reported seeing the airplane conducting a series of aerobatic maneuvers when the right wing separated from the airplane. The airplane then entered a spin, descended rapidly and collided with the ground….

At approximately 1520 Mountain time, the tailwheel-equipped airplane collided with a runway sign during the landing roll. The Private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot, who landed on Runway 25, he was cleared by the tower to turn off the runway at Taxiway Echo. While attempting to make the right-hand turn onto the taxiway, the pilot inadvertently turned too soon, and the aircraft collided with the runway identification sign near the intersection of the runway and the taxiway. The force of the impact resulted in the right main gear leg attachment box being bent and distorted. According to th…

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at about 1130 Eastern time; the Commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed the Winchester Regional Airport in Winchester, Va. The airplane came to rest on rural, hilly terrain, owned by a relative of the pilot and who witnessed the accident. He heard the engine sputter, and specifically recalled hearing the engine increase in power, followed by a sudden, total silence. About two to three seconds later, he heard the sounds of an impact, and responded to the accident scene. The witness also noted that on several previous occasions, the pilot had flown past…