Preliminary Reports

The airplane was destroyed when it departed from cruise flight at 0920 Eastern time and impacted terrain. The Commercial pilot and three passengers received fatal injuries. The flight departed Sheboygan, Wis., at 0738 and was en route to Lebanon, Ohio. Ground fog was present in the area of the accident site; however, the airplane was in visual conditions on an IFR flight plan at its cruise altitude. Radar track data indicate that, at 0919:42, the airplane was on a heading of 135 degrees at 7000 feet msl. At 1419:47, radar data indicate the airplane at 6900 feet msl, and descending. At 1420:02, the airplane was at 3400 feet msl. No further radar contact with the airplane was recorded. At 0920…

At 1700 Central time, the helicopter collided with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering and was substantially damaged. The Commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The pilot reported he was landing on a cart when the accident occurred. He reported the helicopter touched down, and he was attempting to raise the helicopter to center it on the cart, when a gust of wind caused the helicopter to roll to the right. The right skid contacted the ground and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The pilot stated the cart is approximately six to eight inches high. He also stated that when the helicopter is centered on the cart there is approximately one foot of cl…

The Bonanza was destroyed at about 1242 Eastern time when it impacted terrain while its pilot was attempting to execute a forced landing. The Private pilot was fatally injured; visual conditions prevailed. A witness reported no engine anomalies and plenty of fuel aboard the airplane. Local weather was beautiful: wind calm, sky clear, and no visible moisture. Other witnesses reported that while the airplane was on the downwind leg, the engine started running rough, and it appeared the pilot may have been maneuvering to land on a road. One witness stated that when the airplane was approximately 90 feet agl, it did a half a barrel roll before impacting the ground. According to maintenance…

At about 1820 Pacific time, the airplane impacted mountainous terrain after encountering icing conditions. The Private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Instrument conditions prevailed at the airplanes cruise altitude and an IFR flight plan had been filed. After taking off from Reno, Nev., the airplane climbed to a Mode-C altitude of 16,100 feet msl. The target leveled off and maintained 16,100 feet msl for about three minutes, 40 seconds. Radar data showed that the target initiated a climb and attained 16,700 feet msl. The last 12 seconds of recorded radar data indicated that the target was in a descent. Radar contact was lost at 18:17:29, at a…

The wheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ice-covered surface of Lake Clark and sank at about 1110 Alaska time. The Commercial pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the remaining three passengers received fatal injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed at the accident site. The accident pilot later reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. He related he was flying low, a few hundred feet above the lake in blowing snow and whiteout conditions, when the airplane collided with the surface of the lake. The accident airplane sank in water estimated at 800 feet deep….

At 1812 Eastern time, the airplane descended into a rock quarry while maneuvering for a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot reported minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, at an attitude of approximately 2000 feet, and five miles out from Runway 20, the engine began to lose power. The pilot switched from the left main fuel tank to the right one. Engine power was regained for a brief moment and then started to decrease again. The pilot switched from the right main tank to the auxiliary tip tanks, and noted no increase in engine power….

The airplane was substantially damaged during a runway excursion while landing at 1446 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed; there were no injuries. The pilot later reported a right crosswind during approach and landing. He stated the landing was normal, on centerline and that touchdown was at the 1000-foot runway markings. As the nose lowered the aircraft veered sharply to the left. He reportedly held full right rudder and right aileron but the aircraft did not respond. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway, struck a runway light and came to rest in the muddy grass area next to the runway pavement. A post-accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies with the nose wh…

At about 1530 Central time, the airplane was destroyed after colliding with terrain while maneuvering. The Commercial pilot and passenger received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported the the pilot had been doing aerobatics. One witness said the airplane pulled out of a loop, rolled abruptly left, and then dove into the ground….

February 1, 2005, Shallotte, N.C.
Cessna T210M
At 1857 Eastern time, the airplane collided with trees and power lines in the vicinity of Shallotte, N.C., while maneuvering during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was destroyed, and there was a posr-crash fire. The Private pilot reported minor injuries; the Private pilot-rated passenger was fatally injured. The flight originated from Atlantic City, New Jersey, on February 1, 2005, at 1615. The airplane had been in cruise flight at 3000 feet, receiving flight following from ATC, when engine power decreased to idle. As the pilot was making a Mayday call, he lost sight of a highway on which he plan…

At about 0815 Mountain time, the airplane collided with static cables from a power line pole assembly. The Private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed for the local flight. According to the airplane owner, the pilot had stopped by his residence around 0600 the morning of the accident to ask if he could take the owners daughter flying. The owner indicated that it was too early to get her up, so the pilot went to the airport by himself. Around the time of the accident the owner and his spouse were in their front yard with their coffee and newspaper walking towards the back of the house when they saw the accident…