Preliminary Reports

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain while flying the VOR/GPS Runway 22 approach at approximately 2145 Mountain time. Night instrument conditions prevailed for the air ambulance repositioning flight. The ATP-rated pilot and two crew members sustained fatal injuries; one crew member sustained serious injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, at approximately 2115 to pick up a patient. According to the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center, the airplane was lost from radar at 9200 feet msl in the middle of the procedure turn for the instrument approach to Runway 22 at 2142….

At approximately 2010 Central time, the airplane impacted terrain about eight miles northeast of the Monroe Regional Airport, Monroe, La. Both occupants, each of whom held a Commercial pilot certificate, received fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The instrument proficiency flight had departed about 30 minutes prior to the accident and was being operated in instrument conditions. After multiple approaches, one pilot had to execute a missed approach due to a failure to maintain a correct approach track. The aircraft was cleared for another instrument approach, but the pilot again had to execute a missed approach. During that missed approach, the controller gave the pilot a radar vect…

The piston twin was destroyed following a loss of control during its initial takeoff climb from the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport (PTN), near Patterson, La., at 0954 Central time. The ATP-rated pilot and his dog were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the planned flight to the Houma-Terrebone Airport (HUM), near Houma, La. One witness observed the airplane climbing at a steep nose-high attitude with the gear and flaps retracted. At approximately 800 feet agl and approximately halfway down the runway, the witness observed the airplane start a slow left turn and reported that both propellers were turning. The witness said the airplanes initial turn was slow, but then develo…

At 0913 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing. No one among the Private pilot or the two passengers was injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; the flight originated at the Akron-Fulton Airport (AKR), at 0840. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane picked up real heavy ice, according the to the pilot. The wing, propeller, and windshield deicing systems were activated, but the windshields weeping alcohol system could not keep pace with the ice buildup, and the windshield blurred within seconds. Ice accumulated on the wing deicing boots while they were inflated, and ice shedding from the propellers was heard throughout the flight. The pilot requested…

January 1, 2005, Ainsworth, Neb.
Cessna 551 Citation
At around 1120 Central time, the aircraft was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain while attempting to land. Instrument conditions prevailed; the Instrument-rated Private pilot and three passengers were uninjured. Two passengers reported minor injuries. At 1113:16, the airplane was cleared for a GPS Runway 17 approach. The pilot later stated that the airplane started to accumulate ice at around 4000 feet msl during the approach. Subsequently, the airplane descended out of IMC at between 300 and 400 feet agl. The Citations cockpit windows were obscured by the accumulation of ice and the pilot e…

At about 1315 Eastern time the airplane veered off the runway while landing. Visual conditions prevailed; there were no injuries among the Private-rated pilot-in-command and the CFI, although the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he had not flown for a couple of weeks and asked the instructor to accompany him. While on short final, the aircraft yawed to the left due to a strong crosswind and the pilot said he was unable to make the corrections needed to land straight. During the landing roll-out, the left main gear departed the runway surface and the flight instructor took control of the aircraft, adding full power. The aircraft lifted off slightly, turned abruptly…

The Private pilot and the three passengers were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed in a collision with the ground and with trees at the end of a flight with an intended destination of Greenwood, S.C. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Nearby weather reports included calm winds, visibility of 10 sm, with broken cloud conditions at 2200 feet agl and an overcast at 3400 feet agl. All major components of the aircraft were found at the accident site; a fuel odor was detected in the locations where fuel tank pieces were found. Each propeller blade displayed chordwise gouges across the leading edge and forward face. All flight control surfaces were observed at the acciden…

December 1, 2004, Lees Summit, Mo.
Piper PA-28-181
At 1200 Central time, the rental airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lees Summit Municipal Airport (LXT). Visual conditions prevailed; there were no injuries. The local flight originated from LXT at 1030.The pilots preflight inspection included checking the fuel gauges and the fuel level in each tank, which was just under the tabs. After a touch-and-go landing at a nearby airport, he climbed and headed to the east. A few minutes later, the engine sputtered just a little. He applied carburetor heat, and the engine smoothed out. He returned to the nearby airport, landed and performed a ru…

At 1200 Central time, the rental airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Lees Summit Municipal Airport (LXT). Visual conditions prevailed; there were no injuries. The local flight originated from LXT at 1030. The pilots preflight inspection included checking the fuel gauges and the fuel level in each tank, which was just under the tabs. After a touch-and-go landing at a nearby airport, he climbed and headed to the east. A few minutes later, the engine sputtered just a little. He applied carburetor heat, and the engine smoothed out. He returned to the nearby airport, landed and performed a runup. He then shut down the engine and checked the fuel sumps again. He…

The airplane was substantially damaged while landing at the Teterboro Airport (TEB) at 1623 Eastern time. No one among the two flightcrew, single flight attendant and six passengers was injured; visual conditions prevailed for the chartered IFR flight from London, United Kingdom. On arriving in the Teterboro area, the flight was cleared for the ILS Runway 19 approach and to sidestep to land on Runway 24. The airplane encountered a gusty right crosswind, but it was less turbulent than expected. The airplane initially overshot the extended Runway 24 centerline, but became stabilized at 1000 feet agl. The airplane touched down within the first 2000 feet of the runway and slightly right of runwa…