Preliminary Reports

At 1822 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed when it departed controlled flight and impacted a highway. Night visual conditions prevailed for the local IFR flight. The Private pilot and sole occupant was fatally injured. Several witnesses in vehicles driving westbound on the highway stated they saw the airplane traveling northwest at approximately 2500 feet agl. One witness stated the airplane suddenly started downward at a steep angle and crashed. Another witness said it took only a few seconds from the time the airplane started downward until it impacted on the highway. A third witness said he saw a green and red light coming down at a high angle and very fast, and he heard [a] l…

At about 0935 Pacific time, the helicopter was destroyed after impacting terrain during an uncontrolled descent while maneuvering near Arlington, Wash. The flight instructor and the pilot-rated student sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed the Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Wash., at approximately 0930. Numerous witnesses saw the helicopter flying over the area before it impacted the ground. One witness reported hearing the helicopter …make a loud bang, then watched it fall from the sky. Another witness reported seeing the helicopter flying north from AWO, …and as it disappeared into the distance I heard a large prolonged sh…

The business jet was destroyed when it impacted terrain at 0955 Mountain time during takeoff from the Montrose Regional Airport in Montrose, Colo. The captain, flight attendant and one passenger were fatally injured. The first officer, and two passengers sustained serious injuries. Instrument conditions prevailed. The airplane arrived around 0900 and dropped off a passenger. After remaining at the FBO for about 50 minutes, the airplane was boarded and taxied onto Runway 31 where it performed a static run-up for approximately one minute. Subsequently, the initial ground roll appeared to be uneventful. Several witnesses reported hearing a loud boom or whooshing. The airplane was observ…

At 1956 Central time, the jet was destroyed when it impacted the Missouri River during initial takeoff climbout about two miles west of Runway 26L at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in St. Louis, Mo. The pilot and copilot received fatal injuries. The ferry flight was en route to Toledo, Ohio; night visual conditions prevailed….

The airplane was destroyed during multiple impacts with trees and terrain, and by a post-impact ground fire, at about 2200 Pacific time, some about 17 nm north of Santa Barbara, Calif. Undetermined weather existed at the accident site, in a wilderness area of the Los Padres National Forest. The Private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured during the dark nighttime flight. The flight originated at Bakersfield, Calif., at 2136. Preliminary radar data indicates that the aircraft proceeded Santa Barbara on nearly a direct route. All communications to and from the pilot were routine. The accident time was estimated, based on the loss of radio and radar contact with the airplane; the wrec…

The airplane was destroyed and all five aboard were fatally injured at approximately 1718 Central time after impacting a multi-unit residential building and the ground following a loss of control while on an instrument approach to Runway 3 at the San Antonio (Texas) International Airport (SAT). The Commercial pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan was in effect. The flight originated near Dodge City, Kan., at approximately 1345. Preliminary radar data shows that the aircraft remained initially left of the localizer course line before turning right of the localizer approximately two miles before the final approach fix (FAF). Radar t…

The airplane was substantially damaged and both aboard were fatally injured at about 1209 Eastern time after impacting terrain during an approach to the Leesburg Executive Airport in Leesburg, Va. Widespread instrument conditions prevailed for the flight from Wilmington, N.C. Earlier, the pilot had attempted the Localizer Runway 17 approach at Leesburg, which resulted in a missed approach. During a second attempt at the approach, the airplane impacted trees about 4.5 miles from the Runway 17 threshold. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the pilots altimeter displayed a reading of 190 feet; its Kollsman window displayed an altimeter setting of 29.83 inches of mercury. Weather reported…

At 1434 Pacific time, the airplane collided with terrain during the initial climb about one minute after takeoff. The Private pilot and one passenger were fatally injuried; the airplane was destroyed. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses observed the airplane taking off on Runway 25. It climbed straight out about one mile before beginning to fishtail slightly. They observed the right wing rotate down about 45 degrees and then the nose of the airplane abruptly pointed down. The airplane maintained a steep downward path until it disappeared behind trees. The witnesses then observed a plume of smoke….

The airplane impacted the ground after colliding with power lines at about 1501 Central time. Visual conditions prevailed; The Private pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. Friends of the pilots family later stated the pilot and his son had dropped off the pilots father, daughter and niece and were returning to the Winona-Montgomery County Airport, which is near the home of the pilots in-laws. Witnesses at the in-laws house saw the airplane fly over the house, turn around and fly toward the house at a low altitude. The airplanes left landing gear collided with power lines spanning a pond behind the house. The airplane nosed over and impacted th…

The aircraft was substantially damaged at 0608 Eastern time when it collided with an aircraft tug during an attempted takeoff from the Philadelphia International Airport. There were no injuries among the pilot, the tug driver, or two additional ground personnel. Visual conditions prevailed for the flight. At 0604, a Delta Air Lines maintenance tug, towing an MD-80, contacted the ground controller, advised he was at the south apron and requested to relocate to Echo one. The tug was cleared to …proceed as requested and cross Runway 35 to spot eleven and call ramp control. At 0605, the MU-2s pilot advised he was ready for takeoff on Runway 35 at the Kilo intersection. He was subsequently…