Preliminary Reports

November 4, 2004, Key West, Fla.
SOCATA TB-20 Trinidad
At about 1927 Eastern time, the airplane was lost from radar 4.87 nautical miles and 192 degrees from the Key West International Airport, Key West, Fla. Visual conditions prevailed for the planned flight from Key West to the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota, Fla. The airplane was presumed destroyed and the pilot is presumed to be fatally injured; the passenger was fatally injured. The flight originated at about 1923. At 1924:28, the pilot established contact with the Naval Air Station Key West Air Traffic Facility. At 1926:36, the NAS ATCF controller advised the pilot to turn right heading 360 degree…

At about 1927 Eastern time, the airplane was lost from radar 4.87 nautical miles and 192 degrees from the Key West International Airport, Key West, Fla. Visual conditions prevailed for the planned flight from Key West to the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota, Fla. The airplane was presumed destroyed and the pilot is presumed to be fatally injured; the passenger was fatally injured. The flight originated at about 1923. At 1924:28, the pilot established contact with the Naval Air Station Key West Air Traffic Facility. At 1926:36, the NAS ATCF controller advised the pilot to turn right heading 360 degrees and when able to proceed direct to Lee County VORTAC, which the pilot c…

At 1147 Eastern time, the airplae was destroyed during a forced landing attempt. The Commercial pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed for the flight between Talladega, Ala., and Columbus, Ohio. While in cruise at FL190, the pilot reported a loss of cabin pressure, and thought he had a turbocharger problem. After a descent and changes in heading, the pilot stated, Were declaring an emergency, Ive got low oil pressure, I need the closest airport. The controller advised that Madison County Airport (I39) was 12 miles north. At this point, the airplane was at 12,300 feet. Subsequently, the controller advised the pilot that the airplane was over the airport at 7200 feet. T…

October 2, 2004, Santa Fe, NM.
Sukhoi SU-29
At 1327 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed and its solo ATP-rated pilot fatally injured upon impact with terrain 500 feet west of Runway 20 at the Santa Fe (N.M.) Municipal Airport. Visual conditions prevailed for the aerobatic flight, which was the second performance in the 2004 Santa Fe Air Show. An FAA inspector witnessing the airshow later reported that the airplane was high, at approximately 1500 feet AGL, when it entered an inverted spin. The inspector said, The pilot attempted to recover but didnt make it. The airplane struck flat in an upright, nose down attitude and was engulfed in a fireball. A witness, one of…

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0035 Eastern time during a collision with trees during maneuvering flight. The non-Instrument-rated Private pilot and passenger were fatally injured; night visual conditions prevailed. The flight departed Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) in Islip, N.Y., with the Fulton County Airport in Johnstown, N.Y., as the planned destination.The pilot was in radio and radar contact with the Albany Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) and receiving flight following services. About 0034, both radio and radar contact was lost; the TRACON did not receive a distress call from the pilot. At about 0030, three witnesses reported an airplane descended throug…

At about 1748 Eastern time the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a house while attempting to execute a forced landing. The Private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Day visual conditions prevailed for the planned flight from Nantucket, Mass., to New Haven, Conn. According ATC tapes, the pilot made a Mayday call and reported he was at 4000 feet msl and descending without engine power. The accident pilot reported that there was oil on the windscreen. A controller provided radar vectors towards an airport approximately four miles southeast. When the airplane was approximately two miles from the airport at 1600 feet msl, the pilot reported seeing a field to his left….

The airplane was destroyed and the ATP-rated pilot fatally injured on impacting mountainous terrain at 0738 Mountain time while maneuvering. Instrument conditions prevailed at the time of the accident; no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight that originated at Englewood, Colo., about 20 minutes earlier and was en route to Aspen, Colo. According to the Clear Creek County Sheriff, weather at the time of the accident was cold with a low overcast, and occasional light snow. Reported weather recorded at a nearby station included visibility of less than statute mile, snow and an overcast sky at 200 feet agl….

At 1054 Eastern time the airplane collided with the ground and burst into flames. Instrument conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the Instrument-rated Private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The personal flight had departed the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Ga., nine minutes earlier. About seven miles south of PDK, the pilot reported that he was in trouble. The departure controller immediately issued the pilot radar vector information for an eastbound heading, but the pilot never responded to the radar vector information. Shortly afterward, radio and radar contact was lost. Witnesses in the vicinity of the accident site reported seeing the airpla…

At 1327 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed and its solo ATP-rated pilot fatally injured upon impact with terrain 500 feet west of Runway 20 at the Santa Fe (N.M.) Municipal Airport. Visual conditions prevailed for the aerobatic flight, which was the second performance in the 2004 Santa Fe Air Show. An FAA inspector witnessing the airshow later reported that the airplane was high, at approximately 1500 feet AGL, when it entered an inverted spin. The inspector said, The pilot attempted to recover but didnt make it. The airplane struck flat in an upright, nose down attitude and was engulfed in a fireball. A witness, one of the air shows performers, said the pilot was performing a tor…

The aircraft was substantially damaged when it impacted an airport hangar while attempting a go-around from Runway 17 at the Marion (Iowa) Airport at 0930 Central time. The Private pilot and passenger reported minor inuries; visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, on his first landing approach, he encountered turbulence and decided to go around for another attempt. During the second approach, the airplane again encountered turbulence and the pilot went around. The pilot stated, Immediately it felt like a gust of wind went under my right wing and belly and just started pushing me over, to the left. I immediately applied right rudder and aileron as hard as I could and tried to pu…