Preliminary Reports

At about 1735 Pacific time, the two Experimental airplanes collided while taxiing at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Washington. Visual conditions prevailedSubsequently, the pilots reported that they were to be a flight of two. Starduster SA100DL was in the lead taxiing to the runway with Starduster SA300 in trail. Because of the air show that was going on at the time, Starduster SA100DL was receiving hand signals from the temporary tower controller. The controller signaled the pilot of Starduster SA100DL to stop for other traffic, which he did. However the pilot of Starduster SA300 failed to stop, impacting the left wing of Starduster SA100DL. The latter aircraft suffered substant…

The Cessna struck several trees and subsequently impacted terrain approximately 0.42 miles east of the Paris-Subiaco Municipal Airport in Paris, Ark., at about 0530. Both the pilot and the pilot-rated passenger aboard were killed. Instrument conditions prevailed as the pair departed for a short cross-country flight. A witness near the airport said he heard the airplane but did not see it. The witness said that fog limited visibility to about 50 feet. No flight plan was on file….

July 02, 2004, Hot Springs, Ark.
Piper PA-32-300
At 1043 Central daylight time, the aircraft was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Hot Springs, Ark. The Instrument-rated Private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The pilot was cleared for the ILS Runway 5 approach at Hot Springs. According to data retrived from a handheld GPS navigator, the flight approached the airport from the southwest and was abeam the final approach fix at an altitude of 3055 feet. The airplane made a series of left and right turns along the localizer until it was abeam the missed approach point at an altitude of 2536 feet. For the next two minutes and 30 seconds, the airpl…

Selected recent general aviation and airline accidents

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted a gravel quarry shortly after a departure at about 1017 Eastern time. The Commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the local glider towing flight. According to a student glider pilot who was being towed by the accident airplane, it was his third tow of the day. He stated they departed from Runway 17 and performed a 45-degree left turn simultaneously. About 30 feet above the ground, the student pilot noticed that the tow rope had some slack in it. After applying a correction, the student pilot noticed that the tow plane did not appear to be climbing well, and the tow rope went slack again at 150-200 feet above the gr…

At 1236 Central time, the aircraft impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at the end of the flight from Gastons Airport, Lakeview, Ark. The Private pilot reported minimum fuel while on final approach to Runway 19L at the Wichita Mid-Continent Airport. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot received minor injuries and three passengers were uninjured. The pilot later stated the fuel gauges indicated five gallons each while on a four-mile final. About three miles out from the airport, he determined that the landing runway would not be obtained due to a lack of engine power. He selected a landing site adjacent to the approach path in a large drainage area. The…

At 1038 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees following a loss of control during a go-around at the Saline County Airport (M99), near Benton, Ark. The solo student pilot was seriously injured. The supervised solo flight originated approximately eight minutes prior to the accident. After takeoff, the student pilot decided to perform a short field landing. While on final approach for Runway 17, he realized the airplane was a little high and selected 40 degrees of flaps, while noting the wind to be variable. The airplane started to drift left of the runway centerline while on short final. The student pilot crabbed the airplane into the wind attempting to…

The Mooney sustained substantial damage during a landing on Runway 9 at the Table Rock Airport (MO32), Golden, Mo. The Private pilot was seriously injured. In a written report, the pilot stated that the airplane began to drift sharply to the left as it crossed the runway end about 20 to 30 feet agl. The pilot stated, I dipped my right wing, applied full right rudder and I applied full power intending to go around. About the time I started to climb out my left wing and then the prop hit the branches of a couple of trees approximately 70 [feet] left of the runway. I remember seeing the prop bending just before the plane nose dived to the ground and settled right side up facing the opposite di…

At 1210 UTC, a Piper PA-42 sustained minor damage while in cruise flight near Reims, France. The foreign certificated pilot was seriously injured. Weather conditions were unknown. While in cruise flight at FL 180, a left window departed the airplane. The airplane experienced a rapid decompression, and the pilot completed a successful emergency landing….

At about 1430 Mountain time, the helicopter was substantially damaged during a hard landing to Runway 17R at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo. The Private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight departed had Jefferson County Airport (BJC), Broomfield, Colo., at approximately 1400. During a takeoff, the pilot reported that after crossing the threshold at 40 knots and 40 feet agl, he felt like [he] was in a high rate of descent and the [helicopter] began to sink. The pilot suspected he was settling with power and decreased the collective and pushed the cyclic forward. The helicopter continued to sink, impacting the runway hard and sliding for ap…