Preliminary Reports

At approximately 2040 local time, a Cessna 170B and a Cessna 210J collided in-flight. The 170B had departed Roseburg, Ore., en route to Vashon Island, Wash.; the 210J took off from Camas, Wash., with Paine Field, Everett, Wash., as its planned desitnation. There was one occupant onboard each aircraft. The Commercial pilot of the Cessna 210J was fatally injured; the Private pilot of the Cessna 170B sustained minor injuries. According to the FAA, both pilots received weather briefings but neither had requested or were receiving ATC services at the time of the collision. The 170Bs pilot later reported that he never saw the other airplane. A witness saw the two accident aircraft coming togeth…

The Twin Comanche was destroyed and both persons aboard fatally injured when the airplane impacted terrain while conducting a nighttime VOR/DME approach to Runway 23 at Uinta County-Burns Field, Evanston, Wyo. A pop-up IFR flight plan had been filed over Heber City, Utah; the flight originated at Panaca, Nev. At 2112 local time, the airplanes last position was 1 miles west of the airport at 7700 feet. At 2340, after ATC alerted local authorities that the flight plan had not been closed, airport personnel located the airplane approximately 150 yards northeast of Runway 23. Reported weather at the time of the accident included visibility 1 statute mile, light snow, mist; scattered clouds at…

The Mooney collided with trees and sank in a lake while attempting its third approach to Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) in IMC. The sole occupants, a Private pilot and passenger, died in the crash. After two attempts at the ILS Runway 5R approach, controllers offered to divert the flight to nearby Greensboro, N.C. However, the pilot attempted the approach again, and on the third try crashed into trees short of the runway, coming to rest in the lake….

The unregistered Experimental, flown by a noncertificated pilot, collided with power lines and trees during a nighttime low pass down Runway 21 at Mathis Airport in Cumming, Ga. The flight departed Mountain Airport, Cleveland, Ga., at 2015 local time. The unlighted runway was illuminated with car headlights. The airplane passed over the runway twice and on the third low pass was observed to almost hit the airports wind sock. Banking left in a northeast direction to avoid the windsock, the airplane appeared to stall and witnesses lost sight of it….

At about 1400 local time, the twin-engine floatplane was substantially damaged after colliding with trees while on approach to Massapoag Lake in Sharon, Mass. The solo Private pilot was fatally injured. According to the FAA, the pilot diverted to Massapoag Lake for unknown reasons. While on approach, the airplane struck trees and impacted a swamp area. Wind reported at a nearby airport was from 13 knots with gusts to 20 knots….

At 0724 local time, the twin turboprop destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain in Ferndale, Md., while approaching Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The solo ATP flying the non-scheduled cargo flight under FAR Part 135 was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the IFR flight from Philadelphia. At 0721, with the flight about 10 nm northeast of the airport, the pilot was cleared to land. Radar returns show the airplane continued on a westerly track, north of the airport, bypassing the approach end of Runway 33R consistent with a modified downwind for Runway 15L, and descended to 700 feet. Just prior to the Runway 15L abeam position, the airplane began a left turn. One…

Selected recent general aviation and airline accidents

At approximately 1925 Eastern time, the Piper Arrow impacted terrain while attempting the ILS Runway 23 approach to the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK) in Harrietstown, N.Y. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane substantially damaged. Night IMC prevailed for the flight from Leesburg, Va. According to the NTSBs preliminary review of radar data, the airplane crossed the SLK VOR at 6000 feet and proceeded outbound, descending to 5000 feet. About nine miles from the SLK VOR, the airplane made a left turn, then turned to the right approximately 10 seconds later. The right turn continued until intercepting the final approach course for the Runway 23 localizer, wh…

About two minutes after an 0808 Pacific time departure from the airport at Ukiah, Calif., the Piper Saratoga SP II collided with terrain. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed but no flight plan had been filed. An instrument-rated air ambulance helicopter pilot attempting to return to Ukiah heard a pilot on the Unicom frequency say he was in a Saratoga and preparing to depart Runway 33. The Saratoga pilot told him that there were no holes in the clouds, and that the 100-foot ceiling looked about right. A few minutes later, the air ambulance helicopter pilot heard the Saratoga pilot say tha…

At about 1609 Eastern time, a Piper PA-30 crashed shortly after takeoff from the Fernandina Beach (Fla.)Municipal Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. A witness reported the airplane was airborne with the landing gear retracted before reaching the intersection of Runways 04/22 and 08/26. He believed the airplane climbed to approximately 250-300 feet. Just before the airplane flew past a hangar, he heard a brief sputtering sound, then observed the airplane bank to the left. He then lost sight of the airplane for a short time as it passed behind the hangar. When he saw it again, the airplane was in a 25-30 degree…