Preliminary Reports

At 1924 Pacific time, an amateur-built Glasair JM-1 suffered a partial loss of power during initial climb from Hollister Municipal Airport and crashed while maneuvering for a forced landing. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were seriously injured. The owner reported the airplane had just departed runway 31 when the engine started to run rough. In an attempt to return to the airport, the airplane clipped a tree and landed in a field where it struck a piece of concrete and came to rest inverted. The electric fuel pump, which was required for flight, was not turned on….

At 1130 mountain time, an amateur-built Vans RV-6A lost engine power on initial climb from Fort Collins Downtown Airpark and crashed. The pilot and passenger were killed. Witnesses reported the airplane had just taken off and was climbing to the east when they heard the engine stop. The witnesses said the airplane turned toward the airport, departed controlled flight and crashed near the southeast corner of the airport….

At approximately 1530 mountain time, a Cessna 210K was damaged when it veered off the runway while landing at Durango-La Plata County Airport. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The pilot said the aircraft came in hot and he attempted to make a crosswind landing. He added power when he realized he needed to go-around, but he veered off the right side of the runway….

At 1533 central time, an Aero Vodochody L39C jet lost engine power due to foreign object ingestion and crashed on takeoff from Gadsden Municipal Airport. The pilot ejected but was killed. A witness said he saw debris in the air just as the airplane lifted off, then heard the sound of the engine ingesting debris. The witness said the airplane appeared to struggle back and forth, then it veered left and was at an approximate 90-degree angle and no more than 50 feet above the ground when the pilot ejected. Examination of the wreckage found the baggage door from the left nose baggage compartment had separated with the locking mechanism attached to the door. A fabric briefcase, numerous papers, a…

At 1645 central time, a Beech 58P struck the ground 120 feet short of runway 28 at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The pilot said he did not realize there was a hill at the approach end of runway 28. During approach, the nose gear of the airplane collided with the hill short of the runway….

At 1235 eastern time, an American Champion 7GCAA registered to the factory was damaged while landing at Frederick Municipal Airport. The flight instructor and private pilot were not injured. The pilot was executing his first landing in the airplane in an effort to obtain a tailwheel endorsement. After the airplane touched down on runway 23, it veered to the left at a 45-degree angle. The instructor assumed the controls and added full power. The airplane climbed back into the air and the CFI tried to realign it with the runway centerline. The airplane descended back to the ground and touched down hard on the left main landing gear, shearing the landing gear assembly from the fuselage. The air…

At about 1630 eastern time, a Cessna 210E caught fire while standing after engine start at the Tallahassee Regional Airport. No one was injured. The pilot said he started the engine and was reading back an instrument clearance when fire was observed coming from the engine compartment. The pilot and two passengers evacuated safely. Moments later, the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. Examination revealed there was a fuel leak in the engine compartment….

At 1555 Pacific time, a Beech A36TC descended into a three-story apartment building in the Fairfax District. The pilot and three passengers were killed. One person in the apartment building was killed and seven people were seriously injured. The flight had departed Santa Monica Municipal Airport about 10 minutes earlier and was en route to Las Vegas and then Sun Valley, Idaho. Witness accounts said the airplane was flying straight and level, then climbed into the clouds. Shortly after that, it came spinning toward the ground. The pilot had discussed with the tower controller the fact that there was cloud cover in the area and said he would try to pop through the broken stuff….

At 1530 mountain time, a Helio H800 struck the ground 200 feet from the approach end of runway 22 at the Yellowstone Regional Airport. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the three passengers reported no injuries. The airport manager said the airplane took off on runway 04 and started spitting oil. The airplane got to about 300 feet agl when the pilot returned for landing. The witness said he noticed the oil cap was off the engine and the oil stick was out….

At about 0930 Pacific time, a Piper PA-24-250 lost engine power during cruise and crashed during a forced landing on a highway near Fallon. The pilot was not injured. The local flight departed Fallon Municipal Airport about 0815 and the pilot flew to Lovelock, Nev., to practice takeoffs and landings. He was returning to Fallon when the engine lost power. The pilot said the accident was due to fuel exhaustion….