Preliminary Reports

At about 1200 eastern time, a Socata TB 9 overran the runway after aborting takeoff at Huntingdon County Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot reported he was departing on runway 22, a 3,120 feet-by-80 feet gravel and turf runway. The pilot said the runway was too soft and the airplane did not accelerate properly. He was able to lift the nose gear off the ground, but the airplane would not become airborne. The pilot then aborted the takeoff and the airplane overran the runway into a ditch….

At 1545 eastern time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D crashed after an inadvertent stall/spin while maneuvering. The pilot reported minor injuries and the passenger reported no injuries. The pilot said he was maneuvering at 500 to 800 feet agl on a deer-spotting mission when he stalled the airplane during a left turn at 500 feet. The airplane entered a spin, which he recovered, but he did not have enough altitude to arrest the descent. The airplane crashed into heavy brush at nearly a level attitude….

At about 1440 eastern time, a Cessna 182D crashed during a missed approach in New Philadelphia after the pilot reported the airframe icing up. The pilot and passenger were killed. The pilots weather briefing included reports of forecast icing conditions, pilot reports of icing conditions and advisories of low clouds and instrument meteorological conditions over a wide area along the pilots route of flight. The pilot then filed an IFR flight plan. As the airplane was vectored for the descent and VOR-A Approach to Harry Clever Field, the pilot reported that he was picking up moderate ice. The pilot was asked if he needed to change altitude and climb back to 4,000 feet. The pilot replied, …..

At about 1610 mountain time, a Cessna T210L made a precautionary off-airport landing after experiencing smoke in the cockpit. The airplane was destroyed during the ensuing crash sequence, but the two occupants got out with only minor injuries. The pilot reported he was cruising at 9,500 feet when he smelled and observed smoke from behind the front seats. The smoke did not smell like electrical insulation and the landing gear hydraulic power pack was not running. The passenger went into the back seat and held both doors open with his feet in an attempt to clear the smoke. The landing gear did not operate electrically and pilot tried to pump the gear down manually as the airplane approached th…

At about 1630 eastern time, a Cessna 172K made a forced landing in a field after losing engine power near Prestonsburg. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured, but the airplane was damaged. The pilots reported the engine began to run rough while in cruise flight and the oil pressure indication dropped to zero. Investigation revealed a 2-inch hole in top of the engine crankcase. The engine had accumulated about 2,400 hours of operation since its last overhaul, which was conducted in 1986. The oil had been changed two days prior to the accident as part of a 50-hour inspection….

At approximately 0730 central time, an amateur-built RV-4 crashed while maneuvering in fog near Homer, killing the pilot and passenger. The non-instrument-rated pilot took off from Homer Municipal Airport in conditions of fog, low ceilings and half-mile visibility for a cross-country flight. He made a right downwind departure and struck 30-foot trees in a nearby marsh….

At 1604 central time, a Piper PA-34-220T crashed following a loss of control while executing a go-around. The pilot and four passengers were killed. A witness said the pilot made two radio transmissions, initially reporting that he was 10 miles south of the airport, and a subsequent transmission that he was 5 miles south and would be landing at McAlester. There were no further radio communications from the pilot. The witness said the airplane was fast on the approach approximately halfway down the 5,602-foot runway 01 at an altitude of 5 to 10 feet. He also said the left propeller was not turning. When the pilot started a go-around, the airplane pitched up slightly, then rolled toward the de…

At about 1000 mountain time, a Cessna 170B ground looped and nosed over while practicing touch-and-go landings at an abandoned airstrip near Mobile. Neither the pilot nor passenger was injured. The Maricopa County Sheriffs Office received a call on the evening of the accident by a person who reported what appeared to be an abandoned airplane lying inverted on a dirt road. Sheriff personnel traced the airplane to the owner and the pilot confirmed that he had ground looped on this strip and collided with a dirt berm….

At approximately 1550 central time, a Rockwell 690B suffered the loss of the top portion of its rudder while in cruise flight at 16,000 feet near New Braunfels. The flight landed without further incident and none of the three aboard was injured. The plot reported that the gear-in-transit light was on for the duration of the flight but he continued the flight. While cruising on autopilot, the pilot noticed the ball was not centered. He adjusted the rudder trim and a couple of minutes later the airplane began violent shaking an yawing. The airplane rolled into a 70-degree left bank and pitched 10 to 15 degrees nose-down. He recovered the airplane and continued to his destination. During the de…

At about 1345 Alaska standard time, an amateur-built Kolb Fire Star II lost engine power and crashed into trees after takeoff from Birchwood Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said the airplane had been stored outside unused for two years. He made two successful touch-and-go landings, but the engine quit on the third takeoff at about 50 feet agl. An FAA inspector found both carburetor float bowls contained murky, silty and rust-colored fuel….