Preliminary Reports

At 12:01 CST, a Cessna 172P collided with a Cessna 172M during touchdown at Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport. The pilot of the 172P stated that he had made a call on the common traffic advisory frequency and did not hear any other traffic in the area. A witness stated that he saw the 172P overtake and land on top of the 172M, which had completed its touchdown on runway 23….

At 15:15 EST, the pilot of a Piper PA-32RT-300 was killed when the plane struck trees during cruise flight. The airplane had departed McCullum Airport, in Marietta, Ga., at 14:30. According to a witness, the airplane was observed flying very low toward the Cartersville Airport. She stated that she heard the engine quit, and observed the airplane nose down and crash into the trees. Witnesses at the Cartersville Airport stated that the accident aircraft never made a transmission on Cartersvilles Unicom frequency….

At approximately 11:30 CST, a Cessna 182 lost power while climbing near Umpire. The pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Mena, Ark., at 11:15 and was en route to Lafayette, La. The pilot reported that, about 15 minutes after takeoff from the Mena Airport, he felt slight vibrations and a noise which became increasingly louder. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and the pilot maneuvered the airplane over wooded, hilly terrain toward an open field. The airplane struck power lines with the nose gear and the pilot landed in the field. The nose gear collapsed, causing the forward fuselage and firewall to buckle. Preliminary examination of the engine by a FAA airworthiness inspe…

At 11:15 EST, a Pitts S-2B and a Cessna 152 collided on runway 22 at the Easton/Newnam Field Airport. The two occupants of the Pitts were not injured; the two aboard the Cessna reported minor injuries. The Cessna had landed on runway 22 when the Pitts collided with it from behind. A witness who was monitoring the Unicom frequency reported that she heard the Cessna, but she did not recall hearing the Pitts. Another witness, a flight instructor with a student in the pattern behind the Pitts, said that there were several airplanes in the pattern. He heard the Cessna report turning base to final, but he does not recall hearing the Pitts make a radio transmission….

At 13:18 PST, a Grumman Gulfstream II was substantially damaged when it overran runway 16R after landing. The two pilots, flight attendant and sole passenger were not injured. Three parked and unoccupied aircraft were destroyed, one sustained substantial damage and another minor damage when the Gulfstream traveled into a tie down area. The GII departed Westhampton Beach, N.Y., at 09:57 EST on a Part 135 flight with eight passengers aboard. That flight terminated in Montrose, Colo., and seven passengers deplaned. The passenger told investigators the approach was steeper than any he had previously encountered and the speed was very, very, very fast. He pressed his feet into the seat back in…

At 18:40 EST, an Aerospatiale ATR-42 operating as an American Eagle flight was damaged during landing on runway 28 at Cherry Capital Airport. No one was injured. The flight originated at Chicago OHare International Airport and was landing at Cherry Capital Airport when it apparently struck several runway lights after departing the left side of the snow-covered runway….

About 17:45 PST, a Beech 95-B55 hit mountains near Coalinga, killing the two occupants. No flight plan was filed and local area residents reported IMC with rain and wind existed near the accident site. The flight originated at Sacramento an hour earlier and was destined for Fullerton when the aircraft was lost from radio and radar coverage at 14,500 feet msl, about 20 miles southeast of the Panoche VOR. Search efforts were initiated and the wreckage was found the next day near Santa Rita Peak about 3,500 feet msl. The pilot had obtained a weather briefing that indicated VFR flight was not recommended. Airmets for turbulence and mountain obscuration were in effect for the area with pilot repo…

At 08:15 MST, an experimental Vari-Eze on its maiden flight collided with a mesquite tree during a forced landing attempt in the desert just east of Ryan Field. The pilot/builder was killed and the aircraft was destroyed by the crash and fire. The pilot had just departed when he contacted the control tower and told them that he had a problem and that he had to put it down here. Air traffic controllers said the aircraft did not appear to gain much altitude, only climbing about 100 feet….

At 16:52 PST, a Cessna 172N made an emergency landing at the El Monte airport after experiencing an in-flight cockpit fire. The aircraft was destroyed in the subsequent ground fire. The pilot was not injured; a passenger and airport employee were treated for smoke inhalation. The flight was a traffic aerial observation flight for a local radio station and originated at the Van Nuys airport. The pilot said the airplane was over a traffic accident about -mile from the El Monte Airport. The pilot was in the right seat and the reporter was in the left seat. The reporter switched the left door post-mounted map light to the on position, and a pop noise was heard. Almost immediately, flames sh…

At 15:45 PST, a Piper PA-28-180 porpoised during landing on runway 26 and suffered substantial damage. The two occupants were not injured. A witness told investigators that the aircraft came in to land and flared approximately 10 feet above the runway and stalled. The pilot said that he did not have rudder control after landing and veered off the side of the runway. The inspector found that the rudder bellcrank was not attached….