Preliminary Reports

At 11:15 CST, a Cessna 182F crashed on initial climb during a glider tow operation, killing the pilot. The glider pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The glider pilot and passenger reported that the tow rope had been released when the tow plane began experiencing engine trouble. Investigators drained 30 oz. of water from the airplane wreckage, including 4.5 oz. from the carburetor bowl….

At 10:30 CST, a Cessna Skywagon was damaged during a hard landing following a loss of engine power near Granbury. The two occupants were not injured. The pilot and the passenger reported that during the preflight, the fuel tanks were dipped. The right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank contained 17 gallons. The fuel selector was positioned to the left tank for the flight. After 7 to 10 minutes of ground run and taxi time, the flight departed on runway 33 for the Granbury Municipal Airport for refueling. Approximately 2 to 3 minutes after takeoff, the engine started coughing, sputtering, and missing like it was not getting fuel. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the BOTH pos…

At about 07:10 PST, a passenger sustained a fractured hip on America West Airlines Flight 5 while en route from Tampa, Fla., to Las Vegas. The aircraft was in cruise flight at flight level 310 when it encountered light to moderate turbulence. The seat belt sign was illuminated and several announcements had been made for the passengers to remain seated with their seat belts fastened. A 70-year-old male passenger got up and began walking toward the aft lavatory. One cabin attendant told the passenger to return to his seat. The passenger, who has two artificial legs, ignored the cabin attendants instruction and continued to the aft galley area where he fell, fracturing his hip. The crew obtain…

At 09:00 CST, a Cessna 152 lost power and was damaged in a forced landing near Odessa. The instructor was not injured and the student reported minor injuries. The instructor was demonstrating emergency procedures. During a simulated loss of power, the engine actually did quit and the propeller stopped. The instructor took control of the airplane and attempted to re-start the engine, without success. He then conducted a forced landing, and on touchdown the nosewheel dug into rough terrain and resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. No mechanical problems with the engine were found and fuel was present in the fuel lines. The engine was test run after the accident without problems….

At 19:49 EST, a Cessna 172N crashed during an instrument approach to the Concord Regional Airport. The pilot received minor injuries and a passenger was seriously injured. Charlotte Approach provided radar vectors and ILS approach clearances for four missed approaches at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. After the four missed approaches, the flight was vectored to the Concord Regional Airport. The airplane collided with utility lines and trees approximately -mile northwest of the airport….

At 18:55 CST, a Cessna 414 crashed about 2 minutes after departure from the Monroe Regional Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and single passenger were seriously injured. Air Traffic Control data revealed that the airplane was cleared for takeoff from runway 04 at 18:53. The controller heard a noise and the ELT signal at 18:54:50. Two witnesses heard a rattling sound and saw a fire. The weather at the time was visibility of 1/4 statute mile in fog with a vertical visibility of 100 feet and calm winds….

At 12:16 CST, a Cessna 501 crashed in a hilly wooded area while in cruise flight near Umpire, Ark., killing the pilot. The flight had originated from the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport, Mena, Ark., approximately 12 minutes prior to the accident, en route to Texarkana, Ark. Investigators learned the aircraft had been purchased in November and flown to the Goodner Aviation facility at Mena for repainting. On the day of the accident, the Citations owner/pilot arrived at Mena to pick up the airplane from the paint shop. The takeoff appeared normal and all engine sounds were normal. Approximately 20 miles south of the airport, witnesses heard the airplane, to the east of their location, fl…

Between 20:16 and 21:24 PST, a Cessna 150J crashed while approaching the Mariposa-Yosemite Airport, killing the pilot. Dark night VMC prevailed. The flight originated from Atwater, Calif., about 26 miles from Mariposa. Between 20:10 and 20:15, another pilot departed the Mariposa Airport and later reported that he heard the accident pilot, whose voice he recognized, make several radio calls on the local Unicom frequency. The accident pilot reported that he was approaching the field for landing and transmitted again when he was entering the downwind leg and turning onto a left base leg for runway 26….

At approximately 14:25 CST, a Pietenpol Aircamper homebuilt airplane was substantially damaged when it struck a power line while maneuvering. The pilot was seriously injured. Witnesses said the airplane was maneuvering at low altitude. A nearby resident reported hearing the sound of the airplane engine flying near his residence. He said the sound of the engine stopped about the same time that his home lost electrical power. The resident went outside and observed that the single powerline servicing his home was down on the ground and the remains of the wood and fabric airplane had come to rest about 200 feet beyond the point where the wire was severed….

About 17:40 EST, a Eurocopter EC-135-P1 operating as a news helicopter for a local television station crashed into the Passaic River. The pilot and the camera operator received minor injuries. The flight used a radio call sign of Chopper 4. The flight had passed over the ILS localizer final approach course for Runway 22L at Newark when the pilot transmitted, May Day, May Day, Chopper 4 is… About 5 seconds later, the pilot transmitted, May Day, May Day, our engines are out, were going down. Another news helicopter followed Chopper 4, recorded the forced landing on video, and reported the helicopter was down in the river. The pilot received a head injury and had no direct memory of the…