Preliminary Reports

At 1132 eastern time, a Beech S-35 struck terrain in cruise flight near Clear Spring, killing the pilot. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The pilot departed about 1000 and then returned because he could not maintain VFR. At 1121 he departed a second time. At 1126 he requested flight following from Washington Center and said he could not maintain VFR. The Center controller suggested he return to his origination point of Hagerstown Airport and file IFR. A tower controller at Hagerstown briefly saw the airplane cruising at 1000 feet msl in an area where terrain was about 700 feet msl. Witnesses near the crash site reported rain and dense fog. The p…

At 0906 eastern time, a Cessna 150H struck trees during a forced landing in Senoia. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight instructor said they were performing a simulated engine failure and had descended to 500 feet above the ground when the engine would not respond to attempts to increase power….

The following briefs were selected from the 184 preliminary reports filed with the NTSB in June 1999. Statements in quotes were taken directly from the NTSB documents. The information is subject to change as the investigations are completed. Click here to view “Accident Totals, June.”

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June 1, Little Rock, Ark.
McDonnell Douglas MD-82
American Airlines Flight 1420 crashed after landing at Little Rock. There were thunderstorms and heavy rain in the area at the time of the accident. The airplane departed the end of runway, went down an embankment and struck approach light structures. There was a crew of six and 139…

At about 14:21 EDT, a Piper Super Cub crashed shortly after takeoff from New Castle Airport and the pilot was seriously injured. A witness said the airplane departed the grass runway and climbed 100 feet when engine noise decreased as if the engine went to idle power. The pilot turned to avoid utility wires and the airplane crashed in a field adjacent to the airport. An inspector found that the mixture cable was separated and the nut that secured the cable into the mixture control was not recovered….

At approximately 16:50 PDT, a Cessna 172P made a forced landing in a field following a loss of power on climbout, seriously injuring the student pilot. The pilot was practicing touch-and-goes at the Auburn airport when, after the third touch-and-go, he noticed a reduction in RPM at 200 feet. During a test run after the accident, investigators could only get the engine to operate at a maximum of 1,700 to 1,800 RPM and it ran very rough. Compression tests showed no compression on the number 1 cylinder and the intake valve was found mechanically blocked open. Total time on the engine was 2,260 hours and it had not been overhauled since new. Recommended TBO on the engine is 2,000 hours….

At about 12:05 MDT, a Piper Cheyenne on a Part 135 passenger flight was damaged during a forced landing near Garden Valley, about 30 minutes after takeoff. The pilot and six passengers were uninjured, while a seventh passenger suffered minor injuries. The pilot reported that, while in cruise configuration, the low fuel pressure lights illuminated and the left engine began to surge. The pilot secured the left engine and executed a forced landing in a open field. Investigators found no fuel aboard the aircraft….

At about 20:10 EDT, a homebuilt Kolb Mark III crashed into Shenango River Lake. The unlicensed pilot and passenger were killed. The airplane had been kept at Brookfield Airpark, and more than a year had passed since the last annual inspection. The owner had removed the certificate of registration and airworthiness from the airplane. The owner also reported that the key to the airplane and the helmets used by the pilot and passenger were stolen from a locked garage. Witnesses saw the airplane fly under a bridge and continue to operate as low as 6 feet off the water. While maneuvering between two bridges that were about 3,400 feet apart, the airplane pulled up into a vertical climb to about 30…

At 10:42 MDT, a Pitts S-2B crashed 4 miles southeast of Steamboat Springs, killing the two occupants. The flight had originated at Steamboat Springs at approximately 10:15. Several witnesses said the pilot performed a hammerhead stall, and then the airplane entered a flat spin. One witness, who had seen the pilot perform this maneuver before, said the pilot began the maneuver way too low….

At about 10:40 Alaska daylight time, a Taylorcraft Sportsman was damaged and the pilot was injured after crashing about 16 miles from Anchorage. The pilot said he had landed at a remote strip along the Big Indian Creek and, after fishing, he departed the 1,000 foot long strip toward the west. At about 300 feet above the ground, the pilot realized he had failed to put on his headset. He turned and reached into the back of the airplane to retrieve the headset. During the process of retrieving the headset, the airplane descended wings level into the ground….

At about 18:10 EDT, a Boeing Stearman was damaged while landing at the Marston Mills Airport. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot, who was in the rear seat of the airplane, said the airplane suddenly nosed over when the plane touched down. After the accident, the passenger said he had his feet on the brakes. The pilot said he did not brief the passenger on the operation or use of the brakes prior to flight, and there was no means of communication while the airplane was in flight….