Preliminary Reports

At 17:13 PDT, a Robinson R22 crashed into hilly terrain while maneuvering over the LaJolla Indian Reservation. The pilot and instructor were seriously injured. The flight originated from private property at an undetermined time and was destined for local area flight with landings on the Indian reservation. According to emergency responders, the pilot stated that, at the time of the accident, there was confusion regarding who was manipulating the flight controls….

At about 16:20 PST, Alaska Airlines Flight 261, a Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) MD-83 on a scheduled international passenger flight from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to San Francisco, Calif., crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Point Mugu. The two pilots, three flight attendants, 80 adult and child passengers, and three infant passengers were killed. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a search and rescue mission for 44 hours….

At about 16:12 EDT, a North American SNJ-5 on an IFR flight plan crashed into Beech Mountain while en route from Hickory, N.C., to Indianapolis. The two occupants were killed. The flight was level at 8,000 feet when radio and radar contact was lost. The flight was last observed on radar to make a left descending turn and was lost from radar at 5,000 feet, two miles north of the Elk River Airport. A witness said the engine was spitting and sputtering….

At about 12:45 EST, a Beech 35-P35 struck rising terrain about six miles from the departure airport in Dayton. IMC prevailed but no flight plan had been filed. The pilot, who did not hold an instrument rating, was killed. Witnesses said the Bonanza disappeared into the clouds almost immediately after takeoff. Another witness near the crash site said the weather was overcast and foggy, with mist and rain. Weather near the crash site was reported as ceiling 900 overcast, visibility 1.5 miles, temperature 50 F, dewpoint 46 F. The field elevation at the departure airport is 719 feet and the crash site elevation was 1,678 feet….

At 15:55 PST, a Piper PA-32R-301T lost electrical power and made a precautionary landing at the Harris Ranch airport, where the gear collapsed and the left wing impacted a runway light. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was cruising on autopilot at 10,500 feet when it suddenly pitched up and the pilot disengaged the autopilot. Simultaneously he heard crackling over the speaker, which was not selected on the audio panel, and controllers lost his transponder reply. The pilot shut down all electrical items and decided to make a precautionary landing. He conducted the emergency landing gear extension checklist and noted that his airspeed and power was consistent with what he historically a…

At 12:25 EST, a Piper PA-28-161 dragged its left wingtip and cartwheeled while trying to avoid a helicopter during a touch-and-go landing at Dekalb Peachtree Airport. The solo student pilot was killed. Witnesses said a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter passed the Warrior on short final, made a low approach down runway 2L and stopped at or just beyond the departure end of the runway. The Warrior was cleared for a touch and go on runway 2L and, upon taking off, banked 90 degrees left in what was apparently an attempt to avoid the helicopter….

At 15:30 CST, a Piper PA-23-250 was damaged during an emergency landing at Amery Municipal Airport. The pilot and two passengers on board the Part 135 flight were not injured. The flight was en route from Roseau, Minn., to Watertown, Wis., when the pilot reported icing and diverted to Amery….

At about 17:00 EST, an Ercoupe 415-C crashed during a forced landing at Griffiss Airpark. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot was shooting touch and goes when he inadvertently selected the mixture control to off instead of carburetor heat at 300 feet agl. The pilot realized the error, but elected to continue the approach without trying to restart the engine because of altitude remaining. The airplane then developed a high sink rate and the airplane impacted the runway approximately 10 degrees nose down at 50 knots….

At approximately 18:11 PST, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 overran runway 8 while landing at Burbank. The airplane traveled through a fence and came to rest on a highway outside the airport perimeter. Seven of the 142 aboard suffered minor injuries….

At about 08:50 PST, a Piper PA-32-300 lost power shortly after takeoff from Ukiah. The two occupants were not injured. The pilot said both fuel tanks were one inch from the top of the filler neck when the airplane departed Hayward, Calif., en route to Ukiah. He flew on the right tank on the first leg of the flight, and selected the right tank for takeoff on the return trip. He lost power at 500 feet after takeoff but did not switch fuel tanks. Inspection showed the fuel line to the engine was empty, the right fuel tank contained 12 ounces of fuel and the left fuel tank was filled to one inch below the filler neck….