Preliminary Reports

At about 1645 eastern time, a Piper PA-28-200 crashed on takeoff from a private grass airstrip near Gettysburg. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The pilot said he landed at the 1,800-foot long grass airstrip and then discovered it was not his intended destination. He positioned the airplane to take off diagonally to take advantage of wind conditions, but the airplane stuck trees and a powerline at the end of the runway….

At about 2039 eastern time, a Piper PA-46-310P suffered a loss of control and in-flight breakup near Osteen, killing the pilot and two passengers. The pilot asked the Miami Center controller if he could deviate 12 miles west because he thought he could see a hole in the weather. The controller asked him to fly a heading of 170. The pilot said that heading would put him into weather he was trying to avoid. He was told to change frequencies and checked in on the new frequency. However, the airplane disappeared from radar on the next sweep. Radar showed a rapid descent from FL 260. Witnesses reported the airplane spiraling out of the clouds with one wing missing….

At about 2100 eastern time, a Piper PA-28 made a forced landing while losing power on approach to Hinde Airport. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight instructor said he told the student pilot to increase power while on short final, but the engine did not respond when the student pilot advanced the throttle. The airplane landed a half-mile short. The flight instructor secured the systems and noted the mag switch was already in the off position. The student could not remember if he had switched them off….

At 1238 pacific time, a Yakolev Yak 52 airplane crashed while maneuvering near Antioch, killing the pilot. Witnesses said the airplane was performing a loop when it struck the ground nose-low….

At about 1623 eastern time, a Mooney M20F was substantially damaged while landing at Hagerstown Regional Airport, leaving the pilot and passenger seriously injured. The pilot said the airplane touched down with about 1,000 feet of the 5,461-foot runway remaining. The pilot said he landed at about 80 miles per hour and thought he had enough runway on which to stop, but the airplane overran the ruway and struck a fence. It traveled about 800 feet past the end of runway 27. Wind at the time was from 170 at 8 knots….

At 2220 Pacific time, a Cessna 172N taxied into a concrete drainage ditch while attempting to enter the taxiway at the North Las Vegas Airport. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot said they had flown toward Red Rocks to watch the sunset, then returned to the airport. After landing he taxied clear of runway 7, thinking he was at taxiway C, but taxied into the drainage area. The pilot said he knew the landing light didnt work before he departed on the flight….

At approximately 0706 mountain time, a Cessna 182L struck trees while trying to land at Donnelly. The pilot was seriously injured and the flight instructor reported minor injuries. The pilot was a customer at a commercial mountain/canyon flying seminar, while the instructor said his role was as an observer on the flight. The instructor pilot said they were making a canyon approach to U84, which involved flying at 50 to 55 mph with full flaps and full nose-up trim. The airplanes operators manual give airplanes power-off stall speed as 55 mph and a short-field approach speed of 69 mph. At approximately 5 feet agl, the instructor told the pilot to add power, but the pilot didnt respond i…

At about 2124 mountain time, a Beech C35 broke up in flight about 20 miles south of Chambers, killing the pilot. The flight originated from near Albuquerque, New Mexico, approximately 1 hour earlier. The airplane was in VFR cruise westbound under flight following and had climbed to about 11,000 feet when the airplane deviated from its course and radar contact was lost. The pilot reported no problems. Part of the right wing and right ruddervator/stabilizer were located near the northern end of the 1,650-foot-long wreckage path, with the main wreckage located near the southern end….

At about 1100 Pacific time, two airplanes, a Beech S-35 and a Beech V-35A, crashed while maneuvering in loose formation near Ojai. Each of the airplanes carried three people, with all six being killed. The airplanes were involved in a group that routinely gathered on weekends for local flights. On the day of the accident, eight airplanes took part. The group formed up at 4,500 feet and flew around for about 25 minutes, at which point the lead instructed the formation to separate and follow in trail. The lead and the number two airplane stayed in formation, with the second airplane on the right wing. The rest of the airplanes followed in loose trail as the leader maneuvered in a serpentine ma…

At about 1143 mountain time, a Beech BE-76 overran runway 21R after aborting a touch-and-go takeoff at Love Field Airport. The flight instructor and private pilot were not injured. The flight had been making touch-and-go landings, and on the third one the students door popped open. He aborted the takeoff but was unable to stop the airplane on the runway. Both pilots said the airplane was at takeoff airspeed when the door opened….