Preliminary Reports

At about 0900 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a touch-and-go landing. The solo private pilot received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.During the descent for landing, the pilot enrichened the mixture and entered the traffic pattern for a touch-and-go landing. After the touchdown, he retracted the flaps, added power and lifted off. The airplane was under-performing on climbout, so he enrichened the mixture, which did not rectify the problem, and he heard the engine make “popping” sounds.

The airplane was destroyed following a collision with terrain about 2146 Eastern time. The private pilot was fatally injured. Night instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Winchester, Va., at about 1956. About an hour before the accident, the pilot requested an ILS approach at Lynchburg, Va. (LYH). He was provided vectors to the ILS final approach course and handed off to the LYH tower. He executed a missed approach, citing problems with his engine monitoring system.

At 1545 Eastern time, the airplane incurred substantial damage to its fuselage after the nosegear collapsed during landing rollout. The flight instructor (CFI) and his student were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The CFI later reported a loud “bang” was heard while retracting the landing gear after takeoff. The gear-up light illuminated, indicating the landing gear was retracted and the doors were closed.

At about 1535 Atlantic time, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power and force-landed on a closed airfield. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 0934 Mountain time when it impacted terrain during takeoff. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot, co-pilot and two technical crewmembers were fatally injured. The airplane was operating as an experimental during certification flight tests and was performing a takeoff with a simulated engine failure to determine take-off distance requirements at minimum flap setting.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings during a precautionary landing at 1820 Central time following a partial loss of engine power during climb to cruise. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed; an instrument flight plan was filed to New Orleans, La. The flight originated from Memphis, Tenn., at 1720.

At 1756 Central time, the helicopter was force-landed during a post-maintenance test flight. Day visual conditions prevailed. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom section just aft of the cabin.According to the pilot, the engine governor was replaced earlier in the day and the test flight was to confirm proper inflight settings.

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain at about 1317 Pacific time. The solo private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later reported delaying his takeoff until the windsock indicated favorable winds. The pilot stated the initial climb appeared to be normal until about 200 to 300 feet agl when the airplane suddenly began to lose altitude.

At approximately 1345 Eastern time, the Canada-registered airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a wooded area. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and the private pilot-rated passenger was killed. Instrument conditions prevailed and the flight was operating under an IFR clearance. An Airmet existed for light-to-moderate icing below 14,000 feet and, at the pilots request, the aircraft was issued vectors around mountainous terrain in an attempt to remain below icing conditions.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1140 Eastern time when it impacted terrain while on approach. The commercial pilot and a pilot-rated mechanic aboard were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the local post-maintenance test flight. According to witnesses, the accident flight was the first flight after both of the airplanes engines were replaced.