Preliminary Reports

The airplane was substantially damaged after experiencing a loss of engine power and forced landing at about 2045 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot and one passenger had minor injuries. The pilot reported he was approaching his destination when the engine lost power and quit. Unable to reach the runway, he force-landed on a beach. The airplane struck a piling and came to rest in knee-deep water.

The airplane was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at about 1415 Eastern time. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After flying in for lunch, the pilot and his passenger attempted to depart. The airplane accelerated and lifted off the runway normally. However, the elevator control was “frozen” and could not be moved.

At about 1332 Eastern time, the vintage military jet crashed into the Hudson River following an in-flight loss of airplane control. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot was killed and the airplane received substantial damage. Witnesses reported the pilot flew over the airport and performed a rolling maneuver, described as a roll or a barrel roll. Following the rolling maneuver, the airplane remained in the traffic pattern and the pilot executed a second pass down the runway centerline, at low altitude and with the landing gear retracted.

At about 1430 Central time, the airplane sustained minor damage on contact with the runway when the landing gear was retracted during the initial landing roll. The pilot added power during the landing roll, climbed to lower the landing gear, and subsequently landed with it extended.

The airplane sustained minor damage at about 1330 Central time during an en route climb when its windshield cracked/shattered. Visual conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot descended and landed without further incident. The pilot, copilot and two passengers were uninjured.

At about 2027 Eastern time, a Piper PA-31-350 was substantially damaged while in cruise flight. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. About 30 minutes into the flight, while cruising at 7000 feet msl on autopilot, the airplanes nose pitched down slightly. The airplane then pitched up slightly, followed by a downward pitch event, resulting in a 200-foot altitude deviation. The pilot disengaged the autopilot, re-leveled the airplane at 7000 feet and re-engaged the autopilot.

The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power on approach for landing at about 1352 Pacific time. The pilot made a forced landing on a soft dirt field, and the airplane came to rest about 500 feet short of the runway. During rollout, the airplane collided with a fence, bending the right wing and lift strut. The airplane was substantially damaged, but the pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 1315 Central time, the airplane incurred minor damage during a landing overrun. The flight crew reported loss of a hydraulic system. The two airline transport pilots and one passenger were not injured. The local, post-maintenance maintenance test flight was conducted in visual conditions.

The airplane was substantially damaged at 0945 Central time when the right aileron departed in-flight. The airline transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the local post-maintenance flight. During a climb to 18,000 feet msl, the right aileron departed the airplane. The pilot reported the airplane was “very controllable” and landed without further incident.

The airplane sustained substantial damage at approximately 1630 Eastern time when it impacted terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.