Preliminary Reports

According to the flight instructor, the flight departed for a night cross-country with a student pilot in the left seat and a student pilot in the rear seat. After completing a full-stop landing, they taxied back to the runway to complete additional pattern work. As the student pilot began to rotate the airplane during takeoff roll, the flight instructor “saw an animal directly in front of the airplane on the centerline” and grabbed the flight controls in an effort to “miss the animal.”

The airplane impacted a horse stable in mountainous terrain at 1210 Pacific time. The private pilot and his two passengers were killed, and the airplane was severely fragmented and consumed by a post-impact fire. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Van Nuys, Calif., about 1200.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1545 Eastern time during a forced landing after total loss of engine power. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries and a passenger was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noted that the oil pressure gauge was below the green arc, and he elected to return. He then noted smoke in the cockpit, followed by a complete loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a highway, about 1000 feet south-southeast of Runway 5.

The airplane was destroyed when it collided with trees at 1435 Eastern time. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The accident airplane was flying in formation with another airplane when the accident pilot reported his “wings were fluttering and he was losing control of the airplane.” The other pilot observed the accident airplane in a slow, banking turn.

At approximately 1715 Eastern time, the glider was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the flight, which originated with a tow at about 1400. After using ridge and thermal lift to reach 14,000 feet, the pilot used the dive brakes “quite a few times” to maintain a 500-fpm descent. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and was maneuvering on the downwind leg when he experienced a strong lifting force.

At 1253 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged on impacting several birds. The pilot, co-pilot and three passengers were not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed. The pilot reported he was descending through about 4000 feet in IMC, when he saw a black flash, and heard and felt a “tremendous thud.” Both pilots reported there was no change in engine performance, pressurization or flight control feel. After assessing the damage the flight crew decided to return and landed uneventfully about 25 minutes later.

At approximately 1230 Central time, the airplane received minor damage after a runway excursion during landing. The pilot and co-pilot were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, the crew received a brake-fail warning soon after takeoff and continued to their destination. The crew conducted an straight-in instrument approach at the destination.

The airplane incurred substantial damage during a forced landing at about 1315 Eastern time following a partial loss of engine power. The flight instructor and private pilot received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. During initial climb the tachometer indicated 1900 and the airplane would not gain altitude. The flight instructor elected to land in a field, but the airplane collided with trees before impacting the ground.

At about 0930 Mountain time, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power while maneuvering and subsequently landed on a nearby highway. During the landing rollout, a vehicle collided with its left wing, causing substantial damage. Neither the solo pilot nor the vehicle operator were injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane came to rest with the landing gear retracted at about 1530 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed for the post-maintenance test flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage, but there were no injuries to the airline transport pilot or commercial copilot. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. As rotation was initiated at 100 knots, the airplane felt “a little soft” and the flight controls “felt funny.” The crew elected to abort the takeoff. The nose landing gear contacted the runway; the crew also heard a scraping sound from the aft fuselage contacting the runway.