Preliminary Reports

September 15, 2010, Inverness, Fla., Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II

At about 1500 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its nose landing gear collapsed while landing. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Following an uneventful takeoff, the pilot performed the before-landing checklist while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. After verifying normal indications, he employed a short-field landing technique.

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September 18, 2010, Denton, Texas, Cessna 320

The airplane was substantially damaged at approximately 1230 Central time when the nosegear folded on landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Preliminary information indicates the pilot lowered the landing gear but did not get a gear-down-and-locked light. When viewed through the mirrors on the engine nacelles, it appeared the nose landing gear was not fully extended.

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September 19, 2010, Dublin, Ga., Navion G

At about 1325 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field, following a loss of engine power in cruise flight. The airline transport pilot incurred minor injuries but the passenger was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the IFR cross-country flight.

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September 19, 2010, South Bimini, Bahamas, Piper PA-31-350

The airplane was on initial climb-out at 1440 Eastern time when the lower half of the main cabin door came open. The pilot reversed course and returned to the departure airport. The right main tire blew out on the landing roll. The airplane went off the right side of the runway, struck a tree, caught fire and came to a complete stop. Visual conditions prevailed.

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September 21, 2010, Visalia, Calif., Mooney M20C

At about 0940 Pacific time, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power seconds after taking off. The pilot reversed course and made a forced landing back at the airport. The airplane touched down hard and came to rest with a collapsed nose gear and a broken wing. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

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September 24, 2010, Chatsworth, Ga., Cessna 172

At 2249 Eastern time, the airplane collided with a tree and the ground during a forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The flight instructor and private pilot located in the left front seat were killed. The rear seat passenger received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage.

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September 2, 2010, Redwood City, Calif., Beech 65 Queenair

The airplane impacted a salt-water lagoon at about 1158 Pacific time, shortly after takeoff. The airline transport pilot, the pilot-rated airplane owner and the passenger were killed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. After takeoff, the airplane appeared to climb normally and was about mile beyond the runway when a “slight right rudder turn” was observed, followed by a correction. Three to four seconds later, the airplane rolled and turned to the right, descending steeply into the water.

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September 3, 2010, Tuluksak, Alaska, Cessna 207A

At about 1830 Alaska time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees while taking off on an on-demand passenger flight under FAR Part 135. The commercial pilot received serious injuries and the two passengers received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

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September 6, 2010, Las Vegas, Nev., Piper PA-32RT-300

At about 0815 Pacific time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree and light pole shortly after takeoff. The private pilot was killed and his three passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. A tower controller noted the airplane remained on the runway until just after the 4000-foot point and did not appear to be climbing. The controller cleared the flight for a left turnout to clear rising terrain, and asked the pilot if he was making a left downwind departure.

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Pilot in aircraft
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