Preliminary Reports

The airplane sustained a bird strike at about 0750 Mountain time while on approach to land. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained damage to the left front pilot windshield. Visual conditions prevailed for the Part 135 all-cargo flight. While in a descent at an altitude of 11,000 feet msl, a bird impacted the upper part of the captains windshield, breaking a football-size hole in it.

At about 1534 Eastern time,the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing while attempting to return to the departure airport. Day visual conditions. The two pilots and one additional crew member received minor injures. The captain subsequently reported that, during initial climb, he commanded the gear to be retracted. Shortly after the gear handle was placed in the “UP” position, he heard a loud “bang followed by three to four smaller bangs.”

At about 0830 Pacific time, the experimental helicopter collided with high tension wires and crashed, killing the commercial pilot and two passengers. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and the post-crash fire. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness flying behind the accident aircraft in another helicopter watched the PV-18 lift off from the airport and head southbound.

At about 1130 Central time, the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted the ground. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was in cruise flight at 9000 feet msl in an area of heavy rain when the pilot requested and received permission for a deviation around weather.

The airplane crashed into the Everglades north of Interstate 75 (I-75) at about 1843 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the solo private pilot was killed. The flight was cleared for takeoff at 1818, and the pilot activated his VFR flight plan at 1832. There was no record of any further contact with ATC. The airplane crashed at night in an area where the only ground reference lights were from vehicles travelling on I-75.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at about 1050 Eastern time, some ten minutes after takeoff. The non-instrument-rated private pilot/owner, and his 12-year-old son were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed. According to several witnesses, the pilot originally planned to depart on November 12, but poor weather caused him to delay his departure. The following day, the pilot again decided not to depart due to the weather.

At 1617 Pacific time, the airplane impacted a concrete wall and was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The solo pilot was killed. Visual conditions prevailed. According to local law enforcement, the airplane touched down on railroad tracks, bounced a couple of times and came to rest about 500 yards from the initial point of impact.

The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground at about 1745 Eastern time, while landing. The solo private pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from London, Ontario, Canada, at an undetermined time and was landing at the time of the accident.

The airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power in cruise flight and the pilot made an emergency landing on a highway at 1553 Mountain time. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage after departing the highway and impacting cacti prior to coming to rest upright. Visual conditions prevailed.

At about 1009 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and impact with terrain on final approach. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Following an engine ground run, the pilot and two passengers departed for a flight in the local traffic pattern. While airborne, ATC instructed the pilot to reduce speed to prevent overtaking a preceding aircraft.