Preliminary Reports

At about 1305 Pacific time, the airplane impacted terrain after shortly after takeoff. The private pilot was killed by the accident sequence and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The accident flight occurred in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

The solo airline transport pilot was landing on a gravel-covered airstrip. While on final approach, the airplane “encountered a sinker” and began to descend below his anticipated approach path. He added full engine power to stop the descent, but the airplane continued to descend, landing hard on the right side of the runway.

At about 2120 Eastern time, the airplane was ditched in the Gulf of Mexico following loss of engine power. The private pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane collided with terrain at an elevation of about 4300 feet msl at about 1141 Mountain time, killing the private pilot and passenger. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The nearest aviation weather reporting facility was about 27 miles northwest of the accident site, an elevation of 3652 feet msl. At 1153, the station reported an overcast ceiling at 1000 feet, with good visibility underneath.

At 0745 Hawaiian time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when its tail impacted the ground after a ramp agent opened the passenger door and boarded the airplane. The captain, first officer and eight passengers aboard the Part 135 passenger flight were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

At 1053 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured; visual conditions prevailed. After the pilot topped the fuel tanks and performed a normal preflight, the aircraft took off and conducted a local flight, during which the pilot performed a power-on stall at an altitude of 2500 feet. Shortly after recovery, the engine began to “sputter and run rough.” The pilot applied carburetor heat, maintained best-glide airspeed and flew toward the nearest airport.

After landing about 30 minutes after sunset, the pilot taxied off the runway onto a perpendicular taxiway and was instructed by the ground controller to “taxi to the ramp.” The pilot observed the FBO directly in front of him and proceeded straight ahead, exiting the taxiway and continuing down a grassy slope between the ramp and taxiway. During the excursion from the taxiway, the propeller and the tail of the airplane struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

At approximately 1755 Central time, the airplane sustained minor damage during an in-flight separation of the elevator trim cable following runaway activation of the electric trim system. The airplane was in visual conditions at approximately 6000 feet msl on an autopilot descent from an en route cruise at 19,000 feet. The solo pilot was not injured.

During the landing roll, with the tail wheel on the ground, the airplane veered to the left. To correct, the pilot applied right rudder and brake. The airplane immediately turned hard right; the pilot responded by applying left rudder and brake. Despite the pilots control inputs, the airplane continued veering to the right and the left main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the left wingtip contacted the ground, resulting in structural damage to the wing spar.

At about 1100 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial climb. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. At about 100 to 200 feet above ground, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a left 180-degree turn towards the runway and executed a forced landing.