Preliminary Reports

At about 1750 Eastern time, the airplane collided with terrain. The private pilot and three passengers were killed, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. At 1745, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and an engine-compartment fire. Between 1745 and 1749, ATC offered an airport three miles closer to the airplane than the destination, but the pilot declined, adding that the smoke was dissipating. At 1750, the pilot advised ATC he was going to land on a highway. The pilot then reported the airplane was on fire; this was the last transmission from the airplane.

At about 2025 Central time, the airplane crashed into an unoccupied residence while executing a go-around. The airplane and the residence were destroyed in a post-crash fire and the solo pilot was fatally injured. Dark night visual conditions prevailed. The runway lights were inoperative following a recent lightning strike; the pilot was attempting to line up on the runway using the runway edge reflectors. A witness received an in-flight cellular telephone call from the pilot and parked his car with the headlamps illuminating the runway.

The airplane impacted terrain at about 0608 Central time following a takeoff into instrument meteorological conditions. The non-instrument-rated commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight departed without a flight plan but under an SVFR clearance. One witness observed the airplane taxi, take off and climb to about 100 feet agl. He stated the airplane appeared to be flying normally. The witness stated weather at the time was being reported by the AWOS as 300 feet overcast and five miles visibility. Another witness described fog at the airport at the time of departure. A witness who was about one mile from the impact site described heavy fog in the area when he left for work at 0550.

The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire when it hit trees and terrain at 1237 Eastern time. The solo instrument-rated commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot was conducting touch-and-go operations at an airport in Michigan before being issued an IFR clearance for a round-robin flight to the Traverse City Vortac at FL250. The pilot became unresponsive during the flight; the airplane was subsequently intercepted by National Guard F-16s who escorted the airplane until it crashed in a cornfield.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at about 0715 Eastern time, while maneuvering. The solo private pilot was killed. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilots wife, the pilot normally flew with a copilot, who was also a flight instructor. She stated the flights purpose was to practice takeoffs and landings.

The airplane was substantially damaged at 0830 Eastern time after losing lift during takeoff. The private pilot and a passenger received serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed at the time.According to the pilot, during takeoff, the airplane would not gain altitude and started clipping the tops of trees off the end of the runway. The pilot pulled back on the yoke and stalled the airplane. The airplane collided with an embankment and came to rest in a creek. The airplane impacted the creek in a near-vertical nose-down attitude.

At about 1010 Mountain time, the airplanes pilot executed a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The solo student pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing. Visual conditions prevailed. After a seventh touch-and-go, and on the upwind leg after reaching 400-500 feet agl, the engine quit. The student attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. During the forced landing onto a dirt field the outboard section of the left wing was damaged.

The pilot had just completed practice for his air show performance and was landing. The pilot stated he landed fast and while braking to make an intersection, the brakes became hot and the right brake began to fade. The airplane began to track to the left and the pilot steered the airplane between two taxi lights. The airplane impacted a taxiway sign, breaking the lower right inboard spar.

At about 1541 Mountain time, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising. The pilot diverted to the nearest airport but was forced to land in an open field. The airplane nosed over during rollout and was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he departed Boise with a total of 89 gallons of fuel. Upon landing in Pocatello, 57 gallons of fuel remained. Prior to departing for the return to Boise, he added 20 gallons of fuel to the airplane. Only about two gallons of fuel were found in the tanks.

The airplanes rotating propeller struck and injured a deplaning passenger at about 1138 Central time. The airplane received minor damage; the passenger was seriously injured and the pilot, who was the only other person remaining on board, was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses at the scene said the airplane had just returned from a flight where three parachutists had jumped from the airplane. The passenger had been aboard to observe the jump operations. The airplane was stationary on the taxiway with its engine operating when the passenger exited the right door, walked forward and was struck by the propeller.