Preliminary Reports

The instructor pilot reported the fuel quantity tube indicated tank of fuel, or about 11 gallons, during the preflight inspection. After approximately 30 minutes of flight, the engine stopped. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field, and the airplane nosed over during the landing roll. The fuel system was empty, and the engine ran when fuel was provided. The fuel quantity tube was “discolored” and there was a crease in the tube at the halfway point, making it appear there was tank of fuel.

At 0820 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged when its left main gear collapsed during landing. The private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot reported lowering the landing gear handle and heard the gear cycle down but could not recall if he saw green, gear-down indicator lights. While in the landing flare, he heard someone call “gear, gear, gear” on the radio, but it was too late for him to go around. The left main gear collapsed on touchdown and the airplane exited the side of the runway.

Prior to departing on a cross country, the private pilot remained in the traffic pattern for a touch-and-go landing. The airplane crossed 30 feet above the runway “numbers” at 67 to 68 knots. The pilot reduced engine power for the landing and the airplane stalled at approximately 7 to 10 feet above the runway. After experiencing a hard landing, the airplane bounced back into the air and the pilot elected to perform a go-around.

The airplane was substantially damaged at approximately 0540 following an intentional gear-up landing. Night visual conditions prevailed. The airline transport pilot and two crew members were not injured. While on final approach, the landing gear switch was selected “down” and the landing gear circuit breaker popped. The pilot initiated the “Emergency Landing Gear Would Not Extend Normally” checklist, but the landing gear did not extend. Despite troubleshooting the malfunction, the gear was confirmed in the retracted position by another pilot utilizing night vision goggles during a low approach.

At about 1329 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering. The commercial pilot and pilot-rated passenger were killed. Visual conditions prevailed. Witnesses reported three jet airplanes overflew the area on a westerly heading at about 500 feet agl. The accident airplane was observed trailing low and to the right of the other two airplanes, and was slightly oscillating to the left and right.

The airplane collided with the ground at about 0905 Eastern time, receiving substantial damage. Instrument conditions prevailed. The non-instrument rated private pilot was killed. The pilot did not file a flight plan or receive a weather briefing before departing on a VFR flight. A witness heard a small airplane northeast of his home. The engine was at a very high rpm and sounded like it was under “a lot of strain.” The engine noise lasted about three seconds, and then there was complete silence, followed by an impact sound which he attributed to thunder.

At about 1255 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed following impact with terrain. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Four witnesses observed the airplane performing aerobatic maneuvers for approximately 15 minutes at an altitude too high to make out details. They observed the airplane pull up vertically and perform a wing-over or roll-type maneuver.

The airplanes crew executed a forced landing at about 1000 Pacific time, following an in-flight fire. The flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. During flight review, they encountered smoke in the cockpit, which was originating in the area of the copilots rudder pedals. The pilots performed the emergency procedures for an electrical fire, which included shutting down the electrical system. The CFI attempted to clear the smoke by opening the window vents. The smoke seemed to subside, but did not stop. The pilots elected to momentarily energize the electrical system to lower the landing gear.

The student pilot and his instructor were returning to their home airport after night cross-country instructional fight. As they descended toward the airport, the airplanes wheels contacted terrain on a ridge about nine miles from the planned destination, and about 1650 feet higher than the airport elevation. Although the airplane initially rolled across the terrain at a high rate of speed, it soon contacted a road, resulting in loss of control and further contact with the terrain.

At about 1620 Pacific time, the airplane struck a building and crashed into a parking lot. The airline transport pilot, a pilot-rated passenger and a non-rated passenger were killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage by impact forces. Visual conditions prevailed.