Preliminary Reports

At about 1130 Pacific time, the airplane lost the majority of its left side cockpit door during cruise flight. Separated door components impacted and dented the airplanes left stabilator, causing minor damage. Visual conditions prevailed. Neither the flight instructor (CFI) nor the private pilot was injured. According to the CFI, the airplane was cruising in level flight at about 4000 feet MSL when the left door “popped open” minutes after the airplane entered an area of moderate clear air turbulence. The door separated from the airplane and the CFI took control of the airplane. Despite full power, level flight could not be maintained. The pilots were able to land without further mishap.

At 2257 Pacific time, the airplane was lost from radar while executing an instrument approach. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was over the Pacific Ocean at the time. Four days later, small portions of the airplanes structure were located on the beach about six miles north of the last radar hit. The commercial pilot and his passenger have not been found, and are assumed to have died in the accident.

The airplane collided with the water about 40 nm west of Ocean-side, Calif., at 1253 Pacific time and was destroyed. The solo private pilot is presumed to have sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted a lake at about 0845 Eastern time. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. The pilot did not possess an instrument rating. A weather observation taken about 26 nm from the accident site at 0900 included statute mile visibility and an overcast at 300 feet.

At about 0540 Mountain time, the airplane impacted terrain, fatally injuring the private pilot and passenger. The two regularly flew the route as commuters. Instrument conditions prevailed. A witness saw an airplane flying low in the vicinity of the departure airport at about 0530.

The airplane departed Brackett Field with two private pilots aboard, one of whom had an instrument rating. The flight requested and received an IFR clearance. Approximately three minutes later, the airplane impacted elevated terrain and was destroyed. The two pilots were killed.

After landing, the pilot taxied the airplane to the tiedown area. The pilot turned left, after the fuel pumps, and continued to taxi the airplane between a row of parked airplanes and the FBO building. The pilot stated he thought one of the parked airplanes was further back in the row, so he moved to the right; the airplanes right wing then impacted the buildings porch posts. No one was injured.

At about 1340 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged after its Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) was deployed shortly after takeoff. The solo private pilot was not injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan had been filed. As the airplane entered clouds, a cabin door “popped open” about two inches, which allowed water and cold air to enter the cockpit. The pilot said he became spatially disoriented and the airplanes attitude varied; however, he was able to stabilize the airplane and intended to return to the departure airport.

The student pilot was landing at the non-towered airport after a cross-country flight when he made a “short approach,” did not use any flaps and used an approach speed about 30 knots faster than normal. The student pilot said he didnt use his normal checklist procedure and that everything seemed to be going “too fast” when the airplane landed on the asphalt runway with the landing gear retracted.

At about 2125 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged following an engine fire on the runway. The flight instructor and student were not injured. Night visual conditions prevailed at the time. Upon coming to a stop on the runway after landing, the engine quit. The pilots contacted the tower to inform them of the situation.