Preliminary Reports

At about 1030 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. There were no reported witnesses to the accident.

The airplane collided with a vehicle at about 1500 Eastern time during takeoff. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and lone passenger in the airplane were not injured; the two vehicle occupants were killed.

At about 0850 Pacific time, the airplane veered off the runway and collided with terrain during takeoff. The commercial pilot/flight instructor and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it veered to the right and departed the runway during takeoff. The airplane hit a berm, temporarily became airborne and then landed hard.

At about 1115 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The solo commercial pilot received no injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff at approximately 20 feet above the runway, the left engine began to “run rough.” He then attempted to land the airplane on the remaining portion of the turf runway, landed hard, collapsing the nose and right main landing gear and damaging the right wing.

At about 1457 Mountain time, the airplane sustained minor damage while taxiing. The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. After landing and while taxiing back to the ramp, the student pilot and instructor observed an MD-80 airplane holding short of a runway. As they slowed the airplane to hold short of the MD-80 due to possible jet blast, it powered up to taxi onto the runway. Subsequently, the airplane tipped over onto its right wing and sustained minor damage.

At about 0942 Mountain time the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control on initial climb. The private pilot and single passenger were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed. As line personnel arrived to pull and fuel the airplane, the pilot was removing baggage from inside the airplane and placing it in the hangar. Once the airplane was pulled outside, the pilot performed a walk-around inspection before he and the passenger boarded the airplane. The line personnel reported “heavy” snowfall from the time the airplane was pulled from the hangar until it departed saw an accumulation of “wet snow” on the airplanes wings.

The airplane departed the runway during takeoff at about 1215 Pacific time and collided with two parked airplanes and a hangar. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, who later stated he had 45 hours in multiengine airplanes but did not possess a multiengine rating, once the airplane climbed to approximately 20 feet AGL it began to bank right. It subsequently collided with a parked Navion and a Cessna 182.

At approximately 1530 Eastern time, USAirways flight 1549 incurred multiple bird strikes during initial climb, lost thrust to its engines and ditched in the Hudson River. Visual conditions prevailed. To date, of the five crewmembers, and 150 passengers on board, one serious injury has been reported. A total of 26 people were transported to hospitals, including two emergency response personnel. A final injury count is still to be determined.

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain at approximately 0655 Mountain time. Instrument conditions prevailed. A post-impact fire ensued; the pilot and two pilot-certificated passengers were fatally injured. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the accident airplane flying low to the ground and as it crossed a highway.

At 1858 local time the airplane was substantially damaged after departing the side of the runway. The solo private pilot was not injured although the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later stated he positioned the gear handle in the “down” position, but the three position lights did not activate, so the pilot radioed the control tower and requested an visual inspection of the landing gear. After performing a low approach, tower personnel responded the landing gear appeared to be down. After touchdown, the gear collapsed, the pilot lost control of the airplane and it exited the runway.