Preliminary Reports

At 1729 Eastern time, the airplane collided with a frozen river. The commercial pilot and passenger on board were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane picked up light rime ice during descent, breaking out at around 1700 feet MSL, or 900 feet AGL. The pilot was unable to see out of the forward windscreen so he had to look out the side window during the landing. As he neared the airport he attempted to add engine power, but was able to maintain only 17 inches of manifold pressure.

The airplane landed with its right main landing gear partially at about 1130 Pacific time. The commercial pilot and flight examiner were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. When the pilot extended the landing gear, he did not receive a down-and-locked indication, observing the right landing gear was partially extended.

The student pilot was conducting his first solo flight and had performed two uneventful stop and go landings. As the airplane accelerated during the third takeoff, it veered to the left. He applied right rudder; however, the airplane contacted a snow bank and nosed over, substantially damaging the airplane. The winds were calm and the ailerons were in a neutral position during the takeoff. He did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions

During a normal approach to landing, the pilot misjudged the height between the airplane and the runway during the flare. The airplane settled onto the runway hard. The airplane bounced, the pilot lowered the nose and the airplane entered a porpoise, followed by the propeller contacting the runway. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot said there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

At about 1205 Atlantic time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were killed. Instrument conditions prevailed for the Part 135 on-demand flight.

After performing a couple 360-degrees turns and slow flight, the pilot attempted a power-off stall. To prepare for the power-off stall, the pilot retarded the throttle and applied carburetor heat. During the recovery of the power-off stall, the pilot “rapidly” applied engine power, closed the carburetor heat, and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, however, the restart was unsuccessful. During the forced landing to a field, the pilot landed the airplane downwind, impacting crops and terrain. Examination revealed a buckled firewall.

At about 1635 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a series of touch-and-go landings. The sport pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later stated a “gust of wind” made the airplane feel as though it was “on marbles.” The pilot attempted to control the airplane and maintain runway alignment by utilizing aileron and rudder inputs, but when the “gust of wind” subsided, the airplane immediately went towards the edge of the runway.

The two airplanes collided in midair at about 1630 Eastern time. Both airplanes were being operated as instructional flights in the A-291B concentrated flight training area at the time of the accident and were substantially damaged. The flight instructor and private pilot aboard each were killed. Visual conditions prevailed.

The flight was at 13,500 feet overhead the airport, preparing for the skydivers to jump. The pilot turned on the green light to initiate the jump. He then felt the aircraft shudder, but did not lose control of it. After most of the jumpers had left the airplane, one of the skydivers came forward and notified the pilot of damage to the tail. After a controllability check, the pilot landed the airplane without further incident.

During takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane away from some large trees with rudder and aileron before the airplane touched down near the edge of the runway. The nose gear struck a runway light and broke off. The airplane then spun around approximately 180 degrees before coming to rest, facing north. The mixture control cable had come loose at the cable housing crimp, resulting in the loss of engine power.