Preliminary Reports

At 1058 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged while returning to land following an engine failure. The airline transport pilot incurred minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, the airplane was based at a nearby airport. He had flown to the second airport to buy fuel and was on his way back to meet a passenger when the event began.

The airplane collided with a power line and impacted terrain about -mile short of the airport at about 1440 Pacific time. The airplane was substantially damaged. The solo private pilot was killed. Visual conditions prevailed. According to preliminary information, a piece of wire cable was found wrapped around the airplanes left main landing gear. The airplane came to rest in a field about 300 feet from the power line.

At approximately 0915 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged following a loss of power and subsequent forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed; the pilot and passenger were not injured. As the pilot turned the airplane from downwind to base, the engine stopped running. He made a successful off-field landing in a grass field approximately two miles from the airport. Shortly after landing, the engine began running again and the airplane started taxiing slowly.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1615 Eastern time during a forced landing after takeoff from a private airstrip. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Near the conclusion of the pre-flight inspection, a friend of the pilot stopped by, and they talked for about 20 minutes. During the conversation, fuel began running out of the right-wing fuel vent. After concluding the conversation, the pilot taxied the airplane to the end of the runway, performed a run-up and placed the fuel selector on the right main tank, in response to the venting fuel. The pilot did not note any abnormalities during the run-up.

During the preflight inspection, a small amount of hydraulic fluid was noticed by the trim wheel. In order to troubleshoot the problem, maintenance personnel removed the left front pilots seat and then reinstalled it when the problem was resolved. During the takeoff roll, after adding full power, the pilots seat abruptly slid to the full-back position, resulting in the airplane veering sharply to the left as the pilots feet left the rudder pedals. In an attempt to avoid hitting signage, the pilot lifted off, but then he heard something strike the airplane.

At 1206 Eastern time, the airplane was destroyed during an in-flight breakup. The commercial pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. A friend of the accident pilot, who is also a certificated aircraft mechanic, flew with the pilot in the accident airplane immediately prior to the accident flight and did not note any abnormalities with the performance of either the airplane or the pilot.

The airplane was destroyed at about 1945 Eastern time when it impacted water while maneuvering. The private pilot was fatally injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. A witness stated the pilot told her he was working on night recurrence training.

At about 1951 Mountain time, the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain following a loss of control. The private pilot and single passenger sustained fatal injuries. Night visual conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan was filed with Santa Fe, N.M., as the intended destination.

At about 0730 Eastern time, the airplane experienced a stuck throttle control and was substantially damaged during a subsequent forced landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and observer were not injured; the student pilot sustained a minor injury. The operator later reported the throttle was reduced to begin a descent, but could not be advanced by either the student or CFI when the flight was close to the target altitude. An emergency was declared with ATC, the airplane was trimmed to maintain best glide airspeed, and the flight proceeded to the nearest airport. While descending near the airport, the airplane clipped tree tops, then impacted soft ground and nosed over. The occupants broke a rear cabin window using the emergency egress hammer and exited the inverted airplane.

The airplane experienced an in-flight loss of control and crashed into a wooded area at about 1045 Central time. Instrument conditions prevailed. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire; the commercial pilot and two passengers died. The flight proceeded normally to the destination airport and, at approximately 1033, the pilot contacted the tower. After some vectoring and communications difficulty, a pause was noted and then grunting sounds were recorded on the frequency. The controller asked the pilot if he needed help and he responded, “I got it into a spin and I cant stop it.” Heavy breathing/grunting sounds were heard on the frequency. At 1044, the controller advised the pilot to climb immediately to 3000 feet. The pilot responded with unintelligible words.