AmericanGeneralAA-5

At about 0852 Central time, the airplane lost power during climbout and executed a forced landing next to a busy city thoroughfare. The airplane impacted trees and a light pole, but remained upright and came to rest in a grassy area next to the road. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot was fatally injured and the four passengers onboard were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The aircraft experienced a loss of engine throttle control at about 0955 Eastern time, resulting in a forced landing short of Runway 31 at the St. Augustine Airport. Visual conditions prevailed for the flight from Green Cove Springs, Fla., to St. Augustine. The airplane was substantially damaged; the Private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. On final approach, the pilot reported the throttle …was just loose in my hand (like it completely disconnected from the carburetor). Unable to increase power, he ditched the aircraft in a marsh short of the runway. The airplane flipped inverted during touchdown. The engine throttle control was found separated from the throttle control arm of…

At 1100 eastern time, an American General AG5B struck a parked Beechcraft A90 King Air after the pilot hand-propped the engine at Michael J. Smith Field. The pilot and passenger received no injuries. The pilot said attempts to start the airplane were unsuccessful due to a low battery. He primed the engine and opened the throttle approximately a quarter inch and instructed his passenger to hold the brakes while he spun the prop. After the engine started, the airplane began to move and the pilot attempted to board the airplane but failed….

About 11:10 EDT, an American AA-5 struck a tree after an inadvertent encounter with IMC. The two occupants were not injured. The pilot and his son were returning from Florida to New York and had stopped for the night in Staunton, Va., due to widespread IFR conditions. The pilot was instrument rated and the airplane was legal for IFR flight, but the pilot said that he had not planned on conducting IFR operations on this trip, and because of his limited IFR experience, he would only conduct VFR operations. He encountered turbulence along the route as he tried to stay VFR in a valley where the mountain tops on each side were obscured by clouds. The airplane entered the clouds and the severity o…