Cessna172

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.

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.

The autopilot was inadvertently engaged while taxiing to the departure runway. The pilot and his passenger attempted to disengage the autopilot by depressing the “A/P” button on the units control panel, but eventually turned off the avionics master switch to completely power down the unit. After reestablishing power to the avionics, the autopilot appeared disengaged. The pilot then attempted a takeoff but the airplane “prematurely” became airborne during the takeoff roll.

The student pilot and flight instructor had conducted four takeoffs and landings during a dual instructional flight prior to the accident flight. The flight instructor stated that the landings “went really well” and he elected to endorse the student pilot for solo flight. The student pilot subsequently took off on his initial solo flight and flew a normal traffic pattern.

At 0648 Pacific time, the airplane impacted a residence shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot, passenger and three people on the ground were killed; three more people on the ground were seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. An automated weather observation taken eight miles north of the departure airport seven minutes after the accident reported calm winds, 2.5 miles visibility in mist and a 300-foot overcast.

The airplane impacted mountainous terrain at approximately 2130 Pacific time under unknown circumstances. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. Night visual conditions prevailed. According to ATC, the pilot was receiving flight following services in cruise at about 11,500 feet msl, then began descending at about 2107. Radar contact was lost shortly thereafter about 35 nm southwest of Reno. The last radio contact with the pilot was at approximately 2115. The wreckage was located about 0700 the next day at an elevation of approximately 8600 feet msl.

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power on takeoff at about 1725 Mountain time and made a forced landing in a field. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. This was the first flight of the aircraft that day. The airplane could not maintain altitude. During the landing, the airplanes wheels sank into mud and the airplane nosed over. The CFI stated the fuel tanks were full before takeoff, and carburetor heat was off during the takeoff and emergency landing.

At 1439 Pacific time the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees while maneuvering. The commercial pilot and two passengers were killed. Visual conditions prevailed. The left and right wing were found separated from the fuselage and were located within the approximate 200-foot wreckage debris path. All primary flight controls were located at the accident site.

The pilot said when he started his cross-country flight, 2.4 hours had been flown by the airplane since the fuel tanks had been topped off. His first leg was 1.1 hours; he landed and spent approximately 1.5 hours on the ground. He was approximately 1.1 hours into his return flight, turning base for landing, when the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing to a large parking lot and impacted the fence on its perimeter during the landing roll. The airplanes right wing lift strut was bent, and the right wings leading edge was wrinkled and bent. No fuel was found in the airplanes fuel tanks.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the paved runway surface and then struck a ditch. The nose landing was torn from the airplane resulting in damage to the firewall and forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was his first solo flight without an instructor aboard. Immediately prior to the accident flight the student and his instructor had performed a flight which included landing practice.