PiperPacer

At about 1305 Pacific time, the airplane impacted terrain after shortly after takeoff. The private pilot was killed by the accident sequence and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The accident flight occurred in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

At 1053 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured; visual conditions prevailed. After the pilot topped the fuel tanks and performed a normal preflight, the aircraft took off and conducted a local flight, during which the pilot performed a power-on stall at an altitude of 2500 feet. Shortly after recovery, the engine began to “sputter and run rough.” The pilot applied carburetor heat, maintained best-glide airspeed and flew toward the nearest airport.

At about 1100 Pacific time, the airplane was destroyed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during initial climb. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. At about 100 to 200 feet above ground, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a left 180-degree turn towards the runway and executed a forced landing.

The flight instructor was giving the private pilot some training in tailwheel aircraft. The pilot taxied onto the runway, lined up on the centerline and applied power for takeoff. The takeoff roll was normal until the tail wheel lifted off and the nose turned left. The flight instructor said the pilot overcorrected to the right and then back to the left. The flight instructor then got on the controls with the pilot, and, as the aircraft turned right a second time, the turn progressed into a ground loop. Subsequently, the left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing was bent.

The airplane struck a radio tower guy wire and the ground at 1042 Central time. Instrument conditions prevailed. The five persons on board were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated at approximately 1035. A seven-strand steel guy-wire, supporting the 600-foot tower on its west side and located approximately 150 feet up from the towers base, was severed approximately 50 feet from where the wire was attached to the tower.

At about 1750 Eastern time, the airplane collided with terrain. The private pilot and three passengers were killed, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed. At 1745, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and an engine-compartment fire. Between 1745 and 1749, ATC offered an airport three miles closer to the airplane than the destination, but the pilot declined, adding that the smoke was dissipating. At 1750, the pilot advised ATC he was going to land on a highway. The pilot then reported the airplane was on fire; this was the last transmission from the airplane.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1845 Mountain time, following a forced landing and impact with a tractor-trailer after a reported loss of engine power. The private pilot, his two passengers, and the tractor-trailer driver were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Shortly after takeoff, while troubleshooting a landing gear retraction problem, the pilot noticed airspeed was decreasing “like the engine wasnt producing full power.” The pilot elected to land on an Interstate highway. The airplane impacted a tractor-trailer with its left wing, coming to rest in an upright position. There was no post-crash fire.

Thunderstorms were in the vicinity, but the pilot elected to continue the approach. During a turbulent encounter on short final, the airplane was turned 30 degrees to the right of runway heading and the nose was forced upward. The pilot regained control of the airplane and landed firmly on the runway surface. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, the left wing dug into the grass surface, cartwheeled and came to rest inverted. Witnesses observed the wind shift from a right quartering head wind to a right quartering tailwind while the airplane was on short final.

The airplanes crew executed a forced landing at about 1000 Pacific time, following an in-flight fire. The flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. During flight review, they encountered smoke in the cockpit, which was originating in the area of the copilots rudder pedals. The pilots performed the emergency procedures for an electrical fire, which included shutting down the electrical system. The CFI attempted to clear the smoke by opening the window vents. The smoke seemed to subside, but did not stop. The pilots elected to momentarily energize the electrical system to lower the landing gear.

The airplane was substantially damaged at 1421 Eastern time when it collided with the Mohawk River shortly after takeoff. Visual conditions prevailed. The flight instructor, student pilot and one passenger were killed. A witness watched the pilot make two approaches and decided to pay attention to the takeoff. “As he did his takeoff roll, he kind of ran out of runway.