PiperPacer

The airplane was lost from radio and radar contact at about 1825 Mountain time during an on-demand cargo flight operated under FAR Part 135. Instrument conditions prevailed and an IFR clearance had been received. The solo commercial pilot received fatal injuries.The flight was cleared to be at 10,000 feet msl 40 miles from PHX, its destination. Shortly after the airplane reached the assigned altitude, the pilot requested but was denied a lower altitude due to ATC minimum vectoring altitude limitations. Radio and radar contact was lost soon thereafter.

The airplane was substantially damaged at 1330 Eastern time during impact with trees and terrain following a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The aircraft was cruising at 7500 feet msl when the engine began to “surge,” then stopped producing power. An engine restart attempt was unsuccessful and the pilot selected a forced landing area in a clearing, but the airplane entered trees prior to the clearing and came to rest upright in flat, heavily wooded terrain. Preliminary examination of the engine revealed metal particles in the oil filter.

At about 1140 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing into the Gulf of Mexico. The private pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. While en route to St. Petersburg, Fla., from Knoxville, Tenn., the pilot maneuvered the airplane around several thunderstorms before the engine began to run rough and lost partial power over the Gulf of Mexico.

The airplane was substantially damaged when its nose landing gear collapsed on landing. The CFI, a private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the CFI, the airplane was released from maintenance for a faulty nosegear indicator light the day before. While practicing ILS approaches, the nosegear indicator light did not indicate down and locked. However, the flight instructor observed the nose gear was extended.

The pilot had just acquired the airplane and was flying his first cross-country flight in it. He was not monitoring fuel quantity in the left and right fuel tanks, because he thought the fuel selector had a both selection only. However, the fuel selector was positioned to the left tank for the entire trip. On short final at his destination, the airplane’s engine lost power due to fuel starvation. The pilot performed a forced landing, which bent and wrinkled the fuselage and wings. The pilot had logged about 150 hours; five were in the accident make and model.

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1015 Eastern time following loss of engine power and collision with terrain. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane was substantially damaged during landing at about 1600 Central time. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. During landing gear extension, the pilot noted a flickering right main landing gear light. Subsequently, the pilot received visual report from others who indicated his landing gear appeared down and locked. During the landing rollout, the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane departed the right side of runway, resulting in buckling of the fuselage and penetration of the firewall by the engine mounts.

At approximately 1455 Central time, the airplane sustained substantial damage when its nose landing gear collapsed during landing. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.As the airplane touched down on the runway, the pilot held the yoke back and allowed the nose landing gear to “ease down.” As the nose landing gear contacted the runway, the pilot heard the sound of a “squealing tire.” The airplane veered to the right, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane exited the right side of the runway, where it came to rest in the grass. Preliminary examination revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and left wing. Tire skid marks on the runway were consistent with the nose landing gear tire contacting the runway at an approximate 90-degree angle to the airplane’s longitudinal axis.

At about 1400 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing at the McEntire Joint National Guard Base (MMT). The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Approximately 25 minutes after takeoff, the engine began to run rough. The pilot reduced power, but engine roughness increased and oil pressure dropped to zero. While attempting to divert to one airport, the pilot saw MMT and decided to divert to it and land on Runway 32.

The airplane was landed in a field at about 1830 Mountain time following loss of engine power. The student pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. After reaching cruise altitude, the pilot observed a decrease in engine oil pressure. He diverted and a few minutes later, the engine speed began to decrease, with an accompanying engine vibration. The engine eventually lost all power, and the propeller stopped rotating.