Van's

At about 1130 Pacific time, the airplane collided with terrain while maneuvering for landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The aircraft was substantially damaged; the Private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. Witnesses reported the aircraft was at about 300 feet agl in the pattern for landing and close to the runway during the downwind leg. The airplane then made a steep banking 180-degree left turn to final when it descended left wing low, colliding with trees and the terrain about 200 yards short of the runway. Witnesses reported hearing the engine during the entire maneuver….

At approximately 1300 Central time the airplane sustained substantial damage during a hard landing. The Private pilot and sole occupant of the airplane received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. During the hard landing, the airplane lost its main landing gear. As a result, the airplane departed off the side of the runway and flipped over, coming to rest in the inverted position….

At about 1915 Eastern time, the Experimental airplane lost engine power while in cruise flight, and was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The Private pilot was not injured; visual conditions prevailed. The pilot reported that the airplane was descending through 2000 feet at 160 knots when the engine lost power. He turned toward a nearby airport, switched fuel tanks, placed the mixture control to full rich, and confirmed that the fuel boost pump was in the on position. The airplane continued to descend and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a ditch and flipped over….

At about 1045 eastern time, a homebuilt Preiss Vans RV-9A was substantially damaged after a loss of control on landing. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger received minor injuries. The pilot stated that as he landed, he realized that he had inadvertently lined up on the shorter runway, that he was too fast, and that he had forgotten to lower the flaps. After his first contact with the turf runway he lowered the flaps. The airplane porpoised and on the fourth touchdown the propeller hit the ground and the airplane nosed over. The pilot remarked that the 1,725-foot runway would have been long enough if he had slowed down sufficiently prior to landing….

At 1250 central time, an amateur-built Vans RV-8 suffered a loss of control and crashed near Van, Texas. The pilot and passenger were killed. The airplane was one of four airplanes that departed as a formation flight from Gilmer Municipal Airport. Prior to departure, the lead pilot obtained weather and discussed formation procedures with the other pilots, including lost sight procedures. The accident airplane flew in the number two slot, 45 degrees behind the left wing of the lead airplane. The remaining two airplanes were to the right of the lead. The formation flight encountered unexpected clouds, which they elected to climb to avoid. During the climb, the visibility deteriorated and the f…

At approximately 1400 mountain time, a Vans RV-4 suffered a propeller failure during cruise flight and was damaged in the resulting forced landing. The pilot was seriously injured. The pilot said he was cruising at 8,500 feet when the airplane began to shake violently. He shut down the engine and, when the propeller stopped, noticed the trailing edge of one blade was split longitudinally and had separated from the hub. During the landing, the airplane struck trees….

At 1130 eastern time, an amateur-built RV-6A flipped over during an aborted takeoff from Malcolm McKinnon Airport. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The pilot said the right control stick was secured with the passenger seat belt, acting as a gust lock. He took off without removing the belt from the stick….

At approximately 1425 Pacific time, an amateur-built Vans RV-8 lost engine power in the pattern at Grants Pass Airport and struck trees, killing the pilot. The airplane, which had not flown in about a year, had taken off about five minutes earlier. The airport operations director said the pilot/owner was preparing the airplane for sale. The airplane was on downwind when the pilot reported he was having engine problems. However, the pilot extended his downwind well past the approach end of the runway, then turned back toward the airport and crashed a half-mile short of the runway….

At 1130 mountain time, an amateur-built Vans RV-6A lost engine power on initial climb from Fort Collins Downtown Airpark and crashed. The pilot and passenger were killed. Witnesses reported the airplane had just taken off and was climbing to the east when they heard the engine stop. The witnesses said the airplane turned toward the airport, departed controlled flight and crashed near the southeast corner of the airport….

At about 1655 eastern time, a homebuilt RV-6A crashed approximately 715 feet from the approach end of runway 31 after losing engine power during a practice instrument approach. The pilot suffered minor injuries. The pilot said he had switched tanks about an hour into his flight, and about 15 minutes after switching tanks the engine lost partial power. He applied more throttle and initiated the instrument approach. During his prelanding checklist, he turned on the auxiliary pump, applied carb heat and reduced power. The engine then quit smoothly as if the mixture had been pulled. He tried to restart the engine unsuccessfully. When he realized he would be unable to make the runway, he lowered…