June 1, 2005, Van Nuys, Calif.
Mooney M20C
At 2306 Pacific time, the airplane collided with mountainous terrain while executing an approach to the Van Nuys (Calif.) Airport. The Private pilot was the sole occupant and was fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed. Instrument conditions prevailed, but no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated in Santa Ana, Calif. After receiving a pop-up IFR clearance for the ILS approach to Runway 16R at Van Nuys, the airplane made a sudden diversion to the right, off the localizer course. He was then directed to climb to 5000 feet on a southerly heading. The pilot acknowledged the instructions, stating he had a problem and was climbing. The pilot made no further transmissions before radar contact was lost.
June 1, 2005, Willimantic, Conn.
Cessna 150G
The tailwheel-equipped airplane was substantially damaged while landing at the Windham Airport at about 1100 Eastern time. The Student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight. During the first landing attempt, the airplane bounced and touched down in a left crab. The pilot attempted to straighten the airplane; however, it departed the left side of the runway and struck a fence. Winds were from 140 degrees at three knots.
June 3, 2005 in Jeanerette, La.
Beech 95-B55
At approximately 0730 Central time the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during takeoff initial climb from the Le Maire Memorial Airport (2R1) near Jeanerette, La. The foreign-certificated Private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the 411-nm flight destined for Point Lookout, Mo. A witness heard the airplanes engines pop several times during pre-takeoff taxi operations before clearing up. At the south end of the runway, the witness heard the engine noise increase for five to ten minutes before the noise decreased. The airplane then taxied in three complete circles before lining up on the runway. The airplane then took off towards the north. Before reaching the end of the runway, the airplane turned east and the witness lost sight of it. Still able to hear the engines, the witness reported hearing a loud pow pow, then silence.
June 4, 2005, Rittman, Ohio
de Havilland DHC-6
The airplane was substantially damaged at 1830 Eastern time while landing. The Airline Transport pilot received serious injuries, and the second pilot, also a certificated Airline Transport pilot, received minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed for the local parachuting flight, which also involved an evaluation of the first pilot. Following a passenger drop, the pilots discussed single-engine operations. The first pilot subsequently reduced the right engines power to flight idle, and feathered the propeller. During the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane crossed over a fence near the runway threshold, and the first pilot pitched the airplane downward. The nose landing gear then contacted the runway hard, and the airplane began to bounce. After two bounces, the first pilot increased power on the left engine to full power, and pitched the airplane up. He then told the second pilot that he was going to abort the landing, and to reduce the flap setting to 10 degrees. The airplane continued to pitch up, yawed to the right, and stalled at an attitude about 25 feet above ground level.
June 5, 2005, Boerne, Texas
RV-6A Experimental
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.
June 7, 2005, Broomfield, Colo.
Beech S35 Bonanza
The airplane was substantially damaged at approximately 1725 Mountain time when it impacted terrain off the departure end of the runway. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot sustained minor injuries. Several witnesses reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane appeared to take off, settle back to the runway and then take off again. One witness stated that the pilot appeared to abort the takeoff. The aircraft departed the end of the runway, rolled down the embankment and nosed over, coming to rest 1287 feet from the departure end of the runway.
June 7, 2005, Clarendon, Texas
Cessna 208B Caravan
At approximately 1015 Central time the airplane landed in a field during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The Airline Transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the IFR positioning flight. According to the 7500-hour pilot, an unusual whining/hissing noise was heard from the engine at 6000 feet msl. As the airplane climbed through 8000 feet msl, the noise got louder and the inlet turbine temperature gauge fluctuated. Suddenly, a bang was heard and the engine quit. An in-flight restart was unsuccessful. The pilot then made an uneventful landing in a grass field. Examination revealed no structural damage to the airframe, however, molten metal was found inside the exhaust area of the engine.
June 7, 2005, Santa Ynez, Calif.
Cessna 172L
The airplane impacted the ramp area during an aborted landing attempt at about 1355 Pacific time, sustaining substantial damage. The Private pilot and two passengers were seriously injured; visual conditions prevailed. The airport manager witnessed the accident and later stated that, during the initial climb from Runway 26, at about 100 feet agl, the airplane began to pitch into a nose-high attitude. The airplanes nose then dropped into a nose-low configuration and impacted the ramp tie-down area just north of the runway. The pilot later reported that, while attempting to land, the airplane began to drift to the right and the nose pitched up. He opted to abort the landing and applied full power. The nose of the airplane continued to pitch up and the left wing stalled; the airplane dove toward the surface in a left, nose-low descent.
June 7, 2005, Wadsworth, Ohio
Piper PA-44-180 Seminole
At about 1230 Eastern time the airplane was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff. Neither the CFI nor the Student pilot were injured; visual conditions prevailed. The pilots were attempting a short-field takeoff, during which the CFI simulated an engine failure. The Student pilot reduced power on the good engine and began braking. The CFI then instructed the Student pilot to resume the takeoff. The Student advanced both throttles and attempted to rotate the airplane at an airspeed of 63 knots but it did not climb. The flight instructor then reduced the throttles and began braking. The airplane rolled off the end of the runway, through a ditch, and came to rest in a field.
June 7, 2005, Buckley, Wash.
Cessna 150G
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff from a private airstrip at about 1730 local time. The Commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he made an approach and full stop landing with the carburetor heat on. The pilot then taxied the airplane back to the end of the runway, completed a run up and departed. He noticed the airplane was not climbing normally, and at approximately 300 feet agl, the engine coughed twice and lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing on a school football field. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noticed a small puddle and dripping coming from the engine cowl. The pilot concluded this was probably ice melting out of the carburetor. The following morning, the pilot returned to the scene of the accident and started the engine, which fired right off and ran smoothly.
June 8, 2005, Aurora, Ore.
Micco MAC-145A
The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing at at approximately 1740 Pacific time. The Commercial pilot and his pilot certificated passenger were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed for the sales-demonstration flight. The pilot later reported that the passenger flew most of the flight to get used to the flight characteristics of the airplane. On their final landing, the passenger got the airplane into a high rate of descent on final. The pilot took control of the airplane, added power for a go-around, but impacted the runway hard, bouncing back into the air and continued the go-around. Once aloft, a witness on the ground reported by radio that the left main landing gear was damaged. During the landing sequence, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and subsequently folded the right main landing gear under the airplane.
June 8, 2005, Dulles, Va.
Saab 340A
At 2137 Eastern time, the airplane sustained minor damage during an emergency landing at the Washington Dulles International Airport. There were no injuries to the three crewmembers or 27 passengers. Visual conditions prevailed. According to the carrier, the flight crew observed a cockpit indication that the right main landing gear had not extended and locked while preparing to land. The flight crew subsequently performed an emergency landing on Runway 19L. During the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a grassy area off the left side of the runway.
June 9, 2005, Conroe, Texas
Beech 76 Duchess
The airplane was destroyed at 1541 Central time when it impacted a house in a residential area following a loss of control while performing a go-around. The CFI, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. A witness landing his airplane behind the accident airplane reported he heard the pilot report on the CTAF that he was on a single-engine approach to 14, with a simulated engine out. As the accident airplane was approximately 20 feet above the middle of the runway, he heard the pilot call out, Im going around. The witness then saw the accident airplane with its right wing nearly straight up; there were no emergency transmissions reported. The pilot then saw smoke coming from the area.
June 9, 2005, Telluride, Colo.
Piper PA-34-200T Seneca
At approximately 0930 Mountain time the airplane was destroyed when it impacted terrain 11 nm southwest of Telluride, Colo. Visual conditions prevailed for the scheduled domestic cargo flight; the Commercial pilot was fatally injured. Several witnesses fishing nearby heard an airplane fly over. Shortly thereafter, they heard a loud explosion and observed a rock slide, dust and plume of smoke. Due to rugged, unstable terrain and hazardous weather, recovery operations were suspended until conditions improve.
June 11, 2005, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Beech S35 Bonanza
At 0735 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a partial loss of power. Visual conditions prevailed; the Private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were uninjured. The pilot subsequently reported experiencing a partial power loss shortly after takeoff and was unable to maintain altitude. He performed a forced landing on a highway median approximately one mile south of the airport. Examination revealed that the landing gear were separated, the firewall was buckled and the propeller blades were bent.
June 12, 2005, Gloucester, Va.
Maxair Drifter Experimental
The homebuilt airplane was substantially damaged at 1930 Eastern time, when it impacted terrain; the Private pilot received fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. According to witnesses, the pilot flew over a large picnic at an altitude of about 200 feet. Several seconds later, the witnesses observed the tail section of the airplane wobble, and then break off. The airplane then pitched nose down and impacted the ground. Subsequent examination revealed corrosion in the tail boom attachment points, as well as in numerous other critical areas of the aircraft. The aircraft was equipped with floats, and was often operated in a salt-water environment.
June 12, 2005 in Geraldine, MT
Piper PA-25-260
At about 1130 Mountain time the airplane sustained substantial damage following an off-airport precautionary landing attempt during an aerial application flight. The Private pilot and sole occupant sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot subsequently reported that he was attempting to climb over a low ridge when the airplane encountered bad air and began to sink. The pilot stated he lowered the flaps and applied full power, however the airplane continued to sink and he elected to land the airplane in an effort to avoid approaching power lines. The airplane collided with terrain in a left-wing-low attitude, resulting in substantial damage.
June 13, 2005, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Douglas R4D-8
The airplane was destroyed at about 1550 Eastern time when it impacted a residential area following a loss of engine power after takeoff. Visual conditions prevailed. The two Airline Transport pilots and the passenger reported serious injuries; two persons on the ground reported minor injuries. The pilot later reported, as the landing gear was being retracted, he felt a slight hesitation and mild backfire from the left engine. He saw that the engines cowling was covered with oil. The crew attempted to secure the left engine, but its propeller never went into the feathered position. At that time, the decision was made to put the airplane down on a road.
