Ohio

The airplane was destroyed when it collided with terrain shortly after departure. Two witnesses to the accident who saw the accident airplane lift off from the runway described the flight path as erratic in nature with random movement in all three axis, pitch, roll and yaw. The witnesses did not see the actual impact. Evidence shows that the upper half of the main entry clamshell door was not closed at impact. Radio transmissions from the accident airplane while in flight show a elevated voice level indicative of stress as the pic attempted to maintain control the airplane during pitch and roll excursions. The radio transmissions were unintelligible. The tower had cleared the aircraft to land on any runway. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

A company designated instructor and two f/o trainees were conducting a far 135 training flight. The third approach was terminated with a go-around initiated over the runway threshold at about 50 feet. After climbing to about 150 feet, the aircraft was observed to oscillate in yaw, followed by pitch, and then roll to the right. The aircraft impacted in a near-vertical descent attitude. The investigation revealed that the right engine was operating, but at reduced power. The left engine was at full power. There was no indication of aircraft system malfunction or failure. Company pilots indicated that the captain had a history of demeaning cockpit behavior and roughness with students. The f/o, was small in stature and had 100 hours of multi-engine time and no turboprop time. Company pilots reported the f/o trainee was consistently behind the aircraft in prior flights. Examination of the aircraft revealed the flaps in the retracted position contrary to aircraft handbook. Company pilots further indicated the captain had history of requiring low altitude 1-engine go arounds and delaying offers of assistance to students. All three crew members were killed.

The pilot departed Louisville, KY reportedly with a known oil leak in the right engine and was on the second leg of an on-demand air taxi cargo flight. About 14 minutes after entering Mansfield approach control airspace, the pilot requested and received an altitude change from 5,000 to 3,000 ft because he 'was picking up a lot of ice.' After entering Cleveland approach airspace he reported the right engine had failed and requested to return to Mansfield. The pilot was informed of Mansfield weather. He then indicated he wanted to try Cleveland, then reported he could not maintain altitude and wanted to go to Mansfield. The pilot was receiving vectors from Mansfield for an ASR approach to runway 23 and at about 1 1/2 miles from the threshold the pilot reported he was lowering the landing gear. The aircraft then disappeared from the radar scope. Investigation revealed improper weld repairs to the right engine case and separation of the number six cylinder from the case due to fatigue cracking in the through bolts and studs.

As near as can be determined, this was the pilot's second flight since obtaining his multi engine rating and third flight since obtaining his commercial pilot certificate from a designated p.e. The aircraft was observed to depart Lawrence County Airpark and upon reaching a point over the runway end, an engine started making a popping sound. The pilot radioed on unicom that he was having trouble with the aircraft. The aircraft climbed to an estimated 500 feet and a left turn away from the Ohio River and toward the hills was started. Witnesses observed aircraft porpoise in flight and said that at least once it sounded as if both engines quit momentarily then restarted. Then aircraft rolled into left bank and struck trees on ridgetop. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The flight departed and proceeded en route without incident. Radar and radio contact was maintained until the flight proceeded over Lake Erie. The flight did not arrive at its destination. The aircraft is presumed to have crashed in Lake Erie. One identifiable 3 feet x 4 feet section of floor panel was located. Two smaller pieces of wreckage were also found which may have been portions of C-FFLC.

The aircraft involved was experimentally configured with 4-bladed props and was on a test flight to determine handling characteristics following a throttle chop to idle power at 50 feet agl. This maneuver had been accomplished twice on the test flight without incident. On the third landing, the pilot later stated, that he retarded the throttles more briskly than on previous approaches. Observers on the plane and on the ground then saw a yaw and a wing drop. The right gear struck the runway first, followed by the left and nose gears. All three gear then sheared off. The aircraft slid to a stop off the runway 975 feet from initial impact. A postaccident teardown of the props revealed no preexisting misadjustments or abnormalities.

While on final approach to runway 09 the aircraft struck a 42 feet power pole with the right wing. The wing was torn from the aircraft. The aircraft landed inverted 400 feet east of the pole. The runway threshold lights are displaced 165 feet from the runway end for night operations. Reil lights are located at the runway end. A power line crosses the extended centerline 825 feet west of the runway end. Red obstruction lights mark the tops of the poles. On the night of the accident the obstruction lights were inoperative. Witnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to be flying lower than normal in the traffic pattern. Both occupants were killed.

Pilot requested fuel from fbo but failed to make it clear what type he wanted. The fbo personnel misunderstood the pilot's request and refueled the aircraft with 'Jet-A' instead of aviation grade gasoline. The pilot did not monitor the refueling process and failed to recognize the wrong fuel as stated on fuel receipt. The pilot did not realize the improper fuel on his preflight of the aircraft. The aircraft departed and shortly there after the pilot radioed that he was returning to the airport because of a serious problem. Witnesses near the accident site stated that the aircraft was in a left bank (about 45° bank angle) before impact in a densely wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

The pilot and three passengers took off at night on an over water flight to an island in Lake Erie to provide help to a heart patient. No flight plan was filed and no record of a weather briefing was found. Reportedly, after takeoff, the aircraft disappeared in a cloud or haze. Also after departing, sheriff's personnel received a radio call from the aircraft stating 'we are in it.' According to local residents, there was patchy fog in the area. When the aircraft did not arrive at its destination, a search was initiated. The plane was found in Lake Erie along the expected route of flight. The aircraft was intact, except the engine was loose from the firewall and there was major damage to the right, outer wing panel. No preimpact/mechanical malfunction/failure was found. About 45 miles west at Toledo, OH, the 2150 weather in part was: 1,500 feet overcast, visibility variable 1 to 2 miles with fog, temp 32°, dew point 31°, wind from 330° at 4 knots.

While turning from downwind to base leg, the aircraft was observed descending rapidly in a steep bank. Witnesses reported smoke was trailing from the aircraft. The aircraft crashed in an industrial area. An exam of the right engine revealed that the exhaust-to-turbo adapter, pn 641829, had fractured and separated. The fracture was a result of thermal fatigue and it had propagated across more than 95% of the area before final separation had occurred. Since an exam of the cowling and both engines showed no streaking heat or smoke patterns, the reported 'smoke' was attributed to exhaust gas. While there was a loss of power in the right engine, no other aircraft malfunctions were found that would have caused loss of control. All six occupants were killed.