Cessna 340

After departing San Jose, CA, the pilot climbed to an altitude of 4,600 feet msl and proceeded toward Novato, CA. From 1528 to 1533 PST, radar data showed that the aircraft was level at 4,600 feet on a heading of 330° at 180 FTS ground speed. Radar info showed that the aircraft then entered a descent. During a 24 seconds period, the aircraft descended to an altitude of 4,100 feet msl and its heading changed 10° to the right. The last radar position, 12 seconds later, revealed an additional heading change of 150° to the right, accompanied by a descent to 2,300 (9000 from descent). Witnesses saw the aircraft descending at high speed in a right turn with the engines at high power. Just prior to impact, the right bank angle and nose low attitude increased. The aircraft crashed in a steep nose down, right wing low, attitude. No preimpact, mechanical malfunction or failure was found. No autopsy was made, only a gross exam of the pilot's fragmented body was possible. Before departing San Jose, the pilot had remarked that he was bothered by a bad cold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Following a missed approach to Aurora-Sugar Grove Airport, the twin engine airplane descended in a left turn, causing the left wing to struck the ground first. The aircraft broke up and caught fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. No malfunctions found.

After takeoff, the pilot was cleared to proceed on an IFR flight plan. After being cleared to 15,000 ft msl, he reported having trouble maintaining his airspeed and subsequently declared an emergency. Shortly after that, radar contact was lost. The aircraft impacted at night near the top of a mountain ridge at about 4,700 ft msl. The wreckage was demolished and scattered over a large area, but there was no evidence of an inflight breakup. Some parts of the wreckage (including the right engine) were not found on the snow covered terrain. The weather forecast called for: thunderstorms in lines, mountains obscured, moderate and occasionally severe turbulence below 20,000 ft, occasional moderate icing in clouds and in precipitation from the freezing level (3,000 ft) to 20,000 ft. The aircraft was not certified for flight in known icing conditions.

On a night approach to Pueblo Memorial Airport while on a taxi flight from Denver, the pilot encountered technical problems with the power levers. The left engine was shut down then the airplane lost height, stalled and crashed on final. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

While on an ILS/DME approach to Ketchikan Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain falls, turbulences and thunderstorm activity. In limited visibility, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a mountain and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.

During initial approach to DuPage Airport while on flight from Sioux Center, Iowa, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in St Charles, few miles from the airfield. The pilot and a passenger were killed while three other passengers were seriously injured.

En route from Santa Ana to Oakland, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed north of Santa Maria, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Following an uneventful flight from Washington DC, the crew started the descent to Chapel Hill-Horace Williams when he encountered zero visibility due to fog. On approach, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed. All seven occupants were killed.

The crew (one engineer and two pilots) departed Aurora-Sugar Grove for a local post maintenance test flight. While approaching the airport in poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to freezing fog, both engines lost power as the induction systems were iced. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed. All three occupants were seriously injured.

While descending to Petersburg Airport, the pilot reported he was having all kinds of problems. The tail apparently detached and the airplane crashed into the sea. The wreckage was not found and all four occupants were presumed dead.