Aurora

The pilot's friend reported that the pilot planned to fly his recently purchased twin-engine airplane over his friend's home to show it to him and another friend. The pilot's friends and several other witnesses reported observing the pilot performing low-level, high-speed aerobatic maneuvers before the airplane collided with trees and then terrain. A 1.75-liter bottle of whiskey was found in the airplane wreckage. A review of the pilot's Federal Aviation Administration medical records revealed that he had a history of alcohol dependence but had reportedly been sober for almost 4 years. Toxicological testing revealed that the pilot had a blood alcohol content of 0.252 milligrams of alcohol per deciliter of blood, which was over six times the limit (0.040) Federal Aviation Regulations allowed for pilots operating an aircraft.

After the pilot finished the preflight inspection in the hangar, the maintenance technician pulled the airplane out of the hangar and connected the auxiliary power cart to the airplane. Shortly thereafter, the pilot boarded the airplane and proceeded with the normal checklist. The pilot signaled to the maintenance technician to disconnect the power cart. The maintenance technician subsequently signaled that the pilot was clear to start the engines. After departure, the pilot noted a problem with the landing gear, and, after establishing that the tow bar was, most likely, still attached to the nosewheel, he diverted to a nearby airport for a precautionary landing. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and the primary structure in the nose of the airplane was substantially damaged.

Witnesses reported hearing the engines start and shortly thereafter, the airplane taxied to the runway. The pilot then contacted ATC for an IFR clearance. The clearance was given with a short void time. The pilot acknowledged the clearance and began the takeoff ground roll. Witnesses reported that the night-time takeoff roll and engine sound appeared normal. Witnesses near the end of the runway reported that the airplane was observed at about 50 feet above the runway with about 1,000 feet of runway remaining when engine power was reduced on both engines. The airplane was heard to touch down, then engine power was reapplied. Shortly thereafter, the sound of the impact was heard. The airplane collided with the terrain about 600 feet from the end of the runway. During the post-accident inspection of the airplane and engines, no evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. Documentation of the events indicated that from the time the aircraft began its taxi to the runway, to the time the takeoff roll began, was approximately six minutes in duration. Before the takeoff roll began, the pilot had accepted a clearance with a void time of four minutes. By the time the pilot correctly read back the clearance, less than two minutes remained before the void time. Post accident documentation of the accident site revealed that neither the pilot nor the passenger were wearing their lap belts or shoulder harnesses. It was also noted that the pilot had not yet selected the discrete transponder code as indicated by the clearance.

The pilot of a twin-engine cargo airplane shut down the left engine and feathered the propeller due to a loss of engine oil. The FAA ARTCC handling the flight vectored the airplane toward a VOR. Due to the airplane's altitude and distance from the center's radar, the pilot of the airplane had to perform a full instrument approach procedure. The airplane maintained its enroute assigned altitude until passing the VOR outbound. Ntap readouts show the airplane descending throughout the procedure turn and inbound leg of the approach. The airplane's last radar contact was 300 feet below the inbound altitude for the approach while outside the final approach fix. The airplane collided with trees and terrain approximately 2 1/4 miles from the airport. The VOR is 5.5 miles from the airport. The on-scene investigation revealed the left engine's propeller had been feathered, its number nine cylinder mounting studs on the engine's case were crushed downward or were broken off at the case's surface, and the landing gear had been extended. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying in a normal cruise attitude when it rolled inverted and the nose dropped near vertical to the terrain. The airplane descended in a near vertical dive. The nose of the airplane started to come up horizontal to the terrain when it struck a 75-ft tree. During the post crash investigation, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found. Both occupants were killed.

The pilot was on a flight from Greeley to Denver, Colorado to obtain minor maintenance on a cargo door. As the aircraft was being vectored on final approach, the pilot reported that he believed the aircraft had fuel starvation. Subsequently, the aircraft was observed to make a complete roll and crash in a residential area. Only about 1.5 gallon of fuel was found in the right wing tank. The left wing and fuel tank were destroyed, but no odor of fuel was noted on the ground around the left wing. Also, a lack of fuel was noted in the fuel lines. The aircraft had not been refueled after the previous flight. The pilot that had flown the aircraft on a previous flight estimated there was 100 lbs of fuel remaining in each tank after his flight.

During weather briefings the pilot was advised of icing conditions in the Denver area. While approaching the Denver area the pilot radioed 'can you get me down, it's a little bit icy up here.' The pilot was subsequently asked and was given a close turn onto the outer marker. The aircraft was observed to overfly the airport at about 500 feet agl. The pilot then acknowledge the missed approach instructions, and 1 minute later reported ...'lots of ice...' and '...i'm stalling out...' The pilot reportedly did not like to fly approaches to minimums and set the altitude alerter to an altitude above minimums as a safety margin. The pilot had logged 3.5 hours actual and 4.1 hours simulated instrument time, and 3 instrument approaches in the last 6 months. The aircraft's cg was 6 inches aft of the aft cg limit.

After takeoff from Denver-Stapleton Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in flames in the Aurora district. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.