United States of America

The aircraft was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Weott, California. While returning to his base at Rohnerville to pick up another load of retardant, the pilot was able to send a brief mayday message when the aircraft crashed. The pilot, sole on board was killed.

Shortly after the aircraft touched down on the runway, the right main gear collapsed. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct the situation with left rudder and braking, the aircraft veered to the right of the runway and collided with a building. Shortly after it struck the building, a fire erupted, which totally consumed the aircraft and the building. Due to the severity of the fire, the fracture surfaces of the right landing gear were obliterated.

At approximately 0600, the aircraft departed Guerrero Negro, Mexico on an air taxi flight to Tijuana, Mexico. At 0715, the Tijuana weather was reported as partially obscured, visibility 1 mile with fog, haze and smoke, wind calm. During arrival, the pilot was cleared for an ILS runway 09 approach and reported over the final approach fix. However, the aircraft crashed at about 0759, before reaching the middle marker, which was 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 09. Impact was on a ridge about 110 feet below the airport elevation and approximately 100 yards north of the international border. The aircraft was found a short time later by US Border patrol personnel. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found. The 0800 weather at Tijuana was in part: sky partially obscured, visibility 1/10 mile with fog and haze, wind 210° at 4 knots. About 1 mile north at Brown Field, the weather was in part: sky partially obscured, visibility 3/4 mile with fog and haze, wind 280° at 4 knots. A toxicology check of the pilot's blood showed an alcohol level of 0.7‰. Calculations showed the sun would have been 16 ° above the horizon on a magnetic azimuth of 89.8°. All six occupants were killed.

Witnesses observed the aircraft taxi to the end of runway 27R and positioned so the tail was out in the overrun area. Witnesses further stated the aircraft appeared to take an overly long takeoff roll before lifting off. After lift off, the aircraft pitched up vertically, climbed to about 100 feet, rolled left inverted, crashed to the ground in a dive on a heading of 035° and burst into flames. The aircraft was 955 pounds over maximum gross weight and the cg was 14.5 inches aft of the most rearward limit. The weight and balance form had been altered to indicate the aircraft was within limits for weight and balance prior to departure. Examination of faa records revealed Air Cargo America had been cited for numerous breaches of federal air regulations and the pilot-in-command had a history of suspensions/revocations of his pilot airman in certificate. A pilot of Air Cargo America reported the company pressured their pilots to operate the aircraft outside the requirements of the federal air regulations. FAA was notified of these practices in 1985. Both occupants were killed.

The pilot of an aircraft carrying an estimated 317 kilos of cocaine was attempting to land at an airport which did not have a published instrument approach procedure in IMC. Witnesses estimated that the visibility was no more than 1/2 mile in fog about 45 minutes after the estimated time of the accident. The aircraft collided with a tree about 1,400 feet short of the runway threshold and about 600 feet to the right of the extended runway centerline. Ground contact was made about 380 feet after colliding with the tree. The aircraft burned after ground impact. Pilot flight time was obtained from pilot's last CFI application. Both occupants were killed.

Check pilot was conducting captain proficiency check on another company pilot (pic) under dark night conditions. Subsequent to full stop landing on runway 25, takeoff checklist was recited. PIC commenced takeoff on runway 07. Check pilot simulated V1 engine cut after liftoff. PIC was unable to accelerate to V2, climb, or maintain directional control. Aircraft levelled off, air speed began to decay and aircraft drifted to the right. Check captain failed to take control or terminate engine cut simulation as evolution deteriorated. Aircraft collided with ILS glideslope tower marked by red obstruction lights. Loss of control followed when right wingtip/aileron separated. Aircraft then impacted ground and slid to a stop. Takeoff flap position should be 1/4. Both flaps found near 1/2 flap extended position. Handle found in 1/2 flap detent. Performances charts show aircraft able to reach V2 at 50 feet altitude in 6,500 feet roll, then +575 fpm climb (vyse) at acc wt.

The commercial pilot was on a repositioning flight from Kenosha, Wisconsin to Atlanta, Georgia, after having been without sleep for about 20 hours. Witnesses observed the aircraft circling a subdivision near Rockford, Illinois at a low altitude, just above the treetops. The aircraft was in a steep left bank, described as 70-90°, when it reversed direction into a steep right bank and descended into the trees. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The flight was cleared on an IFR flight from Whitehorse to Juneau, via V-428 to Chill intersection, then direct to Juneau. Chill intersection was located on V-428, 36 miles south of Haines NDB on a bearing of 146°. On reaching Haines NDB, the pilot cancelled his IFR clearance and continued under visual flight rules (VFR). Subsequently, the aircraft crashed on a glacier between Haines and Juneau, approximately 15 miles southeast of Haines NDB at an elevation of about 4,500 feet. A pilot, flying about 5 miles southwest of the crash site at the time of the accident, reported a broken to overcast ceiling at 2,500 feet to 3,000 feet msl. The accident site was near the Haines transition of the Barlo 4 departure (sid). In that area, the minimum en route altitude for flight on the Haines transition was 9,000 feet under instrument flight rules.

The pilot did not declare an emergency or mention to the tower controller that his fuel was low. He was first told to enter right traffic for runway 17R but was subsequently told to enter right traffic for runway 26. (This was to allow a DEA aircraft, at its pilot's request, to land before the Cessna 340A aircraft. DEA aircraft reportedly had been trailing the Cessna since it crossed the border from Mexico into the United States). Shortly afterwards the Cessna pilot informed the Lubbock control tower that he was landing on runway 17. The aircraft experienced fuel exhaustion and impacted in a cotton field about two miles northeast of the airport before the landing could be accomplished. A post accident examination reportedly revealed that illegal cargo was aboard the aircraft. Both occupants were injured.

One hour after it arrived at Barksdale AFB, the KC-10 was taken over by three technicians for refueling and routine maintenance. One took place in the cockpit, one in the left main wheel well and one in the rear of the airplane when an explosion occurred. Fire spread quickly and almost destroyed the aircraft. The man who was in the left main wheel well was killed while both others were injured. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had 63,000 lb of fuel on board including 15,000 lb in the forward tank. The centre and aft fuel tanks were empty; the remaining 48,000 lb were in the wing tanks.