Arkansas

A simulated engine failure was initiated by the check airman at 200 feet agl. The pilot followed the emergency procedures and advanced the power levers to bring power back to the engine. The pilot then noticed the engine failed and had insufficient altitude to get an air restart. The subsequent descent resulted in contact with trees off the end of the airport runway. The descent was not arrested and the aircraft struck the terrain and flipped inverted. Examination of the aircraft's left engine revealed foreign contamination of the fuel control governor by air restrictor. Static testing revealed significant malfunctioning at the idle and max governoring speed limits. All three occupants were injured.

The aircraft contacted livestock, a fence and the gear collapsed during a forced landing following a loss of power on the right engine. The pilot reported that after he feathered the right engine propeller and lowered the gear he noted the aux hydraulic system pressure gage was indicating zero. Post accident inspection disclosed evidence of an oil leak from the left lower section of the right engine. Tests revealed the leak originated from the oil cooler pressure line which failed due to severe corrosion of the wire braid and deformation of the inner cover. Testing of the auxiliary hydraulic pressure pump disclosed the 35 ampere current limiter was blown and 40 amperes were required to drive the pump motor. The pilot, sole on board, was slightly injured.

Pilot was cleared for VOR/DME approach to Rogers airport by Fayetteville approach control; Fayetteville altimeter setting of 29.85 (confirmed by recorded transcript) furnished. Pilot did not read back. During approach, aircraft impacted trees 25 feet agl at approximately 1,320 feet msl, 3 miles short of airport. Investigation showed pilot's altimeter set at 30.14 (altimeter would read 290 feet higher than aircraft actual altitude). Pilots's recall was that the 30.14 setting was furnished by approach control. Pilot further stated last recalled altitude reading was 1,750 feet. Approach plate shows 1,700 feet mda with Rogers altimeter setting; increase mda by 100 feet if using Fayetteville setting. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was killed.

The aircraft crashed into trees 2 miles short of the runway during an instrument approach in IMC weather. A pilot in the right front seat said that just prior to impact, the aircraft was descending at 2,500 fpm, and when he looked ahead, he saw trees. He said he yelled at the pilot to 'pull up' but the pilot did not react. The pilot was killed and the passengers was injured.

The aircraft was cleared for Mena NDB approach and to maintain 5,000 feet msl until established on the approach. Aircraft descended to 4,800 feet msl on approximately ground track of 040° to 030° after NDB passage. Aircraft then turned to a ground track of 116°. After 12 seconds the aircraft turned to a ground track of 350° during which the ground speed decreased to 93 knots. The aircraft descended to 4,600 feet msl with ground speed increasing to 140 knots. N68152 reported 'we've broken below - will cancel in just a moment.' Radar contact was lost with the aircraft descending to 3,000 feet msl on a heading of 304°. The wreckage was found 6 miles northwest of the airport at an elevation of 2,000 feet msl. The outbound approach heading is 080° with procedure turn heading of 125° and 305°. Reported winds aloft at 5,000 feet msl, 4,000 feet msl and 3,000 feet msl were 191° at 34 knots, 169° at 30 knots and 151° at 32 knots respectively. Both occupants were killed.

The aircraft had departed Laredo, TX, on a flight to Fort Smith, AR, with an intermediate stop at Brinkley, AR. The fuel tanks were 'topped' at Laredo, but no fuel was added at Brinkley. During arrival at Fort Smith, the pilot declared an emergency for 'extremely low fuel.' He was cleared for a straight-in approach. Very shortly after that, both engines began running rough with both fuel boost pump lights illuminated. The pilot informed the tower that he would not be able to reach the airport. He selected a dark unpopulated area to land and extended the gear. When he turned on the landing lights, he realize he had selected a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed after impacting trees. The pilot had begun the first of six flights at 0608 cdt and had gotten very little sleep the preceding night. Both occupants were seriously injured.

Turning onto the runway the copilot observed a flash behind his instrument panel. He then received an electrical shock to his right arm from the right console. A fire then erupted at the lower right hand corner of his instrument panel. The crew and pax evacuated the aircraft. The interior of the aircraft was consumed by fire as well as most of the upper half of the fuselage. Examination of the right side wire bundle revealed numerous indications of arcing between wires and from wires to ground. One wire was arced at a point in line with a plastic oxygen line. There was also an oily residue inside the wire bundle. A small section of the right brake pressure line exhibited signs of elect arcing. The hydraulic system pressure gage copper line also showed signs of arcing. The plastic oxygen lines from the the cockpit side of the forward pressure bulkhead to the cockpit outlets had been consumed by fire and the oxygen supply was depleated.

The crew departed Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB for a local training mission. En route, the crew reduced his altitude from 3,000 to 2,000 feet to join four other aircraft in formation when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located near Judsonia. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.

The aircraft had been on sales demonstration flights and was on a delivery flight from Memphis, TN to Dallas, TX. The plane was observed departing at 1550 CDT in a max performance climb. Radar info from mode C of the transponder returns indicated that the aircraft climbed from 1,000 to 16,000 feet in 7 min and 14 seconds. Level flight was indicated at 16,300 ft from 1558:16 to 1601:17 CDT. The last alt return was from 16,000 ft at 2201:07. Two more returns were received at 2201:49 and 2202:08, but with no altitude readout. At about that time, the aircraft was observed spiraling down, counterclockwise, with a portion of the left wing missing. The wing tip (outer wing panel outboard from about wing station 190), left aileron and left engine tail cone panel were found about 3 miles from the main wreckage impact point. An examination revealed that the wing panel separation occurred upward from positive overload forces. No evidence was found of fatigue or pre-existing failure. Light to moderate turbulence was reported between 14,000 and 18,000 ft msl. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

On an instrument approach to Decatur-Crystal Lake Airport, the pilot cancelled the IFR flight plan and continued under VFR mode when he encountered limited visibility due to fog. He decided to initiate a go-around when the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.