California

According to the operator of the spray operation, the pilot became distracted, when he was watching the grower drive out of the field he had sprayed. While he was watching the vehicle, he inadvertently allowed the aircraft to collide with power lines. There was no reported mechanical malfunction.

Before the flight, the pilots of 2 Beech 200 aircraft evaluated weather reports at a fixed base operation and made a computer weather inquiry. They departed Santa Monica, CA, on a positioning flight to Farmington, NM, without filing a flight plan. While en route, the lead aircraft was about 1 to 3 minutes ahead of the 2nd aircraft. The 2nd pilot reported they were at about 4,500 feet msl as they neared mountains and the clouds were about 1,000 feet above. As they continued eastward in a valley, the 2nd pilot heard the lead pilot report he was 'going up.' This was the last known transmission from the lead aircraft. The 2nd pilot continued his flight in VMC. Two days later, the lead aircraft was found, where it had crashed about 100 feet below the top of a 7,400 feet mountain ridge. Impact occurred on a heading of about 030°. The mountain ridge was oriented on headings of 060° 240°.

Several mechanic witnesses at the airport said the right engine backfired and trailed black smoke during the takeoff ground roll. Reportedly, the takeoff roll was about 80% longer than normal. Witnesses said the aircraft staggered off the ground, was slow and never got above 100 feet agl. The pilot reported to the tower that the flight had to come back to the runway. Shortly thereafter, witnesses saw the aircraft enter a steep left turn, apparently stall, then crash into some tennis courts. An investigation revealed evidence that the right engine had lost power. A modification kit for the fuel injector reference air lines was incorrectly installed and allowed an unfiltered air source. Spectral analysis of residue (from the right engine turbocharger compressor) revealed that it had the same composition as the alternate air door seal. Traces of the material were found in the fuel injector reference air line. All five occupants were killed.

The purpose of the flight was to provide airborne intercept training for the US Navy. The mission had just been completed and the accident aircraft, FNT701, and another aircraft, FNT492, were returning home when the accident occurred. Radar data showed FNT701 was at 22,700 feet when it descended slightly to 22,500 feet. FNT701 remained at this altitude for approximately 2 minutes 37 seconds, then began a descent which resulted in impact with the ocean. This final descent rate initially was about 5,000 fpm and increased to 19,000 fpm. No distress calls were made; however, two transmissions were recorded which totaled approximately 30 seconds. There was no voice communication during these transmissions, only an open mike and the sound of prop(s). During the 1st transmission, the word 'oh' could be heard. FNT492 observed FNT701 descend below the clouds and did not detect any distress signals. Little wreckage was recovered during search and rescue operations. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot was operating an on-demand air taxi passenger flight to Santa Ana, CA. The accident occurred during descent, when the aircraft collided with a mountain at 2,060 feet msl. The pilot had received a preflight weather briefing in which he was advised of low ceilings and reduced visibility in the Los Angeles basin, surrounding mountains obscured by clouds, and that VFR flight to Santa Ana was not recommended. He departed VFR. While en route, the pilot was advised that Santa Ana was reporting 1,400 feet overcast with 5 miles visibility. A videotape recorded by a passenger showed mountain peaks protruding through a solid cloud layer and showed the aircraft descending into the clouds. Witnesses described a low cloud ceiling near the crash site and cloud tops at 5,000 feet. Examination of the wreckage revealed evidence of powered flight and no evidence of preimpact control or engine malfunction. Records indicated that the pilot had encountered IMC on only one flight in the previous 9 months. He was director of operations for the operator. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants were killed.

During arrival, the pilot was cleared for an ILS runway 27R approach to the metro Oakland Intl Airport. As she began the approach, the ATC controller noted the aircraft had descended thru 2,900 feet msl. He provided a low altitude alert to the pilot and warned her the aircraft should be at 3,300 feet. The pilot acknowledged by saying 'thank you.' The ATC controller suggested the pilot climb to 3,300 feet immediately, then he canceled the clearance and told the pilot to climb immediately to 3,300 feet. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed approximately 15 miles east of the airport. Impact occurred with a 1,500 feet ridge at about the 1,000 feet level. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft was found. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot contacted the arsa controller for advisories after losing power on the right engine over an air force base. The controller advised the pilot that his position was near a civilian airport with limited maintenance facilities and an air force base. The pilot advised that he desired to continue to a larger civilian airport along his route where he could obtain service. The pilot then informed the controller that he could barley see the ground and that he was unable to maintain altitude due to the propeller not feathering. The aircraft overflew a small civilian airport and the pilot told the unicom operator that he would attempt to land on an interstate highway. The aircraft overflew the highway and impacted an electrical transmission line and collided with a residence. Post accident inspection revealed the right engine #3 cylinder head fractured allowing the head to displace outward 3/8 inch. Fracture resulted from fatigue at threaded area between head and cylinder. The propeller governor operated normally during functional testing after the accident. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The airport is next to Norton AFB. The weather on the dark moonless night was 1 mile visibility in fog and haze. The pilot completed an ILS to a low approach at Norton and received a special VFR clearance to proceed to Redlands. The circling MDA for Norton is 1,700 feet msl. Norton AFB elevation is 1,100 feet msl, and the Redlands Airport elevation is 1,572 feet msl. The circling MDA for Norton is 138 feet above the Redlands Airport elevation. The recorded radar data showed that the flight descended to 1,800 feet on the ILS, then the mode C varied between 1,700 and 1,600 feet. The last radar return was about 1 mile from the Redlands Airport at 1,600 feet msl. A witness on the airport saw the aircraft fly over runway 08 in a south to north direction, 'low and fast.' The witness heard the crash sounds immediately thereafter. Evidence at the accident site revealed the aircraft left wing contacted the ground in a 42° left bank in a slight nose down attitude. Few ground reference lights exist in the area and the pilot had minimum total night time. Both occupants were killed.

The pilot-owner decided to overfly a glacier which was located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The glacier was located near the 12,000 foot msl base of a 14,000 foot msl mountain near the head of a box canyon. Witnesses reported clearly observing the aircraft enter the canyon area. When the aircraft was nearly over the glacier the aircraft was observed to commence a course reversal. During the turn the aircraft stalled, descended rapidly and crashed into rocky 40° upsloping terrain whereupon it burned. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

After landing at the aircraft's manufacturer facility with an asymmetric fuel condition and an inoperative yaw damper the crew elected to continue the flight to their destination without correcting the deficiencies. Enroute the captain informed air traffic controllers that he had fuel coming from one tank and that he doubted that had fuel available to reach his destination. The controller cleared the aircraft to land at a March AFB, the nearby airport. As the aircraft turned onto the final approach it rolled inverted and impacted the ground inverted short of runway 32. Both pilots were killed.