Cessna 340

The aircrew of a Cessna 340, N5415M, were scheduled for an air taxi check ride with an inspector at Jackson, WY, later in the afternoon. They had planned to takeoff from Rock Springs, WY, practice at few instrument approaches at Rock Springs, then proceed to Jackson. After taking off, they made an NDB approach, made a missed approach, then began an ILS approach. A Beech Bonanza, N1825F, was on a flight from Scottsbluff, NE to Rock Springs. During arrival to Rock Springs, the Bonanza pilot was monitoring the position of a King Air that was ahead of him and also on an approach to the same airport. All three aircraft were using the same frequency and all three were providing reports of their respective positions. At approximately 1103 mdt, witnesses heard N5415M and N1825F collide, then saw the aircraft and pieces of wreckage falling. An investigation revealed the Cessna was inbound toward the outermarker (270° course) and the Bonanza was in level flight, heading approximately 219°. Both aircraft were operating VFR. All six occupants in both aircraft were killed.

Prior to departure the flight was given an IFR clearance which began at Herls intersection (16 miles NNE) and to cross Herls at or above 16,000 feet msl. Departure airport field elevation is 7,793 feet. Flights are required to proceed VFR to the initial fix of the IFR clearance. After takeoff the aircraft was observed heading northeast toward the mountains. Aircraft departing Aspen usually fly a northern heading, then turn northeast after clearing the mountains. Witnesses stated that the weather was good in the valley north of the airport, but the mountain tops east of the airport were obscured by low clouds. The aircraft crashed 3 1/2 miles northeast of the airport at the 9,000 feet level of an 11,000 feet mountain. The last time the pilot had flown into Aspen was in 1980. All four occupants were killed.

The aircraft began to lose power at about 400 feet agl after takeoff and the pilot elected to land along the shoreline in the ocean. The aircraft ditched about 100 yards off shore. All 4 occupants were able to exit thru the airstair door and received only minor injuries. The aircraft sank after about 5 minutes. It was not recovered from the 27 feet deep water. Two occupants swam ashore and two were rescued by the coast guard. The line attendant who serviced the aircraft mistook it for a king air. The pilot requested that all four tanks be topped off. The line attendant added 110 gallons of Jet A fuel.

A deer hunter saw the aircraft on a final approach to an open field at dusk, with the gear and flaps down. He stated that when it was at about 100 feet agl, the nose pitched down and the plane struck the ground and burst into flames. The aircraft was loaded with an estimated 600 lbs of marijuana, most of which was consumed by fire. A high altitude navigational chart was found near the wreckage. The chart contained a line between two navigational points (one in mexico and one in the united states). The aircraft had been stolen. Both occupants were killed.

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.