Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: None. Location: Rutland, Vermont. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, after landing, he attempted to taxi toward the FBO. The surface of the ramp was hard-packed snow.
Wind shift bends Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Bellview, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: Before setting up to practice touch-and-go landings, the pilot overflew the airport, checked the windsock, and verified the wind was from the south at 10 knots. He entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 15.
VFR pilot descends into fog
Aircraft: Bellanca 7ECA. Injuries: None. Location: Tehachapi, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The accident occurred just before dusk. The non-instrument-rated pilot stated that prior to departure, weather reports indicated that clear skies prevailed at the departure airport with patches of fog at his destination. Despite the possibility of fog, he decided to attempt the flight with the intention of diverting to an alternate airport if the weather conditions deteriorated.
Student pilot hit by propeller
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Albermarle, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The student pilot and flight instructor had landed, parked, and secured the airplane. They returned about 15 minutes later and attempted to restart the airplane but were unable to do so.
Nose-first landing bends Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: McKinney, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot reported that windy conditions existed during the flight, but the wind was not a crosswind during landing. However, the airplane touched down hard on the nosewheel, bounced, and then settled onto the runway.
Tailwheel failure in Pitts
Aircraft: Aerotek Pitts S-1T. Injuries: None. Location: Billings, Mont. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was returning to his home airport. During the first landing attempt he lost control of the airplane during the landing roll, so he aborted the landing.
Student hogs rudders
Aircraft: Allegro. Injuries: None. Location: Adrian, Mich. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: While on approach for a touch-and-go landing, when the airplane was about 30 feet above the ground, the flight instructor directed the student pilot to go around.
Improper maintenance leads to gear failure
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Juneau, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The flight instructor was demonstrating a short field, three-point landing. The touchdown was normal, but during the landing roll a gust of wind pushed the airplane, and it began to turn to the right. When the instructor applied left brake in an attempt to correct for the right turn, the left main landing gear broke.
Pilot mistakes torque tube for brakes
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Newport News, Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot thought that he positioned his feet on the toe brake pedals during engine start. After starting, the engine accelerated to a higher rpm than expected, and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot pressed down with his feet, but the airplane continued to roll.
IMC Clubs: Practice makes proficiency
Hangar flying, the time-honored activity where pilots sit around and swap stories about aviation techniques, can be a valuable educational tool. Add organized informational seminars illustrated with powerpoint demonstrations and desktop flight simulation devices and you have the interactive learning environment of the IMC Club.
IMC stands for Instrument Meteorological Conditions, which necessitates flying on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan because the aircraft is flying in the clouds without outside visual references. Many pilots will tell you the IFR ticket is the most challenging to get and the one with the most perishable skills.