The pilot reported the Cessna 150 had seven gallons of fuel and that he had planned a short flight to a nearby airport to purchase more fuel. During initial climb, about 750′ above ground level, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but the engine rpm remained at about […]
Fatigue crack ends in ground loop
The private pilot was landing the Cessna 140 on a dry, hard-surfaced runway in Independence, Oregon. He said the approach and touchdown were normal. Just after touchdown, he felt “something similar to a bump,” and the airplane started to drift to the left. He thought that the plane possibly had a flat tire and tried to […]
Maule bent when passenger inadvertently pushes rudder pedal
According to the airline transport pilot, during the takeoff roll at the airport in Anchorage, Alaska, the Maule M-4 briefly exited the runway to the left after the passenger inadvertently pushed the left rudder pedal. While correcting for the runway excursion, the right main landing gear hit a taxiway sign. The pilot and passenger reported that they […]
Observation flight ends fatally
The Flight Design CTLS, which was owned and operated by the local county sheriff’s department, was on a low-altitude observation flight near Springville, California. According to GPS data recovered from the airplane, about 1 minute before the accident, the plane was flying westbound (heading 242°) over a highway, about 500′ above ground level (agl), and […]
Dragging landing gear turns out to be bad decision
The pilot was flying over a snow-covered dry lake bed near Park Valley, Utah, and decided to “drag” the left main landing gear to “better assess the surface condition.” When the Cessna 210’s tire touched down, he reported, “Drag rapidly increased and sucked the aircraft down.” He attempted to abort the landing by adding full […]
Kitfox’s landing gear collapses
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Kitfox reported that during the landing roll at the airport in Slate Creek, Idaho, the left main landing gear slowly collapsed forward. During a post-accident examination of the airframe by the pilot, it was revealed that the left main landing forward gear tube had collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage […]
Piper hits birds on final approach
The pilot reported during night visual meteorological conditions, he hit multiple birds at an altitude of about 300′ to 400′ above ground on final approach to the airport in Newport, Rhode Island. He continued the approach and landed the Piper PA-31 without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing. Probable […]
Training flight ends before it begins
The flight instructor and student pilot were parked at the airport in San Diego with the Cessna 172’s engine running when the plane began to move forward and to the right. The instructor said that upon noticing the forward movement, he applied the brakes. He reported that the right rudder/brake pedal was positioned further forward […]
Piper ditched in ocean after unexplained power loss
The private pilot was flying over the ocean and just off the coast of Miami when an air traffic controller asked him to descend to 500′. He reduced power and applied carburetor heat until he reached the assigned altitude. He then attempted to increase engine power and level off, however, even with the throttle full […]