The pilot reported that prior to the takeoff roll, his son, who was in the front right seat, had difficulty shutting and locking the cabin door. The pilot reached over and ensured the door was locked. Shortly after liftoff the cabin door came open. He maneuvered the Beech 56 to stay in the traffic pattern […]
New pilot loses control on landing
The newly-certificated private pilot was conducting a sightseeing flight near San Jose, California, at night with friends in a Cessna 172. He was not familiar with the airport. During the initial approach to land, he performed a go-around. He returned to land and, during the landing roll, lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently […]
Loss of engine power proves fatal
As the Cessna 182Q neared its destination airport in dark night visual meteorological conditions at the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the private pilot reported a partial loss of engine power. The air traffic controller provided the pilot with a vector and information for the nearest airport, which according to his display, was equipped with a […]
Bird hits Cessna 525
The pilot reported that while climbing through 3,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), a flock of birds was seen immediately in front of the Cessna 525. About a second after seeing the flock of birds, a single bird hit the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot returned to the airport in Monroeville, Alabama, and […]
Maintenance error leads to crash that seriously injures pilot
The pilot reported that the Cessna 120 was on final approach to the airport in Gonzales, Louisiana, when the engine started to lose power. He applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but engine power was not restored, so he made a forced landing to a field near the airport. The pilot was seriously injured. […]
Thorp’s canopy disconnects during takeoff
The pilot departed on a flight around Independence, Oregon. During the initial climb, the canopy on the Thorp T-18 partially disconnected and the airplane vibrated violently. He made a precautionary landing in a field, and the right wing hit a fence post. Post-accident examination revealed that the mechanism that allowed the canopy to move fore and aft […]
Equipment failure leads to oil starvation
During the en route climb to cruise altitude, the low oil pressure warning light activated. The pilot notified air traffic control, received vectors to the nearest airport, and began a descent as the oil pressure continued to decrease. About three miles from the airport in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Cirrus SR22’s engine experienced a total loss […]
Kitfox’s propeller gearbox fails in flight
While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing, the private pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane heard a “clunk” sound from the front of the Kitfox, however, the propeller continued to rotate and the engine appeared to be operating normally. He continued to the base and final legs of the traffic pattern […]
Training flight ends in fuel starvation
The flight instructor and student pilot departed their home airport with about 34 gallons of fuel on board the Piper PA-28 for a planned 60-mile, round-trip, cross-country instructional flight. The student pilot reported that, after landing at the destination airport, they completed two more full-stop landings before returning to, and then landing uneventfully at, the […]