The private pilot, who was also the builder of the experimental, amateur-built Sonex, reported that, during initial climb for the local flight, about 3,000 feet mean sea level, the propeller separated from the airplane and fell to the ground. He turned the airplane toward an airport in Morganton, N.C., that had a longer runway than […]
Fuel starvation leads to forced landing
The pilot reported that he had filled the Rans S6S fuel tanks the day before the cross-country flight, but did not visually check the fuel level in the tanks during the preflight inspection. He estimated the flight would take about 1.5 hours, and full fuel tanks would have given him more than three hours of […]
Student loses control on landing roll
The student pilot reported that during the landing roll at the airport in Perry, N.Y., he heard something fall in the back seat. He looked back and when he looked forward again the Piper PA 28-140 had veered to the right. He attempted to correct with the rudder, but reported that he “overcorrected” to the […]
Formation flight ends fatally
The airline transport pilot and a passenger were conducting a formation pleasure/sightseeing flight in an Aviat A-1C-200 with another airplane in mountainous terrain near Swan Valley, Idaho. The pilot of the second airplane, who was flying behind the Aviat, stated that the two airplanes flew into a canyon area. As they approached a ridgeline, the […]
Piper’s return journey over mountains ends fatally
The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger completed a cross-country flight from their home base to another airport in the Piper PA-28R-180 earlier that day. They delayed their initial planned departure time for that flight due to weather concerns, ultimately arriving three hours later than planned. During that flight, they flew over a high […]
SR22 hits power lines
The private pilot was flying a night visual pattern to a non-towered airport in Lancaster, Texas. Due to another airplane on final approach, he extended the downwind leg to create spacing. While on the extended final in a rural area with low lighting, he descended the airplane well below a proper glidepath to the runway […]
Beach landing bad for Piper pilot
According to the pilot, he intended to perform a touch and go “to roll the tires” on a beach in Old Harbor, Alaska. He reported that he touched down, added power, and became airborne. Shortly after becoming airborne the Piper PA-18-150 rotated 90° to the right, and the left wing hit the ground. The airplane […]
CFIT kills four
The commercial pilot and three passengers departed on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight in instrument meteorological conditions that included a ceiling of 200 feet agl. About a mile from the departure end of the runway at the airport in Pottsville, Arkansas, the A36 hit a ridge that was 216 feet above the airport’s elevation. […]
Carb icing brings down Champ
The commercial pilot was taking off for a personal local flight in the Champion 7ECA. He reported that, shortly after takeoff and as the plane reached about 700 feet above ground level, the engine began to gradually lose power. He attempted to return to the departure airport, but was unable to maintain altitude. He then […]