The Cessna 182 pilot was on a personal sightseeing flight when she realized she was low on fuel, and immediately diverted to an alternate airport. While enroute to the alternate airport she determined that enough fuel remained by consulting her onboard fuel computer, and elected to continue to her destination. As she approached her destination […]
Airplane’s design contributes to fatal accident
The private pilot departed with two passengers for a personal, local flight in a Wheeler Express amateur-built airplane. Air traffic control data indicate that, after departing the airport, the airplane climbed and performed several maneuvers. A review of onboard flight data revealed that the airplane then maneuvered into a nose-high attitude while in a steep, […]
Distracted pilot fails to lower landing gear
The Cessna 210 pilot began his descent in the airport traffic pattern at the airport in Duluth, Minnesota, when another airplane announced its position in the vicinity of the airport. The pilot turned his attention to the traffic and located it visually. The traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) annunciated in the proximity of the other airplane. […]
Fuel exhaustion results in bent Bellanca
The Bellanca pilot reported that while on a cross-county flight, “it appears that I ran out of fuel and was forced to land on a road nearby and adjacent to the approach end of an active runway” near Tallahassee, Florida. During the landing roll, the left wing hit a bush, and the airplane departed the road to […]
Bird strike on takeoff bends Cessna 150
During the takeoff following a touch-and-go landing at the airport in Apopka, Florida, a flight of birds flew in front of the Cessna 150 and caused a bird strike on the right side of the airplane. The pilot aborted the takeoff, landed on the runway, and was unable to stop as he reported there was “no […]
First flight ends in fuel exhaustion
The pilot reported that the accident flight was his first flight in the experimental airplane, a Skybolt. He planned a fuel stop during his long cross-country flight based on an estimated 12 gallons per hour fuel consumption rate. He added his estimated fuel consumption rate did not account for the fact that the engine had been […]
Failure of rod bearing results in forced beach landing
The pilot was conducting a cross-country flight in an Ercoupe 415 when the engine lost oil pressure. Shortly after, the engine lost power and seized. The pilot then made a forced landing on a beach near Saint Martin Island, Michigan. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 connecting rod bearing had failed and that […]
Bad fuel supply line brings down Aventura II
In an email sent to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector by the student pilot, he reported that the experimental seaplane, an Aventura II, experienced a partial loss of engine power during takeoff about 400 feet above the ground near Fenton, Michigan. He turned the seaplane toward the lake but as he ran out of “speed,” he […]
Bear sighting begins accident sequence
While on a cross-country flight over an area of mountainous terrain near Homer, Alaska, the Cessna 140 pilot noticed a bear near the entrance to a mountain pass. While orbiting over the bear, a strong downdraft emanating from the pass entrance caused the airplane to descend toward the saddle of the mountain pass. The pilot […]