The pilot stated that during an approach to landing in gusty crosswind conditions at the airport in West Plains, Missouri, the Arion Lightning LS-1 encountered turbulence about 10 feet above the runway and suddenly lost altitude. The plane landed hard, and collapsed the nose landing gear, then exited the right side of the runway and collapsed the […]
Hard landing bends Bellanca
During the landing flare at the airport in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the pilot reported that it “felt like the air was sucked out from under the plane.” The Bellanca 1730-A landed hard on the main landing gear, bounced and touched down again, buckling the nose landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot […]
Misfueling brings down Cessna 421
The pilot reported that, after a flight the day before the accident, he requested that the FBO top off the tip tanks with fuel. Before the flight the next morning, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane. There was no water in the fuel sample, which appeared to be blue, similar to 100LL aviation fuel. […]
Cessna 140 flips during emergency landing
The pilot made an emergency landing on a highway near Mize, Mississippi, due to weather conditions. During the landing roll, the Cessna 140 struck a highway sign, flipped upside down, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during an off-airport precautionary […]
Crosswind landing bends 195
The pilot was landing on Runway 36 at the airport in Independence, Iowa. After touching down, the Cessna 195 began a slow right turn. The pilot attempted to correct by applying left rudder and light braking, but the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and was substantially damaged. The wind was from 100° at 14 […]
Piper loses power on takeoff
The pilot noted no discrepancies during the preflight inspection, engine run-up, or start of the takeoff, however, when the Piper PA-28-140 was about 200 feet above the end of the runway, the engine “coughed,” and the plane began losing altitude. Power was restored briefly, but the engine subsequently quit. The pilot landed the airplane straight ahead and […]
Hard landing breaks passengers’ feet
The Ultramagic M90 balloon was descending toward a row of trees during an approach to a field in Sherwood, Oregon. The pilot added heat to make the balloon ascend. Once clear of the trees, he opened a vent to descend and his hand became entangled in the line. The pilot freed his hand and realized […]
RV-6A’s landing goes awry
The pilot reported that during the landing roll at the airport in LaFayette, Georgia, in gusting, variable wind conditions, the Van’s RV-6A “suddenly” made a “strong” turn to the left. The airplane went off the runway to the left and the pilot applied left rudder to avoid hitting the windsock pole. The plane entered tall grass, the nosewheel […]
Fuel starvation leads to forced landing
The pilot departed with about 25 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank and about 7 or 8 gallons in the right wing fuel tank and with the fuel selector positioned to the left wing fuel tank. After departure, he flew the Mooney M20J to an airport near Allentown, Pennsylvania, to practice takeoffs and […]