The Cessna 172 was in cruise flight near Wonewoc, Wis., drawing fuel from the right tank when the engine began running rough. Unable to resolve the issue by applying carburetor heat, the commercial pilot made a precautionary landing on a grass airstrip. When he loosened the right fuel tank cap, he heard a “whoosh” sound […]
Slippery runway catches Tri-Pacer
The accident happened when the pilot attempted to land the Piper Tri-Pacer on the plowed surface of an icy runway in Baraga, Mich. As he was taxiing, he lost directional control and the airplane slid nose-first into a snow bank on the edge of the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the engine mount and […]
Unauthorized landing goes bad
The student pilot had an endorsement from his CFI to fly the Cessna 150 from the departure airport to another airport near Naples, Maine. During the flight the student pilot decided to make an unauthorized stop and land on a frozen lake to visit a friend. The lake was covered with a layer of slush […]
Cessna rear-ended on taxiway
The pilot of a Cessna was waiting in the run-up area to the runway in Nampa, Idaho. Before he could move onto the runway, he heard a loud noise and felt his airplane move. He shut down the engine and, after getting out of the airplane, saw that the left wing of a Piper had […]
Gusty winds get better of Mooney pilot
According to an FBO employee who was a witness to the accident in Angel Fire, N.M, the weather at the time of the accident included strong, gusting winds from the west. The employee asked the pilot of the Mooney M20E about his intention to fly. He noted the pilot seemed “confident” about his ability to […]
Crosswind crimps Cessna
The student pilot was flying a Cessna 172 on his first solo cross-country flight to Bardstown, Ky. The wind at the destination airport was from 120° at 6 knots. He chose to land on Runway 20. When the airplane was abeam the intended point of landing, he reduced power, added 10° of flaps, and obtained […]
Mountain crash claims three
The commercial pilot and two passengers were on a cross-country flight in a Cessna 182. The trip included flying through a narrow mountain pass near Nikolai, Alaska. The typical route through the pass required making multiple turns, and the pass intersected with a box canyon. A family member reported the airplane overdue for arrival, and […]
Contaminated fuel blamed for Maule crash
The passenger reported that he could not remember if the pilot of the Maule M5 checked the fuel before the flight, which originated from Woodinville, Wash. The passenger told investigators that it took several tries to get the engine to start. About 30 minutes into the flight, the engine started to sputter, then stopped. The […]
Unlatched canopy distracts pilot
According to the pilot of the Evektor Sportstar, during the takeoff from the runway in San Jose, Calif., the cockpit canopy began to open and rotate forward. The airplane had lifted off and was about 10 feet above the runway when the pilot reached up with his right hand to grab the canopy and hold […]