Aircraft: Aerotek Pitts S-1T. Injuries: None. Location: Billings, Mont. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was returning to his home airport. During the first landing attempt he lost control of the airplane during the landing roll, so he aborted the landing. On the second landing attempt, he again was not able to maintain directional control and […]
Student hogs rudders
Aircraft: Allegro. Injuries: None. Location: Adrian, Mich. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: While on approach for a touch-and-go landing, when the airplane was about 30 feet above the ground, the flight instructor directed the student pilot to go around. The student added power, and the airplane began to roll and yaw to the left. The student incorrectly […]
Improper maintenance leads to gear failure
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Juneau, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The flight instructor was demonstrating a short field, three-point landing. The touchdown was normal, but during the landing roll a gust of wind pushed the airplane, and it began to turn to the right. When the instructor applied left brake in […]
Pilot mistakes torque tube for brakes
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Newport News, Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot thought that he positioned his feet on the toe brake pedals during engine start. After starting, the engine accelerated to a higher rpm than expected, and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot pressed down with his […]
Carb icing results in off-airport landing
Aircraft: Piper Comanche. Injuries: None. Location: McAllen, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: After taking off and climbing to about 1,200 feet, the engine began to run rough and lost power. The pilot turned back toward the airport, but the plane didn’t have enough altitude to glide to the runway and it came down […]
Strong winds result in crash
Aircraft: RV-9A. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Brunswick, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: As the pilot approached the destination airport, he received a radio call from another pilot who reported leaving the traffic pattern at the destination airport because of wind conditions. The pilot continued his approach to land but later aborted the landing […]
Poor fuel management for Baron
Aircraft: Beech Baron. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Las Cruces, N.M. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot said he added 31 gallons of fuel, bringing the total amount of fuel to 70 gallons prior to departure. The fuel gauges indicated the main tanks were one-half to three-quarters full, with the remainder in the auxiliary tanks. The fuel […]
Airplane vs. car
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Roanoke, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot, who was returning from a solo cross-country flight, stated that the approach for landing at the private airport was normal until short final, when the landing gear struck an automobile that was being driven on a road that crossed near […]
Taylorcraft tangles with power lines
Aircraft: Taylorcraft BC12-D. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Clutier, Iowa. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land on an unimproved airstrip he had previously used. When the field was previously used as an airstrip, the power lines were buried, but at the time of the accident the power line were now above […]