The private pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff from a snow-covered runway in Ionia, Michigan, he heard a “thump” and saw that the left main landing ski tip had rotated up, past vertical, and was in contact with the left wing strut. He was unable to reposition the left ski into a normal position.
Upon landing, the ski separated from the axle, the left gear leg dug into the snow, and the Stinson 108-3 rapidly decelerated before it nosed over. [Read more…]
The pilot reported that, after landing at the airport in Palm Coast, Florida, and during the turn onto a taxiway, the Piper PA-28’s left wing hit a taxiway sign.
He added he was not able to see the sign because of sun glare. [Read more…]
The private pilot and a passenger departed on a flight to an airstrip about 40 nautical miles away.
When they failed to return as scheduled, family members notified law enforcement, and the wreckage was subsequently located in an area of snow-covered, rising terrain near Aniak, Alaska. Both the pilot and passenger were killed in the crash. [Read more…]
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from a remote airstrip in Willow, Alaska, the Maule MX-7 hit a snowdrift and was “launched” into the air. Subsequently, he heard something break. [Read more…]
Passengers reported that, during a winter flight, cold air was entering the Beech A36 from the left side of the passenger cabin. Afterward, the pilot examined the area and discovered there was a small gap under the emergency exit window that was allowing air to enter the cabin from outside the airplane.
He opened the window and examined the rubber seal, which was intact. However, he could not tell if it was compressed or thinner than normal. He then closed and latched the window and inspected the latch with a flashlight to make sure it was latched.
Because he was going to fly back to his home airport in similar winter conditions on the next flight, he took several rolled-up paper towels and placed them between the trim and the window to try and keep the cold air out and placed a strip of blue painter’s tape on the outside of the lower portion of the window to further reduce the entry of cold air. [Read more…]
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna 195 reported that, during taxi at the airport in Jacksonville, Florida, he turned right to position the airplane to perform pre-takeoff procedures, and the right wing passed over the running engine of a stationary airplane and struck the turning propeller. [Read more…]
According to the flight instructor in the multiengine Piper PA-34, he occupied the right seat during the instructional flight. He reported that, during the landing roll, the brakes on his side were inoperative, but the brakes used by the pilot under instruction appeared to function normally.
The flight instructor allowed the pilot under instruction to taxi to parking at the airport in Denton, Texas. During the right turn in the parking area, the pilot under instruction was told to apply both brakes, and the airplane started to “pull left.”
The flight instructor attempted to use differential thrust to arrest the left pull by increasing the right engine speed, but the attempt had no effect. [Read more…]
The pilot reported that, during the approach to land at the airport in North Hampton, N.H., the Celebrity biplane was low and to the right of the runway centerline. He further reported that to recover from the low altitude he added power, but the biplane hit a tree, which impaired its controllability. [Read more…]
The sport pilot reported that, before departing on a cross-country flight, he contacted the flight service station for a weather briefing for his flight route. He then conducted a preflight inspection of the Arion Lightning LS-1, started it to allow it to warm up, and ran the carburetor heat before departing.
The climb to cruise at 2,000′ was normal. About 10 miles from the departure airport, the engine started to run “rough,” so he applied carburetor heat. When this did not have any effect on engine performance, he decided to return to the departure airport. [Read more…]
The pilot reported that, while on a cross-country flight, he diverted from his destination to a nearby airport due to low fuel.
He added that the right fuel tank “went dry” and that the engine lost power on downwind, so he switched to the left fuel tank, and the engine momentarily restarted before it experienced a total loss of power on base. [Read more…]
