Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to remove a paper towel from the engine during recent maintenance, which resulted in oil starvation, the failure of a connecting rod, and a catastrophic engine failure and subsequent total loss of engine power.
NTSB Accidents
Mid-air collision kills four
Probable cause: The failure of both pilots in both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane as they converged nearly head-on at the same altitude.
Pilot hits post during go around
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a post during a go-around following a landing on unsuitable terrain.
Float-equipped Taylorcraft hits tree while landing
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper approach path during landing in dusky, flat light conditions, which resulted in a tree strike.
Jet blast bends Piper
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Cross-country flight fatal for two in Alaska
Probable cause: Undetermined based on the available evidence.
Cirrus hits deer while landing
Probable cause: Collision with a deer during landing.
Carb icing leads to total loss of engine power
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat in conditions conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Pilot’s recklessness fatal for two
Probable cause: The pilot’s reckless decision to conduct low-level flight over a canyon, resulting in the airplane’s impact with power lines and terrain.