Probable cause: A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
NTSB Accidents
Bad landing bends Bellanca
The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath during landing, which resulted in an unintended touchdown before the chosen landing area.
Fuel mismanagement leads to forced landing
Probable cause: The pilot’s fuel mismanagement, which resulted in fuel starvation to both engines and their subsequent loss of engine power.
Student pilot seriously injured in crash
Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate and runway alignment during the landing flare, which resulted in the airplane touching down left of the runway and hitting a ditch.
Mid-air claims three lives
Probable cause: The failure of the second airplane’s pilot to see and avoid the first airplane as he was overtaking the first airplane.
Failure to add oil after oil change fatal
Probable cause: The pilot/mechanic’s failure to maintain airspeed following a loss of engine power, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Also causal was the pilot/mechanic’s failure to service the engine with oil following maintenance, which resulted in the total loss of engine power.
Cracked hydraulic fitting flare cause of Seawind accident
Probable cause: The failure of the landing gear system to either fully retract or extend due to a cracked hydraulic fitting flare, which resulted in the loss of hydraulic pressure.
Biplanes collide on runway after competing in Reno Air Races
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate separation and visual lookout during landing, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the airplane ahead of it on the runway.
Grumman noses over in lake after pilot forgets to retract landing gear
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to retract the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-down water landing and a nose over.




