Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control during initial climb due to an excessively nose-high attitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly set the elevator trim before takeoff in accordance with the Before Takeoff checklist.
NTSB Accidents
Hard landing bends AirCam
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and the left main landing gear wheel separating from the airplane, followed by an aborted landing, and a subsequent ground loop during the follow-on landing.
Wrong flap setting contributes to crash
A failure to use a physical checklist played a significant part in this accident.
Piper’s wing hits tree
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at low altitude.
Dust devil bends SNJ
Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to compensate for a dust devil during an aborted landing, which resulted in the left wing hitting the ground, a runway excursion, and the airplane coming to rest in a nose-down attitude.
Ag pilot hits antenna
Failure to maintain clearance from an antenna atop a tower led to the airplane’s subsequent impact with terrain during an attempted off-airport landing.
Alaska pilot crashes after running out of fuel
According to the Champion 7GC pilot, shortly after takeoff and about 500′ above ground level, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. He made a forced landing in a field near Palmer, Alaska. The airplane landed hard and hit a telephone pole. The pilot reported to the FAA Aviation […]
Flight into thunderstorm fatal for two
The pilot’s inadequate preflight and in-flight weather planning resulted in continued flight into a thunderstorm and a subsequent loss of airplane control.
Rusty cylinders contribute to crash
A partial loss of engine power due to low cylinder compression. Contributing to the loss of engine power was rust formation in the cylinders due to inactivity.




