The pilot was conducting an instrument approach in instrument meteorological conditions to the airport in Sturgis, S.D. Upon reaching the decision altitude, the front seat passenger reported the runway was in front of the Piper PA-24. The pilot looked up from the instruments, but could not see the runway out the windscreen or the side […]
NTSB Accidents
Distracted pilot lands on taxiway
The pilot, who was conducting a cross-country flight in a Beech 95, entered the pattern at the airport in Casey, Illinois, on the crosswind leg and set the mixture and power for landing and extended the flaps. He reported that the right engine “sputtered” while the plane was abeam the runway threshold. He immediately checked […]
Dragging the landing site goes awry for Alaska pilot
The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight to a remote, off-airport site in Sleetmute, Alaska, in a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 180. He said that before landing he intended to fly a low pass over the snow-covered site to determine the condition of the snowpack, a maneuver commonly known as dragging the landing site. He said […]
First solo ends badly
The student pilot was performing his third stop and go landing during his first solo flight. He reported that during the landing flare he heard the stall warning horn, and he bounced the landing while traveling at a ground speed of approximately 45 knots. The student pilot remarked he was not able to control the […]
Crankshaft failure brings down Cessna 210
The private pilot reported that, 10 miles from the destination airport, the passengers heard a loud “clank” and smoke entered the Cessna 210’s cockpit. Shortly after, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot selected a field near Bryan, Texas, as a forced landing site, but the plane […]
Distracted pilot hits top of tree
During a cross-country flight at night, the pilot was attempting to deviate due to deteriorating weather. He failed to maintain terrain clearance and the Piper PA-34 hit the top of a tree. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane uneventfully at the airport in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, about 23 miles away from where the tree was hit. […]
Partial loss of engine power leads to forced landing
The pilot reported the Cessna 150 had seven gallons of fuel and that he had planned a short flight to a nearby airport to purchase more fuel. During initial climb, about 750′ above ground level, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but the engine rpm remained at about […]
Fatigue crack ends in ground loop
The private pilot was landing the Cessna 140 on a dry, hard-surfaced runway in Independence, Oregon. He said the approach and touchdown were normal. Just after touchdown, he felt “something similar to a bump,” and the airplane started to drift to the left. He thought that the plane possibly had a flat tire and tried to […]
Maule bent when passenger inadvertently pushes rudder pedal
According to the airline transport pilot, during the takeoff roll at the airport in Anchorage, Alaska, the Maule M-4 briefly exited the runway to the left after the passenger inadvertently pushed the left rudder pedal. While correcting for the runway excursion, the right main landing gear hit a taxiway sign. The pilot and passenger reported that they […]