The commercial pilot of the Pacific Aerospace 750XL reported he was preparing to release skydivers when he noticed that the engine torque indication was in the red arc. The gauge was indicating a torque of 70 pounds per square inch (psi) when it should have been indicating about 25 psi. The maximum allowed torque indication […]
NTSB Accidents
Spatial disorientation fatal for Piper pilot
The instrument-rated private pilot was operating the Piper PA-32-R on an instrument flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). As the plane neared the destination airport, the controller cleared the pilot for the instrument landing system (ILS) approach, instructed him to descend to 3,400′ mean sea level (msl), and provided him with a heading […]
Pilot dies in crash on golf course
The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight in Beech C24R. He last fueled the plane 10 days before the accident. Review of GPS data and fueling records revealed that between the last fueling and the accident, the airplane had been operated for nearly four hours. Several witnesses observed the airplane flying overhead as it […]
RV-7 breaks up inflight
The airline transport pilot was conducting a personal flight in the experimental amateur-built Van’s RV-7, with one passenger on board. Several witnesses near Hurricane, Utah, reported that they heard the airplane’s engine and that it sounded like it was making power changes. They then saw airplane debris floating in the air. One witness stated that […]
Cirrus pilot pulls chute too late
The private pilot had spent several hours flying practice instrument approaches to various airports. He stated he became distracted and failed to monitor the Cirrus SR22’s fuel state. His normal habit was to alternate between the airplane’s wing fuel tanks every 30 minutes, however he did not perform this action during the last hour of […]
Pilot commits suicide by plane
Witnesses reported seeing the Cessna 172 flying in an easterly direction at a very low altitude before striking the northwest corner of an office building in Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane’s wreckage continued traveling east while descending into an adjacent office building and subsequently struck an electrical transformer. A postcrash fire consumed the airplane wreckage. The […]
Loss of control fatal to two
The private pilot and his passenger departed on a cross-country flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported to the controller that he was having an engine problem and wanted to return to the airport. One witness heard the engine surge during the takeoff roll. Another witness stated that the Cirrus SR22 was on the ground […]
Open door distracts pilot
The pilot reported that prior to the takeoff roll, his son, who was in the front right seat, had difficulty shutting and locking the cabin door. The pilot reached over and ensured the door was locked. Shortly after liftoff the cabin door came open. He maneuvered the Beech 56 to stay in the traffic pattern […]
New pilot loses control on landing
The newly-certificated private pilot was conducting a sightseeing flight near San Jose, California, at night with friends in a Cessna 172. He was not familiar with the airport. During the initial approach to land, he performed a go-around. He returned to land and, during the landing roll, lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently […]