While on a cross-country flight over an area of mountainous terrain near Homer, Alaska, the Cessna 140 pilot noticed a bear near the entrance to a mountain pass. While orbiting over the bear, a strong downdraft emanating from the pass entrance caused the airplane to descend toward the saddle of the mountain pass. The pilot […]
NTSB Accidents
Contaminated fuel brings down Luscombe
The flight instructor reported that, during the initial climb for the instructional flight with the student pilot/owner at the controls of the Luscombe 8A, the engine began to lose power. The flight instructor assumed the controls and attempted a forced landing on a road in a residential area near Mount Dora, Florida. During the forced […]
Checklist blows outside plane
The pilot reported that after completing his before takeoff checklist, the checklist was “blown” outside of the Evektor Sportstar at the airport in Eufaula, Alabama. After he retrieved the checklist and restarted his engine, he stated that he “scanned all the instruments but did not go through the complete checklist.” As the main landing gear […]
Balked landing injures pilot
During a cross country flight, the pilot of the experimental amateur-built Mustang II encountered thunderstorms along his route. This added an additional 45 minutes of unanticipated flight time. He was concerned that night conditions were present, his airplane was not equipped with a landing light, and his destination airport was not lighted. As a result, he decided […]
Cessna stalls during banner tow flight
The pilot reported that while conducting banner towing operations in Renton, Washington, after the Cessna 150 passed through the banner pick up gates, he applied full throttle and pitched the nose of the airplane up. Once the airspeed reached 40 miles per hour, he looked back to ensure that the banner pickup was successful. When he turned […]
Pilatus pilot’s checkride goes awry
During a pilot competency checkride in Belgrade, Montana, while on downwind in the traffic pattern, the pilot reported that the examiner requested a zero flap, power off, 180° approach and landing. As the Pilatus PC-12 arrived at the threshold, the pilot noted higher than normal airspeed and a greater than normal approach angle of attack. He increased […]
Sinkhole claims Cessna 182
The pilot reported that while taxiing to the active runway in Athens, Tennessee, about 50 yards ahead, he saw what appeared to be a black oval, four to five feet in diameter on the taxiway. He stated that he believed it was a wet spot or an area of new pavement, and started to steer around […]
Fuel starvation brings down C210
In preparation for a local flight, the pilot performed a preflight inspection of the Cessna 210, which included checking the fuel gauges, but he did not look into the fuel tanks to verify the fuel quantity. He recalled that both fuel gauges indicated below half full. The engine start, taxi, and run-up were performed uneventfully, […]
C188 hits power line
The Cessna 188 hit a powerline near Crawfordsville, Indiana, during an aerial application maneuver, sustaining substantial wing and fuselage damage. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the powerline during an aerial application operations. NTSB Identification: CEN15CA293 This July 2015 accident report is provided by […]