After an uneventful cross-country flight in a Piper Cherokee, the pilot began the landing descent into Rock Springs, Wyo., by reducing engine power. When the plane approached the base leg of the traffic pattern, he performed the landing checklist, which included switching the fuel selector valve to the left tip tank. While turning the base […]
NTSB Accidents
Loss of control during missed approach
The pilot of a Bonanza accompanied by three passengers was approaching the airport in Richwood, La., in IFR conditions. When he checked in with the approach controller he gave his position as south of the airport at 7,000 feet MSL. When the airplane was about 33 miles from the airport, the controller told the pilot to […]
Super Decathalon weathervanes on landing
Aircraft: Super Decathalon. Injuries: None. Location: Melbourne, Ark. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the accident happened during a landing attempt. He intended to perform a three-point landing. The touch-down was normal, but during the landing roll the airplane weathervaned to the right side of the runway. The pilot applied left rudder […]
Bonanza caught in fog
Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: 2 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Correctionville, Iowa. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The commercial pilot was in cruise flight at night and receiving flight-following services. The airplane was instrument equipped and the pilot held an instrument rating. He advised air traffic control that he had the airport in sight. The […]
Thorp destroyed in flight
Aircraft: Thorp T-18. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Pahokee, Fla. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: Family members notified authorities when the airplane was overdue. The wreckage was found in pieces along the route of flight the next day. It was determined that the pilot was operating under visual flight rules while receiving radar traffic advisory […]
Spatial disorientation kills four
Aircraft: Piper Matrix. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Greensburg, Ind. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The instrument-rated private pilot was executing a non-precision instrument approach procedure at night in deteriorating weather conditions. According to GPS track data, he executed the approach as published, but descended below the missed approach point’s minimum altitude before executing a […]
Cirrus escapes during hand-propping
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: None. Location: Eden Prairie, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: When the pilot attempted to start the engine, the starter motor turned, but the starter did not engage. He turned off the battery master switch, exited the airplane, and walked around to the front of the airplane. He reached through […]
Turbulence destroys King Air
Aircraft: Beech King Air. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Amarillo, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The accident happened during an IFR cross-country flight. The 1,650-hour pilot, who held an instrument rating, was in contact with air traffic control during the flight. The controller cleared the plane to flight level 210 and gave the pilot […]
Poor planning puts airplane in drink
Aircraft: Skybolt. Injuries: None. Location: Sarasota, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: About a month before the accident, the pilot added about 17 gallons of fuel to the bottom fuel tank. About 25 minutes into the accident flight, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot ditched the airplane in the […]