Aircraft: Zenair LTD CH 2000. Injuries: None. Location: Warrenton, Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The flight instructor and student pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, were practicing simulated engine out/aborted takeoff procedures. The student completed one aborted takeoff without incident. During a second attempt he over-rotated and the airplane climbed to an altitude of […]
NTSB Accidents
Buzzing kills two
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Osborn, Mo. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The airplane made a low pass in front of a witness’s house. The witness made a video recording of the first pass, which showed the airplane at tree-top level. The airplane came around for a second pass and hit the trees. Examination of […]
Second solo, first mishap
Aircraft: Cessna 152. Injuries: None. Location: Miami, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot had logged 29 hours, including two hours of solo flight time. The accident happened on his second solo flight. He reported that he felt the wind shift to a light tailwind just prior to landing on runway 27L. When the airplane […]
VFR into IMC kills two
Aircraft: Cessna 210. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Morgan, Utah. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: There was no record of the non-instrument pilot obtaining a weather briefing prior to departure into mountainous terrain. Weather information at the time of the flight reported mountain obscuration and precipitation. The pilot took off to pick up a passenger. After picking up […]
Stall leads to crash
Aircraft: Cessna Turbo 182. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Lebanon, N.H. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot took off from runway 36. A few minutes later when the plane was about a half mile from the runway at an altitude of 1,500 MSL, the pilot advised air traffic control that he needed to return to land. He […]
Loss of engine power brings down motorglider
Aircraft: Pipistrel Virus. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Ray, Mich. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: A witness reported that the motorglider engine did not sound normal during the preflight run-up or takeoff. The motorglider launched to the west and entered a gradual left turn. When the aircraft was approximately 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. […]
Drugged pilot crashes stolen airplane
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Fresno, Calif. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: At the time of the accident the 52-year-old pilot did not possess a valid pilot’s certificate. According to FAA records, he had been issued a student pilot certificate and third class medical in November 1987. At that time, he indicated he had about […]
Unusual attitude leads to crash
Aircraft: Cessna Turbo 206. Injuries: 2 Fatal, 2 Serious. Location: Show Low, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The private pilot, who did not have an instrument rating, and three passengers took off before dawn. The moon was below the horizon. At the time of the departure the airport’s automated weather observation system was reporting eight miles […]
Snow snags Aviat
Aircraft: Aviat A-1. Injuries: None. Location: Somerset, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot attempted a takeoff on a snow-covered runway. Earlier in the day he had landed on the runway. The snow was about 6 inches deep. During the takeoff roll, the airplane struck a snow drift and nosed over. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate […]