Aircraft: Cessna 120. Injuries: None. Location: Montague, Mass. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to take off. As the airplane accelerated to 40 mph, the engine sputtered and the pilot reduced power to abort the takeoff. The sputtering ceased, so the pilot added power to continue the takeoff. The engine sputtered a second time, […]
NTSB Accidents
Bad bounce for Cirrus
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: None. Location: Farmville, Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to regain his night currency. According to the pilot, he was attempting to land using the GPS approach. The airplane was lined up on the runway centerline with the approach lights in sight. At 500 […]
Failure to follow emergency procedures contributes to crash
Aircraft: Cessna 421. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Sioux Falls, S.D. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: Shortly after the airplane lifted off, the tower controller informed the pilot that a plume of smoke was visible behind the airplane. Witnesses reported seeing flames at the inboard side of the left engine. The airplane began a left turn. When it […]
Scud run kills two
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee Six. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: St. Ignace, Mich. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot took off from an airport on the mainland with the intention to drop a passenger off on an island located about five miles off shore. No IFR flight plan was filed although instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at both the […]
Test flight ends in crash
Aircraft: Wittman Tailwind. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Fulton, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was also the builder of the experimental aircraft, was making the flight to become more familiar with the plane in order to complete the required 40 flight hours of the phase one operating limitations. The pilot had logged 759.6 hours […]
Low-level aerobatics kill two
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Boynton Beach, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial What reportedly happened: Both people on board the Cirrus were pilots. At the time of the accident, the plane was returning from an airshow and flying in formation with two aerobatic airplanes. The pilot of one of the aerobatic airplanes reported that shortly after the Cirrus […]
Experienced pilot encounters ice
Aircraft: Cessna Skymaster. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Casper, Wyo. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The 61-year-old pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, held multiple ratings and had logged 4,582 hours, including 687.3 hours in the Skymaster. Additionally, he recorded 644.7 hours of actual instrument time and 648.9 hours of night time. According to the pilot’s logbook […]
Pilot ignores poor aircraft performance
Aircraft: Ercoupe 415-C Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor. Location: Mulberry, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot did not have a valid medical certificate, which was required for the flight. He filled the airplane’s fuel tanks and flew about 45 minutes to another airport. He did not refuel. The pilot agreed to fly a passenger, who was […]
Student lands in deep snow
Aircraft: American Champion 8GCBC Injuries: None. Location: Ashton, Idaho. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot was not current in the airplane and his 90 day solo endorsement had expired. He had not been signed off to go to the accident airport. He intended to land on a privately-owned, rough grass airstrip covered with snow. He estimated […]