Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: St. Paul, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The tower controller informed the pilot that the wind was from 230°. The pilot had the option of landing on runway 27 or runway 14, and chose runway 14, which gave the airplane a quartering tailwind. The pilot said the visual approach was […]
NTSB Accidents
Low altitude aerobatics leads to fatal crash
Aircraft: American Champion 8KCAB Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Marysville, Ohio. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was performing low-altitude aerobatics for a ground-based observer to renew his low-level aerobatic competency waiver. According to the observer the airplane appeared to be pulling out of a dive following a “modified clover-leaf/split-‘S,” when it hit the ground in a […]
Failure to go missed kills one
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 2 Serious. Location: Denton, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The commercial pilot and flight instructor received clearance to fly the ILS approach to runway 18. Weather was reported as 200-feet ceiling and 1/2-mile visibility with fog. An observer, who sat in a rear seat, recalled that the airplane entered a […]
Gear collapses on rollout
Aircraft: Piper Seminole. Injuries: None. Location: Lawrenceville, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: A CFI and pilot receiving instruction were practicing power-off stalls. While configuring the airplane, the pilots noted that after selecting the gear down position there was an unsafe gear indication. The CFI made several unsuccessful attempts to extend the landing gear using the emergency […]
Wing fails in flight
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee Six. Injuries: 5 Fatal. Location: Bryan, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The instrument-rated private pilot and four passengers were flying on a cross-country flight in IFR conditions. The airplane was in cruise flight at an altitude of 8,000 feet MSL when it entered an area of heavy rain showers. The pilot informed an […]
Botched takeoff bends Cessna
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, […]
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 […]