Aircraft: Kitfox Classic IV. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Myrtle Creek, Ore. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: While taxiing to the run-up area, the pilot noted the windsock aligned with his intended departure runway. Following an uneventful engine run-up, he taxied onto the runway and noted the windsock shifted to a 90° crosswind, then realign […]
NTSB Accidents
Hard landing for Piper
Aircraft: Piper Malibu. Injuries: None. Location: Allentown, Pa. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land in a gusting crosswind. He applied a crosswind correction intending to land first on the the right main wheel, which was into the wind. The airplane touched down harder than the pilot intended and swerved […]
Unlicensed pilot uses closed airport
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 2 Serious. Location: Welch, W.Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, whose student pilot certificate was expired, was practicing landings with a tailwind in the traffic pattern at a closed airport in an unregistered airplane. According to FAA records, the airplane was registered to an individual in Georgia, but […]
Hard landing for Liberty
Aircraft: Liberty XL-2. Injuries: None. Location: Burlington, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the student pilot, he was attempting a second touch-and-go landing and takeoff. As he turned onto final approach, another airplane was crossing the runway threshold for a full stop landing. The pilot continued the approach, but slowed the airplane […]
Gear gives out on Mooney
Aircraft: Mooney M20J. Injuries: None. Location: Romeoville, Illinois. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane was touching down when the left main landing gear collapsed. It subsequently veered to the left and hit a runway edge identifier light. A post-accident examination confirmed that the left main landing gear had partially collapsed into its wheel […]
Deep snow traps Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Grass Valley, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land on a snow-covered runway. He obtained an automated weather observation report from the non-towered airport, with no indication on the recording that the runway was closed. Shortly after touchdown, as the airplane began its […]
Headwind distracts pilot
Aircraft: Beech G35. Injuries: None. Location: Brenham, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was attempting to land at a busy non-towered airport, encountered a strong gusty headwind during the approach. Distracted by the headwind, he forgot to extend the landing gear. After the airplane came to a stop, he removed his […]
Poor maintenance results in accident
Aircraft: Great Lakes 2T-1A-2. Injuries: None. Location: Kingsville, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The purpose of the flight was to give the pilot a chance to practice aerobatic maneuvers for an upcoming airshow. After completing a hammerhead turn, he felt a slight vibration and the pitch control felt unusual. Returning to the airport, […]
Low altitude stall for Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Andrews, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane had lifted off and was approximately 400 to 500 feet above ground when the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to glide to the ground, but when the plane was about 100 feet AGL, it stalled, then crashed. […]