Probable Cause: The failure of the flight instructor and the pilot to visually confirm the airplane’s fuel quantity during preflight, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and an off-airport forced landing in rough terrain.
Aircraft
Picture of the Day: Study Break
Lindsay Petre submitted this photo and note: “Needing a break from studying for my private rotorcraft, I took a little solo trip around the beautiful springtime Connecticut countryside in the Robinson R22.”
Flying Lower and Slower at 86
At 86, retired attorney Peter Hartmann has transitioned from a fast Turbo Cessna 210 to a lower, slower Lake Amphibian. He shares how a modern digital cockpit keeps him safely flying — and adjusting to the realities of aging in the sky.
Piston Aircraft Deliveries Climb So Far in 2026
GAMA’s first quarter report shows notable increases in piston airplane and business jet deliveries. While total airplane shipment values soared to $6.1 billion, helicopter shipments experienced slight declines across the board.
ALSIM Introduces its First FTD Level 6 Simulator
US Aviation Academy has ordered five of the ALSIM P2006T MKII simulators, which replicate the Tecnam P2006T MKII twin-engine aircraft, according to ALSIM officials.
Passenger Not Wearing Seatbelt Seriously Injured When Pilot Loses Control While Landing
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing on a wet turf runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to ensure the passenger’s proper use of seatbelts before the landing.
Picture of the Day: Marking A Milestone
Christian Sanchez submitted this photo and note: “On this day, I pointed the nose and flew to Palacios, Texas. While this little coastal town may not mean much to most people, it’s a town that marked a milestone for me: My 500th hour in the sky.”
High-Tech and High Speeds: Brian Pendleton’s Lancair Evolution Steals the Show
Los Angeles producer and pilot Brian Pendleton turned heads at the 2026 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo with his newly painted Lancair Evolution. Featuring a unique, high-tech circuit board design utilizing state-of-the-art heat-dissipating paint, the high-speed composite aircraft reflects its owner’s love for aviation, technology, and adventure.
Honoring Our Veterans
General Aviation News Of Wings & Things columnist Fred Johnsen spent Memorial Day 2026 at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, Idaho, and captured this video.