Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s decision to taxi behind a large multi-engine airplane, which resulted in an encounter with propeller blast and a loss of airplane control on the ground.
aviation accidents
Return to airport fatal for Cessna 414 pilot
Probable Cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and failure to maintain proper airspeed during a turn to final, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction due to a non-critical radio anomaly.
Failure of engine-driven fuel pump leads to total loss of engine power
Probable Cause: The failure of the engine-driven fuel pump, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the failure of the fuel pump was an unknown non-ferrous metallic debris that was noted throughout the airplane’s fuel system.
Engine catches fire after pilot floods it during cold engine start
Probable Cause: The pilot’s flooding the engine with fuel during a cold engine start, which resulted in an engine fire.
Carb ice fatal for CFI and student
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control after a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing while maneuvering for forced landing in dark night visual meteorological conditions.
Plane crashes while landing on snow-covered runway
Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to land on the snow-covered runway and his failure to attain/maintain aircraft control during landing rollout.
Human Factors: A good airplane in a bad neighborhood
In addition to picking the right airplane for the job, an important pilot skill is bringing the same level of thought to picking the right airport for the airplane.
VFR into IMC fatal
Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to initiate a visual flight rules flight into night instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in a loss of control in-flight due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of qualifications and experience in night instrument meteorological conditions.
Decision to fly plane not yet released from maintenance fatal for two
Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to fly the airplane without confirming it had been released from maintenance, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to loose magnetos. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.