There are a lot of stumbling blocks in the way of accurately turning on Pilot Controlled Lighting, so it may be time for a refresher on lighting up the night.
aviation accidents
Fuel exhaustion leads to forced landing on a golf course
The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and inflight fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
Malfunctioning tailwheel leads to loss of control on landing
The malfunction of the steerable tailwheel, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll and subsequent impact with the precision approach path indicator lights system.
Initiating takeoff roll from snow-covered taxiway a bad decision
The pilot’s improper decision to initiate the takeoff roll from a snow-covered taxiway, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a snow berm.
NTSB: CTAF should be required in Alaska
The recommendations come after an NTSB investigation into a midair collision involving a deHavilland DHC-2 and a Piper PA-12 that occurred on July 31, 2020, near Soldotna, Alaska. The pilot and five passengers on the DHC-2 were killed in the collision, as was the pilot on the PA-12.
Pilot seriously injured while hand-propping his Aeronca
The pilot’s improper starting procedure, which allowed the airplane to move forward over the wheel chocks and impact him and a hangar when he subsequently hand propped the engine.
New owner seriously injured in first flight in homebuilt
The owner/pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane due to his lack of training and experience, resulting in a collision with a tree.
Failure to turn on electric fuel pumps before takeoff leads to crash
The pilots’ failure to ensure that the electric fuel pumps were on before takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of power on both engines during initial climb.
Pilot seriously injured when plane crashes due to water and contaminates in the fuel
The partial loss of engine power due to water and contaminants in the fuel, due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, and the pilot’s decision to conduct a steep turn at low altitude to return to the runway rather than land straight ahead, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.