aviation accidents

Probable cause: The airplane’s collision with a bird during approach.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering the airplane at a very low altitude in a confined area while attempting to land on a river.

Probable cause: The undetected wear of the ignition switch and key, which allowed removal of the key from an intermediate position and subsequently led to an unintended engine start-up. Contributing to the undetected wear of the 42-year-old ignition switch was the lack of guidance by the switch manufacturer and airframe manufacturer for procedures to detect lack of integrity between the ignition key and switch.

Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper decision to conduct a solo flight without an endorsement to do so and to perform an off-airport landing based on a perceived performance issue with the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of training and overall experience.

Probable cause: The pilot’s improper approach over a river, which resulted in a collision with a dock.

Probable cause: The pilot’s intentional low-altitude flight, which resulted in an impact with power lines.

Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot’s intentional visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to complete the flight as planned.

Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during final approach, which resulted in a hard landing short of the runway and the nose landing gear collapsing.

Probable cause: The loss of right engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted from corrosion debris in the fuel lines. Contributing to the accident was the mechanic’s and pilot’s inadequate maintenance of the airplane before the flight.