The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during an attempted go-around, which resulted in impact with a snowbank.
aviation accidents
Helicopter hits truck during forced landing on road, killing passenger
Contamination of and an inadequate bond between the two layers of fabric comprising the helicopter engine’s air induction inlet duct, which resulted a partial collapse of the duct, obstruction of the airflow into the engine, and a total loss of engine power.
Biplane pilot loses control on landing roll
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch.
Homebuilt bent when pilot lands on grass next to runway
The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
Crosswind landing ends in crash
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control in flight and his subsequent loss of directional control during landing with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.
Distracted pilot forgets to extend landing gear
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
Student pilot stalls during landing attempt
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack when it inadvertently became airborne, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Aborted takeoff bends Luscombe
The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun, impact with a fence, and a nose-over.
If only…
Get-home-itis was the biggest link to the faulty judgment in this tragedy. It is a powerful force, so powerful that both men aboard were willing to risk single-engine flying over unlit mountainous terrain. In the middle of the night. Without an instrument rating. In smoke, clouds, and turbulence. With the moon adding all sorts of visual illusions — and with embedded thunderstorms along their route.