aviation accidents

Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to initiate the flight in marginal visual flight rules over mountainous terrain, which resulted in an inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological and downdraft conditions and the subsequent controlled flight into trees and terrain.

Probable cause: Impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to yield to traffic established on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.

Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of an empty fuel tank for takeoff, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly secure his seat before initiating the takeoff, which resulted in the seat sliding back as the airplane accelerated during takeoff, his inability to reach the pedals, and the subsequent loss of directional control and impact with trees and shrubs.

Probable cause: An impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the muffler attachment hardware, which resulted in the muffler separating in flight, thermal damage that interrupted the magnetos’ function, and the subsequent total loss of engine power.

Probable cause: The inability of the pilot of the Piper and the student pilot and flight instructor of the Diamond to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing to the collision was the Piper pilot’s failure to use the correct common traffic advisory frequency to announce his airplane’s position.

Probable cause: Fatigue failure of the No. 1 cylinder intake valve, which resulted in the loss of engine power.