aviation accidents

Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain an appropriate approach speed in crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane landing long on the wet runway and his subsequent loss of directional control when he attempted to exit the runway at high speed onto a taxiway, which resulted in the airplane subsequently colliding with three airplanes on the ramp.

Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to conduct a low-altitude flight over a river and his inadequate monitoring of the environment, which resulted in a collision with a cableway.

Probable cause: The Extra pilot’s failure to see and avoid the Cessna, which resulted in an in-flight collision. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the Extra pilot to tune his radio to the correct frequency, which resulted in no common traffic advisories being heard or recognized as relevant by either pilot.  

Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent navigation onto a service road instead of a taxiway, which resulted in a collision with a stop sign.

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

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.