The pilot of the tailwheel equipped Piper PA-18 reported that during the landing roll on a sandbar in Palmer, Alaska, as the sand transitioned from dry sand to wet sand, he applied brakes and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lift strut and the empennage. According to the pilot there […]
aviation accidents
Pilot crashes after failing to prepare to land at unusual island airport
The private pilot and a passenger departed for a personal flight in a Cessna 172 to an island airport located on top of a plateau near Avalon, California. While on final approach for landing, the airplane descended below the elevation of the runway threshold. The pilot attempted to conduct a go-around, but was unable to […]
Cessna 182 hits goose
The pilot reported during day visual meteorological conditions, he struck a goose at an altitude of about 2,000′ mean sea level while in cruise flight. The Cessna 182’s wind screen was shattered after the impact. The pilot reported he continued to the nearest airport in Moorestown, Michigan, and landed without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed […]
Landing gear separates on landing
The airline transport pilot/owner was conducting a personal cross-country flight in the Piper Sport LSA. The pilot reported that, after the main landing gear touched down at the airport in Mansfield, Ohio, he eased the backpressure on the control stick and that the nose landing gear (NLG) then separated from the airplane. The airplane slid […]
Fractured exhaust pipe contributes to Cirrus crash
While in cruise flight, the private pilot experienced a vibration and noise that seemed to be originating from the Cirrus SR20’s engine. He reported that the engine RPM became erratic, and the airplane became harder to control due to the unusual vibration. As he proceeded to the closest airport for a precautionary landing, the engine […]
Gusty winds bring bad end to skydiving flight
The pilot was landing the de Havilland DHC 6 Twin Otter in gusty crosswind conditions following a parachute jump flight, reporting that the gusty conditions had persisted for the previous 10 skydiving flights that day. During the landing roll, when the nose wheel touched down at the airport in Fentress, Texas, the airplane became “unstable” […]
Student dies in training flight
The flight instructor was demonstrating a takeoff to the student pilot in the tailwheel-equipped Bellanca 7GCBC. During the takeoff from the airport in Midlothian, Texas, the instructor was flying the airplane and was seated in the rear seat, with the student pilot observing and following along on the flight controls in the front seat. The […]
Student’s solo bends Cessna 172
According to the student pilot, during landing on a solo flight at the airport in Payson, Arizona, the Cessna 172 porpoised. After landing he repositioned the airplane, but prior to takeoff, a fellow pilot, who witnessed the porpoise, contacted him on the VHF radio, and informed him that he should have the airplane checked out […]
LSA ends up on golf course after pilot fails to apply carb heat
The sport pilot reported that, as he was approaching the runway at the airport in Hilton Head, S.C., he retarded the throttle and descended from 1,300′ to 1,000′ mean sea level. He added that, a few seconds after retarding the throttle, the engine “ran rough” for a few seconds and then lost all power and […]