The pilot reported that about five hours into a night cross-country flight the Beech A23’s engine started running rough. He switched between the left and right fuel tanks several times, adjusted the mixture, but was unsuccessful in correcting the issue. He knew that he would not make it to the nearest airport, so he turned […]
aviation accidents
Pilot hits light pole on busy ramp
The pilot reported that during taxi through a high traffic density ramp area at the airport in Punta Gorda, Florida, the Cessna 172’s left wing hit a light pole, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine […]
Fire destroys Champion after muddy landing
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Champion 7ECA, after performing a flight near Kinder, Louisiana, he made a normal approach to a dirt and grass covered airstrip. As he executed a wheel landing, the airplane veered left of the airstrip as the left main landing gear began to sink into the mud. The airplane […]
Bowers Fly Baby stalls on takeoff
The pilot reported that during the initial climb, the Bowers Fly Baby aerodynamically stalled. He was unable to recover the airplane due to the low altitude and the plane hit a field off the departure end of the runway in Guthrie, Oklahoma. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and right elevator, […]
Would you report a risky pilot to the FAA?
In a new blog post, Leah Read, a senior air safety investigator in the NTSB Office of Aviation Safety, warns against turning a blind eye to risky behavior in another pilot. She notes that when NTSB investigators arrive at the scene of a fatal accident, they soon pick up on clues that the pilot exhibited […]
First flight after overhauled engine installed goes badly
The sport pilot/mechanic reported that the accident happened on the first flight in the experimental, amateur-built Ginny B after he installed an overhauled engine. About 30 minutes after takeoff, the engine experienced a sudden and total loss of power and would not restart. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a grass field near South […]
Improper soft-field landing technique bends RV-9
The pilot reported that while landing on a grass airstrip in Allison, Iowa, the RV-9’s nose landing gear “caught” on the soft turf and collapsed. The airplane slid about 60′, the forward portion of the fuselage hit terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, rudder, vertical stabilizer, and […]
Low altitude, airspeed bad combination
The non-certificated pilot reported that he conducted a low approach over the turf runway in Neshkoro, Wisconsin, at 50′ above ground level with the engine power at idle. About halfway down the runway, he applied full power, but the engine did not respond. He entered a shallow left turn and slowed the Challenger II to stall […]
Takeoff in crosswind bends landing gear
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll about 60 knots with a “slight” crosswind, he “felt an abrupt” turn to the right, heard a “huge steady scrape” sound, and noted a vibration. Airborne at 65 knots, he reported a strong gust of wind from the left that felt like a quartering tail wind. He […]