aviation accidents

The pilot, accompanied by a flight instructor, was conducting mountainous backcountry familiarization training. The flight instructor reported they taxied about 1,000′ down the runway because the field was wet. During takeoff at a high altitude (6,370′ elevation) backcountry airstrip in Stanley, Idaho, the airplane became airborne near the end of the runway. During the initial climb, […]

The airline transport pilot reported that he was flying his experimental, amateur-built Tiger Moth about 500′ above ground level over his ranch in Decatur, Texas, when he smelled something burning. About 15 seconds later, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the propeller stopped spinning. The airplane hit a ditch and nosed over […]

The pilot reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff in the Mini Max 1200, he noticed the controls were “loose and sloppy.” He decided to return to the airport in Batesville, Indiana, and land. During the turn back to the airport, the plane’s nose dropped, and the pilot increased back pressure on the control […]

According to the pilot, he was returning to his home airport after purchasing the Glasair SH-2F. Before returning home, he received a two-hour checkout in the airplane. Upon arrival at the airport in State College, Pa., the weather had deteriorated. Rain made it hard to see and the wind was gusting. The pilot had to […]

The flight instructor reported that this was her fifth instructional flight with the student and that they were practicing takeoffs and landings in the pattern at the airport in Cornelia, Georgia. She recalled that the previous landing accomplished by the student was “squirrelly.” She reminded the student pilot “how and why not to use the […]

During a local flight, the pilot and passenger, who held a student pilot certificate, were searching a lake for a submerged boat. The passenger stated that while maneuvering at a low altitude, the pilot banked the Kitfox IV about 45° to 60° at an airspeed of about 50 miles per hour. During the turn, the […]

According to the pilot of the Cessna 172, he made a normal landing, but the plane began to veer left of the centerline during the landing roll. He corrected with right rudder and heard a “thump” as if something affixed to the airplane was being dragged, and the rudder steering became ineffective. He recalled that, […]

During an aerial application flight to apply fungicide to a wheat field, the pilot was flying the Rockwell S2R from west to east making a spray pass along the south edge of the field, which was bordered by powerlines. About 660′ from the west end of the field where the pilot started his spray pass, […]

The pilot of the Beech F33A departed on a cross-country flight, but did not visually check the amount of fuel in the main tanks before departure, relying on his fuel gauges, which indicated the left tank was 2/3 full and the right tank was 1/2 full. Both wingtip fuel tanks were empty. The pilot departed […]