The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its summary of US civil aviation accidents for calendar year 2015. The summary includes details of all civil aviation accidents that occurred in 2015. Also available is accident trend data from 2006-2015, including: General Aviation Accidents, 2006-2015; General Aviation Accident Rates, 2006-2015; Purpose of Flight and Aircraft […]
aviation accidents
Pilot crashes after failing to remove parachute locking pin
The private pilot was departing in the Golden Circle Air T-Bird experimental light-sport airplane. Onboard video footage from a wingtip-mounted camera provided a view of the cockpit. The pilot could be seen with his left hand on the control yoke, but his right hand, which was near the engine throttle, was obscured. The airplane took […]
Distraction fatal for Piper pilot
The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. Shortly after takeoff, he told the air traffic controller that he needed to return to the airport due to an attitude heading reference system (AHRS) “miscommunication.” Air traffic control radar data indicated that, at that time, the Piper PA-46 was about 1.75 miles north of the […]
Fuel starvation brings down Piper
The private pilot and a passenger were conducting a night cross-country flight. About 15 miles from the destination, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was only able to obtain momentary engine power each time he pumped the throttle. He then performed a forced landing to […]
Forced landing on bridge brought on by fuel contamination
According to the pilot, the Piper PA-18A departed the runway and climbed to 3,000′ above ground level. She reported that while maneuvering, the airplane lost engine power. After several attempts to restart the engine, she made a forced landing on a highway bridge in Girdwood, Alaska. During the landing roll, the right wing hit a sign […]
Improperly installed part leads to crash
The pilot of the experimental amateur-built Minicoupe reported that during the takeoff roll at the airport in Middle River, Maryland, the airplane veered to the left. As it neared the left edge of the runway, the pilot rotated the airplane in an attempt to become airborne, but the plane aerodynamically stalled three feet above the […]
Equipment failure brings down Globe
The private pilot reported that, before departure, he performed an engine run-up with carburetor heat applied, and no anomalies were noted. He departed for the personal local flight, and when the Globe GC1B reached about 100′ above ground level, the engine power decreased from 2,400 to 1,600 rpm, so he executed a forced landing to […]
Two die when pilot on meth crashes
The non-instrument-rated pilot and one passenger departed at an unknown time from an unknown location into dark night conditions that were forecast to be marginal visual flight rules to instrument flight rules conditions. A witness observed the Cessna 140 circling overhead, and stated that the appearance of the airplane’s exterior lights suggested that it was […]
Cessna 310’s landing gear malfunctions
The private pilot was landing his Cessna 310 at the airport in Kennesaw, Georgia, after conducting a local flight. He reported that, during the landing roll, after a normal touchdown on the concrete runway, the left main landing gear (MLG) collapsed. The airplane then veered left off of the runway onto grass. The airplane sustained […]