The airline transport pilot was conducting a personal flight in the experimental amateur-built Van’s RV-7, with one passenger on board. Several witnesses near Hurricane, Utah, reported that they heard the airplane’s engine and that it sounded like it was making power changes. They then saw airplane debris floating in the air. One witness stated that […]
aviation accidents
Cirrus pilot pulls chute too late
The private pilot had spent several hours flying practice instrument approaches to various airports. He stated he became distracted and failed to monitor the Cirrus SR22’s fuel state. His normal habit was to alternate between the airplane’s wing fuel tanks every 30 minutes, however he did not perform this action during the last hour of […]
Pilot commits suicide by plane
Witnesses reported seeing the Cessna 172 flying in an easterly direction at a very low altitude before striking the northwest corner of an office building in Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane’s wreckage continued traveling east while descending into an adjacent office building and subsequently struck an electrical transformer. A postcrash fire consumed the airplane wreckage. The […]
Loss of control fatal to two
The private pilot and his passenger departed on a cross-country flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported to the controller that he was having an engine problem and wanted to return to the airport. One witness heard the engine surge during the takeoff roll. Another witness stated that the Cirrus SR22 was on the ground […]
Open door distracts pilot
The pilot reported that prior to the takeoff roll, his son, who was in the front right seat, had difficulty shutting and locking the cabin door. The pilot reached over and ensured the door was locked. Shortly after liftoff the cabin door came open. He maneuvered the Beech 56 to stay in the traffic pattern […]
New pilot loses control on landing
The newly-certificated private pilot was conducting a sightseeing flight near San Jose, California, at night with friends in a Cessna 172. He was not familiar with the airport. During the initial approach to land, he performed a go-around. He returned to land and, during the landing roll, lost directional control of the airplane, which subsequently […]
Loss of engine power proves fatal
As the Cessna 182Q neared its destination airport in dark night visual meteorological conditions at the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the private pilot reported a partial loss of engine power. The air traffic controller provided the pilot with a vector and information for the nearest airport, which according to his display, was equipped with a […]
Bird hits Cessna 525
The pilot reported that while climbing through 3,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), a flock of birds was seen immediately in front of the Cessna 525. About a second after seeing the flock of birds, a single bird hit the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot returned to the airport in Monroeville, Alabama, and […]
Maintenance error leads to crash that seriously injures pilot
The pilot reported that the Cessna 120 was on final approach to the airport in Gonzales, Louisiana, when the engine started to lose power. He applied carburetor heat and switched fuel tanks, but engine power was not restored, so he made a forced landing to a field near the airport. The pilot was seriously injured. […]