The pilot departed on a flight around Independence, Oregon. During the initial climb, the canopy on the Thorp T-18 partially disconnected and the airplane vibrated violently. He made a precautionary landing in a field, and the right wing hit a fence post. Post-accident examination revealed that the mechanism that allowed the canopy to move fore and aft […]
aviation accidents
Equipment failure leads to oil starvation
During the en route climb to cruise altitude, the low oil pressure warning light activated. The pilot notified air traffic control, received vectors to the nearest airport, and began a descent as the oil pressure continued to decrease. About three miles from the airport in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the Cirrus SR22’s engine experienced a total loss […]
Kitfox’s propeller gearbox fails in flight
While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing, the private pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane heard a “clunk” sound from the front of the Kitfox, however, the propeller continued to rotate and the engine appeared to be operating normally. He continued to the base and final legs of the traffic pattern […]
What you need to know about aviation insurance
Nothing can take the joy out of being a pilot or aircraft owner like having an incident with your aircraft, then learning that it is not covered, or not sufficiently covered, by your aviation insurance. To avoid that one-two punch, it’s critical you understand what you need and what you’re getting when purchasing your aviation […]
Training flight ends in fuel starvation
The flight instructor and student pilot departed their home airport with about 34 gallons of fuel on board the Piper PA-28 for a planned 60-mile, round-trip, cross-country instructional flight. The student pilot reported that, after landing at the destination airport, they completed two more full-stop landings before returning to, and then landing uneventfully at, the […]
Mooney and Boeing biplane collide on runway
According to the pilots of a Mooney and a Boeing A75N, they arrived at the non-towered airport in Farmington, Delaware, and entered the traffic patterns for opposing sides of the 3,588-foot runway at approximately the same time. The Mooney entered the pattern on a left downwind for Runway 34. The pilot said he made radio […]
Equipment failure leads to gear-up landing
The pilot reported that during the takeoff initial climb, after the landing gear was retracted, the landing gear’s hydraulic pump electric motor continued to run, even though the landing gear appeared to be fully retracted, as viewed in the landing gear mirror. He then attempted to extend the landing gear normally, but the landing gear […]
Loss of control for unknown reasons kills two
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the instrument-rated pilot was cleared for an instrument approach in actual instrument meteorological conditions. About two minutes later, the Beech F33A entered a right descending turn away from the airport. The controller attempted to contact the pilot, but received no response. The airplane hit a reservoir about eight […]
Training flight goes awry for Lancair pilot
While practicing an emergency descent during a dual training flight, the pilot receiving instruction entered the Lancair IV-P into a steep dive, which resulted in a 0.5-G load factor for about five seconds and a transient drop in engine oil pressure of about 15 psi. As the descent continued, engine speed steadily increased beyond the […]