The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped Grumman G164A AgCat biplane in Welsh, Louisiana. He stated that, during the landing roll as the tailwheel touched down, the nose of the airplane veered sharply to the left. He attempted to correct with right rudder, but the airplane exited the runway and ground looped. During […]
aviation accidents
Plane strikes wire, ends up in river
The pilot reported that during a low level flight, the Aviat A-1C-200 struck a wire over a river near Irwin, Idaho. The landing gear contacted the wire, the wire stretched like a “bungee cord,” and then the wire broke. The airplane pulled to the right with the wire still attached. The pilot landed in the river, […]
GA posts ‘historically low’ accident rates
A new report that reviewed general aviation accidents for 2014 shows that “significant improvements and historically low accident rates” posted in 2013 were not an anomaly. “Across the general aviation community, we can take pride that our collaborative efforts appear to be having a positive, sustained impact,” said Richard McSpadden, executive director of the Aircraft […]
Piper cartwheels on landing
The pilot reported that while en route to his destination, the wind at the Susanville, California, airport was reported as 180° magnetic, at 19 to 22 knots, gusting 25 to 28 knots. He added 5 knots to the “normal speed” of 70 knots for approach to “help compensate” for the gusts. About 20 feet above the […]
Failure of brake line tubing leads to ground loop
The pilot reported that after a simulated rope break maneuver while towing a glider, he maneuvered to the runway in Midlothian, Texas, and landed “normal.” He said that during the landing roll the Cessna 305 “yawed” to the left. He applied right rudder inputs to correct the yaw, but it was ineffective. He said he […]
172 pilot exceeds angle of attack on takeoff
The pilot reported that after a “normal” landing, he performed a 180° turn at the end of the grass airstrip in New Enterprise, Pennsylvania, and started his takeoff roll. After accelerating to 65 miles per hour, he reported the Cessna 172 became airborne at the crest of an incline, but about 20 feet above the […]
Bird strike bends Piper
The pilot reported the Piper PA-23-250 was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet above mean sea level (1,920 feet above ground level) when he heard a “bang” and felt a jolt in the flight controls. He noted no abnormal flight characteristics, so he continued the flight and landed without incident in Joliet, Illinois. After landing, […]
Tail strike damages Aero Commander
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, a vehicle entered the runway at the airport in The Dalles, Oregon, and he immediately pulled back on the yoke in his Aero Commander 500B to climb and avoid the vehicle. As the airplane began to rotate, he simultaneously retracted the landing gear, and he felt a […]
Hard landing bends Cessna 177
The pilot reported that the Cessna 177 porpoised three times on the second landing, and bounced once on the third and final landing. He reported that while taxing to the fuel pump at the airport in Los Angeles, he noticed he had a “flat tire” on the nose wheel. During a post-accident examination of the […]