aviation accidents

The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application pass, the elevator control felt abnormal. He chose to return to the airport and noted that the elevator control was unresponsive. He attempted to maintain pitch control by using the elevator trim, but turbulence made this difficult. During the off-field landing near Brickeys, Arkansas, the Air Tractor’s nose pitched down. […]

The pilot reported that, during takeoff climb, the RV-4’s engine sputtered, followed by a total loss of power. He executed a forced landing into a field near Marathon, Texas, and the plane hit a fence and nosed over, causing one serious and one minor injury. A post-accident examination of the fuel system, engine, and cockpit controls revealed no […]

The pilot was taking off in his tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 on a private, ice-covered, gravel runway in Talkeetna, Alaska. During the takeoff roll, ruts in the ground caused him to lose control of the airplane. The airplane struck a snow berm and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot said there […]

During an aerial application flight in a tailwheel-equipped Air Tractor AT-602, the commercial pilot departed the airstrip at Ropesville, Texas, with a full load of insecticide, but then realized the plane was equipped with improper spray nozzles, and returned to the airstrip. Considering the fully loaded configuration, he made one low approach and reported that […]

According to the pilot, he departed on a cross-country flight to his home airport in Westfield Township, Ohio. He planned to arrive about sunset and land to the west. His last recollection of events leading up to the accident was initiating a right turn from the base to final leg in the traffic pattern. The CubCrafters […]

The pilot reported that he was flying the Funk B85C about 700 feet above the ground in cruise flight when he felt the control stick “pop” and the nose of the airplane pitch down. He pulled back the throttle and turned off the magnetos. The passenger adjusted the elevator trim, however, the pitch attitude did […]

The F-1 Rocket pilot reported that, on final approach to landing, he added power to maintain the desired glidepath, but the engine did not respond. Despite adjusting the throttle and additional troubleshooting efforts, he noted no response from the engine. He reported that the engine remained running between 1,200 and 1,300 rpm. He initiated a forced […]

The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules aerial observation flight and returning to his home base. Radar and weather data showed the Cessna 182 maneuvering in instrument flight rules conditions before radar contact was lost. Examination of the accident site near El Paso, Texas, indicated the airplane hit rocky, mountainous terrain in a slight left-wing-low attitude […]

The balloon pilot reported that, halfway through the flight, he determined that the wind aloft was higher than anticipated and that the original planned landing destination was no longer suitable. While the Ultramagic SA N210 balloon was between 3,000 and 4,000 feet mean sea level, he started looking for another landing area and noted that the […]