aviation accidents

The pilot reported that, about 10 miles from the destination airport, he switched the left and right fuel tanks from the auxiliary position to the main tank position. On final approach for landing and when the Piper PA-24-250 was at an altitude of about 500 feet, the engine stopped producing power. The propeller continued to rotate, […]

Shortly after takeoff from Santa Monica Municipal Airport in Southern California, the pilot advised the air traffic control tower controller that the Ryan’s engine had lost power, and he requested an immediate return to the airport. He initiated a left turn toward the airport, however during the approach, he realized that the airplane was unable […]

The pilot departed for a local flight in Logan, Utah, with the fuel gauges showing about a quarter full in each fuel tank. The pilot did not perform a visual inspection of the fuel tanks during his pre-flight procedures. About 30 minutes into the flight, he headed back to the airport. Prior to reaching the airport, […]

During a ferry flight, while turning from downwind leg to base leg of the airport traffic pattern in Siler City, N.C., the pilot became distracted when the Bellanca 17 31A’s cabin door popped open. He continued on the approach and prior to touchdown, advanced the propeller rpm, set the mixture to full rich, and put the flaps […]

The pilot reported that, after the Van’s RV-6A took off from the airport in Green Valley, Arizona, and reached an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He then initiated a right turn toward the airport. Subsequently, the plane hit terrain and trees adjacent to the runway and nosed over. Post-accident examination […]

According to the pilot, the runway he intended to depart from at the airport in Waycross, Georgia, was parallel to the taxiway and parking ramp. He assumed that after making two right turns he would be on the runway. He reported that he did not have any airport diagrams to navigate with, while operating on the […]

The pilot made a soft-field landing to a grass runway in Williamson, Georgia, and the initial touchdown was on the main wheels with the Cessna 172 in a nose-up attitude. As the plane decelerated, the pilot lowered the nosewheel and felt a “significant” shimmy after it touched down. He thought the shimmy damper had failed, so he […]

Two witnesses reported observing the Bellanca 8KCAB fly over a private airstrip that was adjacent to a small lake near Kosciusko, Mississippi. One witness said that the airplane initially made a high pass over the airstrip before it turned back at a lower altitude and then “buzzed” over the lake. He said that, when the airplane […]

The pilot was flying the Ercoupe 415C under a ferry permit to the destination airport. However, due to unsafe runway conditions at that airport, he chose to land at an alternate airport near St. Jacob, Illinois. Upon arrival at the alternate airport, he executed an aborted landing. He applied engine power and climbed to about 150 to […]