The pilot stated that prior to entering the traffic pattern at the airport in The Dalles, Oregon, he did not visually verify or confirm that the landing gear positioning lights indicated that the gear was extended and locked. After turning onto the base leg he deployed full flaps and conducted a memorized pre-landing checklist, however […]
aviation accidents
Sightseeing flight ends in forced landing
The pilot reported that while conducting a low-level sightseeing flight near Garfield, Washington, he inadvertently collided with an unmarked power line with the Piper PA-28’s left wing. He subsequently made a precautionary landing in a field without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain clearance from […]
Crosswind contributes to ground loop
The pilot reported that immediately after touchdown at the airport in Carson City, California, he felt a very strong crosswind from the left that kicked the Cessna 185’s tail to the right. He then added full right rudder and full power in an attempt to go around, however, the torque and P-factor, combined with the wind […]
Twin Otters crash on runway
A de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter hit another Twin Otter on the runway at Sebastian, Florida. The pilot of the first Twin Otter reported that, once she started the engines, the airplane rolled forward and to the left 180° because the steering-tiller had been positioned sharply to the left when the airplane was last parked. She added that, […]
Pilot loses control of Autogryo
After departing from the airport where the pilot kept the Autogyro, he flew to his family farm near Crozet, Virginia, and landed without incident on a 1,500-foot-long grass polo field. Later on, during an attempted takeoff from the same field, when the gyroplane was traveling at 25 to 30 knots and was about 150 feet […]
Extreme turbulence bends B300
The pilot reported that while in a descent from 16,000 feet, at 1,500 feet per minute, slowing from 190 knots indicated airspeed to 160 knots, the Raytheon Aircraft Co. B300 encountered extreme turbulence. He reported one hard jolt up/down, followed by about 15 seconds of light turbulence, then one final hard jolt similar to the first. […]
Student plows 152 into snow bank
According to the student pilot, he was performing takeoffs and landings in the local traffic pattern at the airport in Shirley, N.Y. While on short final, he flared too high, the Cessna 152 stalled, then landed hard and bounced. He attempted a go-around, however the plane veered to the left and hit a snow bank. An FAA […]
Fuel exhaustion brings down Piper
According to the flight instructor and the pilot-rated student, both believed the Piper PA 18-150 had been fueled at the time it was pulled out of the hangar by line personnel, and they both observed a fuel truck parked near the airplane prior to the flight. The student had performed the preflight inspection, during which he interpreted […]
Gusting winds surprise pilot
The pilot reported that he was landing the Piper PA-32 at the airport in Valdosta, Georgia, in turbulent conditions with gusting wind. During the landing flare, the plane encountered an updraft, followed immediately by a downdraft. The plane subsequently hit the runway and the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. Review […]