aviation accidents

While preparing for the flight, the pilot initiated the Cessna 185’s engine starting procedure, which included steps to advance the throttle and engage the electric fuel pump, in order to prime the fuel system. A subsequent step required that the throttle setting be reduced to idle position before engaging the starter motor. The pilot stated […]

The designated pilot examiner (DPE) and student pilot were conducting a private pilot check ride. The DPE reported that, during climbout, he retarded the throttle to simulate an engine failure. The student attempted to recover the Cessna 172 by lowering its nose to maintain controlled flight. However, the airplane descended. The DPE terminated the simulated engine […]

The pilot said that, when the Cessna 195’s tailwheel lifted off the runway at the airport in Llano, Texas, the engine lost power, and he thought it had quit. The airplane then pitched forward, and the propeller struck the asphalt runway. The airplane turned slightly right, went off the side of the runway, and nosed […]

The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, the air traffic controller instructed him to descend from 9,000 to 4,000 feet. While performing the descent checklist, he switched fuel tanks on the Bonanza A36, and the engine subsequently lost power. He further reported that he was certain that the engine restarted and that the event put him […]

The flight instructor was performing an introductory flight lesson for a student with her parents on board as passengers. Rather than fly in the normal practice area, the flight instructor and student decided to fly across a channel toward an adjacent island to avoid unfavorable weather conditions. The student flew the majority of the flight following the […]

The pilot was taking off in a southerly direction from a narrow, tree-lined airstrip in Newburg, Oregon. During the takeoff roll, sunlight restricted his visibility. The Alaskan Bushmaster drifted left and subsequently came into contact with numerous juvenile fir trees along the side of the runway. The contact with the trees resulted in substantial leading edge damage […]

The pilot reported the Cessna 310 was at 8,000 feet mean sea level when it ran out of fuel. He executed a forced landing to a field near Rothville, Missouri, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and fuel management, which resulted in fuel […]

The pilot was on a straight-in approach for landing at the airport in Hanford, California. During touchdown the Flight Design CTLS landed hard and bounced. The pilot attempted to land the plane for the second time, however the airplanes nose dropped, resulting in a second bounce. He made a decision to go around and added power. During […]

A witness located near the accident site in Seabeck, Washington, reported observing an airplane “spinning out of control” as it descended toward the water and breaking apart as it descended out of sight behind a stand of trees. Some wreckage debris consistent with the RV-7 was found floating on the water’s surface, however, the majority of the wreckage […]