Witnesses reported observing the pilot taxi the airplane from inside his hangar and depart. For several minutes, the Piper PA 28 maneuvered at a low altitude and high airspeed. Witnesses then observed the airplane make a steep bank turn, descend, and hit terrain about five miles east of the airport in Brighton, Colo. The pilot’s wife had reported […]
aviation accidents
Waco noses over when passenger hits brakes during landing
The pilot reported that while rolling out about 30 to 40 mph in the tailwheel equipped airplane for the full stop landing in San Luis Obispo, California, the Waco YMF F5C made a sudden stop and nosed over. The plane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and tail section during the landing. The passenger reported […]
Fuel exhaustion leads to 172 hitting power lines
The Cessna 172 pilot reported that, about three miles from the destination airport, the engine experienced a loss of power. During the forced landing to a field near Fresno, California, the 172 hit an unseen set of power lines before touching down in the field. Both the left wing and the empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that, when […]
Formation flight goes awry
At the conclusion of a local formation flight, the flight of weight-shift-control aircraft returned to their home airport in Eustis, Florida, and entered the traffic pattern. During the landing flare, the Storm pilot encountered the “prop wash” of the preceding aircraft, which resulted in his aircraft entering an uncommanded right bank. He attempted to counteract the turn […]
Cessna 310’s landing gear malfunctions
The pilot reported that, after departure, he noticed the Cessna 310’s landing gear did not retract as usual. He began to troubleshoot the problem and actuated the gear-down lever. The landing gear did not extend, and the green landing gear light in the cockpit did not illuminate. He recycled the landing gear, but the gear […]
Sudden wind shift contributes to crash
The pilot was attempting to land on Runway 18 at the airport in Minocqua, Wisconsin, while the wind was 170° at 11 knots, gusting to 21 knots. He explained that he attempted a three-point landing instead of a wheel landing because the Piper PA-18-150 was equipped with “wheel-penetration skis.” During the flare, snow began blowing directly across the […]
Missed approach proves fatal
The private pilot was conducting a business flight in the Piper PA-34-200T. He had obtained weather briefings on the day before and the day of the flight, which indicated marginal visual flight rules conditions. However, upon arrival in the vicinity of the airport in Port Huron, Michigan, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, with visibility at or […]
Pilot loses control during climbing turn
After accomplishing a touch and go landing at the airport in Wendover, Utah, during a moonless night, the pilot initiated a left climbing turn and orientated himself with the departure end of the runway by looking outside and behind the Cessna 182. While looking outside, he inadvertently put the airplane into a left steep bank […]
Revelation crashes in cemetery after uncertified engine fails
According to the pilot, while in cruise flight over Ellisville, Mississippi, the Revelation’s engine lost total power. During a forced landing to a cemetery, the left wing hit a tree, and the airplane then veered left and hit a tombstone and nosed over. According to the pilot, the fuel tank was about 3/4 full when the engine lost power. Examination […]