The commercial pilot took off for a personal flight in a Cessna 162 and flew uneventfully for about 44 minutes, including a touch-and-go landing at another airport about 10 minutes before the fatal accident, after which he made several turns in the area around Borrego Springs, Calif. According to the recovered flight data from the avionics system, […]
aviation accidents
Jet ski distracts pilot
According to the pilot, he was performing both water and pavement touch-and-go landings in his amphibious Piper PA-18A-150 in Gunthersville, Ala. On final approach for a water landing, he observed a jet ski come out of a slew area and his attention was drawn to it. Upon landing, “I found myself inverted,” he reported. FAA […]
Glassy water contributes to crash
The pilot reported that he was attempting to land the Super Bearhawk on a lake near Sault Set Marie, Mich., and misjudged the height of the airplane above the water, which he described as “glassy.” During the touchdown, the left float “dug in,” and the airplane subsequently nosed over. It is likely that the glassy water […]
Pilot forgets to add oil after oil change
The Cessna 150 experienced a total loss of engine power during an enroute climb to cruise. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field near Brookfield, Wis., where the plane hit trees and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that he forgot to add engine oil during an oil change he performed on the airplane before […]
In-flight fire fatal for two
The pilot and one passenger were on a cross-country flight in the Seawind 3000 amphibian airplane. The pilot reported to an airport tower air traffic controller that the plane had a low fuel pressure indication and that he planned to fly directly to the airport in Bloomington, Ind. However, the plane hit terrain about three miles north […]
Fatigue fracture brings down 180
The pilot reported that, while maneuvering the Cessna 180B on floats about 2,500 feet above ground level, he heard a “slight squeal” coming from the engine before it started to sputter. After the plane had descended to about 1,500 feet, the engine and propeller “completely stopped.” The pilot determined that the plane would not reach […]
T-28 crashes when pilot attempts low-level aerobatics
A witness, who was a friend of the pilot, was at an automobile racing facility near Alton, Va., when he received a text message from the pilot that the airplane would fly over in six minutes. The North American T-28C then performed a low pass over the area, reversed direction, and initiated a barrel roll during the second pass. […]
Biplane’s landing goes awry
The owner/builder of the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped Lionheart biplane was seated in the front left seat, with another pilot seated in the right seat, and a passenger in the rear seat. The intent of the flight was to prepare both pilots for a flight review, with both trading off flight duties as necessary. They planned […]
New Kitfox owner killed in familiarization flight
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the inability of the flight instructor to take control of the airplane due to the lack of fully operational dual controls in the right-seat pilot position.