The Cessna 170 had not been flown for about eight months. Before departing to practice landings at the airport in Ridgely, Maryland, the owner added aviation gasoline to the fuel tanks, which also contained automotive gasoline that had been added about six to eight months previously. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, […]
aviation accidents
Foreign material blocks fuel flow, brings down Beech S35
The Beech S35 pilot reported that he was making a straight-in approach to land at the airport in Brownwood, Texas, when the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently hit trees, cacti, and terrain during the attempted off-airport landing, and a post-impact fire ensued, which destroyed the […]
Plane hits deer
The pilot reported that he was landing at a non-towered airport in Onaway, Mich., at night to drop off a passenger. During the landing flare just prior to touchdown, he saw three deer run onto the runway out of his periphery. One of the deer ran on to the runway and was hit by the […]
Student’s delay in aborting takeoff ends in trees
The solo student pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing and touched down too far down the runway at the airport in Tomball, Texas. He trimmed the Cessna 172R, raised the flaps, and advanced the throttle for takeoff. He became unsure of the runway distance remaining, so he reduced the throttle to idle and applied the […]
Low flight over rice field catches Champion
The pilot reported that he was flying low over a rice field in Willows, Calif., when the Champion’s wheels caught in the vegetation. He tried to pull up, but the plane was pulled down into the rice field.After touch down, it nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mounts, wings and empennage. […]
Bird strike dents Cessna 172
The flight instructor stated that, while in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,500 feet near Christmas, Florida, he observed two large birds directly ahead of the airplane. He assumed control of the Cessna 172P from the student pilot and attempted to maneuver around them, but one of the birds hit the left wing, resulting […]
WACO rolls over on landing
The WACO YMF pilot departed from Runway 26, and flew over a local golf course, then turned to return to the airport in Somerville, N.J., where she entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg for runway 26, flying between 75 and 80 knots. She descended to 800 feet and, prior to turning base leg, […]
Fuel exhaustion proves fatal
The pilot was departing on a short cross-country flight to deliver the Cessna 172C for some elective maintenance. He requested and received clearance for an intersection departure at the airport in Fairbanks, Alaska. After departure, an air traffic controller instructed the pilot to turn left and proceed on course, but he did not respond. Controllers […]
Fire forces forced landing
The pilot reported that he smelled “electrical” smoke during a cross-country flight in his RV-4. He decided to land immediately and moved the throttle to idle. He diverted the airplane but, when he realized that it was not going to be able to reach the diversion airpark, he executed a precautionary landing to a pasture […]