Aircraft: Socata TV21. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Gold Hill, N.C. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot intended to fly from his home airport in North Carolina to Germany, where he had another residence. During the weeks before the accident, he made several modifications to the airplane in preparation for the trip. Friends and witnesses described the […]
aviation accidents
Gusting winds roll Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: West Palm Beach, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 31 in crosswind conditions. The student pilot’s landing was fine, but during the takeoff roll, the plane encountered a gust of wind and began to veer to the right. The […]
Tailwind takeoff leads to stall
Aircraft: Aviat A-1C-180. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Kooskia, Idaho. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: A witness at the airport told investigators that the pilot and passenger were in a hurry to leave because the weather at the airfield was deteriorating due to an incoming thunderstorm. The witness stated the airplane made an uphill intersection takeoff with a strong […]
Engine failure en route to annual
Aircraft: Piper Navajo. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Dalton, Ga. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: According to a friend, the pilot was taking the airplane to have an annual inspection completed. The friend said the airplane’s take off was normal. A witness in the vicinity of the accident stated the airplane flew over his house at an altitude […]
Blocked carburetor brings down Tecnam
Aircraft: Tecnam P2002 Sierra. Injuries: None. Location: Watsonville, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The flight instructor and student were on an instructional flight. During the initial climb, the engine started to vibrate violently and lost significant power. The CFI performed an emergency descent and landing to an open field. The post-accident examination of the engine’s dual […]
Failure to secure gas cap leads to engine failure
Aircraft: Beech A36. Injuries: None. Location: Rock Springs, Wyo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot reported that the flight was uneventful, so she continued past her original destination to another airport. Shortly thereafter, she noticed fuel streaming from the left fuel tank cap and noted that the left fuel tank gauge indicated that the tank was […]
Lack of oil kills engine
Aircraft: Cessna 152. Injuries: None. Location: Miami, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student and flight instructor reported that, during their preflight inspection, 4.5 quarts of oil was in the engine sump and the fuel tanks were full. Another quart of oil was added to the engine before takeoff. About 1 hour 40 minutes into the […]
Low altitude stall for Cessna 150
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Gulf Shores, Ala. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: A flight instructor and student pilot were returning to the airport at the conclusion of a local training flight. The student made the landing approach. The airplane touched down hard and bounced. The CFI directed the student to apply full engine power and […]
Lack of experience puts Kitfox off runway
Aircraft: Kitfox V. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Owenton, Ky. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, was on an instructional flight to obtain a tailwheel endorsement. He reported that the airplane experienced a sudden gust of windjust after liftoff and that he overcorrected, which caused the airplane to stall and […]