Aircraft: Piper Malibu. Injuries: None. Location: Springfield, Vt. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land when the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind from the right. He applied full right rudder in an attempt to compensate for the wind, but the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and into […]
aviation accidents
Emergency landing goes badly
Aircraft: Glasair III. Injuries: None. Location: Darby, Mont. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, approximately two hours into a VFR cross-country flight, he noted indications of excessive cylinder head and exhaust gas temperatures. He attempted to correct the issue by enrichening the mixture, which resulted in a higher fuel burn than he had planned, […]
Super Cub strikes wire on takeoff
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: None. Location: Pilot Mountain, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to takeoff from a 1,900-foot turf airstrip. At the end of the airstrip were power transmission lines. After liftoff, the pilot noted the aircraft’s performance was less than he anticipated it would be, and he didn’t think the […]
Low altitude stall kills two
Aircraft: Rans S-12. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Mesa, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: According to witnesses on the ground, shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, it made a sudden right turn and banked about 90°. Some witnesses reported that they heard a reduction in engine power just […]
Crosswing crimps Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Prescott, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in a crosswind. He said that the landing was uneventful, but as the airplane accelerated for takeoff, it veered to the left. He was unable to regain control and the airplane went off the runway and […]
Fence catches Cub
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: None. Location: Sierraville, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was practicing landings. The first two went well. On the third attempt he performed a three-point landing and the airplane began to drift left. He applied full engine power, but could not regain control of the airplane before it went off […]
Poor approach for Piper
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: None. Location: Eaton, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land on a grass runway. There was a river off the extended centerline on the approach to the runway. The pilot said he allowed the airplane to get low and slow during short final. He tried to increase […]
Intersection takeoff goes bad
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Lake Wales, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings with his CFI. After several successful takeoffs and landings the CFI got out of the airplane and briefed the student pilot for solo traffic pattern work. The student pilot taxied to the end of the […]
Poor fuel management leads to off-airport landing
Aircraft: Cessna 210. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Fowler’s Bluff, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the airplane was in cruise flight at an altitude of about 3,000 feet AGL when the engine lost all power. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and he made a forced landing. The subsequent examination revealed that […]