The pilot of the wheel/ski-equipped Cessna 185 landed on a remote, frozen, snow-covered lake near Skwenta, Alaska. While taxiing to park, the right wheel/ski struck an area of ice overflow that was covered by snow. The axle bolts broke, pivoting the airplane to the right, sending the right wing into the snow-covered ice. The airplane […]
aviation accidents
Poor decisions lead to fuel exhaustion, fatal crash
The pilot of a Piper Arrow and a passenger were attempting to fly a night instrument cross-country flight over Delaware. The pilot estimated the flight would take three hours 45 minutes. He planned to carry five and half hours of fuel onboard. About three hours and 20 minutes into the flight, when the airplane was about 15 miles […]
Deep snow snags Cessna
A private pilot and flight instructor were flying a Cessna 182 over a snow covered runway in Chiloquin, Ore. The pair did a low pass over the runway, then the CFI decided to demonstrate a soft field touch-and-go. The snow was deeper than the CFI anticipated and when the airplane touched down, the Cessna decelerated more […]
Gusty crosswind bends Husky
The pilot of an Aviat Husky was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 36 in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. On his third approach, he noticed that the windsock was now favoring runway 18 and that the wind was gusting. He did a go-around and made an approach to runway 18. After landing, the left wing started to rise […]
Pilot accidentally turns off fuel
After an uneventful cross-country flight in a Piper Cherokee, the pilot began the landing descent into Rock Springs, Wyo., by reducing engine power. When the plane approached the base leg of the traffic pattern, he performed the landing checklist, which included switching the fuel selector valve to the left tip tank. While turning the base […]
Loss of control during missed approach
The pilot of a Bonanza accompanied by three passengers was approaching the airport in Richwood, La., in IFR conditions. When he checked in with the approach controller he gave his position as south of the airport at 7,000 feet MSL. When the airplane was about 33 miles from the airport, the controller told the pilot to […]
Super Decathalon weathervanes on landing
Aircraft: Super Decathalon. Injuries: None. Location: Melbourne, Ark. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the accident happened during a landing attempt. He intended to perform a three-point landing. The touch-down was normal, but during the landing roll the airplane weathervaned to the right side of the runway. The pilot applied left rudder […]
Bonanza caught in fog
Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: 2 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Correctionville, Iowa. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The commercial pilot was in cruise flight at night and receiving flight-following services. The airplane was instrument equipped and the pilot held an instrument rating. He advised air traffic control that he had the airport in sight. The […]
Thorp destroyed in flight
Aircraft: Thorp T-18. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Pahokee, Fla. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: Family members notified authorities when the airplane was overdue. The wreckage was found in pieces along the route of flight the next day. It was determined that the pilot was operating under visual flight rules while receiving radar traffic advisory […]