Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Branson, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll his seat released and slid rearward. He reduced engine power. He could still reach the rudder pedals, but not the brakes. The airplane went off the runway and into a drainage ditch. The seat mechanism was […]
aviation accidents
Slippery pedals lead to nose over
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: None. Location: Dyersburg, Tenn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings. During the second landing, the airplane bounced. The pilot’s foot slipped off the right rudder pedal, landing on the right heel brake. The airplane nosed over and came to rest on its back. Probable cause: The […]
Piper caught in gusty winds
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Brookings, S.D. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane was in the landing roll when a gust of wind lifted the left wing and caused the plane to swerve to the right. The pilot added full engine power to initiate an aborted landing, but the wind increased, lifting the […]
Lack of maintenance brings down Bonanza
Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: 3 Fatal. Location: Daggett, Calif. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: While in cruise flight, the pilot transmitted that he was in trouble because the airplane had experienced a propeller failure. The air traffic controller provided him with instructions to the nearest airport, which was about 21 miles away. The pilot radioed that he thought […]
Cherokee runs out of gas
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 1 Minor. Location: Guthrie, Okla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane was equipped with two 25-gallon fuel tanks, which gave it a total of 50 gallons total of which 48 gallons were useable. The airplane was fueled to capacity, then flew for three hours and 15 minutes to […]
Crosswind catches Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Ozark, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot made two approaches to the north runway, but each attempt resulted in a go-around because he was unable to maintain runway alignment due to a strong crosswind. He decided to make the next approach to the south. While on final approach, the […]
Bad bounce for student
Aircraft: Cirrus SR20. Injuries: None. Location: Englewood, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot was attempting to land. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear, bouncing several times before going off the runway. The airplane went across the grass, and down a hill before coming to rest next to a fence. Probable cause: […]
Fast approach, bad landing
Aircraft: Cessna Cardinal. Injuries: None. Location: Honesdale, Penn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot had the airplane configured for landing with 30° of flaps. The asphalt runway measured 2,420 foot. Normal airspeed for landing is 70 mph, but the Cardinal was indicating 85 to 90 mph. After touchdown, the pilot realized there was insufficient runway […]
Departure stall for Piper
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Elizabethton, Tenn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the preflight inspection and engine run-up were normal. The pilot used a short-field technique for takeoff and entered a steep climb. He then pushed forward on the stick to lower the nose for straight and level flight. The […]