This accident is a good reminder that while loose lips sink ships, it’s loose items in the cockpit that can wreak havoc with flight controls.
aviation accidents
Pilot seriously injured when plane hits cactus
The pilot’s failure to maintain obstacle clearance during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a cactus and impact with terrain.
Failure to remove towbar just the first of pilot’s mistakes
The pilot’s failure to remove the towbar from the nose landing gear before takeoff, which resulted in a sustained adverse yaw condition, and his failure to adequately monitor the fuel system while circling the airport, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of power to the right engine.
Spatial disorientation fatal for Aviat pilot
A loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain as a result of spatial disorientation during cruise in dark night conditions.
Snow and sunlight bad combination for Cub pilot
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a low approach over a snow-covered runway. Contributing to the accident was the loss of depth perception due to the bright sunlight and snow.
Delayed use of carb heat leads to total loss of engine power
The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
4 Rules of Thumb for Safer Takeoffs
The latest video in the FAA’s 57 Seconds to Safer Flying series lays out 4 Rules of Thumb for Safer Takeoffs.
Failure of landing gear strut piston tube bends Piper PA-44
Failure of the landing gear strut piston tube due to fatigue cracking from corrosion pitting.
Distractions interrupt pilot’s pre-landing checklist
The pilot’s distraction in the cockpit which interrupted his pre-landing checklist which resulted in his failure to configure the landing gear prior to touchdown.