The aviation community is remembering Richard McSpadden, senior vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Air Safety Institute, who died in a plane crash Oct. 1, 2023, near Lake Placid, New York.
aviation accidents
Picture of the Day: By the sea
Dan Chapman submitted this photo and note: “My 1977 Archer II at Bob Maxwell Memorial Airfield (KOKB) in Oceanside, California.”
Human Factors: Saving a buck costs a fortune
A pilot low on fuel passes up three airports to save 20 cents a gallon on avgas. It turns out to be an expensive mistake.
Mystery mid-air collision for Alaska pilot
A mid-air collision for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Pilot’s attempt to beat a thunderstorm goes awry
The pilot’s decision to takeoff from a road with obstacles in his flight path and his failure to maintain control of the airplane when encountering changing winds from approaching thunderstorms which resulted in the airplane impacting signal light cables.
Distracted pilot fails to extend landing gear
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to utilize the aircraft checklist.
Oil starvation brings down Beech
A complete loss of engine power due to oil starvation as a result of the oil filter safety wire fracturing and the oil filter becoming loose in flight for a reason that could not be determined given the evidence available during the investigation.
Pilot seriously injured while practicing for STOL competition
The airplane’s encounter with gusting wind conditions and low-level wind shear on final approach, which resulted in a loss of control, an aerodynamic stall, and a subsequent hard landing.
Maintenance error leads to 172’s crash
Maintenance personnel’s failure to use the correct throttle linkage hardware when reinstalling the engine, resulting in a disconnection of the throttle during flight.