Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Land O’Lakes, Fla. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was flying it home. He checked in with an approach controller about 52 miles north-northwest of the destination airport. At the time, the airplane was flying under visual flight rules at night. The pilot […]
NTSB
Tailwind landing proves fatal
Aircraft: RV-7A. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Laramie, Wyo. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot approached the non-towered airport for landing. The airport had two runways, 21/03 and 30/15. The winds at the time of the accident were reported to be 350° at 14 knots with gusts to 24 knots. The pilot entered a left downwind for runway 21. […]
Bad bolt brings down airplane
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Corinth, Miss. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, after about two hours of uneventful flight a loud noise came from the engine compartment and the engine cowling began shaking violently. The engine lost power. He was not able to restart the engine during the descent, so he […]
Night landing goes bad
Aircraft: Cessna 177. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Branson, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The accident occurred as the pilot attempted to make a night landing on a lighted runway. He reported that the plane was not properly aligned with the runway centerline, so he performed a go-around. During the go-around he lost control after losing external […]
Airplane hits power lines
Aircraft: Republic RC-3 Seabee. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Cedar Bluff, Ala. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot of the amphibious airplane flew to visit a friend who lived on the shore of a lake. According to the pilot’s friend, the pilot normally approached the lake from the north, made a left 180° turn, and then landed […]
Disoriented pilot crashes
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: 5 Fatal. Location: Willard, Mo. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The accident happened when the pilot attempted an ILS approach in night instrument meteorological conditions. The radar track data indicated that the airplane crossed the final approach course near the initial approach fix, about 11 miles from the runway. The airplane drifted through […]
Inflight break up for Aztec
Aircraft: Piper Aztec. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Bullard, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: Witnesses noticed the airplane making several turns before it pitched nose-up, climbed, rolled to the right, and then descended nose-down to the ground. Several witnesses observed airplane components floating to the ground behind the airplane. All witnesses reported hearing loud engine noises throughout […]
Fuel starvation brings down Lancair
Aircraft: Lancair IV. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Winnsboro, La. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The purpose of the flight was to calibrate the fuel system on the homebuilt aircraft. Several witnesses on the ground heard an increase in engine rpm consistent with the pilot adding power to perform a go-around, then heard the engine lose power. The nose pitched […]
Maule caught in crosswind
Aircraft: Maule MXT-180A. Injuries: None. Location: Manzanita, Ore. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot said everything seemed normal as the airplane crossed over the trees on final approach, and it was lined up with the runway centerline. But before the plane touched down, the wind shifted to a crosswind, and the airplane veered to the side […]