Aircraft: Piper Pacer. Injuries: None. Location: Cooperstown, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot stated that, before initiating the takeoff, he noted that the two windsocks located on the runway indicated a crosswind. Just after lifting off, he felt a gust of wind from the left, and the airplane was pushed right toward a cornfield next […]
NTSB
VFR into IMC proves fatal
Aircraft: RV-4. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Cedartown, Ga. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who did not have an instrument rating, took off in VFR conditions on a cross-country flight. There was no record of the pilot obtaining a preflight briefing. About an hour and a half after departing, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions. The […]
Fuel valve failure contributes to fatal crash
Aircraft: Beech A23. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor. Location: Laytonsville, Md. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, accompanied by a flight instructor, was practicing takeoffs and landings. The first two went well. Before the third takeoff, the pilot verified that the flaps were retracted for takeoff and that the fuel selector valve was positioned on the […]
Carb ice catches Cub
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: None. Location: North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was conducting a banner-tow flight. The accident happened as he approached to pick up the banner. The airplane was at an altitude of 300 feet AGL when he reduced the power to the idle. His said his airspeed was […]
Loss of control on landing
Aircraft: Cessna 195B. Injuries: None. Location: Camdenton, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, accompanied by a pilot-rated passenger, was practicing takeoffs and landings. The passenger reported that he was on the flight controls “following lightly” with the pilot. The first three landings went well. On the fourth landing, however, the plane bounced, then veered to […]
Poor approach, poor landing
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Chester, Conn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was trying to land. The first two approaches terminated in go-arounds. On the third approach he felt that the airplane was high and fast, but decided to try to land anyway. The Cherokee touched down and overran the runway, going off the […]
Downwind landing goes bad
Aircraft: Cessna 206. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor. Location: Homer, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The accident happened during an approach to a lake. Just as the airplane touched down, a gust of wind lifted the left wing and the right wing struck the water. The airplane nosed over abruptly, and the cabin immediately filled with […]
Open canopy leads to loss of control
Aircraft: Evektor Sportstar Injuries: None. Location: Lancaster, Pa. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, as the airplane lifted off, the canopy opened. He simultaneously attempted to close the canopy while attempting to fly the airplane, but lost control of the airplane. The Sportstar landed hard on the runway. Probable cause: The pilot’s attempt to secure […]
Wrong lever results in bad landing
Aircraft: Beech Baron. Injuries: None. Location: Atlanta, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. After touchdown, he intended to retract the flaps, but inadvertently selected the landing gear control lever. The landing gear partially retracted, and the plane settled onto the runway, resulting in substantial damage to a nose section bulkhead. Probable […]