Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Culebra, P.R. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: After doing an engine runup, the pilot taxied onto the runway and started his takeoff roll. During the attempted takeoff, he realized that the control wheel would not move aft when he tried to pull back on it because the flight control lock […]
NTSB
Overweight, unstable airplane crashes
Aircraft: Hummel Bird. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: DeFuniak Springs, Fla. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: A review of the pilot’s logbook indicated that he had accumulated only 4.4 flight hours in the two years preceding the accident flight, with only 0.3 hour in the accident airplane. According to witnesses at the airport, the airplane took off and […]
Short runway plus lack of experience a bad combo
Aircraft: Mooney M20J. Injuries: 2 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Sterling, Pa. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The runway measured 2,478 feet in length and had a 2.4% upslope with a hill and trees located just off the end. It was the pilot’s first time landing at the airport. After landing the pilot and two passengers went to […]
Low-level aerobatics kills one
Aircraft: Pitts S1D. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Port Richey, Fla. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: Several witnesses reported that the pilot was conducting aerobatic maneuvers over the Gulf of Mexico. He initiated a loop between 300 to 500 feet above the water. At the top of the loop, while inverted, the airplane started the descent. The pilot […]
Poor decisions kill four
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: St. George, Utah. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: Prior to the flight, the pilot and passengers were at a party, during which time the pilot and all but one passenger (the designated driver) consumed multiple alcoholic beverages. They left to go to another party and while en route, the vehicle was […]
Instructional takeoff goes awry
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Gainesville, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The CFI was providing instruction to a student who had about 10 hours of flight experience. During the first takeoff roll, the student attempted to steer the airplane with the control yoke instead of the rudder pedals. The CFI provided verbal instruction and then […]
Low-altitude pass proves fatal
Aircraft: North American T-6. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Perry, Mich. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot stated that after takeoff, he was planning to overfly the runway for a “photo pass.” He reported the wind was from the southwest, gusting to 20 knots with light turbulence, at the time of the accident. He made […]
Over-loaded airplane crashes
Aircraft: Cirrus SR20. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Duck Creek Village, Utah. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot had extensive rotorcraft/helicopter flight experience but had accumulated only about 160 hours total flight time in fixed wing airplanes, including about 17 hours in the Cirrus. The pilot’s most recent flight in a Cirrus took place about 18 months […]
Over-braking flips Luscombe
Aircraft: Silvaire Luscombe 8F. Injuries: None. Location: Tok, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land. He told investigators that the airplane had recently been modified with hydraulic brakes, but there were no pre-accident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot said he inadvertently applied excessive pressure to the brakes, which resulted in […]