A loose stand-off clamp which resulted in a throttle assembly malfunction, and the inability of the engine to produce full power during the attempted takeoff.
NTSB
Pilot mistakes road for runway
The pilot’s loss of situational awareness, and his unintended landing on a soft unimproved dirt road, which resulted in a loss of directional control into soft ground and the airplane to subsequently nose over.
Human Factors: No gentleman
In a strange case of life imitating art, an Oregon pilot crashes into the ocean after learning he has Stage 4 cancer. Can we learn anything from this crash?
Young Eagles flight proves fatal for pilot
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Improper installation of fuel selector handle leads to fuel starvation
The pilot’s improper installation of the fuel selector handle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Pilot dies after hitting power lines
The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in collision with power lines during an aerial application flight.
Disoriented pilot crashes after flying 10 hours in search of airport
The pilot’s loss of situational awareness and failure to touchdown on the runway which resulted in a collision with the airport’s perimeter fence.
Piper pilot crashes after turning fuel selector to off
The pilot’s mismanagement of the available fuel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Questions from the Cockpit: ADM for Dummies
The dad of an airline-bound student pilot writes: I know I probably shouldn’t, but I find myself reading about pretty much every small airplane crash online, and much of the time I find myself shaking my head and asking myself, “What was the pilot thinking?” So that’s my question: Don’t they teach pilots to think in flight school? Or is it all just about how to operate the controls?