The pilot/owner reported that, while on final approach to the airport in New Orleans, the Piper PA28-161’s engine experienced a total loss of power. He was unable to restart the engine, and the airplane was unable to glide to the runway, so he subsequently ditched the airplane into a lake. The pilot evacuated the airplane and swam […]
NTSB Accidents
Cessna 140 crashes trying to avoid deer
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna 140 was attempting to depart from the runway at the airport in Luray, Va., when a deer suddenly began approaching the runway from the left. He attempted to steer the airplane left to avoid the deer as it crossed, and in the process, it departed the left side of the runway. […]
Pilot’s impairment leads to crash into the ocean
The airline transport pilot was conducting a cross-country personal flight. Radar data indicated that the Cirrus SR22 took off from the departure airport and then climbed to an altitude of 21,000 feet mean sea level before leveling off and maintaining that altitude for about an hour. The pilot then contacted an air route traffic control center […]
Night flight fatal for four
The pilot and three passengers boarded the Cessna 172 for a flight at night near Willoughby Hills, Ohio. The controller cleared the flight for takeoff and observed the airplane lift off about 2,000 feet down the runway. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot contacted the controller and reported that the airplane was not “climbing fast” and that […]
Maintenance issues contribute to fatal flight
Before departure for the flight, the private pilot and owner of the Cessna 172 conducted the preflight and run-up and noted the airplane was operating normally. During takeoff, he rotated about 70 knots and the climb out was normal. About 300 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly lost power and shook violently. The pilot scanned for potential […]
Lancair crashes on dark, moonless night
The instrument-rated pilot and two passengers departed from the remote airport in Ranger, Texas, on a dark, moonless night. Two witnesses reported observing the Lancair LC40 500FG take off from the lighted runway and then turn right. The airplane’s bank angle then slowly increased to about 90°, and it subsequently descended. The airplane hit terrain 0.4 mile from […]
Builder’s improper calculations leaves plane uncontrollable
According to the pilot/owner/builder of the Minicoupe, he conducted taxi tests, and then a final engine run-up and flight control check prior to takeoff on the airplane’s second flight near Baltimore. After rotation, the plane reached approximately 3 feet above the runway when the nose dropped, and application of full up elevator had no effect. […]
Navion loses power on short final
The pilot reported that, while the Ryan Navion was on short final to the runway in Fresno, Calif., he increased power to maintain the glideslope and then heard a muffled “bang or chug,” followed by the engine sounding “as if it were drowning.” The airplane started to descend, and the pilot executed an off-airport landing. During […]
Landing at fly-in goes awry
The pilot of the aerobatic, tailwheel-equipped Aviat Pitts S2B planned to attend a fly-in at the airport in Lakeville, N.Y. As he overflew the 2,500-foot-long by 60-foot-wide private turf runway, he noted that numerous airplanes were parked along its left side, and elected to favor the right side of the runway during the landing. During the […]