According to a friend of the airplane’s owner, the purpose of the flight was for the owner to check out another pilot in the Liberty Aerospace XL-2. Review of uncorrelated radar data indicated that the flight departed and maneuvered in the local area for about 26 minutes before the accident occurred. One witness stated that […]
NTSB Accidents
Fuel leak brings down Glasair TT
The commercial pilot, who was also the builder of the experimental Glasair TT, departed with full fuel for the planned 2.5-hour cross-country flight. The airplane was equipped with two independent means of determining fuel quantity: A capacitance-based fuel quantity indication system that provided a direct measurement of the fuel quantity; and a fuel totalizer that provided […]
Improper maintenance results in Cirrus pilot pulling the chute
The flight instructor reported that he and the pilot receiving instruction had completed a local instructional flight and were returning to the airport in Burlington, Mass. While the Cirrus SR22 was about 1,700 foot mean sea level, the engine began running roughly and subsequently lost all power. The pilot receiving instruction immediately handed over the flight controls […]
RV-6 canopy opens in flight with fatal consequences
About five minutes after the RV-6 departed from the airport in Sauk Rapids, Minn., an air traffic controller notified the pilot that an Airbus was 30 miles southwest of the airport and inbound. About seven minutes later, the pilot reported that he had the Airbus in sight and then stated that he was going to take a […]
Stuck valve contributes to forced landing
The pilot reported that, after departure and while in the traffic pattern at the airport in Lock Haven, Pa., the Taylor J-2 was operating normally but that the engine suddenly lost partial power. Due to the low altitude at the time of the power loss, he decided to land between several houses in a clearing. During the […]
Oil starvation brings down Cessna 188
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering the Cessna 188 with a banner attached when he noticed a loss of oil pressure. He notified an air traffic controller of the emergency and indicated that he could not reach an airport. The engine then experienced a total loss of power, and the pilot made an emergency landing […]
Distracted pilot forgets to lower landing gear
The Mooney M20TN pilot reported that during the sixth and final landing of the day, he was aware of another airplane in the landing pattern at the airport in Yakima, Wash., that disrupted his routine. He did a mental checklist, and thought that the landing gear was down, however it was not. The airplane subsequently […]
Strong wind flips 172 while taxiing
The CFI reported he had completed a one hour flight with his student and they landed uneventfully at the airport in Orlando, Florida. After landing, the Cessna 172 had a long taxi to return to the FBO.During the taxi, a thunderstorm moved into the area and the wind increased. The strong wind caused the airplane to weathervane violently in […]
Improper maintenance leads to fuel starvation
The pilot was flying on a cross-country flight to check on his son, who was participating in a mountaineering class in Talkeetna, Alaska. He had exhausted the fuel in the left fuel tank and was operating the Aeronca 15-AC on the right fuel tank. He reported that he thought the airplane had about 12 gallons of fuel remaining. […]