Aircraft: Cirrus SR20. Injuries: None. Location: Parker, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: Before the first flight of the day, the pilot visually checked the airplane’s fuel quantity through the fuel tank filler necks, noting what he believed to be full tanks. He subsequently checked the fuel gauges, which indicated that both wing tanks were less than […]
NTSB Accidents
Broken mag brings down Piper
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Allentown, Pa. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During the initial climb on an instructional flight, the engine lost partial power. The CFI performed a forced landing into a cornfield. During a subsequent test-run of the engine, the engine would lose all power if only the right magneto was selected. Laboratory examination […]
Gusty winds lead to bad landing
Aircraft: Cessna 206. Injuries: None. Location: Buckland, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land on a remote gravel bar adjacent to a river in gusty and variable winds. A 10-knot headwind prevailed until just before touchdown, when the airplane descend below the anticipated approach path. The pilot initiated a go-around, but the […]
Pilot fails to switch tanks
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Beltzville, Pa. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: Before launching on the instructional flight, the flight instructor completed a preflight inspection and noted that each wing fuel tank contained about 18 gallons of fuel. At the conclusion of the flight, while returning to the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of […]
Iced-up airplane stalls on landing
Aircraft: Piper Comanche. Injuries: None. Location: Colorado Springs, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During the IFR flight, the pilot notified ATC that the airplane was accumulating structural icing. He asked for a lower cruise altitude. ATC provided the pilot with a lower altitude, but the airplane was still in icing conditions and in clouds. The controller […]
Loss of situational awareness proves fatal
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Gary, Indiana. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to fly the RNAV/GPS approach at the destination airport. The air traffic controller did not provide approach clearance until it was inside the final approach fix and 1,000 feet above the FAF crossing altitude. The controller also issued a […]
Four survive midair collision during training flights
Aircraft: Piper Warrior, Piper Arrow. Injuries: None. Location: Chandler, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: Both airplanes were on instructional flights with a CFI and a student pilot on board each airplane. The collision happened in daytime VFR conditions. The instructors reported that their students were simulating instrument conditions and were wearing view-limiting devices as they practiced […]
Gusting winds bend Maule
Aircraft: Maule MX-7-180C. Injuries: None. Location: Bishop, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot stated that about 15 minutes before arriving at the airport, he checked the automated surface observation system (ASOS), which reported variable wind at three knots. The radio communications on the airport common traffic advisory frequency indicated that runway 30 was in use, […]
Pilot loses control in IMC
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor. Location: Birmingham, Ala. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to fly an ILS approach. Review of data revealed that the autopilot approach mode was armed as the airplane intercepted the localizer course and was descending to 2,600 feet MSL. At that time, the autopilot was selected […]