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 […]
NTSB Accidents
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 […]
Beechcraft encounters thunderstorm
Aircraft: Hawker Beechcraft A36. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Macon, Miss. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot had obtained his instrument rating less than two years before the accident and had accrued about 32 total hours of actual instrument experience. While on a long cross-country flight on an IFR flight plan, he attempted to fly through a […]
Student loses control on landing
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Wichita, Kan. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot, accompanied by a CFI, was practicing takeoffs and landings. When the airplane touched down on the second landing, it veered sharply to the right. The CFI took control of the plane and tried to stop the turn by applying full […]
Stuck rudder pedal bends Stearman
Aircraft: Boeing A75N1. Injuries: None. Location: Foley, Ala. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was attempting to land, felt the airplane was high on final approach, so he established a forward slip to lose some altitude. He did not fully arrest the rate of descent before flaring and the plane bounced upon touchdown and the […]
Flat tire tears up Piper
Aircraft: Piper Tri-Pacer. Injuries: None. Location: Norwich, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During the landing roll the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot applied right rudder to correct and the airplane ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The post-accident examination revealed that the left tire was deflated. Fragments of the […]
Student crashes on straight-in approach
Aircraft: Cessna 152. Injuries: None. Location: San Antonio, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot planned to practice solo takeoffs and landings at a nearby tower-controlled airport. Her logbook revealed that this was her second solo flight and the first time she traveled to the nearby airport without a flight instructor on board. On the […]