Aircraft: Mooney M20R. Injuries: None. Location: Lake in the Hills, Ill. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving instruction to become more comfortable flying it. The accident occurred as he performed a simulated forced landing at the end of an instructional flight. The airplane stalled as […]
NTSB Accidents
Delayed decision bends Cardinal
Aircraft: Cessna 177. Injuries: None. Location: Boone, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was attempting to land, overflew the runway to determine the wind direction and velocity. He entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg, extended the flaps and maintained an airspeed of 80 mph. His approach was a little […]
Poor planning proves fatal
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Wendover, Utah. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The private pilot, 57, who had logged more than 186 hours, rented the airplane from an FBO to fly himself and three passengers to a business meeting. According to the FBO’s records, the pilot’s last flight in one of its […]
Fatigue failure brings down Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 421B. Injuries: 3 Uninjured. Location: Truckee, Calif. Aircraft Damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern high, and, in an effort to descend, the pilot extended the landing gear and deployed full flaps. About the time the flaps reached their maximum extension, the right flap experienced […]
Pacer ground-loops
Aircraft: Piper Pacer. Injuries: None. Location: Yakima, Wash. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was returning to land when, upon touchdown, a gust of wind lifted his left wing. Despite his control inputs, the airplane ground-looped. At the time of the accident, the wind at the airport was reported to be from 240° […]
Hard braking for tailwheel
Aircraft: Luscombe 8E Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Apex, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial What reportedly happened: The pilot was conducting a full-stop landing. He executed a normal landing, lowered the tail and was rolling fast. The airplane was on the center line with 300 to 400 feet of runway remaining. He stated he applied the brakes […]
Loss of control for Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Sully, Iowa. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot and his passenger were taking off on a 2,130-foot turf runway. During the takeoff, the airplane lifted off, remained in ground effect, veered to the left, and then settled back onto the runway crashing into a sign and a […]
Wind gust rolls airplane
Aircraft: RV-4. Injuries: None. Location: Redwood Fall, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane encountered a wind gust on takeoff roll, which lifted the right wing and caused the airplane to roll left. The airplane then lifted off the ground about 2-3 feet, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane touched down […]
Fast turn bends gear
Aircraft: RV-8. Injuries: None. Location: Livermore, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he performed a straight-in approach and subsequent landing with a gusting crosswind. As the airplane slowed, and the tail dropped, he applied full aft elevator control input. He applied brakes and then […]