Aircraft: Aeronca O-58C. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor. Location: San Luis Obispo, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane was in cruise flight at 3,500 feet MSL when the engine quit. The pilot restarted the engine, and it ran for about 20 seconds before quitting again. He then applied carburetor heat and made […]
NTSB Accidents
Cold morning, hot prop
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Eastsound, Wash. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot pulled the airplane out of the unheated hangar on a cold morning. He pulled the propeller through its rotation arc several times, then set the parking brake. When attempts to start the plane with the starter were unsuccessful, […]
Gear failure for Cessna pilot
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Houston, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was returning to the airport after a short flight, performed the before-landing checklist, which included verification of landing gear extension. After touchdown both main landing gear legs collapsed. The nose gear remained extended and the airplane slid down […]
Engine loses power on takeoff
Aircraft: Piper Twin Comanche. Injuries: 1 Serious Location: Big Bear City, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane had recently undergone maintenance, which included the overhaul of both engines. The pilot flew the Comanche into the airport the day before the accident and, after landing, called the maintenance facility to report that the […]
Disorientation brings down Cirrus
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Bennett, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was practicing instrument approaches in night VFR conditions. He was in a right turn and had turned his head to the right to look at some instrumentation when he felt the airplane accelerate. He looked at his flight […]
Piper pilot goes wrong way
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Atlanta, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was holding short of a runway intersection awaiting further clearance from the ground air traffic controller. After receiving clearance to cross the runway, he mistakenly turned left onto a grassy area. The right wing hit a sign, resulting in […]
Poor landing, poor go around for student pilot
Aircraft: Mooney M20R. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Cypress, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot was practicing landings. He realized that he had touched down too far down the runway to be able to stop in the distance remaining, so he applied full power to go around. The airplane lifted off but […]
Seat position leads to accident
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Meeker, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to taxi to the runway. The airplane began to move left faster than the pilot wanted it to, so he attempted to apply right rudder, but the airplane did not respond. He then applied the right wheel […]
Wind gust catches taildragger
Aircraft: Cessna 180. Injuries: None. Location: Helena, Mont. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The accident happened during a training flight. During the first part of the flight, the pilot receiving instruction made four takeoffs and landings on a runway that was almost directly aligned with the oncoming wind. The CFI then took over and […]