The pilot’s improper decision to initiate the takeoff roll from a snow-covered taxiway, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a snow berm.
aviation accidents
NTSB: CTAF should be required in Alaska
The recommendations come after an NTSB investigation into a midair collision involving a deHavilland DHC-2 and a Piper PA-12 that occurred on July 31, 2020, near Soldotna, Alaska. The pilot and five passengers on the DHC-2 were killed in the collision, as was the pilot on the PA-12.
Pilot seriously injured while hand-propping his Aeronca
The pilot’s improper starting procedure, which allowed the airplane to move forward over the wheel chocks and impact him and a hangar when he subsequently hand propped the engine.
New owner seriously injured in first flight in homebuilt
The owner/pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane due to his lack of training and experience, resulting in a collision with a tree.
Failure to turn on electric fuel pumps before takeoff leads to crash
The pilots’ failure to ensure that the electric fuel pumps were on before takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of power on both engines during initial climb.
Pilot seriously injured when plane crashes due to water and contaminates in the fuel
The partial loss of engine power due to water and contaminants in the fuel, due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, and the pilot’s decision to conduct a steep turn at low altitude to return to the runway rather than land straight ahead, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Pilot forgets to lower landing gear during check ride
The pilot’s failure to lower the landing gear before landing. Contributing to the accident was the examiner’s failure to check that the landing gear was extended.
Stay safe in the snow
A 2020 NTSB investigation revealed that pilots assumed flight in snow was safe as long as minimum ceiling and visibility requirements were met or that snow conditions were too dry or cold to pose an icing hazard. Pilots also assumed that snow conditions are safe to fly in as long as you can see through it — they did not consider the effects of icing, NTSB officials said, adding these assumptions can be deadly.
Pilot loses control while landing on slush-covered runway
The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll on the slush-covered runway.