The flight instructor and student pilot were parked at the airport in San Diego with the Cessna 172’s engine running when the plane began to move forward and to the right. The instructor said that upon noticing the forward movement, he applied the brakes. He reported that the right rudder/brake pedal was positioned further forward […]
aviation accidents
Piper ditched in ocean after unexplained power loss
The private pilot was flying over the ocean and just off the coast of Miami when an air traffic controller asked him to descend to 500′. He reduced power and applied carburetor heat until he reached the assigned altitude. He then attempted to increase engine power and level off, however, even with the throttle full […]
Forced landing results from improper placement of fuel selector handle
The pilot reported the Beech V35’s engine began running roughly during cruise flight a few minutes after he switched the fuel selector from the left to the right main fuel tank. He initially switched back to the left main fuel tank, which still contained useable fuel, increased the mixture control to full rich, and turned on […]
Landing on muddy runway goes awry
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped American Legend AL11C-100, he made an approach to his private sod airstrip in Las Animas, Colorado, after several days of rain showers. He reported that as the main wheels made contact with the surface, the plane immediately nosed over. A photograph taken following the accident showed the runway […]
Forced landing to road after 152 runs out of fuel
The commercial pilot reported that he visually checked the Cessna 152’s fuel tanks before conducting the personal flight and verified that they were full with a total of 26 gallons (24.5 usable) before the flight departed. Fuel receipts corroborated that the airplane was refueled before the flight. The pilot reported that, shortly after he descended […]
King Air pilot forgets to set parking brake
The pilot reported that he parked the Beech B200 at the airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, and shut down the requisite systems, then proceeded to the back of the airplane to allow the passengers to disembark and set the wheel chocks. As he began to open the cabin door, he realized the airplane was rolling […]
Deer hits Pilatus PC-12 on takeoff
During the takeoff roll, at the moment of rotation during night visual conditions, the pilot observed two white-tailed deer running across the runway at the airport in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The pilot maneuvered the Pilatus PC-12 to avoid the deer, however one of the deer hit the nose wheel. The pilot decided to continue the takeoff. […]
Exhausted pilot ground loops after missing runway
According to the pilot, during his approach at a non-towered airport in Big Bear, California, at night, he made the descent to what he thought was the runway, but realized it was actually the taxiway. He “slipped” right to what he perceived to be the runway. Upon Tailwind W8 ground looped and nosed over. The […]
Repeated maintenance errors lead to landing gear failure
The airline transport pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. He reported he configured the Cessna 340A to land at his destination airport in Bakersfield, California. However, during his instrument panel scan, he observed a warning light indicating that the right main landing gear (MLG) was not locked in the extended position. He departed the […]