Aircraft: Piper Matrix. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Greensburg, Ind. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The instrument-rated private pilot was executing a non-precision instrument approach procedure at night in deteriorating weather conditions. According to GPS track data, he executed the approach as published, but descended below the missed approach point’s minimum altitude before executing a […]
aviation accidents
Cirrus escapes during hand-propping
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: None. Location: Eden Prairie, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: When the pilot attempted to start the engine, the starter motor turned, but the starter did not engage. He turned off the battery master switch, exited the airplane, and walked around to the front of the airplane. He reached through […]
Turbulence destroys King Air
Aircraft: Beech King Air. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Amarillo, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The accident happened during an IFR cross-country flight. The 1,650-hour pilot, who held an instrument rating, was in contact with air traffic control during the flight. The controller cleared the plane to flight level 210 and gave the pilot […]
Poor planning puts airplane in drink
Aircraft: Skybolt. Injuries: None. Location: Sarasota, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: About a month before the accident, the pilot added about 17 gallons of fuel to the bottom fuel tank. About 25 minutes into the accident flight, the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot ditched the airplane in the […]
Vacuum failure, inadequate assistance from ATC proves fatal
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Parkton, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The private pilot, 63, who had logged more than 1,000 hours, took three tries to get his instrument ticket. He failed the checkride twice because he failed the “air traffic control clearances and procedures,” “instrument approach procedures,” and “emergency operations” […]
Improper parts for Piper
Aircraft: Piper Arrow. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Lock Haven, Pa. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, when the airplane was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet, the engine began to “surge,” then stopped producing power. The pilot selected a forced landing area in a clearing, but the plane lacked enough altitude […]
Gear collapses on touchdown
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee Six. Injuries: None. Location: Middle Bass Island, Ohio. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The accident happened during the pilot’s attempt to land over snow piles near the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down short of the runway threshold, and when the landing gear contacted the edge of the […]
Slippery ramp leads to bent wing
Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: None. Location: Rutland, Vermont. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, after landing, he attempted to taxi toward the FBO. The surface of the ramp was hard-packed snow. He initiated a left turn but the airplane continued heading straight ahead toward a fuel truck that was parked on […]
Wind shift bends Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Bellview, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: Before setting up to practice touch-and-go landings, the pilot overflew the airport, checked the windsock, and verified the wind was from the south at 10 knots. He entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 15. During the first approach, […]