The pilot reported that the Piper PA 28-181 was operated on a visual flight rules night flight. He estimated that the plane had about 30 to 32 gallons of fuel prior to departure from the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) in Denver, Colorado. During the flight, intermittent electrical issues were experienced, including static in the headsets, flickering instrument […]
NTSB
Two injured when balloon hits tree
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to take the 11 passengers on a hot-air balloon sightseeing tour near Wittman, Arizona. He reviewed the weather forecast for the day, which disclosed that wind speeds would be less than 8 mph. The morning departure occurred in calm wind conditions and the pilot maneuvered the […]
Student’s second solo goes awry
According to the student pilot, he was performing his second solo flight, and he reported a total flying time of 45 hours. As the Cessna 172 became airborne during the initial takeoff, it “…violently veered 90° to the left.” He immediately applied right rudder and reduced the throttle to idle. The airplane landed on the left […]
Partial loss of engine power brings down 182
The private pilot was conducting a personal flight near Hartford, Conn., in a Cessna 182. He reported that, while the airplane was climbing after takeoff, he noticed the engine began running roughly, and it then lost power. He attempted to regain full power by using the carburetor heat, but was unsuccessful, so he decided to conduct […]
Lack of training contributes to crash
The pilot reported he had recently obtained the pusher-type airplane, a RANS S-14, and that the accident flight was the first time he had flown it or any pusher-type airplane. He performed numerous taxi tests at the airport in Kewanee, Ill., over a three-hour period and then decided to take off and fly around the […]
NTSB issues Safety Alert on midair collisions
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Transportation Safety Board issued a Safety Alert Nov. 15, 2016, to pilots with suggestions on what they can do to reduce their chances of being involved in a midair collision. In an effort to illustrate the limitations of the “see and avoid” concept of aircraft separation, the NTSB created a series […]
Wrong frequency, dark night bad combination
The Socata TB20 Trinidad pilot was conducting an instrument approach for landing in night instrument meteorological conditions at the airport in Hilton Head Island, S.C. After receiving the approach clearance from air traffic control, he tuned his communication radio to the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and attempted to activate the airport lighting by […]
New RV-3 owner perishes in crash
Several witnesses reported they observed the RV-3 make a steep climb shortly after takeoff from the airport in Las Cruces, N.M., and then make two 90° left bank turns to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. During the turns, the wings were rocking back and forth, the airplane was in a nose-high attitude and not […]
Pilot hits brake instead of rudder
The pilot reported the approach and landing were normal to an airport in Los Lunas, N.M., and he used right rudder to compensate for a left crosswind. During the landing roll his left foot slid off the rudder pedal and the RV-4 began to veer to the right. When he moved his foot back on the […]