Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Wendover, Utah. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The private pilot, 57, who had logged more than 186 hours, rented the airplane from an FBO to fly himself and three passengers to a business meeting. According to the FBO’s records, the pilot’s last flight in one of its […]
NTSB
Fatigue failure brings down Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 421B. Injuries: 3 Uninjured. Location: Truckee, Calif. Aircraft Damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern high, and, in an effort to descend, the pilot extended the landing gear and deployed full flaps. About the time the flaps reached their maximum extension, the right flap experienced […]
Pacer ground-loops
Aircraft: Piper Pacer. Injuries: None. Location: Yakima, Wash. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was returning to land when, upon touchdown, a gust of wind lifted his left wing. Despite his control inputs, the airplane ground-looped. At the time of the accident, the wind at the airport was reported to be from 240° […]
Hard braking for tailwheel
Aircraft: Luscombe 8E Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Apex, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial What reportedly happened: The pilot was conducting a full-stop landing. He executed a normal landing, lowered the tail and was rolling fast. The airplane was on the center line with 300 to 400 feet of runway remaining. He stated he applied the brakes […]
Loss of control for Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Sully, Iowa. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot and his passenger were taking off on a 2,130-foot turf runway. During the takeoff, the airplane lifted off, remained in ground effect, veered to the left, and then settled back onto the runway crashing into a sign and a […]
NTSB wants meteorological towers marked
After three accidents involving airplanes colliding with meteorological towers, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended to the Federal Aviation Administration and three other agencies that the towers be marked for additional safety. NTSB wants the FAA to require all towers to be registered, marked and lighted. The agency also proposed that the FAA create […]
Wind gust rolls airplane
Aircraft: RV-4. Injuries: None. Location: Redwood Fall, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane encountered a wind gust on takeoff roll, which lifted the right wing and caused the airplane to roll left. The airplane then lifted off the ground about 2-3 feet, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane touched down […]
Fast turn bends gear
Aircraft: RV-8. Injuries: None. Location: Livermore, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he performed a straight-in approach and subsequent landing with a gusting crosswind. As the airplane slowed, and the tail dropped, he applied full aft elevator control input. He applied brakes and then […]
Poor fuel management brings down Mooney
Aircraft: Mooney M20R Injuries: 3 Serious. Location: Ravenna, Ohio. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot and pilot-rated passenger, the airplane’s engine lost power while in level flight. The pilot switched fuel tanks and attempted to restart the engine without success. During the forced landing, the right wing hit a tree at […]