Distracted pilot crashes

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 24, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Czech Sportcruiser Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Millbrook, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: According to several witnesses, the airplane’s engine sounded good during the takeoff roll, but at liftoff the wings were rocking and the airplane was not gaining altitude. The airplane banked hard left back toward the airport, and disappeared from view.

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Pilots attempt flight with low fuel

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 23, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Fatal. 1 Serious. Location: West Milford, N.J. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The airplane was purchased by two people about four weeks before the accident. It had been parked outside and not flown for several years.

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Impaired pilot stalls aircraft

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 22, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: CX-5. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Ghent, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: Following two uneventful flights, the pilot and passenger took off. Continue Reading »

Poor maintenance blamed for engine failure

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 19, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Cessna 152. Injuries: None. Location: Avon Park, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: About a week before the accident, the pilot noticed fuel leaking from the airplane’s carburetor. He informed a mechanic, who assured him that the airplane was fine and that the leak could be stopped by knocking a screwdriver against the carburetor. Continue Reading »

Pilot forgets to check fuel valve

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 18, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Ercoupe 415-C. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: LaGrange, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: After completing a pre-flight inspection of the airplane, the pilot flew to an airport 32 nautical miles away. Continue Reading »

Gusts get the better of Globe pilot

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 17, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Globe GC-1B Injuries: None. Location: Carollton, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The left-seat pilot stated that at the end of a 45-minute flight, the pilot-rated passenger was attempting to land on runway 35 at the destination airport. The airplane bounced, veered left, and struck a runway sign with the propeller and left main landing gear.

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Flight through ice too much for Baron

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 16, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Beech Baron. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Bear Branch, Kent. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The pilot, age 68, held a FAA commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multiengine airplane land, and instrument airplane. He had a total of 1,545 total hours, with 104 hours in the accident airplane. The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing, which included the AIRMET for moderate icing conditions from approximately 5,000 to 16,000 feet MSL.

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Pilot loses control on landing

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 15, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The private pilot was practicing landings at his home airport. Continue Reading »

Maule stalls on departure

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 12, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Maule M5-235C. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Zellwood, Fla. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: After an engine run-up, the pilot taxied onto the runway and commenced his takeoff roll. The airplane lifted off on the first third of the runway. After liftoff the airplane turned in the approximate direction of the pilot’s destination airport. One witness stated they saw what appeared to be a thin trail of smoke trailing from the airplane.

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Bambi bends Mirage

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | April 11, 2012

This April 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

Aircraft: Piper Mirage. Injuries: None. Location: Clemson, S.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The airport was bordered by a wooded area with no fence separating the two. The pilot was attempting a night takeoff. As the airspeed reached 60 knots, the pilot saw a herd of deer walking across the runway and felt something hit the airplane.

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