Cessna loses power during approach

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | February 8, 2012

 This February 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: Sparks, Nev. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, he was descending to the airport with the fuel selector on the right tank when the engine lost power. He switched the fuel selector to the left tank, then to the “both” position. The propeller continued to windmill. Continue Reading »

Gear collapses on landing

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | February 7, 2012

This February 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 210. Injuries: None. Location: Aurora, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: Shortly after takeoff when the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear, it did not retract. The pilot verified the position of the landing gear by looking out of the window and noted that the wheels appeared to be in the down-and-locked position. Continue Reading »

Spatial disorientation kills two

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | February 6, 2012

This February 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 Malibu. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Belleville, Illinois. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The pilot had flown to an airport to receive training in the Malibu. According to the CFI who administered the training, a significant portion of the training time was spent on operation of the Garmin GPS installed in the airplane. Continue Reading »

Fuel contamination brings down twin

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | February 5, 2012

This February 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 Twin Comanche. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Amarillo, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: According to witnesses, the airplane took off and was at an altitude of 900 feet AGL when it turned as if to return for landing. The airplane did not make it back to the runway; instead it crashed into a warehouse near the airport.

Continue Reading »

Aerobatic practice kills two

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | February 2, 2012

This February 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: Yakovlev Yak 52. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Redlands, Calif. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The 27-year-old pilot, who held a commercial pilot certificate, had logged more than 277 hours, including 21 in the Yak 52. The passenger also held a commercial pilot certificate.

Continue Reading »

Luscombe escapes during hand propping

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | February 1, 2012

This February 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: Bellanca 7ECA, Luscombe. Injuries: None. Location: Canon, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The pilot of the Bellanca was sitting in the cockpit of his airplane with the engine running. He heard an engine rev and looked to the left to see an unoccupied Luscombe taxiing toward him.

Continue Reading »

VFR pilot attempts flight in IMC

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | January 31, 2012

This January 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 Minor. Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The non-instrument-rated pilot received a preflight weather briefing and decided to delay the flight because instrument meteorological conditions were forecast for his route of flight until 1200. Continue Reading »

Carb icing brings down Cessna 150

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | January 30, 2012

This January 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 150. Injuries: None. Location: Doylestown, Pa. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The accident flight was the first flight since an overhauled engine was installed. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were favorable for serious carburetor ice at cruise power.

Continue Reading »

Heavy braking bends airplane

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | January 29, 2012

This January 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 195B. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Palm Springs, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a dry, hard-surfaced runway. During the landing rollout, as he was moving his feet from the rudder pedals to the brakes, he applied too much pressure and the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage.

He told investigators that he suffers from diabetic neuropathy and did not initially realize how much brake pressure he applied.

Probable cause: The pilot’s improper use of brakes during landing.

For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: WPR10CA101

Lost student pilot runs out of fuel

Meg Godlewski | Accident Reports | January 26, 2012

This January 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 150. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Brownstown, Ill. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The student pilot was on the last leg of a three-leg cross country flight. He had departed at 3:35 local time, with 26 gallons of fuel on board. The sun was setting and it was hazy, which made it difficult for him to locate his checkpoint. He flew around in attempt to get back on course but was unable to do so.

Continue Reading »