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.

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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.

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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.

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Aircraft: Beech F33A. Injuries: 2 Serious, 2 Minor. Location: Tarentum, Penn. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The airplane was one of several involved in a Young Eagles event that day to introduce students to general aviation. According to witnesses, the airplane began its takeoff roll at the approach end of runway 17, which was 3,550 feet long. The airplane swerved as it slowed, and then overran the departure end of the runway and down an embankment. Skid marks began approximately 712 feet prior to the end of the runway.

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Aircraft: Piper Arrow III. Injuries: None. Location: Grand Forks, N.D. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The student pilot and flight instructor were practicing a simulated forced landing to a runway. [Read more...]

Aircraft: Cessna T210. Injuries: None. Location: Pueblo, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The pilot heard an unusual sound as he retracted the landing gear after takeoff and the amber gear warning light was illuminated.

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Aircraft: Piper Cub. Injuries: None. Location: Palmer, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The student pilot was flying solo and attempting to land. He aborted the first landing due to low level turbulence associated with wind coming over nearby trees.

He elected to land beyond the trees on his next attempt, but about 5 feet above the runway, the airplane turned sharply to the right, descended and crashed.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

The pilot said there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that he should have selected another airport where the wind was not a factor.

Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate compensation for wind conditions.

NTSB Identification: ANC11CA036

This May 2011 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 C90. Injuries: None. Location: Camden S.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The 14,500-hour pilot obtained weather information via the internet before the flight. The information included advisories for convective activity and scattered thunderstorms along the intended northwesterly route of flight.

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Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 3 Fatal. Location: Cold Springs, Nev. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The pilot held an instrument rating and was flying the airplane for the owner, who did not hold an instrument rating, from the departure airport, where instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, to another airport, which was reported as under visual flight rules.

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Aircraft: Cessna 180. Injuries: 5 Fatal. Location: Chugiak, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The pilot and four passengers departed on a cross country flight. According to witnesses on the ground, during the takeoff roll the airplane went off the left side of the runway before lifting off in a very nose-high attitude.

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