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: Flight Design CTLS. Injuries: None. Location: Fort Myers, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: Once cleared for his first solo by his CFI, the student pilot listened to the ATIS, which indicated the wind was from 320° at 10 knots. He taxied to runway 31. He began the takeoff roll and felt that the airplane was being pushed from the left.

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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 Saratoga. Injuries: None. Location: Dolan Spring, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: During the airplane’s last annual inspection, which took place five months before the accident, the pilot/owner noted that the airplane had not been producing full power at takeoff. According to the pilot, the deficiency was not resolved during the inspection, or on subsequent return trips to the maintenance facility. However, the pilot continued to fly the airplane.

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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: Beech A36. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Winslow, Ark. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The airplane was in VFR conditions between cloud layers when the 363-hour instrument-rated pilot received vectors for an instrument approach to the destination airport. The descent required descending through the clouds. There were reports of icing in the clouds.

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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 Saratoga. Injuries: None. Location: Reserve, N.M. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: During takeoff the pilot heard a “pop” noise and smoke filled the cockpit. He elected to continue the takeoff roll with the intent of completing the pattern to return to the airport. During the downwind leg, the smoke became severe, but the pilot was able to land the airplane safely.

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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: Fort Pierce, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. On his seventh landing he misjudged the flare, porpoised, and landed hard on the main landing gear.

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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 172RG. Injuries: None. Location: Lockhart, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: A CFI and pilot receiving instruction took off on an instructional flight. The CFI reported that the landing gear was slow to retract, the radios made “clicking noises,” and “flickered” and began to fail, and the fuel gauges registered near empty, so he assumed control of the airplane.

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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 Mirage. Injuries: None. Location: Nashville. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The 2,632-hour commercial pilot said that while in cruise flight the alternator light illuminated and he smelled smoke. He declared an emergency and diverted to the nearest airport for an emergency landing. [Read more...]

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 Cherokee. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Gatesville, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The pilot’s medical history included an accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury that put him in a coma in 1993. This was accompanied with persistent cognitive deficits and frequent intermittent episodes of amnesia. In addition, he had severe chronic lung disease [Read more...]

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 Saratoga. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Groveland, Calif. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: While he was instrument rated, the 1,083-hour pilot had never performed an approach into the airport in actual instrument conditions. He did not obtain a weather briefing or file a flight plan before departing at night in IMC.

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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: FK1 STOL, Cessna 185. Injuries: None. Location: Dixie, Idaho. Aircraft damage: Substantial.

What reportedly happened: The aircraft were flying as a flight of two. The Cessna was to land first. The Cessna pilot overflew the runway and requested that a friend on the ground check the condition of the snow-covered runway, which was reported as being in excellent condition, smooth and well-compacted. [Read more...]