Probable cause: The pilot’s inadvertent landing gear retraction during approach.
Checking phone leads to crash
Probable cause: The pilot’s diverted attention to his phone while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in collision with terrain.
Quartering tailwind flips Cessna 170
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper wind correction inputs while taxiing with a quartering tailwind.
J-3 bent when control stick’s handgrip slips off
Probable cause: The control stick handgrip separation from the control stick resulting in the airplane pitching forward, which resulted in hard landing.
Gyroplane damaged by pilot error
Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to takeoff in gusting wind conditions with insufficient rotor rpm.
Car hits Maule on taxiway
Probable cause: The ground vehicle driver’s decision to drive on an active taxiway at night and failure to yield to taxiing aircraft, resulting in a collision with a taxiing aircraft.
Pilot seriously injured after fuel exhaustion leads to crash
Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel monitoring and his decision to take off with an unverified amount of fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent impact with trees during an attempted forced landing.
RV-4 crashes after engine quits
Probable cause: The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Student bends Beech on landing
Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.