Aircraft: American Champion Scout. Injuries: 2 Serious. Location: Soda Spring, Idaho. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The purpose of the flight was so the pilot-owner could gain more experience flying from the rear seat. The front-seat pilot, who held an ATP rating and was acting as safety pilot, said he completed a series of […]
Touch-and-go practice goes bad
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Plattsburgh, NY. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot, accompanied by a CFI, was practicing touch-and-goes. During the second approach, the airplane’s airspeed and altitude decreased more than the student intended. The left wing hit the runway. The CFI took over the controls and landed the airplane. […]
Glastar pilot forgets the gear
Aircraft: Glastar. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Wilsonville, Ore. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot took off from the airport in his amphibious experimental airplane with the intention of flying a closed traffic pattern. Because he planned to land back on the runway, he left the landing gear in the extended position. During the […]
In-flight engine failure for Aeronca
Aircraft: Aeronca O-58C. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor. Location: San Luis Obispo, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane was in cruise flight at 3,500 feet MSL when the engine quit. The pilot restarted the engine, and it ran for about 20 seconds before quitting again. He then applied carburetor heat and made […]
Cold morning, hot prop
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Eastsound, Wash. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot pulled the airplane out of the unheated hangar on a cold morning. He pulled the propeller through its rotation arc several times, then set the parking brake. When attempts to start the plane with the starter were unsuccessful, […]
Gear failure for Cessna pilot
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Houston, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was returning to the airport after a short flight, performed the before-landing checklist, which included verification of landing gear extension. After touchdown both main landing gear legs collapsed. The nose gear remained extended and the airplane slid down […]
Engine loses power on takeoff
Aircraft: Piper Twin Comanche. Injuries: 1 Serious Location: Big Bear City, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane had recently undergone maintenance, which included the overhaul of both engines. The pilot flew the Comanche into the airport the day before the accident and, after landing, called the maintenance facility to report that the […]
Disorientation brings down Cirrus
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Bennett, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was practicing instrument approaches in night VFR conditions. He was in a right turn and had turned his head to the right to look at some instrumentation when he felt the airplane accelerate. He looked at his flight […]
Piper pilot goes wrong way
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Atlanta, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was holding short of a runway intersection awaiting further clearance from the ground air traffic controller. After receiving clearance to cross the runway, he mistakenly turned left onto a grassy area. The right wing hit a sign, resulting in […]