The pilot reported that during landing on a coastal beach in Anchor Point, Alaska, the Piper PA-18’s left wing hit a driftwood tree branch that protruded from a higher berm. The airplane spun to the left, which resulted in substantial damage to the elevator and both ailerons. The pilot added he had seen the tree, […]
NTSB Accidents
Fuel exhaustion leads to 150’s forced landing
The pilot reported that while en-route to his destination airport, he saw a “small area of rain” ahead. He further reported that he “circled around for a while” waiting for the weather to clear, but during the circling he “ran out of fuel” and the Cessna 150 lost power. Subsequently, he landed in a corn […]
Carb icing brings down Bellanca
The pilot and flight instructor were performing a recurrent training flight in the tailwheel-equipped Bellanca 7ECA. Both pilots reported that the takeoff roll and acceleration on the 1,900′ grass runway in Lino Lakes, Minnesota, seemed normal. As the airplane approached the predetermined decision point, they decided to continue the takeoff. The airplane became airborne near […]
Distracted Piper pilot hits Cessna on the ground
The pilot of the parked Cessna 500 reported that he and his co-pilot had just re-entered the airplane at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and were having a conversation when he felt the airplane shake and heard a loud noise. He looked out of the right window and saw a Piper PA-34 with its […]
Loss of engine power fatal for Alaska pilot
According to multiple witnesses at the airport in Chugiak, Alaska, they observed the Champion 7ECA perform several touch-and-go landings throughout the late morning and early afternoon on the day of the accident. They added that the pilot then landed and taxied to a local fuel vendor’s facility and refueled. The pilot then departed. Two witnesses […]
Unfamiliarity contributes to crash
After a one-hour local flight during which he familiarized himself with the Rans Coyote’s stall characteristics, the student pilot/owner of the experimental light-sport airplane returned to his home airport in London, Kentucky, to practice touch-and-go landings. The airplane bounced during the final landing attempt, and while recovering, the student applied full power to the engine […]
Pilot’s failure to see and avoid bends airplane
A headache led to an attempted off-airport landing.
Battery failure leads to fuel starvation
A reduction in electrical power, which disabled both fuel pumps and resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power.
Tailwheel fails on landing
Corrosion and cracks in the tailwheel suspension assembly was cited as the culprit in this loss of directional control accident.