The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll about 60 knots with a “slight” crosswind, he “felt an abrupt” turn to the right, heard a “huge steady scrape” sound, and noted a vibration. Airborne at 65 knots, he reported a strong gust of wind from the left that felt like a quartering tail wind. He […]
aviation accidents
Partial loss of engine power leads to Piper’s forced landing
The private pilot reported that, after a preflight inspection and engine run-up revealed no anomalies, he and a passenger departed, circled a nearby mountain, then descended to an altitude about 750′ above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the Piper PA-22’s engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power, but was […]
Pilot seriously injured after ‘late’ go-around
The airline transport pilot was landing the experimental amateur-built Jodel F11A at his 1,600′ private runway in Marathon, Texas, when he attempted a “late” go-around. The airplane hit trees, a powerline, and terrain, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot was seriously injured in the crash. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions […]
What happens if I have an accident?
A recent post from insurance company Global Aerospace details what you should do if you are involved in an aircraft accident. It’s full of tips that can help all aircraft owners. What Can Trigger a Claim? Most aircraft insurance policies respond to two types of claims: Those that involve physical damage to the insured aircraft […]
Inexperienced pilot crashes trike
The non-certificated pilot reported that, after takeoff in the North Wing Apache, a light sport trike, about 200′ above ground level, he heard a popping sound and the aircraft yawed to the right. He heard the sound a second time, and the aircraft turned hard to the right. He applied full engine power in an attempt to […]
Pilot hits uncharted power lines
The pilot reported that during the initial climb, he leveled off at about 65′ above the ground and made a right turn to follow a river near Long Island, N.C. After maneuvering down the river for about one minute, the Beech F35 hit uncharted and unmarked power lines that spanned across the entire length of […]
Takeoff on ice-covered runway goes awry
The pilot reported he landed the Beech C23 on the runway at the airport in Frenchville, Maine, with visible ice and snow, and noted no issues with the braking and steering capabilities of the airplane. During the subsequent takeoff roll with full power applied, the airplane started sliding to the left. He attempted to control […]
Piper gets away from pilot after hand-propping
The pilot shut down the Piper PA-24’s engine to reposition the plane prior to finishing the run-up. Upon attempting to restart the engine, the airplane’s battery charge was low and the engine would not start. He set the parking brake and hand propped the engine. The engine started and the airplane began to move without […]
Failure to use checklists results in fuel starvation
The student pilot departed on the solo cross-country flight with about four hours of fuel onboard the Cessna 172. About two hours into the flight, he noticed that the left tank fuel gauge was indicating almost empty. He was not concerned about the indication, stating that he had been trained not to rely on the […]