Aircraft: Piper Comanche. Injuries: None. Location: Blacksburg, Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The accident happened during the approach to land. The pilot had the left fuel selector set to the left main tank and the right fuel selector was set to the right main tank. The engine began to lose power during the approach. The pilot […]
aviation accidents
Low approach proves fatal
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Plainville, Conn. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was flying an approach to his home airport in daylight VFR conditions that terminated in a go-around. On the second approach, the airplane flew lower than normal. It hit a berm at the approach end of the runway, crashed and caught […]
Delayed decision leads to crash
Aircraft: Beechcraft Duke. Injuries: 3 Fatal. Location: Sedona, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: According to several witnesses, the airplane appeared to be having difficulty accelerating for takeoff. It did not liftoff. It continued down the 5,132-foot runway, went off the end of the runway and down a steep slope where it crashed and burned. The post-accident […]
Gear collapses on landing
Aircraft: Flight Design CTLS. Injuries: None. Location: Conway, Ark. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot reported that the straight-in approach was normal, but the right main landing gear collapsed upon touchdown. The airplane went off the right side of the runway. A laboratory examination of the damaged gear leg revealed a longitudinal crack along the […]
Stoned pilot crashes in lake
Aircraft: Kitfox IV. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Cross Lake, Minn. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The airplane was observed flying low and slow over a lake. It stalled, entered a spin, then hit the water. The passenger was able to get out of the airplane on his own. The pilot was pinned in the wreckage. […]
Crosswind crimps Pacer
Aircraft: Piper Pacer. Injuries: None. Location: Cooperstown, N.Y. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot stated that, before initiating the takeoff, he noted that the two windsocks located on the runway indicated a crosswind. Just after lifting off, he felt a gust of wind from the left, and the airplane was pushed right toward a cornfield next […]
VFR into IMC proves fatal
Aircraft: RV-4. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Cedartown, Ga. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who did not have an instrument rating, took off in VFR conditions on a cross-country flight. There was no record of the pilot obtaining a preflight briefing. About an hour and a half after departing, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions. The […]
Fuel valve failure contributes to fatal crash
Aircraft: Beech A23. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor. Location: Laytonsville, Md. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, accompanied by a flight instructor, was practicing takeoffs and landings. The first two went well. Before the third takeoff, the pilot verified that the flaps were retracted for takeoff and that the fuel selector valve was positioned on the […]
Carb ice catches Cub
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: None. Location: North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was conducting a banner-tow flight. The accident happened as he approached to pick up the banner. The airplane was at an altitude of 300 feet AGL when he reduced the power to the idle. His said his airspeed was […]