Aircraft: Beech Musketeer. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: West Milton, Ohio. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The private pilot did not have a medical certificate at the time of the flight, and one was required for the flight. According to his logbook, he had logged 306 hours, including 224 in a Musketeer. He did not have an instrument rating […]
aviation accidents
Poor decision making kills four
Aircraft: Cirrus SR20. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Crystal Lake, Illinois. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who had logged about 207 hours, including 114 in the Cirrus, did not have an instrument rating. He contacted the tower controller at the intended destination airport and inquired about landing. The controller informed him that the airport was currently under […]
Pilot loses control in rain storm
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Mescalero, N.M. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The air traffic controller advised the pilot of an area of light precipitation 15 miles ahead at his 12 o’clock position, about 10 miles in diameter, and extending about 10 miles along his flight path. Shortly thereafter, the non-instrument-rated pilot said he was turning […]
Part failure proves fatal
Aircraft: Cessna 177RG. Injuries: 3 Fatal. Location: Tallapoosa, Ga. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The airplane was in cruise flight at 4,000 feet when the engine lost oil pressure. The pilot declared an emergency. He requested and received radar vectors to the nearest airport. Shortly thereafter, the pilot advised the controller that he was unable to reach the […]
Bad cylinder brings down airplane
Aircraft: Cirrus SR20. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: New Orleans. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: Shortly after takeoff in IFR conditions over water, the pilot noted a rapid increase in the temperature of the No. 2 cylinder head, followed by a drop in oil pressure. He declared an emergency and attempted to return to the airport. The engine failed […]
Poor fuel management brings down Beech
Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: None. Location: Elkhart Lake, Wis. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot departed for the planned 1 hour and 40 minute flight with 58 total gallons of fuel on board. While in cruise flight at 2,500 feet MSL, the engine lost power. After switching fuel tanks and several unsuccessful engine restart attempts, he made […]
Night landing goes bad
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Alexandria, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land at night when the airplane lost electrical power. During the landing flare, the pilot lost sight of the runway lights on the right side of the airplane. The airplane went off the runway and hit a runway sign. Probable […]
Pilot gets lost at night
Aircraft: Cessna 180. Injuries: None. Location: Eau Claire, Wis. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: During a personal sightseeing flight in the late afternoon, the pilot landed the airplane at a controlled airport without contacting the control tower. According to the manager of an FBO at the airport, the pilot didn’t know what airport he was at, and was […]
Get-home-itis kills three
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: 3 Fatal. Location: Lake Havasu, Ariz. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The non-instrument-rated pilot was flying two friends home after a football game. He had flown the same route at night on four previous occasions, the most recent of which was two weeks before the accident. On both occasion the skies were clear and […]