Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 1 Minor. Location: Guthrie, Okla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane was equipped with two 25-gallon fuel tanks, which gave it a total of 50 gallons total of which 48 gallons were useable. The airplane was fueled to capacity, then flew for three hours and 15 minutes to […]
aviation accidents
Crosswind catches Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Ozark, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot made two approaches to the north runway, but each attempt resulted in a go-around because he was unable to maintain runway alignment due to a strong crosswind. He decided to make the next approach to the south. While on final approach, the […]
Bad bounce for student
Aircraft: Cirrus SR20. Injuries: None. Location: Englewood, Colo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot was attempting to land. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear, bouncing several times before going off the runway. The airplane went across the grass, and down a hill before coming to rest next to a fence. Probable cause: […]
Fast approach, bad landing
Aircraft: Cessna Cardinal. Injuries: None. Location: Honesdale, Penn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot had the airplane configured for landing with 30° of flaps. The asphalt runway measured 2,420 foot. Normal airspeed for landing is 70 mph, but the Cardinal was indicating 85 to 90 mph. After touchdown, the pilot realized there was insufficient runway […]
Departure stall for Piper
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Elizabethton, Tenn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, the preflight inspection and engine run-up were normal. The pilot used a short-field technique for takeoff and entered a steep climb. He then pushed forward on the stick to lower the nose for straight and level flight. The […]
Missing cotter pin brings down Luscombe
Aircraft: Luscombe 8A. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Dixie, Ga. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: While the airplane was in cruise flight, the pilot noticed the engine oil temperature rising. He reduced power and headed toward the nearest airport. The airplane was four miles from the destination at an altitude of about 1,000 feet AGL when […]
Ferry flight ends badly
Aircraft: Taylorcraft BL-65. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Easton, Mo. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The airplane had been inactive for some time. The purpose of the flight was to ferry it to another airport to complete the annual inspection. The most recent annual inspection was completed in June 2005. The inspection had begun in June with the […]
Poor planning leads to off-airport landing
Aircraft: Piper Tomahawk. Injuries: None. Location: Centerburg, Ohio. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot visually checked the fuel level in the tanks. The left tank contained about six gallons and the right tank contained about 10 gallons. Shortly after takeoff, he switched the fuel selector from the left tank, which was now indicating one to two […]
VFR into IMC kills three
Aircraft: Piper Lance. Injuries: 3 Fatal. Location: Peru, W.Va. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was not instrument rated, obtained a weather briefing earlier in the evening, and was informed that VFR flight was not recommended. He took off into the dark night. Thirty minutes into the flight he obtained an in-flight weather briefing indicating […]