Aircraft: Cessna 180. Injuries: None. Location: Stillwater, Okla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting a wheel-landing in the tailwheel airplane. The main wheels touched down first but before he was able to get the tailwheel down, the airplane started to weathervane and swerved hard to the right. The wing hit the runway, and the […]
aviation accidents
Tailwind takeoff kills four
Aircraft: Cessna P210. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Burley, Idaho. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot attempted to takeoff with a tailwind of about 6 to 10 knots on what was described as a “high density altitude” day. The airplane was loaded at, or very near to, its maximum allowable takeoff weight. Witnesses on the ground watched […]
Heavy airplane, density altitude bad combo
Aircraft: Cessna 206. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Arcadia, Fla. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be about 2,300 feet. The pilot, who was attempting a water takeoff, used 10° of flaps to get the airplane off the water. It climbed to about 400 feet but would […]
Lack of airmanship kills two
Aircraft: Maule M-7-235. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Warrenton, Va. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The commercial pilot had logged approximately 1,066 hours, but his time in the Maule could not be determined. According to a CFI who had flown with him on several occasions, the pilot performed turns in the traffic pattern at 45°of […]
Poor fuel management by Piper pilot
Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: 2 Minor. Location: Sherman, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot told investigators that he didn’t visually check the fuel level prior to departure, but noted that the cockpit fuel gauges indicated the left tank was 3/4-full and the right fuel tank was 1/4-full. He took off with […]
Loss of control in traffic pattern proves fatal
Aircraft: Piper Comanche. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Camas, Wash. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The private pilot’s most recent third-class medical certificate was issued July 28, 2010. At the time, he reported a total flight time of 4,000 hours. A pilot-rated witness reported watching the Comanche join what appeared to be the left downwind […]
First flight, last flight
Aircraft: Rans S18. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Fayetteville, Tenn. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The private pilot was making his inaugural flight in the recently purchased, recently reassembled, but as of yet unregistered, experimental airplane. He had not flown in about six years. His latest medical certificate was issued June 6, 2005, and at […]
Pilot miscalculates fuel needs
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Dandrige, Tenn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot reported he fueled the airplane with enough fuel for two flights with skydivers with a 30-minute reserve. The first approach was as planned. During the second approach, the pilot had to adjust his flight path for other airplane traffic. […]
Bent tailwheel compromises airplane
Aircraft: Avid Flyer. Injuries: None. Location: Yamhill, Oregon. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land on a private airstrip in his homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped airplane. The winds were calm and the approach and touchdown were normal, but during the rollout the airplane began an uncommanded turn to the right. The pilot […]