In “Real Pilot Story: Crossed Wires,” commercial pilot and CFI Greg Soter reflects on an emergency landing near Birdseye, Utah, in June 2013, after discovering an electrical fire in the back of the Cessna 172 he was flying.
aviation accidents
Human Factors: An unhealthy tango for two
We have a less than ideal airport layout with intersecting runways, view-limiting terrain, and published data ignored by the locals. Why, yes, that does seem like a good recipe for an accident, doesn’t it?
Open door distracts Cirrus pilot
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing, resulting in a runway excursion. Contributing to the outcome was the pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane’s right side door was properly secured prior to departing on the accident flight, and his subsequent distraction due to the door during the landing attempt.
Pilot seriously injured when experimental crashes
The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Fuel exhaustion fatal for two
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
First flight after repairs ends in crash
The pilot/mechanic’s inadequate inspection of the faulty horizontal stabilizer trim switch, which resulted in an uncommanded trim movement during the takeoff roll, which resulted in an aborted takeoff, and subsequent nose over.
CFI forgets to stop for fuel
The flight instructor’s inadequate inflight fuel planning that resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing.
Student crashes during first flight after six years
The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
Human Factors: Fuel factors
At the accident site, an Amazon warehouse parking lot in Akron, Ohio, investigators found no fuel in the 1973 Cessna 172M’s tanks, lines, or carburetor bowl — and only trace amounts in the fuel filter.