The instrument-rated pilot departed in the Cirrus SR22 with a reported cloud ceiling of 400 feet above ground level and 3 miles visibility. A witness, who was about 0.3 nautical miles west of the departure end of the runway in Chesterfield, Mo., saw the SR22’s navigation lights for about three to five seconds as it traveled […]
NTSB
Unstabilized approach bends 182
As the pilot approached the airport in Stanwood, Wash., he maneuvered the Cessna 182 to enter a standard traffic pattern. On final approach, he fully extended the wing flaps while reducing the engine power. He then temporarily added power to attain adequate clearance from trees located before the runway. During the descent, the stall warning […]
Stearman ground loops
Prior to landing, the Stearman A75 pilot listened to the automated weather station at the airport in Appleton, Wis., which reported the wind out of the west at 8 knots. During the landing roll, the right wing lifted suddenly, the left wing hit the ground, and the airplane ground looped. He then asked the air […]
The last link: Dealing with the loss of a friend
By AMELIA REIHELD. “Oh, $%*@# !….” Waking up to the news that he had lost another friend to an aviation accident was not a good way to start the day for Tom Bush (CDR, USN, ret.) This latest tragic mishap claimed pilot number 21 in his own necrology of civilian and military pilots he had […]
Bellanca hits VASI
The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were conducting a personal flight near West Yellowstone, Mont., in the tailwheel-equipped Bellanca 7GCBC. The pilot was in the rear seat, and the passenger was in the front seat. The passenger did not have a tailwheel endorsement, but he planned to follow the pilot on the controls during the […]
Carb ice brings down Flight Design CTLS
The pilot reported that as the Flight Design CTLS was descending through about 4,700 feet mean sea level, the engine began to run rough and eventually lost complete power. He noted that the engine monitoring system indicated that there was no fuel flow, despite the airplane having about 16 gallons of automobile fuel still available. Several […]
Crosswind catches student pilot
The student pilot said there was a mild crosswind on final approach to the airport in Mesquite, Texas. The crosswind “picked up” before the Cessna 172 as it touched down left of centerline. He retracted the flaps and advanced the throttle to continue the touch-and-go. The airplane continued to drift to the left and the […]
Pilot loses control on takeoff roll
The pilot reported that he lost directional control of the Luscombe 8A during the takeoff roll at the airport in Ellinwood, Kansas. The plane encountered soft ground conditions when it reached the shoulder of the runway. It went into the adjoining field and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The […]
Pilots hits lights after landing in displaced threshold
According to the pilot, he was completing a short cross-country flight in a Beech 58 and planned a practice short field landing at the airport in New Bedford, Mass. He landed on his planned touchdown point, but did not take the height of the runway threshold lights into consideration. During the final approach, the plane […]