NTSB Accident Reports—January 2025

A monthly summary of recently published NTSB preliminary accident reports involving general aviation and air carrier aircraft.

Aviation Safety

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipovic

Key Takeaways:

A significant number of incidents involved mechanical failures, including engine malfunctions due to internal defects, fuel system leaks, and a detached elevator control cable.
Pilot decision-making and operational errors were critical factors in several accidents, such as an unauthorized night takeoff with a known battery issue and inadequate pre-flight preparation for snow.
Multiple crashes resulted in fatalities and serious injuries, including mid-air fires, post-takeoff impacts, and a ground accident involving a turning propeller.
One notable event involved a passenger successfully landing a plane after the pilot became incapacitated, highlighting both risks and resourcefulness.

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October 1, 2024, Englewood, Colo.

Cessna TR182 Turbo Skylane RG

After an uneventful flight, the pilot configured the airplane for landing and noted a green landing gear annunciator. During the landing, the airplane bounced once and then settled back onto the runway. While rolling out, the right wing slowly started to drop; the pilot used aileron to hold the wing up to counter what he thought was a flat tire. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway, damaging the right horizontal stabilizer.