Aviation Safety

Flying a personal aircraft is different things to different people. To some, its fun, relaxing recreation. To others, its an efficient, private transportation mode. It can be just a job, or a career or a reason for living. Thats when things are going well.

How are your ILS approaches going? As the saying goes, it takes practice to make perfect, or even to keep current. The reward is the nice feeling and confidence boost received once you lock onto an actual-weather ILS approach, especially one you know from the beginning is going to turn out to be precise.

Paul Bertorellis insightful analysis of the Cirrus accident involving Cory Lidle in the December issue highlighted the importance of speed control in maneuvering for obstacle clearance. While hopefully few of us will stumble into a box canyon of mountains or buildings, effective speed control is also important in a far more routine aspect of our daily flight approach to landing.

Theres little else quite as ingrained in the minds of pilots, or emblematic of flight itself, as the stick and rudder. It seems axiomatic that losing the ability to control an airplanes roll, pitch or yaw would set you up for a quick toboggan ride downhill, followed by a very loud noise.

In 103 years of powered flight, the aviation community has successfully evolved a set of highly developed and scientific methods for investigating accidents, examining their root causes and making results-based changes in the hope that future, similar events will be prevented.

Three articles in your December issue pushed my buttons and prompted me to write. “…none of your business…” is a great commentary. Although I have never been outright verbally abused by a controller, I have many times received short, unhelpful responses from controllers when I asked why I was being climbed and descended all over the airspace.

At approximately 1710 Mountain time, the airplane sustained substantial damage following an emergency landing as a result of the airplanes nose landing gear failing to extend. The Airline Transport-rated student in the left seat and the Flight Instructor in the right seat were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot-rated student stated that during the […]

The airplane was destroyed at approximately 1805 Mountain time when it impacted a light pole and three unoccupied vehicles following a loss of engine power during final approach.

The airplane was substantially damaged during a hard night landing during a night cross-country solo training flight. The pilot stated she encountered light turbulence on final approach and that the airspeed was 80 knots, which is higher than normal. The pilot stated the nose gear and propeller struck the runway prior to the main gear […]

At 0945 Eastern time the airplane collided with a power line during initial climb and was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The Private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. According to witnesses, the airplane did not get airborne until it was approximately 2000 feet down the runway. The airplane barely cleared a tree at the departure end of the runway, and continued to climb “slowly.” A witness watched the airplane climb…