Aviation Safety

At 1313 eastern time, a Beech BE-56TC crashed in a field after losing engine power while climbing near Bethany. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane had departed Parkersburg about 35 minutes earlier for a planned IFR flight to Watertown, N.Y. The pilot said he was climbing through 16,000 feet for 23,000 feet when the left manifold pressure gauge began to fluctuate. He then noticed oil streaking from the left engine cowling. The pilot secured the left engine and advised the controller that he wanted to return to PKB. About five minutes after the pilot had secured the left engine, the right engine lost all power. Neither engine would restart. During the restart attempts, the airplane…

At about 2030 eastern time, a Mooney M20C lost engine power and was damaged landing in a field in Utica. The pilot received minor injuries. The pilot said the airplane had 20 gallons in the left tank and 12 gallons in the right tank when he departed. He determined he had enough fuel for four planned flights, plus a 30-minute reserve. He planned a cruise speed of 105 knots, which should have resulted in a fuel burn of 8 gph. The first leg was uneventful. On the second leg, he had to circle for 15 minutes before landing because of traffic. There was no fuel available at that airport, so he proceeded on the next leg. At the next airport, there was no fuel available and he did not check the quan…

At approximately 0740 mountain time, a Cirrus Design SR20 crashed near Fish Haven. The pilot was seriously injured. The pilot said he made a low pass over a private airstrip at about 50 to 70 feet agl. The said that during the pass the airspeed got too low. He applied full power and intended to retract the flaps from full to half, but in actuality retracted them completely. The aircraft lost altitude and collided with the ground….

With WAAS up, GPS takes on a starring role in GA navigation. But we doubt it means youll throw away your ILS anytime soon

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Getting your airplane, your skills and your judgment tuned up for winter flight takes extraordinary attention to detail

Combine time, knowledge and attention to make the most of your ability to keep yourself ahead of the airplane

Nick, chip, ding, chunk – call it what you will, but that teeny flaw in the prop can rip it apart with ease

Never established on the localizer, the twin pilot nonetheless descends below minimums and finds only trees

When we reached St. Lucia according to the GPS, the island simply was not there.