Aviation Safety

At 0617 Pacific time, a Cessna 182Q suffered an in-flight loss of control shortly after takeoff from runway 36 at Lake Tahoe Airport. The flight instructor received minor injuries. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The Civil Air Patrol pilot told investigators they were activated for a mission to search for a missing aircraft. They were repositioning to WMC, where the search was being coordinated. Shortly after takeoff, the nose pitched up despite the pilots attempts to flatten the aircrafts attitude. The CFI took control, but the pitch controls appeared to be jammed. The rear seat passenger moved forward to see if weight distribution would help. The pilot and instructor were b…

At about 1530 Pacific time, a twin engine Beech C55 lost power in both engines shortly after takeoff from Dietz Airpark and was damaged in the forced landing that followed. The pilot was not injured. The pilot reported the airplane experienced a dual engine failure shortly after takeoff from the 2,800-foot turf runway. Following the engine failure, the pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway, however, the airplane touched down in tall grass adjacent to the runway and slid to a stop. The pilot stated he positioned the fuel selectors to the auxiliary fuel tanks during the engine run up prior to takeoff, but did not reposition them back to the main tanks before departing….

At 1500 central time, a Piper PA-18A-150 lost engine power during initial climb from Northwest Regional Airport and was damaged in the forced landing. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction suffered minor injuries. The pilot was receiving a flight checkout for his tail wheel endorsement and had been doing touch and goes. The pilot said that, when the flight departed a half hour earlier, the left fuel tank indicated approximately 3/4 full of fuel, and the right tank indicated approximately 1/2 full of fuel. During the initial takeoff climb of the 3rd or 4th touch and go, the engine lost power. The instructor switched tanks but the engine did not respond. The FAA inspector said…

At about 1200 Alaska time, a Piper PA-18-160 struck a frozen river while maneuvering at low altitude about 80 miles northwest of Skwentna. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The pilot said he had been flying about 100 feet above the ground at a reduced power setting. He said he had initiated a 90 degree downwind turn, and hit a sinker, which pushed the airplane toward the ground. He immediately applied full power, but the engine did not respond with maximum power. The pilot said it is possible the engine had accumulated carburetor ice….

At approximately 1030 central time, an Aerotek Pitts S-2A was damaged when it lost part of a wing while maneuvering near Grand Prairie Municipal Airport. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot said he was performing a power-off stall and the airplane entered a spin. As he recovered from the spin, a four-foot section of the bottom left wing separated. The pilot was able to fly the airplane back to GPM….

The following briefs were selected from the preliminary reports filed with the NTSB in May 2003. Statements in quotes were taken directly from the NTSB documents. Click here to view “Accident Totals, May.”

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May 03, Roanoke, Texas
Piper Super Cub
At 1500 central time, a Piper PA-18A-150 lost engine power during initial climb from Northwest Regional Airport and was damaged in the forced landing. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction suffered minor injuries. The pilot was receiving a flight checkout for his tail wheel endorsement and had been doing touch and goes. The pilot said that, when the flight depa…

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