Aviation Safety

At 15:00 Pacific time, a Cessna 172RG lost engine power and made an emergency landing in a dirt field in Stanford, coming to rest inverted. The flight instructor and pilot/student were not injured. The instructor said they were about 2,000 feet msl when he noted a loss of oil pressure. At 1,600 feet the engine stopped. He set up for the emergency landing on a side road but a truck entered the road, and he had to maneuver the airplane onto an open field. Investigators found the oil had been changed the day before the accident and the oil filter had not been tightened or safety-wired to the engine. The bottom of the fuselage, firewall, and the rear of the engine were coated with oil and the en…

At about 16:20 Hawaiian time, a Boeing 747-200F operated by Evergreen International Airlines experienced smoke in the cockpit while en route from Honolulu to Pago Pago. The flight was about 2 hours out of Honolulu at flight level 340, but returned for an uneventful landing. Inspection found an incandescent lamp dimmer was still hot after two hours without electrical power. Neither of the two circuit breakers attached to the dimmer assembly were open. When opened manually, both breakers were found to be red hot….

At about 09:15 Alaska time, a Cessna 150D struck trees during a forced landing near Soldotna. The solo student pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was flying near the airport when the engine lost power. The airplane descended rapidly and struck trees. Investigation showed the fuel tanks were intact but contained a less than usable quantity of fuel….

At about 12:00 Alaska time, a Cessna 172S was damaged during an emergency landing at Quartz Creek Airport. The pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, the other two passengers were not injured. The airplane was in cruise flight when it began an uncommanded pitch up. The pilot was unable to keep the airplane from climbing and shut off the engine during his attempt to land. The airplane touched down on runway 21 and bounced several times before continuing off the departure end and crashing into trees. The airplane was equipped with a two-axis autopilot, which is being examined….

At 15:50 Pacific time, a Beech J35 lost engine power and was damaged in a forced landing while in the traffic pattern at McCarran International Airport. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. The power loss was blamed on fuel starvation. The airplanes main tanks were empty, but the auxiliary tanks were nearly full. The POH for the J35 stipulates that the auxiliary tanks not be used for takeoff and landing. The pilot landed on a dirt road a quarter-mile from the runway threshold….

At 03:45 central time, a Cessna 150L lost engine power after takeoff from the Wichita Valley Airpark and was damaged in the ensuing forced landing. The CFI and student pilot were not injured. The CFI told investigators he was giving his student night flight instruction practicing takeoffs and landings. After the last landing the student pilot was performing a maximum performance takeoff and the engine lost power. The CFI landed at the end of the paved runway surface and rolled off the end of the runway. A visual check of the fuel tanks showed 1/4 gallon in the left tank, and 1/2 gallon in the right tank. The pair had been flying since midnight….

At approximately 09:40 eastern time, a pilot in a Cessna 152 lost control on landing at Millville Airport and struck a runway sign. The pilot was not injured. The 35-hour student pilot was trying to land with a 90-degree, 15-knot crosswind….

At approximately 18:45 central time, a Piper PA-24-250 was damaged during a wheels-up landing on runway 15 at Garner Field Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said his approach was too high and too fast. He did not select the gear down until he was on final approach and did not check for a gear down-and-locked indication until he was on short final. He noted it was not illuminated and added power to go around but the engine sputtered. He elected to reduce power and land gear up. The aircraft caught fire and the rear portion burned….

At about 15:46 eastern time, a Mooney M20C lost engine power after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and struck a car and bus as it landed on a city street. The CFI and private-rated student pilot suffered minor injuries. As the airplane took off and the pilot turned off the electric boost pump, the engine lost power. The pilot turned the pump back on but power was not restored. The engine was reportedly running smoothly but at reduced power. Post-accident examination showed one side of the bail wire that secures the gascolator bowl was found improperly positioned. The throttle lever with throttle cable attached was found separated from the carburetor, and there was no evidence…

At about 19:46 Pacific time, a Cessna 172RG was damaged while landing at Tacoma Narrows Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said the airplane suffered an electrical failure after taking off from runway 17. He completed a 180-degree turn to land on the opposing runway and, just before touchdown, thought he heard the prop strike the runway. He applied power for a go-around, then aborted the go-around and put the gear down to land. When the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear collapsed….