Search Results for: Cessna 172

The student pilot and flight instructor had conducted four takeoffs and landings during a dual instructional flight prior to the accident flight. The flight instructor stated that the landings “went really well” and he elected to endorse the student pilot for solo flight. The student pilot subsequently took off on his initial solo flight and flew a normal traffic pattern.

At 0648 Pacific time, the airplane impacted a residence shortly after takeoff. The commercial pilot, passenger and three people on the ground were killed; three more people on the ground were seriously injured. The airplane was destroyed. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. An automated weather observation taken eight miles north of the departure airport seven minutes after the accident reported calm winds, 2.5 miles visibility in mist and a 300-foot overcast.

The airplane impacted mountainous terrain at approximately 2130 Pacific time under unknown circumstances. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. Night visual conditions prevailed. According to ATC, the pilot was receiving flight following services in cruise at about 11,500 feet msl, then began descending at about 2107. Radar contact was lost shortly thereafter about 35 nm southwest of Reno. The last radio contact with the pilot was at approximately 2115. The wreckage was located about 0700 the next day at an elevation of approximately 8600 feet msl.

The airplane experienced a loss of engine power on takeoff at about 1725 Mountain time and made a forced landing in a field. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual conditions prevailed. This was the first flight of the aircraft that day. The airplane could not maintain altitude. During the landing, the airplanes wheels sank into mud and the airplane nosed over. The CFI stated the fuel tanks were full before takeoff, and carburetor heat was off during the takeoff and emergency landing.

At 1439 Pacific time the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees while maneuvering. The commercial pilot and two passengers were killed. Visual conditions prevailed. The left and right wing were found separated from the fuselage and were located within the approximate 200-foot wreckage debris path. All primary flight controls were located at the accident site.

The pilot said when he started his cross-country flight, 2.4 hours had been flown by the airplane since the fuel tanks had been topped off. His first leg was 1.1 hours; he landed and spent approximately 1.5 hours on the ground. He was approximately 1.1 hours into his return flight, turning base for landing, when the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing to a large parking lot and impacted the fence on its perimeter during the landing roll. The airplanes right wing lift strut was bent, and the right wings leading edge was wrinkled and bent. No fuel was found in the airplanes fuel tanks.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the paved runway surface and then struck a ditch. The nose landing was torn from the airplane resulting in damage to the firewall and forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was his first solo flight without an instructor aboard. Immediately prior to the accident flight the student and his instructor had performed a flight which included landing practice.

The pilot was not aware of the length of the runway, and did not walk/survey it prior to the takeoff from the short, wet, soft surface. He used a combination of short- and soft-field takeoff procedures, and after becoming airborne, the “P” factor seemed “unusually strong.” He applied right aileron and rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control, but the right wing then the nose and left wing contacted the ground. The pilot further stated that there was no pre-impact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems.

At about 1950 Mountain time the two airplanes collided in flight over the approach end of runway 34 at the McCall Municipal Airport. Both airplanes were destroyed in the collision, uncontrolled descent and post-crash fire. Of the four occupants aboard one airplane, the private pilot and two passengers were killed; the third passenger received serious injuries. The commercial pilot and passenger aboard the other airplane sustained minor injuries. Both airplanes were ending cross-country flights; visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The airport manager said the airplane began its takeoff on the 2500-foot-long Runway 13 from the displaced threshold, which is 400 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot said he rotated at 55 knots and the airplane lifted off the runway but would not climb. Almost immediately, the stall warning horn began to sound and he lowered the nose to gain speed. The airplane then settled back onto the runway. The pilot reduced the power and began applying brakes to abort the takeoff. The airplane overran the end of the runway, went down a hillside, and collided with trees about 600 feet from the runway. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.