Search Results for: Cessna 172

The fuel filler caps on the new Cessna Skyhawk 172TD aren’t your garden-variety flip-lid 100LL caps like I’d pried (or twisted) open countless times before. These babies are industrial, overbuilt Teutonic-looking things, placarded in bold letters to make it clear what kind of fuel to use: “Jet-A Only.” They seem emblematic of this new breed […]

The pilot reported that the airplane entered the airport traffic pattern, and he performed a visual approach to Runway 35 with a 90-degree crosswind to the landing direction. He stated that he was “slow” on final and when he touched down using a soft field landing procedure, the airplane was “pushed” off the runway by a wind gust, contacted a snow bank with the left main landing gear tire, and nosed over. Both wings were substantially damaged.

At approximately 1715 Central standard time, the airplane was destroyed upon colliding with terrain. The commercial pilot was fatally injured and the single passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual conditions prevailed. An eyewitness saw the airplane approach from the east heading west. When the airplane was abeam a school, its engine power rapidly reduced and it was observed executing a left turn at an estimated 45-degree bank. The airplane descended as the airplane turned approximately 270 degrees and was flying north approaching the witness from the south. The airplanes wings were level as the airplane continued to descend as it approached the witness.

As the commercial pilot/owner was preparing to taxi, he dropped something on the floor. When he realized he could not reach the object, he moved his seat back so he could reach down to the floor. At that point, he felt motion and realized that he could not reach the brake pedals. Before the pilot could release his seatbelt and turn off the engine, the airplane struck two parked airplanes, resulting in minor damage to his airplane and one of the parked airplanes. However, the other parked airplane sustained substantial damage.

During cruise flight at 3500 feet agl, a bird impacted the leading edge of the right wing, inboard of the wing lift strut attach point. The flight instructor did not see the bird until just before it impacted the wing. The CFI evaluated the damage in-flight and decided to continue the flight to his intended destination and landed without further incident. Examination of the right wing revealed the leading edge was crushed aft and two internal wing ribs were damaged.

The student pilot later stated he was instructed to enter a right base and later was cleared to land. Four nm from the runway, the student pilot stabilized the approach and maintained a constant 65 knots. As the airplane descended over the end of the runway, the pilots attention shifted to runway markings. The airplane bounced on landing; the pilot recovered with power but the airplane bounced again, impacting the runway nose-low. The airplane sustained damage to its landing gear, limiting right rudder pedal travel.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it crashed into Old Tampa Bay at about 1538 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The private pilot and two passengers were fatally injured. A witness reported seeing the airplane flying at an estimated altitude of 100 feet, then saw the airplane in an estimated 90-degree right bank. The airplane then rolled into a 45-degree left bank, followed by rolling wings-level. The airplane was then observed in a 10-15 degree nose-up attitude. The airplane then stalled and descended in a nose- and left-wing-low attitude.

At about 1534 Pacific time, the two aircraft collided in flight while approaching to land. The midair collision occurred at a location and in a flight direction consistent with the 172 entering the left-hand traffic pattern, and the 150 being in the patterns downwind leg. All four aboard both aircraft were fatally injured; a person on the ground also was killed. Both airplanes were fragmented during the midair collision and were subsequently destroyed upon falling nose down into buildings, automobiles and parking lots. A witness reported continuously observing both airplanes cruise toward each other for at least five seconds preceding the collision. No maneuvering was observed during the seconds immediately prior to the impact.

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain at 1605 Eastern time while maneuvering near Gladwin, Mich. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane maneuvering over their position at a low altitude. The airplane was observed circling in a counterclockwise (left) direction prior to it descending into a wooded area. The airplanes wings quickly banked to the right and left just prior to the airplane descending vertically (nose down) into the trees.

At 1205 Mountain time, the airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing subsequent to a loss of engine power. The two occupants, a private pilot and a passenger, were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed; the flight originated approximately 20 minutes before the accident. The pilot later told investigators the airplane developed a rough running engine and he elected to land on a nearby road. The airplane collided with a road sign during the landing sequence, resulting in substantial damage to both wings.