Cessna Safety Record

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER ALTITUDE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL PERCEPTION AT DUSK, THE TRANSMISSION LINE, AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS (TREE & FENCE) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

THE FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO COMPENSATE ADEQUATELY FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND TO RELINQUISH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO THE INSTRUCTOR. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE INSTRUCTOR.

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND AT AN UNLIGHTED AIRSTRIP IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND HER SUBSEQUENT, INADVERTENT SELECTIONOF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN BORDERING THE RUNWAY.

THE PILOT ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BECOME DISTRACTED BY A LANDING GEAR PROBLEM, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, WHEN HE HAD INSUFFICIENT FUEL TO DELAY HIS LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LANDING GEAR PROBLEM AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE THE CARBURETOR HEAT, WHICH RESULTED IN CARBURETOR ICE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND OBSTRUCTIONS (POWER LINES & VEHICLES) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR CROSSWINDS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND THE AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT IN STRONG CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT CONCERNING HIS FUEL MANAGEMENT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE FALSE INDICATION FROM THE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE(S), DARK NIGHT, AND TREES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, THE TURN TO REVERSE COURSE MANEUVER PERFORMED AT THE REDUCED AIRSPEED AND POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND THE DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS.

CARBURETOR ICE. THE PILOT FAILED TO APPLY CARBURETOR HEAT IN A TIMELY AND ADEQUATE MANNER. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE ACCUMULATION OF ICE TO A POINT OF FAILURE OF THE ENGINE WHICH ELIMINATED THE HEAT NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE ICE.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE POWERPLANT CONTROLS, WHICH RESULTED IN ACTUATION (TRIPPING) OF THE REVERSE LOAD LIMITERS ON THE THRUST REVERSERS AND SUBSEQUENT REDUCTION OF AVAILABLE POWER IN BOTH ENGINES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE, EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED, AND IMPROPER FLARE DURING THE LANDING.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS, TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: VARIABLE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND A SMALL TREE.

INADEQUATE CONTROL TOWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER (LC), AND FAILURE OF THE TWO PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT. RELATED FACTORS WERE: IDENTIFICATION OF THE WRONG AIRCRAFT BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER, HIS EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD (HEAVY TRAFFIC), AND VISUAL PERCEPTION FROM THE LOCAL CONTROLLERS POINT OF VIEW.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE FUEL QUANTITY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FOLLOWED BY HIS FAILURE TO OPERATE THE ENGINE ON THE FULLEST FUEL TANK RESULTING IN A FUEL TANK BEING RUN DRY RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APPROACH AT HIS DESTINATION.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO OBTAIN AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING OR TO OBTAIN INFLIGHT WEATHER ADVISORY INFORMATION, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED WHILE DESCENDING IN A DOWNDRAFT.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE DURING CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DARK NIGHT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

SLIPPAGE OF THE CENTER CRANKSHAFT BEARING, WHICH RESULTED IN OIL STARVATION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE #3 CONNECTING ROD. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE ENGINE BEYOND THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL PERIOD, THE DARK NIGHT, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ROADWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE LANDING, AND THE DITCH/CULVERTS.

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO LAND AT AN UNLIGHTED RUNWAY.