Cessna Safety Record

FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOTS' IMPROPER BOOST PUMP PROCEDURE. FACTORS WERE PILOTS' FAILURE TO FOLLOW CHECKLIST, DARK NIGHT, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

THE INADVERTEND ENCOUNTER WITH ICING CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE UNAVAILABILITY OF AN AIRPORT WEATHER OBSERVATION FACILITY AND THE DETERIORATED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE.

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPTED VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE, THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT QUALIFICATION, HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, AND DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS.

THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES, A MISSING AIR COOLING BAFFLE, AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE. FACTORS WERE THE FROZEN PROPELLER, INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO FEATHER THE PROPELLER, INOPERATIVE LANDING GEAR, THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR, AND THE LACK OF SEAT BELTS.

FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN AIRFRAME (WING) ICING AND THE INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DARKNESS WERE RELATED FACTORS.

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT ON THE PART OF THE PILOT AS WELL AS BOTH THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OTHER PILOT'S LACK OF LANDING LIGHT USAGE.

WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL, AND THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES & TRANSMISSION LINES) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING. THIS RESULTED IN THE PILOT BECOMING SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE FUEL EXHAUSTION, A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION WITHIN THE TERRAIN THE PILOT LANDED ON AND A COLLAPSED NOSEGEAR.

IMPROPER TAKEOFF PLANNING BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE STRIKING TREES DURING INITIAL CLIMB. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAKE HIS DEPARTURE TURN IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THE LOSS OF CONTROL BY THE INSTRUCTOR DUE TO THE IMPROPER RECOVERY ALTITUDE SELECTED TO TERMINATE A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING, THE EXCESSIVE PULL-UP BY THE STUDENT DUE TO HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE, AND THE DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION OF THE INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FLAP AND ELEVATOR TRIM SETTINGS.

A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE DUE TO THE OPERATOR'S NON COMPLIANCE WITH A MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDED SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE ENGINE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A SAFE LANDING.

1) A SHORT CIRCUIT, 2) ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD WHICH IGNITED THE CABIN INTERIOR, 3) INADEQUATE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION, AND 4) INSUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN STANDARDS.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER DESCENT RATE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT'S INTENTIONAL ABRUPT MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND THE FLAPS THAT RETRACTED A KNOTCH.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION WHEN HE LANDED DOWNWIND, AND BEYOND THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. ADDITIONALLY, HE FAILED TO ATTAIN A SAFE CLIMB SPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.