Cessna Safety Record

The pilot's poor preflight planning, during which he failed to verify the proper procedure to activate the runway lights; his inability to locate the airport without lighting; and the airplane’s subsequent low-fuel state as he circled looking for the airport, which necessitated a precautionary off-airport landing, during which the nose landing gear separated.

The pilot’s inadequate fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and preflight fuel planning.

The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, an emergency off-airport landing, and a nose over.

The pilot's failure to arrest the descent rate during an aborted simulated engine-out approach, which resulted in impact with vegetation and a subsequent cartwheel.

The pilot's failure to set the friction lock on the throttle before hand propping the engine, which allowed the airplane to move forward and impact a credit card machine. Contributing to the accident was the malfunction of the parking brake for reasons that could not be determined.

The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground-loop, and the flight instructor’s failure to adequately monitor the pilot.

A malfunction of the left main landing gear brake during landing for undetermined reasons. Contributing was the pilot’s failure to attain a proper touchdown point and maintain an appropriate approach speed while landing on the wet turf runway.

The pilot's failure to attain an adequate climb rate during an aborted landing with a left quartering, gusting headwind, which resulted in impact with a tree.

The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because the student pilot failed to reposition the fuel mixture control to full rich before takeoff.

The installation of incorrect mounting hardware to secure the right engine cowl, which resulted in an in-flight separation and impact with the horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

The airplane’s encounter with prop wash while taxiing behind a larger airplane that was conducting a high-power engine run on the same taxiway. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller’s failure to inform the smaller airplane’s pilot about the larger airplane pilot’s intentions.

The fatigue failure of the crankshaft. Contributing to the accident was the undocumented installation of the supercharger, which resulted in increased stress on the crankshaft.

The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the inoperative attitude indicator and horizontal situation indicator on the pilot’s side of the cockpit, and the pilot’s failure to reference the flight instruments that were operative.

The pilot's improper decision to depart from an ice-covered runway with a strong crosswind, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and impact with a ditch.