Gems in the NTSB database

flyingcheesehead

Touchdown! Greaser!
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iMooniac
I've been doing lots of work with the NTSB database recently, and I've come across some really interesting and/or weird ones. I figured I'd post some here for your entertainment:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...tID=20040721X01019&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=FA

"The airplane, which was not operating on a flight plan, was proceeding in clear skies to an airport where the passenger was joining his wife. After crossing a lake near the destination, the airplane flew over rising terrain, along a saddleback, until it struck a stand of old-growth trees that jutted above new-growth trees. During the last 48 seconds of radar coverage, the airplane climbed 600 feet with no erratic course deviations. From the accident location, the airport would have been about 5 nautical miles off the airplane's right wing. The pilot had 32,000 hours of flight experience. The passenger was under investigation for fraud, and attempted to obtain life insurance prior to the flight. The passenger had also loaned money to the pilot, and was receiving "flight services" in lieu of cash payment when the pilot failed to pay back the loan. A .380 caliber pistol magazine was found at the accident site with two rounds of ammunition missing; however, no weapon was located at the site, and no weapon of that caliber was known to be associated with either the pilot or the passenger. Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) were found on electrocardiograms performed in conjunction with the pilot's airman medical certificate applications in 2002 and 2004. The pilot's autopsy report indicated "severe calcific...coronary disease, with 90 percent narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery and 75 percent narrowing of the right coronary artery." Cause of death, for both the pilot and passenger, was listed as "undetermined." The autopsy reports also noted that, "due to the inability to perform a complete autopsy...of either of the two aircraft occupants, it cannot be determined whether either the pilot or the passenger were alive or dead at the time of the crash." Postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no evidence of any preimpact anomalies."
 
https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...tID=20060303X00264&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=CA

"The pilot attempted a night landing on a taxiway in front of the control tower, which was closed at the time. The airplane overran the end of the taxiway, rolled down an embankment and struck trees. The pilot, whose identity was not confirmed, was believed to have incurred minor injuries. He subsequently paid a passerby to take him to a local hotel, and after a night's rest, he left the area. Ownership of the airplane could not be determined due to a recent sale. Approximately 250 kilos of cocaine were found onboard the airplane. Further investigation was being conducted by federal authorities and local law enforcement."
 
There's also the old classic:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...tID=20001212X18632&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=FA
Analysis
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND A PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE GOING TO PRACTICE SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING FAIL IN A DIVE AND CRASH. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND BODIES REVEALED THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE PARTIALLY CLOTHED AND THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT WAS IN THE FULL AFT RECLINING POSITION. NEITHER BODY SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SEATBELTS OR SHOULDER HARNESSES BEING WORN. EXAMINATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS' CLOTHING REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF RIPPING OR DISTRESS TO THE ZIPPERS AND BELTS.

Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO DIVERT HER ATTENTION TO OTHER ACTIVITIES NOT RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCEEDING OF THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE LEADING TO A WING FAILURE.
 
There's also the old classic:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...tID=20001212X18632&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=FA
Analysis
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND A PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE GOING TO PRACTICE SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING FAIL IN A DIVE AND CRASH. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND BODIES REVEALED THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE PARTIALLY CLOTHED AND THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT WAS IN THE FULL AFT RECLINING POSITION. NEITHER BODY SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SEATBELTS OR SHOULDER HARNESSES BEING WORN. EXAMINATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS' CLOTHING REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF RIPPING OR DISTRESS TO THE ZIPPERS AND BELTS.

Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO DIVERT HER ATTENTION TO OTHER ACTIVITIES NOT RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCEEDING OF THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE LEADING TO A WING FAILURE.

If I have to die in a plane crash, that’s how I want to go.
 
There's also the old classic:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...tID=20001212X18632&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=FA
Analysis
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND A PILOT RATED PASSENGER WERE GOING TO PRACTICE SIMULATED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING FAIL IN A DIVE AND CRASH. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AND BODIES REVEALED THAT BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE PARTIALLY CLOTHED AND THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT WAS IN THE FULL AFT RECLINING POSITION. NEITHER BODY SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SEATBELTS OR SHOULDER HARNESSES BEING WORN. EXAMINATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS' CLOTHING REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF RIPPING OR DISTRESS TO THE ZIPPERS AND BELTS.

Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO DIVERT HER ATTENTION TO OTHER ACTIVITIES NOT RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE EXCEEDING OF THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THE AIRPLANE LEADING TO A WING FAILURE.


The PHAK needs a chapter on executing this maneuver safely. An illustrated chapter. With lots of photos.
 
Mystery and drugs will never be quite the same draw as sex, I guess. LOL
 
Well here's one I don't remember hearing about... Air Force One! In the waning days of the Reagan administration. How would you like to be a controller who screws up with Air Force One?

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...tID=20001213X26991&AKey=2&RType=HTML&IType=MA

BFR TKOF, CORRECTED FLT PLAN WAS PUT IN ATC COMPUTER FOR AIRFORCE 1 (AF1) TO TAKE NONSTANDARD RTE TO NEWARK. AFTER TKOF,AF1 WAS VCTRD NW WITH HANDOFF TO NY ARTCC (ZNY), THEN EAST VIA YARDLEY (ARD) TO NEWARK; 15 MI WEST OF ARD, ZNY INITIATEDHANDOFF TO NY TRACON (N90). TRACON SUPVR ADZD ZNY THAT AF1 SHLD BE DSCNDG TO 9000' DRG HANDOFF, THEN N90 CTLR TLD WASH ARTCC (ZDC) CTLR IN ADJ SECTOR TO 'STOP THE NEWARK ARRIVALS ONLY.' ZNY CTLR CLRD AF1 TO DSCND & CHG TO N90 FREQ, BUT W/OGIVING ZDC MANDATORY POINTOUT OF AF1. MEANWHILE, BAR HARBOR FLT 494 WAS BEING CTLD BY ZDC & WAS INBND TO ARD ON A NE HDGAT 11,000'. NOTING AN AUTOMATED HANDOFF WAS ACCEPTED BY N90, ZDC CTLR CLRD FLT 494 TO DSCND TO 7000' & CHG TO N90 FREQ.N90 CTLR NOTED DVLPG SITUATION, BUT THOUGHT ALL FLTS FM ZDC SECTOR WLD BE HELD IN ZDC AIRSPACE. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE TOOK CORRECTIVE ACTN, BUT STANDARD SEPN BTN ACFT WAS LOST NR BASE OF 10,000' CLD LAYER. INV REVEALED INADEQUATE MONITORING & COORDINATION BTN ATC FACILITIES; SVRL CONTROLLERS & SUPVRS LACKED TRNG OR AWARENESS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES.
 
Man, my life is boring. Nobody ever tries to sabotage my aircraft... (I'm perfectly OK with that, mind you...)

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...tID=20001214X43094&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=IA

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED ELEVATOR CONTROL PROBLEMS AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON AN ABANDONED AIRSTRIP. THE ELEVATOR TRIM CABLE HAD COME OFF OF THE ELECTRIC TRIM SERVO DRUM AND WAS TANGLED IN THE AUTO PILOT. AN UNRELATED FIRE DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT. POST FIRE TESTS SUGGEST THAT THE CABLE DRUM HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO TAMPERING.
 
Anyone seen this one before from Alaska? On 2/22/1998 NTSB accident number ANC98LA022. Go get the full report and read the Factual Information section...it's even better.

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/R...ID=20001207X04939&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=LA

The pilot had departed from a remote off-airport area during a dark night. During the flight to the intended destination, a layer of clouds obscured the ground. The pilot continued in VFR on-top conditions and became lost. The pilot climbed to about 10,000 feet msl to remain above the clouds. The airplane was equipped with a turn and bank instrument, but did not have any instrument panel lighting. The airplane's radio was not functioning effectively to establish contact with an FAA facility. The pilot was using a flashlight to illuminate the instrument panel, but the bulb burned out. The passenger in the airplane contacted the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) via a cellular telephone and requested assistance in getting down through the clouds and locating an airport. The pilot, passenger, and FAA air traffic controllers, worked together for about 1 hour in an attempt to assist the flight. About 3 hours after takeoff, the airplane's engine ran out of fuel, and the pilot began a descent through the clouds. The pilot reported he attempted to maintain control of the airplane, but experienced two or three uncontrolled spins. As the airplane neared the ground, the passenger established visual contact with the ground and yelled to the pilot. The pilot then pulled back on the control stick, and the airplane struck ground in an area of small hills. Rescue personnel located the airplane the following day. The pilot did not have an instrument rating. His pilot's certificate contained a limitation that prohibited night flying.
 
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