Login Form

QuickTalk 17 - ACCIDENT REPORTS

The following accident reports were taken from the files of the Aviation Safety Bureau, Transport Canada. We are indebted to Canadian member Ron Thornton (1014) for obtaining these reports for our education and safety.


Quickie; private pilot, 400 hours, none in type; clear skies, daylight.

The aircraft was on its first flight after successfully completing all taxi tests. Shortly after take-off the engine lost power and the pilot made a forced landing straight ahead. Cause of the engine power loss could not be determined. Minor injuries.


Quickie; student plot, 25 hours, 1 in type; clear skies, daylight.

The pilot was returning from a local flight in his homebuilt aircraft. He overshot from the first approach as he felt he was too high. The second approach was going well until he flared 6 ft above the runway. The canard stalled and the aircraft pitched nose down and struck the runway. The left main wheel broke off and the aircraft skidded, partially inverted to the edge of the runway. The pilot was able to evacuate unassisted. Minor injuries.


Q-2; private pilot, 90 hours, unknown in type; 6 mi. visibility, scattered clouds at dusk.

The pilot, who had not flown in several months, was conducting high-speed taxi tests with his homebuilt aircraft. It had been ground tested and issued a flight permit, but had never been test flown.

Witnesses saw the aircraft lift off and climb to approximately 500 ft AGL, where it leveled off and joined the circuit. All appeared normal until, on the downwind leg, the aircraft slowly descended into the trees. Fire broke out on impact, consuming the wreckage.

No cause for the unchecked descent could be determined. Investigation revealed that the engine was capable of producing power and the flight controls were serviceable at impact. Distraction and incapacitation are two possible factors, which cannot be ruled out. Fatal injury.


Q-2; private pilot, 137 hours, 1 in type; 6+ mi. visibility in daylight; winds 7kt at 270.

The pilot was on his initial flight. He had received a verbal briefing from an experienced pilot but no dual instruction. After completing upper air work, he returned for landing. It was his intention to conduct 2 low passes over the longer runway to increase his familiarity of handling characteristics.

The controller advised that the shorter active runway was available for low passes, but if the longer runway was required, a full stop landing would be necessary. The pilot decided to use the longer runway and accept a full stop landing.

The approach was normal until the flare when the pilot cut the power to idle. The aircraft then sank rapidly to the runway; the propeller struck the surface and the engine stalled. The aircraft bounced and then touched down with one wing low. The pilot controlled the roll and managed to touch down near the edge of the runway. The aircraft struck a runway light, traveled about 300 ft, and came to rest about 20 ft from the edge.

The aircraft is one of the new canard high performance homebuilts. It requires a power-on landing technique since there are no wing flaps. The pre-flight briefing included this item.

It is possible the pilot's chances of landing safely would have been better had he completed the planned low passes. However, he apparently assumed he had to follow the controller's instructions and did not consider delaying his approach until such time that low passes would be approved.

The controller was apparently willing to allow low passes on the active runway but such a request was not made. No injuries.



You can order a PDF or printed copy of QuickTalk #17 by using the Q-talk Back Issue Order Page.