Latest Posts
This must be the Photograph of the Year
I only have a quick post for you this week (and I’m taking next week off to deal with life issues). But I hope you all will agree that this photograph is worth a million words. Isn’t that astounding? But when I called it unbelievable, I meant that many people honestly did not believe it…
Read more… 23 Sep 22
The Oldest Footage of Flight
About a week ago, Marléne Aviation posted to Twitter in an attempt to find the oldest video footage of a flight. Marléne Aviation is run by a French aviation history enthusiast. They posted a video of the Archdeacon-Voisin hydro-planeur test on the Seine along with the request. Do you know of a film of an…
Read more… 17 Sep 22
Fatal Crash of LSA at Santa Monica Airport
Yesterday at around 16:30 local time, a light sports aircraft crashed onto the runway of Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in California. The aircraft was a CSA SportCruiser, a two-seater aircraft also sometimes known as a PiperShort. The SportCruiser belonged to a flying school based at the airport. Initial reports are that a 15-year-old was on…
Read more… 9 Sep 22
Verdict: Crocodile Still Not Guilty
A few days ago, my friend Beth sent me a link to what seemed an unbelievable aviation story: Plane crash caused by escaped crocodile https://t.co/p7nVvg12dw — Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) August 31, 2022 Long-time readers of Fear of Landing will recognise the story immediately: I wrote about it in 2014. At the time, I concluded that there…
Read more… 2 Sep 22
Post-Pandemic Mystery at Heathrow
In June 2021, the British Air Accident Investigative Branch (AAIB) initiated a fascinating investigation after they noticed three similar incidents at London Heathrow over a three-day period. Soon, they realised that the three incidents, all involving blocked pitot tubes, were related. As the investigation continued, several more incidents were discovered. The pitot tube measures the…
Read more… 26 Aug 22
Pilot Departs Aircraft Without a Parachute
Last week, an NTSB preliminary report was released about a tragic accident that already had the aviation world wondering what on earth had happened. On the 29th of July 2022, an air traffic controller received a bewildering call. “My co-pilot just ran out the back of the plane.” The aircraft was a CASA 212-200, a…
Read more… 19 Aug 22
Accident Reports
Taking Off In The Dark
On the 27th of July 2021, an Airbus A320, registration 9V-JSM, was scheduled for a passenger flight from Changi Airport in Singapore to Jakarta, Indonesia. Changi Airport started operation in…
MV-22B Osprey crash onto side of USS Green Bay
On the 5th of August 2017, an MV-22B Osprey crashed while on a routine training mission off the coast of Rockhampton in Queensland, Australia. The crash resulted in three deaths,…
Demystifying
I am a teapot
A reader contacted me to ask about a missing flight 404; they had heard on a trivia podcast that the original computer error message 404 was based on two flights…
The Legend of the Ghost of Kyiv
On the 25th of February 2022, Plane & Pilot magazine shared a video of the “Ghost of Kyiv” overflying Kyiv in a Ukrainian MiG-29. An unnamed Ukrainian fighter pilot shot…
History
Twin Pioneer Down in Libya: Structural Failure in 1956
On the 7th of December 1957, a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 1, registration G-AOEO, departed an airstrip at Anshan in Libya for a routine flight to Tripoli-Idris Airport. There were…
Avro York Runway Excursion at Stansted
While researching another subject, I discovered this accident report from 1956 which I just had to share with you. Normally, an aviation accident investigation is done by a group of…
Fun Stuff
Aviation Videos and Articles for August
I always collect videos and links that I think you might enjoy but apparently, I have been neglecting to actually share them with you! So here’s a “best of the…
Funniest Thing You've Heard On the Radio
I’ve been struggling this week and was just panicking that I would not have a post finished in time for you for today when I discovered that Reddit had saved…
@FearofLanding
Dave Baker on The Last Known Whereabouts of the White BirdI don't think Coli and his copilot stopped somewhere to pick up Jimmy Hoffa. Your theory is duly noted, but…
Skyring on This must be the Photograph of the YearMake Google your friend. These displays are a popular part of the annual Riverfire celebration. Here is an article from…
Franky on This must be the Photograph of the YearSo you think it’s ok to fly at high speed in a fast jet between buildings over a major city?…
Jerry on This must be the Photograph of the YearI don't have any links at hand, but, there have been a few videos and photos over the years from…
Mendel on This must be the Photograph of the Year"A certain degree of planning" for a predictable, yearly event is what I'd expect from a good photographer. ;-) Can…