On July 29, 1985, a Piper PA-22 (registration N4445A) was involved in an aviation accident near Ketchum, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadvertent setting of full nose-down trim during the approach, which resulted in the aircraft striking trees hidden by a highway sign. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot attempting an emergency landing on a highway inadvertently set full nose-down trim while turning, causing the aircraft to strike hidden trees near a road sign.
What happened
The flight involved a student pilot conducting a cross-country journey that required routing through a mountain pass and surrounding mountainous terrain. During the operation, the pilot encountered circumstances necessitating an emergency landing on a nearby highway.
While executing the approach and turning toward the selected landing site, the pilot inadvertently adjusted the aircraft's pitch trim to full nose-down while the flaps were extended to half position. As the aircraft completed this turn, it impacted a stand of trees that concealed a highway sign.
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent setting of full nose-down trim during the approach, which resulted in the aircraft striking trees hidden by a highway sign.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…