Plane and Pilot

MAY 3, 2025

Piper put bigger engines in the basic PA-28, gave it retractable gear, stretched the fuselage, changed the wing to a semitapered design, gave it a T-tail (then took the T-tail away), made the cabin wider and fitted six seats, and refined it year over year to the airplane it is today. We found six runway overrun accidents.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

The calculated density altitude was 4,790 feet. Probable cause(s): The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees after takeoff, during high density altitude weather conditions. Probable cause(s): The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing with a gusting tail wind.

Density Altitude

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

True, a slightly higher aspect ratio wing was desired, which in turn required a larger vertical tail and thus a little extra mass, but the size, approximately 20% larger than a Widgeon, was set. The Mallard—it’s a trike—has a tail stinger because it otherwise falls on its tail when loading.” Pricing You would have to ask.

Airplanes