Bored at work - found some funny reading

[Vulcan]

From the NZ CAA site ( http://www.caa.govt.nz/Script/Accident_List.asp?Year=2001 )

Some excerpts:
"The aircraft was landing on an uphill topdressing strip,  which had a dogleg to the left.  An unforeseen crosswind from the left (there was no windsock at the strip) was encountered as the aircraft touched down on the long wet grass. After touchdown, the aircraft continued almost straight ahead at the dogleg. The pilot locked up the brakes in an attempt to stop in time, but the right wingtip clipped a fence post, swinging the aircraft to the right and through the fence. The nosewheel struck a fence post and broke off, causing the aircraft to turn over on to its back."

"The aircraft tipped upside down while accelerating for takeoff because the joystick was not properly reinstalled and came out in the pilot's hand"

"As it was a 'glassy water' landing, the student was instructed to maintain 60 knots and a 100 ft/min descent rate until touchdown. However, the airspeed and rate of descent became too high - approximately 78 knots and 250 ft/min. The instructor warned the student to watch his airspeed and rate of descent, and the appropriate corrections were made. The approach then appeared to continue normally. Shortly thereafter, the instructor found himself ejected from the aircraft deep under water. He saw light above him and swam towards it. "

"The Piper Seminole landed with its wheels up on the sealed runway. It transpired that cockpit distractions during training simulations led to the failure of both the student and instructor to check for 'three greens' while on short finals, resulting in an inadvertent wheels-up landing."

"The pilot was engaged in an experimental test flight program when he inadvertently landed the aircraft with its wheels up. The aircraft suffered minor belly damage. A small fire broke out that was able to be extinguished."

"After starting the engine, the handbrake was applied to permit the pilot to leave the cockpit to converse with another person. The aircraft was then noticed to be moving. Attempts by the pilot to halt the aircraft's progress proved unsuccessful. In fact,he was slightly injured during the attempt. The aircraft continued on through a fence, resulting in the nosegear collapsing and damage to the propeller and wing. The pilot considered that the handbrake lever may have been inadvertently knocked as he exited the cockpit."

[Vulcan]

"The aircraft was approximately one third of the way down the airstrip on its takeoff run when the pilot realised that the control lock was fitted. Attempts to remove the lock were unsuccessful. The rough surface of the airstrip, coupled with the nose-down force provided by the locked elevator, resulted in the collapse of the nose gear."

AND my absolute favourite:
"The Piper Pawnee was landing on a farm strip when one of three sheep the pilot had already observed, ran into the path of the aircraft. The pilot, a vet, attributes this to the sheep hearing the sound of a motor and associating it with food (ie, a tractor), as they had been receiving grain for several months prior."

[Rasker]

I read of an aircraft that "escaped" from its pilot at the airfield, took off normally, flew 60 miles and landed without incident in a field, when fuel ran out. Think of the odds.