Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Greenville Air

Registration:

N882L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Charlotte – Columbia

MSN:

BA-102

YOM:

1955

Location:

Charlotte-Douglas

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3323

Captain / Total hours on type:

250.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Charlotte-Douglas Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ground about an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The pilot encountered other technical problems and was unable to lower the gear when control was lost. The airplane lost altitude and crashed in flames by the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Failed to extend landing gear.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Toledo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1975 at 2228 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Hamilton Aviation

Registration:

N791A

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Louisville - Paducah

MSN:

BA-103

YOM:

1955

Location:

Toledo-Express

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6062

Captain / Total hours on type:

2890.00

Circumstances:

While cruising by night on a cargo flight, the crew encountered technical problems and the copilot informed ATC about the failure of an engine. The crew was cleared to divert to Toledo-Express for an emergency landing when, on final approach, the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure following cylinder assembly failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fatigue fracture,
- Improper maintenance,
- Unapproved modification,
- Oil exhaustion on engine lubrication system,
- Oil exhaustion on propeller system,
- Fatigue of the cylinder head,
- Standpipe cut off flush with bottom of oil tank.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S near Claude: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1975 at 2222 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N29N

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Amarillo - Dallas

MSN:

BA-304

YOM:

1957

Location:

Claude

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6423

Captain / Total hours on type:

1425.00

Circumstances:

While on a night mail flight from Amarillo to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions. The aircraft descended into ground in an area of extremely violent weather and crashed in a mountainous area located near Claude. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found. The wreckage was discovered on 29 August 1975 in an isolated area. The aircraft was totally destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility limited to half a mile or less,
- Haze.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Salisbury: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1975 at 0007 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Omar Stoltzfus

Registration:

N23XY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Salisbury-Wicomico County

Schedule:

Salisbury - Fort Lauderdale - Port-au-Prince

MSN:

BA-118

YOM:

1956

Location:

Maryland

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2395

Captain / Total hours on type:

85.00

Circumstances:

While taking off by night from Salisbury Airport, one of the engine lost power. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed by the runway. A passenger was killed while four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction for undetermined reason. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Did not use fuel boost pumps for takeoff,
- Aircraft about 400 lbs over gross weight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S near Argos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1975 at 0130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N140J

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Indianapolis - South Bend

MSN:

BA-334

YOM:

1958

Location:

Argos

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7000

Captain / Total hours on type:

5000.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Indianapolis to South Bend, the pilot contacted ATC and reported a fire in the cabin. He reduced his altitude when few minutes later, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in the region of Argos. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire for undetermined reason. The following findings were reported:
- Fire in cabin, cockpit, baggage compartment,
- High obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S near Luruaco

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Thomas L. Stinson

Registration:

N62411

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

BA-344

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Luruaco. Both occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed. They departed Cartagena-Crespo Airport at 0831LT.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Palwaukee: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1975 at 2205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Bob Kilpatrick Aircraft

Registration:

N54N

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Chicago-Executive (Palwaukee)

Schedule:

Chicago - West Memphis

MSN:

BA-303

YOM:

1957

Location:

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taking off from Chicago-Palwaukee Airport, the airplane stalled, struck the ground and eventually crashed in a greenhouse. The copilot was slightly injured while the captain was killed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Selected wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- Premature liftoff,
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Snow,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice on windshield,
- Downwind,
- The pilot reported could not see,
- The copilot aborted takeoff,
- Snow on aircraft,
- No alcohol in system.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Dodge City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1975 at 2147 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N311D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dodge City - Hays

MSN:

BA-456

YOM:

1959

Location:

Dodge City

Kansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3034

Captain / Total hours on type:

1262.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Dodge City Airport, while climbing by night, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a field. The airplane disintegrated on impact and was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reason. The following findings were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Ground fire and general disintegration of aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Rockford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975 at 2229 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

BJ Aero Freight

Registration:

N7581

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Rockford-Greater Rockford

Schedule:

Ottumwa - Moline - Rockford

MSN:

BA-425

YOM:

1959

Location:

Illinois

Country:

Region: