Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

On or about 3/25/85, the aircraft was landed on a short private strip. During the landing, it overran the strip, then collided with a dirt bank and a tree. The pilot abandoned the aircraft. Neither he nor the new owner could be found. There was evidence that the aircraft had been set afire after the accident. The aircraft bore a registration of N23LX, but the aircraft data plate and FAA records showed that a registration of N23L should have been displayed. During a seemingly unrelated arrest, police found the records of N23L in another aircraft that was loaded with 1,500 lbs of marijuana. The pilot was presumed to have had no injuries.

The aircraft was on a night instructional flight with 2 multi-engine instructor pilots at the controls and a rated pilot occupying a rear passenger seat. The right front seat occupant was an experienced multi-engine pilot with 110 hours in this make and model; however, his 2nd class medical certificate was issued in January 1983. The left front seat occupant had just received his multi-engine instructor rating and had only 3 hours in this make and model. He had a current medical certificate and was presumed to be the pilot-in-command. The aircrew made 2 passes over runway 18, then maneuvered onto a downwind leg of the pattern. According to witnesses, the aircraft was northeast of the airport at approximately 300 to 400 feet agl and maneuvering back toward the runway when it entered a steep descent, crashed and burned. The aircraft crashed northeast of the airport in a wooded area. Impact occurred on a southerly heading in about an 18° dive. No preimpact part failure/malfunction was found; however, the aircraft was extensively damaged during impact. Toxicological checks of the passenger and right front seat occupants showed each had an alcohol level of 1,17‰. No alcohol found in the left front seat occupant's blood. All three occupants were killed.

This flight originated near Becharof Lake and was destined for Cold Bay. Aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain at the 7,500 feet level, 23 miles left of course. Marginal weather conditions existed including a 35 knot right crosswind. Pilot had flown the same route about 1 hour prior to the accident. Company VFR flight plan was filed. Accident occurred at sunset. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

About 5 hours and 10 minutes after departure, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion at 11,000 feet approximately 40 miles from Haiti. According to the pilot, the aircraft was using more fuel than normal and the destination was changed accordingly. A short time after initiating the divert, both engines quit. The crew made an emergency landing in the sea about 64 km off Port-de-Paix and was rescued. The aircraft was lost.

The aircraft departed the airport with one dry air pump inoperative and the other pump reading low. Aircraft control was lost during an instrument approach in IMC approximately 2.5 hours later. Both pump driveshafts were found sheared in the wreckage and both broken shaft surfaces showed polished surfaces. During further testing it was discovered that tape or pipe dope had been used in the threading of the intake and outflow fittings of the left pump. No contaminants were found in the right pump but the pump wall inner surfaces gap was approximately .005 inch. This gap is approx 50% over the allowable tolerance for a serviceable air pump. The pressure regulator valve to the attitude indicator gyro and the compass gyro were examined and found to require pressure exceeding normal requirement standards. Both occupants were killed.

After takeoff from Dangriga Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane suffered an engine failure, lost height and crashed in a huge explosion. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was en route to Florida on a contraband flight, carrying a load of marijuana.

The aircraft was flying at a very low altitude over mountainous terrain. As the aircraft approached a crest of a ridge the aircraft started to buffet and then encountered a downslope wind condition. The combination of approaching a stall and encountering a downdraft forced the aircraft into trees. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Two minutes after takeoff from Aripuanã Airport runway 18, while climbing, the pilot informed on radio that he lost an engine and was returning. He initiated a left turn when the aircraft lost height and crashed in a wooded area located 6 km from the airfield, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed, among them seven journalists covering the official visit of the Governor of Mato Grosso in the region.

Shortly after takeoff the pilot reported to the tower that the left engine had failed. The propeller was feathered and a left turn to downwind initiated. In the turn the right engine failed and the aircraft flew into trees in a residential area about 1 mile from the airport. No mechanical malfunctions were discovered. No fuel was found in either engine. The fuel selectors for both engines were on the outboard positions. Prior to departure the main fuel tanks were filled. No fuel was added to the outboard tanks. Impact ruptured the right outboard tank. Approximately one cup of fuel was drained from the left tank.

En route from Santa Cruz to Cerro Colorado, one of the engine partially failed and its temperature increased. The pilot decided to make an emergency landing. All eight occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire due to engine explosion.