Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Approximately 16 minutes prior to the accident the pilot was cleared for the localizer DME approach. The aircraft collided with the mountainous terrain on a heading of about 220° at approx 8.5 dme on a bearing of 051° from the airport. As indicated on the loc/dme runway 23 approach plate, the minimum altitude between the outer marker, 6.6 dme, and 10 dme was 3,000 feet. Elevation at the accident site was 2,000 feet; airport elevation was 776 feet. Post crash fire consumed most of the wreckage but the cabin heater was not in the fire area. The pilot's reported carboxy hemoglobin (co) was 20%. Autopsy revealed multiple extreme impact injuries. Products of combustion were found on fresh air side of cabin heater/heat exchanger. Source of combustion products were not determined. All three occupants were killed.

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed. All three occupants were seriously injured.

The aircraft crashed into trees 2 miles short of the runway during an instrument approach in IMC weather. A pilot in the right front seat said that just prior to impact, the aircraft was descending at 2,500 fpm, and when he looked ahead, he saw trees. He said he yelled at the pilot to 'pull up' but the pilot did not react. The pilot was killed and the passengers was injured.

On approach to Klerksdorp Airport, both engines failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed few km short of runway threshold. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

During a cross country flight the pilot could not locate a refueling stop and landed 100 miles away. No refueling was accomplished and he decided to go on to his destination with the fuel remaining. Enroute his right engine coughed and he realized he was running out of fuel. After switching to crossfeed normal engine operation was restored. Even though he was only about 3 miles from his destination he decided to land on a 4,000 feet dirt agricultural airstrip which he saw directly below him. He forced the aircraft down and landed downwind at high speed about midway down the runway. The aircraft did not stop on the runway and overran into a dirt bank and a fence. The landing gear was knocked off and the aircraft became airborne for 700 more feet before impacting and tumbling. The aircraft came to rest inverted about 825 feet past the dirt bank. A fire developed in the left wing and consumed most of the area in the vicinity of the left fuel tank outboard of the left engine. The pilot stated that there were no malfunctions of the aircraft or systems.

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a charter flight from Campo de Marte to Porto Velho with an intermediate stop in São José do Rio Preto, carrying six passengers and a crew of two. After takeoff from runway 12, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left, nosed down and crashed into several houses located in the district of Carandiru, bursting into flames. Both pilots, four passengers and one people in the ground were killed while four other passengers were seriously injured.

The aircraft was first radar identified about 18 miles north of the airport and was given radar vectors for a right downwind and base to runway 36R. While on a downwind heading 150°, the pilot was assigned a heading of 270° and was queried if the airport was in sight. The pilot responded '...we got it.' However, radar data shows the aircraft continuing the turn through 270° to about 350°. After about 1/2 mile, the aircraft turned left to 250° descending. The turn continued to a southwest heading approximately aligned with a city street that passes south of the airport on a course of 250°. The altitude decreased with a consistent rate to 900 feet when radar contact was lost. Elevation at the approach end of runway 36R is 724 feet. Wreckage distribution was along a 245° heading. A flight inspection of the runway 36R edge lights at night during VFR conditions indicated the lights were not visible beyond 30° of the runway centerline. The pilot got up at 0730 on 11/14.

The aircraft took off with 4 occupants and an estimated 596 lbs of cargo on board. After it took off, the ATC controller noted that it was climbing slower than expected. After climbing to about 4,200 feet msl, the aircrew reported a problem with the left engine and said they did not believe they could make it back to the departure airport. They expressed a desire to continue toward the southwest. ATC proceeded to vector them to the Weston Airport, but informed them that it had no instrument approach. After the reported engine malfunction, ATC personnel noted that the aircraft continued in a gradual left turn. About 8 minutes after takeoff, radio contact was lost. A witness on the ground saw the aircraft come over a hill with the sound of an engine at high power. At about that time, the aircraft collided with a power line cable, then crashed into two trees, impacted the ground and burned. An examination of the wreckage revealed no significant preimpact failures. The aircraft was estimated to be approximately 400 lbs over its max certificated gross weight. All four occupants were killed.

The pilot was completing a positioning flight from Mora to Gävle. En route, while flying in marginal weather conditions over the Borlänge area, the pilot misinterpreted instruments settings and started a descent to the Borlänge-Dala Airport while he was supposed to land at Gävle-Sandviken Airport located about 85 km east of its actual position. Due to poor visibility, he was unable to locate the airport. Following two missed approaches, the twin engine airplane struck a hill and crashed about 4 km south of Borlänge. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Both occupants, German citizens, were completing a flight from Vilshofen, Germany, to Milan-Malpensa. While cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located in the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park, near Varese. Both occupants were killed.
Photos: Isaia Laudi.