Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

FAS001

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Salvador – Guatemala City

Location:

Guatemala City-La Aurora

Guatemala

Country:

Guatemala

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, the pilot encountered low visibility due to heavy rain falls when the twin engine airplane crashed near Santa Catarina Pinula, few km from the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, three officers of the Salvadoran Air Force, among them Gilberto Balmore Escamilla, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
Crew:
Maj Fernando Salazar Mena,
Cpt Fredy Roberto Asencio.
Passenger:
Gilberto Balmore Escamilla.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Ecuador: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Ecuavia

Registration:

HC-AQC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

31-397

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane crashed in a mountainous area located in Ecuador. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-300 Navajo in Appomattox

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1980 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Operator:

Amick Airways

Registration:

N77QC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Norfolk - Roanoke

MSN:

31-511

YOM:

1969

Location:

Appomattox

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3330

Captain / Total hours on type:

1027.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a taxi flight from Norfolk to Roanoke, the pilot informed ATC about a double engine failure and elected to divert to the nearest airport. Shortly later, he decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in an open field. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Douglas engine failure in flight due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Powerplant-instruments: fuel quantity gauge, improperly alignment/adjustment,
- Forces landing off airport on land,
- Fuel gauges read 1/8 full, tanks empty.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Halifax: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Eastern Flying Services

Registration:

C-GLFS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

31-735

YOM:

1971

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 while on final approach to Halifax-Stanfield Airport. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Cahuita

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1979 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

TI-RCP

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Panama City - San josé

Location:

Cahuita

Limón (Caribbean Coast)

Country:

Costa Rica

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was performing a flight from Panama City to San José, carrying one pilot, the President of the RECOPE Group, and his wife (RECOPE - Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo). En route, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to divert to Puerto Limón Airport for an emergency landing. While descending by night, he realized he could not make it so he ditched the aircraft about 150 meters off Cahuita, some 30 km southeast of Puerto Limón Airport. Both occupants were injured and rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Jacksonville

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1979 at 1903 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Thomas Rex Long

Registration:

N20KA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Jacksonville-Executive at Craig

Schedule:

Fort Lauderdale - Jacksonville

MSN:

31-61

YOM:

1968

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2579

Captain / Total hours on type:

460.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Jacksonville-Craig Airport, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to night, fog and rain falls. On final, the pilot delayed in initiating a go-around maneuver when the airplane struck the ground and crashed. All eight occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Visibility 2 miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Uniontown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1979 at 1745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Coal Baron

Registration:

N9277Y

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

West Mifflin - Connellsville

MSN:

31-368

YOM:

1968

Location:

Uniontown

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4338

Circumstances:

While descending to Connellsville Airport on a flight from West Mifflin, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low ceiling and rain falls. He failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck a hillside and crashed in Uniontown. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airways facilities, erratic,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- ADF ground line intermittent,
- Vectored to ADF from north at 5,000 feet, cleared for approach, minimum altitude procedure turn 3,500 feet,
- Mountain tops obscured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Cincinnati: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1979 at 1008 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6642L

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky

Schedule:

Cincinnati - Nashville

MSN:

31-580

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

OH444

Location:

Kentucky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2820

Captain / Total hours on type:

45.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4317

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a schedule service (flight OH444) from Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport (Greater Cincinnati) to Nashville, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. After a roll of about 1,500 - 2,000 feet on runway 18, the pilot started the rotation. During initial climb, at an altitude of about 150 feet, the right engine lost power. The airplane entered a right turn then lost height and crashed in a field located 1,188 feet to the west of runway 18. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of the accident was the loss of control following a partial loss of power immediately after liftoff. The accident could have been avoided if either the pilot had rejected the takeoff or had raised the landing gear and flaps. His failure to take decisive action may have been due to preoccupation with correcting the malfunction, and a lack of familiarity with the aircraft and with its emergency procedures. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inexperience in multiengine aircraft, a hurried departure, inadequate training, inexperienced company management, and ineffective FAA certification and surveillance of the operator.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Luling: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1979 at 1103 LT

Type of aircraft:

Marr Short Stops of Texas

Operator:

Registration:

N27614

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

New Orleans - Fort Worth

MSN:

31-7812058

YOM:

1978

Location:

Luling

Louisiana

Country:

Region: