Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Florida Aircraft Exchange

Operator:

Registration:

N6478L

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

31-358

YOM:

1968

Location:

LaBelle

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Captain / Total hours on type:

40.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing an illegal flight and was attempted to land near LaBelle by night and ground fog when the airplane struck trees and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees during go-around after the crew selected an unsuitable terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged distance, speed, altitude and clearance,
- Fog,
- VFR flight,
- Pilot-in-command did not possess a multi engine rating,
- Narcotics contraband flight,
- Local ground fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R on Mt Fleckistock: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1979 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Patzig Fleischwaren

Registration:

D-IORA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ascona - Saarbrücken

MSN:

31-7812024

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1000

Aircraft flight hours:

175

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Ascona Airfield at 1628LT on a private flight to Saarbrücken, carrying two passengers and two pilots. Despite marginal weather conditions, the crew decided to file a VFR flight plan. Twelve minutes later, following a normal climb, the crew leveled off at 11,000 feet. While cruising in clouds, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the right wing struck the west face of Mt Fleckistock (3,417 meters high) located to the west of Wassen, Uri. Out of control, the airplane descended until it crashed in a snow covered area. The wreckage was found two days later, on April 2. The aircraft was destroyed and tree dead bodies were found. The body of a pilot was never found.

Probable cause:

The crew was flying at an altitude that failed to provide a sufficient vertical separation with the upper limit of the clouds and failed to see and avoid the mountains while flying under VFR mode in clouds.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Hart Mine

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1979 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Ed H. Woolsey

Registration:

N6567L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Kennewick - San Diego

MSN:

31-489

YOM:

1969

Location:

Hart Mine

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5270

Captain / Total hours on type:

35.00

Circumstances:

En route from Kennewick to San Diego, the pilot encountered problems and elected to make a precautionary landing in Hart Mine, California. The airplane crashed in a desert area and was destroyed. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground while in traffic pattern-circuit after the pilot misjudged altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Kennewick Airport closed during reported departure time,
- Reported flight distance not possible with fuel on board.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Dallas

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1978 at 0711 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N27604

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Dallas - Oklahoma City

Location:

Dallas-Love Field

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5310

Captain / Total hours on type:

429.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Dallas-Love Field Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to return for a safe landing when the aircraft lost height and crashed into residences by the airport. All seven occupants were seriously injured while no one on the ground was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb and subsequent collision with residences due to improperly serviced aircraft by ground crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper fuel grade,
- Operational supervisory personnel: deficiency, company maintained equipment, services, regulation,
- High obstructions,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Complete engine failure one engine,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- The truck use to refuel the airplane was supposed to be 100LL fuel but contained Jet A fuel,
- The fuel farm tank vent covers were improperly marked.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P-425 Navajo in Okitipupa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Edok-Eter-Mandilas

Registration:

5N-AQZ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Benin City - Lagos

MSN:

31P-7300135

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered a dive and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in the region of Okitipupa. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. It is believed that the airplane caught fire in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31P-425 Pressurized Navajo in Lexington: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1978 at 2145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Leisure Lodges

Registration:

N338J

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lexington - Fort Smith

MSN:

31P-051

YOM:

1971

Location:

Lexington-Blue Grass

Kentucky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11226

Circumstances:

Following a night takeoff from Lexington-Blue Grass Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash during climb following an engine failure caused by a crankshaft failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Visibility less than a mile,
- Both propeller blade angles found at 30° settings,
- Flaps found extended.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1978 at 0907 LT

Type of aircraft:

Appalachian Flying Service

Operator:

Registration:

N7700L

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Johnson City - Bristol

MSN:

31-501

YOM:

1969

Location:

Bristol-Tri-Cities

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1826

Captain / Total hours on type:

158.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to runway 23 at Bristol-Tri-Cities Airport, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and the airplane belly landed in a field located 2,600 feet short of runway. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wheels-up landing on final approach following a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Forced landing off airport on land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Savoy: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1978 at 1826 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Air Taxi (USA)

Registration:

N26AN

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Savoy - Cleveland

MSN:

31-57

YOM:

1968

Location:

Savoy-Willard

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1502

Captain / Total hours on type:

49.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Savoy-Willard Airport, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in an open field located near Champaign. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb due to master and connecting rods failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Connecting rod bolt or nut failure for undetermined reasons,
- Pilot FAA check not completed.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1978 at 1643 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9173Y

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Charlotte - Charlotte

MSN:

31-230

YOM:

1968

Location:

Charlotte-Douglas

North Carolina

Country:

Region: