Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Aix-en-Provence

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
F-ZBAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Marseille - Marseille
MSN:
31-197
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
Bengal 66
Location:
Aix-en-Provence
Bouches-du-Rhône
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Marseille-Marignane under call sign Bengal 66 for a local training flight. While cruising over Aix-en-Provence / Les Milles, an engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing on a plateau. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in East Hampton

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1978 at 0033 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
N9093Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elmira - East Hampton
MSN:
31-128
YOM:
1968
Location:
East Hampton
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2507
Captain / Total hours on type:
150.00
Circumstances:
The crew was approaching East Hampton Airport and encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility to 3/4 of mile due to the night and ground fog. While in a missed approach configuration, the crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed few miles from the airfield. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Stall during a missed approach after the crew failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Sky obscured,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Pilot transitioned from visual reference to instrument reference,
- Encountered ground fog after MDA.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo into the Caribbean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Latimer W. Spinney
Registration:
N689WW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Santa Marta - Port-au-Prince
MSN:
31-69
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
§
Location:
Caribbean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4975
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Circumstances:
En route from Santa Marta to Port-au-Prince, the twin engine airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed in unknown circumstances into the Caribbean Sea. The airplane and both occupants were never found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo in Los Angeles

Date & Time: May 30, 1978 at 0804 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
N59839
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Santa Ana - Los Angeles
MSN:
31-7612048
YOM:
1976
Location:
Los Angeles
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2810
Captain / Total hours on type:
51.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Los Angeles Airport, the airplane encountered vortex turbulences and crashed. Both occupants were injured, the passenger seriously. The approach was completed with a 5 knots tailwind.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to vortex turbulences. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Downwind,
- 5 knots tailwind.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: May 23, 1978 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Safair Flying Services
Registration:
N9057Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Teterboro - Rochester
MSN:
31-80
YOM:
1968
Location:
Fleetville
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
23000
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Teterboro to Rochester, the twin engine airplane was abnormally flying at a very low altitude when it struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees and subsequent crash after the pilot suffered physical impairment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Pilot blood alcohol level 1,3‰.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1978 at 0345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Aborne Airbourne
Registration:
N7488L
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leesburg - Leesburg
MSN:
31-7300911
YOM:
1973
Location:
Leesburg-Flying Baron Estates
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
500
Circumstances:
While flying in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Leesburg-Flying Baron Estates Airport. The passenger was killed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in São Paulo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Taquari Agro Comercial
Registration:
PT-DTK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
31-62
YOM:
1968
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and attempted to return for an emergency landing when the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames on a road located near the airport. All three occupants were killed and two people on the ground were injured.

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

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1978 at 1705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Harding College
Registration:
N6751L
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Searcy - Searcy
MSN:
31-653
YOM:
1970
Location:
Searcy
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6025
Captain / Total hours on type:
2579.00
Circumstances:
The crew (two instructors and two student pilots) were completing a local training flight at Searcy Airport. On a single engine approach, the pilot under supervision lost control of the airplane while initiating a go-around. The twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed. Two occupants were injured while two others were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during a go-around due to inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain directional control,
- Exercised poor judgment,
- Attempted single engine go-around during training,
- Pilot trainee zero time in type.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Willemstad: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Valley Air Service
Registration:
N9164Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - Willemstad
MSN:
31-217
YOM:
1968
Location:
Willemstad-Hato
Dutch Antilles
Country:
Dutch Antilles
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Willemstad-Hato Airport on a schedule flight from Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King Airport, the twin engine airplane nosed down and crashed into the Caribbean Sea few km offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Kingston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1977 at 2003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Growth Air
Registration:
N483LC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Tampa
MSN:
31-426
YOM:
1969
Location:
Kingston
Kingston City District
Country:
Jamaica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
715
Circumstances:
While approaching the Jamaican coast on a flight from Barranquilla to Tampa, both engines failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea off Kingston. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:
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