Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N979L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Lawton - Altus

MSN:

31-459

YOM:

1969

Location:

Altus

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3080

Captain / Total hours on type:

103.00

Circumstances:

While descending to Altus Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low ceiling and rain showers. While approaching at an insufficient altitude, the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles from the runway threshold. Two passengers were killed while two other occupants, among them the pilot, were injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground on final approach following improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Fog,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- ATC failed to provide radar vectoring as requested,
- Pilot descended below MDA.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1974 at 0400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

INA Aviation

Registration:

N510BB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Albuquerque - Joplin - Saint Louis

MSN:

31-786

YOM:

1972

Location:

Duenweg

Missouri

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1300

Captain / Total hours on type:

760.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a flight from Albuquerque to Saint Louis with an intermediate stop in Joplin. On approach by night and marginal weather conditions, he was unable to locate the runway and decided to make a go-around. A second approach was abandoned few minutes later. During the third approach, low fuel reserves forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing on a highway. In limited visibility, the twin engine airplane struck a highway bridged and crashed about 5 miles southeast of runway 31 threshold. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was totally destroyed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Low ceiling,
- Low on fuel,
- Adverse/unfavorable weather,
- Missed second ILS approach, saw highway, attempted landing and struck bridge.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Chatsworth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Topps Factory Outlet of Nashville

Operator:

Registration:

N11HW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Knoxville - Rome

MSN:

31-362

YOM:

1968

Location:

Chatsworth

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Circumstances:

En route from Knosville to Rome, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, clouds and heavy rain falls. While flying in clouds at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed on the slope of a mountain. The wreckage was found five days later and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- High obstructions,
- Rain,
- Thunderstorm activity with heavy rain falls,
- Mountain peaks shrouded in clouds,
- Aircraft hit the mountain at about 4,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Glux-en-Glenne: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Crédit Bail Haussmann

Registration:

F-BOOJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Biarritz - Sarre-Union

MSN:

31-59

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Biarritz to Sarre-Union, Bas-Rhin, weather conditions worsened and the pilot decided to fly below the clouds when the twin engine airplane crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Glux-en-Glenne, in south part of the Regional Park of Morvan. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain while flying under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Balaclava

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Robert C. Taylor

Registration:

N11FL

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

31-232

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 unknown circumstances in the region of Balaclava, in the parish of St Elizabeth. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash and both occupants left the area and were not found. Narcotics were found on board.

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Willoughby: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1974 at 1850 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Kinzig Tool Company

Registration:

N7672L

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Canton - Detroit - Willoughby

MSN:

31-7300154

YOM:

1973

Location:

Willoughby

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4951

Captain / Total hours on type:

29.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Willoughby-Cuyahoga County Airport by night, one of the propeller oversped. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed onto a house located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed. Two people leaving in the house were also killed. Those killed in the plane were the pilot Elmer Holomok Jr. and the passengers Charles Kinzig and Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Kopperman. Those killed in the house were Mr. & Mrs. John Macek.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on final following a propeller failure. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft on part of the pilot/owner,
- Failure of propeller and accessories,
- RPM uncontrollable and overspeed,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Schrader valve cap and stem were missing,
- No aircharge in cylinder.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1974 at 1438 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

UC Leasing Company

Registration:

N6565L

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

San Francisco - Novato

MSN:

31-487

YOM:

1969

Location:

Novato-Gnoss Field

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5500

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

After a special VFR flight plan was cancelled out of Hamilton AFB control zone, the crew started the descent to Novato-Gnoss Field under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. On approach, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. The wreckage was found two days later and both pilots were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with low ceiling, rain falls and fog.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to follow the approved procedures for an approach to Novato-Gnoss Field Airport. The following factors were reported:
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Misjudged altitude,
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- High obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Walla Walla: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1973 at 1707 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N66798

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Spokane - Walla Walla

MSN:

31-7300158

YOM:

1973

Location:

Walla Walla

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

25000

Captain / Total hours on type:

529.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Walla Walla Airport by night, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to fog. He descended below the MDA when the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Poor judgment and improper IFR operation caused the airplane to crash on final approach. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, fog and snow,
- Limited visibility,
- Descent below MDA,
- Night VFR approach,
- Single piloted aircraft.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CF-YTL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site: