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

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
UC Leasing Company
Registration:
N582DC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
MSN:
31-20
YOM:
1967
Location:
Mexico
All Mexico
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Mexico in December 1973 (exact date unknown). The occupant's fate remains uncertain.

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

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Tropicales - TAT Colombia
Registration:
HK-1591
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Yavi
MSN:
31-379
YOM:
1969
Location:
Yavi
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Yavi Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo on Mt Sabyinyo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Compagnie Cotonnière et Industrielle
Registration:
9Q-CCC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bukavu - Goma
Location:
Mt Sabyinyo
Nord-Kivu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet in clouds, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Sabyinyo (3,669 meters high), some 50 km northeast of Goma. The wreckage was found few hours later and all seven occupants have been killed, among them two children.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

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

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1973 at 0517 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Refrigerated Transport Company
Registration:
N6840L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Tampa - Coral Creek
MSN:
31P-44
YOM:
1971
Location:
Tampa-Intl
Florida
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:
4620
Captain / Total hours on type:
790.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tampa Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and elected to return. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane slid on the ground and crashed into a building located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Ignition system: spark plug,
- Carbon deposit,
- Improper clearance, tolerance,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Pilot declared emergency, crash landed and slid into building,
- Propeller feathered,
- Plugs fouled.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: May 3, 1973 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Jim French
Registration:
N3105E
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chihuahua - Deming
MSN:
31-313
YOM:
1968
Location:
Chihuahua
Chihuahua
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
24100
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left then crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1973 at 2053 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Midwest Tankers
Registration:
N300X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Owensboro - Niles
MSN:
31-412
YOM:
1968
Location:
Niles-Jerry Tyler
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
16770
Captain / Total hours on type:
376.00
Circumstances:
The pilot started the approach to Niles-Jerry Tyler by night and in poor weather conditions. On final, due a visibility limited to a half of mile, he decided to descend below the minimal descent altitude when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain, fog and thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility limites to half a mile,
- Descended below MDA in known thunderstorm conditions.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Yewlands Engineering Company
Registration:
G-AZTL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-589
YOM:
1969
Location:
Stapleford
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Stapleford Airfield in poor weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees located 2,400 meters short of runway threshold. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a field, injuring both occupants.

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

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Firma Aerosimport
Registration:
SE-FHL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-507
YOM:
1969
Location:
Ronneby
Blekinge
Country:
Sweden
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The approach to Ronneby-Kallinge Airport was initiated in limited visibility due to rain falls. On short final, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located six km short of runway threshold. All eight occupants have been killed.

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

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1972 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1388-G
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Medellín – Bogotá
Location:
Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera
Antioquia
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
One minute after takeoff from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in an industrial area located by the airport. All three occupants and one person on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

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

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1972 at 2141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
N9261Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tupelo - Columbus
MSN:
31-341
YOM:
1968
Location:
Columbus-Lowndes County
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
5100
Circumstances:
On approach to Columbus-Lowndes County Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed few miles from the airfield. The wreckage was found few hours later. The airplane was destroyed and all six occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. The pilot had severe coronary artery disease.
Final Report:
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