Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo Chieftain in Tallahassee

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1970 at 0115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
N411AA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint Petersburg – Tallahassee
MSN:
31-24
YOM:
1967
Location:
Tallahassee
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10245
Captain / Total hours on type:
220.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tallahassee Airport by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All four occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot-in-command.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1969 at 0524 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
United Clearing
Registration:
N9150Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hollywood - Fresno
MSN:
31-199
YOM:
1968
Location:
Hollywood-Burbank (Bob Hope)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1825
Captain / Total hours on type:
162.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Hollywood-Burbank Airport, while climbing, one of the engine lost power. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near the runway end. While the passenger was seriously injured, both pilots were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew,
- The pilot-in-command failed to abort takeoff,
- Partial loss of power on one engine due to ignition system failure,
- Spark plug carbon deposit,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- The passenger was seating between both pilots with no seat or belt,
- The total weight was near gross weight,
- The cargo was not tied down.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Société Guyane Air Transport
Registration:
F-OBZS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-78
YOM:
1968
Location:
Cayenne
All French Guyana
Country:
French Guyana
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Cayenne-Rochambeau Airport, the twin engine aircraft struck trees and crashed, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Jasper: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1969 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Visador Company
Registration:
N440VC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31-416
YOM:
1968
Location:
Jasper
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
19320
Captain / Total hours on type:
120.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck trees, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located near Jasper. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees in normal cruise after the pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Pilot of aircraft in the vicinity diverted to Beaumont Airport because of low ceiling and poor visibility conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Jamestown: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1969 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Suse Company
Registration:
N440DL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Jamestown
Tennessee
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:
176
Circumstances:
While cruising by night in marginal weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed on the top of a hill. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control for undetermined reason. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm,
- Snow,
- Witnesses heard the aircraft circling at low altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Nederland: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1968 at 1702 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
London Properties
Registration:
N9174Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nederland - Nederland
MSN:
31-231
YOM:
1968
Location:
Nederland
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
932
Captain / Total hours on type:
232.00
Circumstances:
The pilot and his four passengers were engaged in a local post maintenance test flight. Following a local circuit, the pilot initiated an approach to Nederland-Jefferson County Airport when on final, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled on final approach during a steep bank at low altitude probably due to an error on part of the pilot who failed to maintain flying speed. A mechanical discrepancy is also suspected.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1968 at 1217 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Aero Flight (USA)
Registration:
N9098Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31-134
YOM:
1968
Location:
Tobaccoville
North Carolina
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:
9000
Captain / Total hours on type:
31.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight and was simulating stalls at low height when control was lost. The twin engine airplane entered a flat spin and crashed in an open field located near Tobaccoville. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Muncy: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1967 at 1612 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Pangles Inc.
Registration:
N9040Y
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31-54
YOM:
1967
Location:
Muncy
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1091
Captain / Total hours on type:
80.00
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane went out of control and entered a dive. During the uncontrolled descent, the airplane disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a field, killing all three occupants. At the time of the accident, weather was poor and the crew lost his orientation shortly before he lost control of the airplane.
Probable cause:
A mismanagement of fuel on part of the flying crew caused the failure of both engines in flight. Then, due to spatial disorientation, the crew lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and disintegrated in the air due to exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft. Poor weather conditions were considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:
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