Crash of a Beechcraft D18 in Windsor Locks

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1978 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N10VT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Albany – Windsor Locks
MSN:
A-699
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3496
Captain / Total hours on type:
1003.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Windsor Locks-Bradley Airport, the left engine lost power and the right engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure or malfunction on final approach caused by the following factors:
- Compressor assembly: bearing, rotor shaft,
- Lack of lubrication-specific part, not system,
- Overheated,
- Turbine assembly: blade, turbine wheel,
- Fatigue fracture,
- High obstruction,
- N° 2 bearing on left engine failed,
- Right engine power turbine blade failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Reading: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1976 at 1208 LT
Registration:
N3842C
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Albany - Reading
MSN:
560-727
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2850
Captain / Total hours on type:
107.00
Circumstances:
The approach to Reading Airport was initiated in marginal weather conditions with fog and low clouds. On final, the airplane struck the ground and crashed 3,6 miles south of Reading LOM while cleared for an ILS approach to runway 36. The pilot was killed while both passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in Raymond: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1973 at 1930 LT
Registration:
N7430S
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Albany - Tulsa
MSN:
61-0015
YOM:
1968
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1234
Captain / Total hours on type:
57.00
Circumstances:
On a flight from Albany to Tulsa, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane went out of control and entered a dive until it crashed in an open field located in Raymond, Ohio. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control and uncontrolled descent for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- No dual check-out.02 system empty,
- Top clouds to 10,000 feet,
- Aircraft intact until impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in Albany: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1972 at 2048 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7818M
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
New York-LaGuardia - Albany
MSN:
541
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
MO405
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
12248
Captain / Total hours on type:
2202.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9969
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2723
Aircraft flight hours:
10068
Aircraft flight cycles:
15714
Circumstances:
On final approach to Albany by night and marginal weather conditions, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine propeller cruise lock system. The propeller could not be feathered and the airplane lost height and eventually crashed onto two houses located 3,8 miles short of runway 01 threshold. Two crew members and 14 passengers as well as one people on the ground were killed. The aircraft and two houses were destroyed.
Probable cause:
The inability of the crew to feather the left propeller, in combination with the descent of the aircraft below the prescribed minimum altitudes for the approach. The Board is unable to determine why the left propeller could not be feathered. Contributing causal factors for the nonstandard approach were the captain's preoccupation with a cruise pitch lock malfunction, the first officer's failure to adhere to company altitude awareness procedures, and the captain's failure to delegate any meaningful responsibilities to the copilot which resulted in a lack of effective task sharing during the emergency. Also, the Board was unable to determine why the propeller pitch lock malfunctioned during the descent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B near Glenn Falls: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1969 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7811M
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Albany – Glenn Falls
MSN:
531
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
MO411
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
5167
Captain / Total hours on type:
343.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3910
Copilot / Total hours on type:
67
Aircraft flight hours:
7553
Circumstances:
Mohawk Airlines flight 411, while en route to Glenn Falls from Albany, New York, crashed about 2020LT in mountainous terrain approximately 9 nautical miles north of the Warren County Airport, Glenn Falls. The flight had been cleared for a VOR approach to runway 19, since the surface wind was from 150° at 12 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The ceiling at Glenn Falls was given as 2,100 feet overcast, and the visibility was 7 miles in light rain. The flight overflew Glenn Falls at 3,000 feet and proceeded north for about 1 minute and 15 seconds at which time a left turn was initiated preparatory to return to the airport to land on runway 19. During the last portion of this turn, the aircraft contacted trees and the northwest slope of the Pilot Knob Mountain on a heading of about 180°, approximately one nautical mile east of Katsskill Bay, New York. It then impacted the face of a rock cliff, after which it dropped approximately 38 feet, became lodged between trees and the side of the mountain, and burned. The elevation of the initial impact with the rock face of Pilot Knob Mountain was approximately 1,960 feet. The three crew members and 11 passengers received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was that the captain, while conducting an approach, exceeded his clearance limits and, thereafter, flew the aircraft into a severe 'lee of the mountain downdraft' at an altitude insufficient for recovery. No evidence was found to explain why this particular approach was attempted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 65 in Mobile: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1969 at 0053 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3333M
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Albany - Mobile
MSN:
LC-065
YOM:
1961
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
587.00
Circumstances:
The pilot started a night approach to Mobile Airport when he encountered severe turbulences. He lost control of the airplane that crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. A passenger was injured while three other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the airport was closed (closing times are 0000LT till 0600LT) and there was no ATC employee at tower.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach due to wake turbulences caused by a DC-9 preceding the Queen Air. It was reported that the crew of the DC-9 was practicing landings and ILS low approaches.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 65 in Albany: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1968 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N1401M
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LC-73
YOM:
1961
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8100
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 19 at Albany Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low ceiling, rain and fog. On short final, the airplane was too low and crashed into the Mohawk River located about 1,2 mile short of runway threshold. Two passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of an improper IFR operation on part of the flying crew who descended below the published approach minimums. Limited visibility due to low clouds, rain and fog was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 in Albany: 28 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1953 at 0834 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N94255
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boston – Hartford – Albany – Chicago
MSN:
116
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
AA723
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Captain / Total flying hours:
7500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
215
Aircraft flight hours:
9920
Circumstances:
American Airlines' Flight 723 of September 16, 1953, was a scheduled operation between Boston Massachusetts, and Chicago, Illinois, with intermediate stops among which were Hartford, Connecticut, and Albany, New York. The crew consisted of Captain J. W. Stentz, First Officer W. J. Schanken, and Stewardess J. G. Thornquist, Prior to departing Boston the crew filed a company VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plan to Chicago following which the company issued a flight clearance to proceed to Albany INSTOP (Instrument or On Top of Clouds Authorize d) 2 with an intermediate landing at Bradley Field, the airport serving Hartford, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The alternate airport was Syracuse, New York. At the time this flight clearance was issued, the weather en route to Albany was good mid the conditions at Albany were above minimums. The portion of the flight to Bradley Field was without incident and the aircraft arrived there at 0657. At Bradley Field Captain Stentz reviewed the latest weather reports in the company's operations office and was advised that Bradley Field had been added to his flight clearance as a second alternate in addition to Syracuse because the weather at Albany at this time was below the company's landing minimums 3 was forecast to improve to within limits by the time the flight arrived there. The special Albany 0642 weather report available to the captain at this time was: ceiling indefinite zero, sky obscured, visibility zero, fog. The en route weather was clear. According to the company's records, the gross takeoff weight of the aircraft at Hartford was 37,889 pounds which was within the allowable gross take-off weight of 40,503 pounds; the load was properly distributed with respect to the center of gravity limits of the aircraft. Departure from Bradley Field was made at 0714 with 25 passengers. Immediately before departing, the flight advised the tower it was proceeding to Albany VFR. At 0737, a message from the company's dispatcher at New York was relayed to Captain Stentz through the company radio at Albany as follows: "If Albany still below limits on your arrival, if OK with you, suggest hold vicinity until at least 0830 EST. Expect Albany to have limits 0730-0800 EST. Advise fuel on board when over Albany." Flight 723 acknowledged and advised. "We will hold." At 0740, the flight reported to Albany Approach Control that it was over Montgomery Ward, an in-range visual check point, VFR, and requested a clearance of at least 500 feet on top of clouds to the Albany Range Station. This request was approved and the flight was cleared to maintain at least 500 feet on top and to hold north of the Range Station. The 0739 Albany special weather report was given the flight: "Ceiling indefinite, 100 feet, sky obscured, visibility 1/4 mile, fog, wind west-southwest one mile per hour." Flight 723 reported aver the Range Station at 0742. During the holding period the number of aircraft in this pattern varied from six to nine. The special Albany weather report issued at 0750 indicated thin obscurement, ceiling estimated 4,000, overcast, fog, visibility 3/4 miles. At 0753, the first of the aircraft in the holding pattern, American Airlines' Flight 750, was cleared for an instrument approach to Runway 19. At 0800, this aircraft missed its approach and was immediately cleared to climb toward the south and to again remain at least 500 feet on top of clouds. A second aircraft which was holding was then cleared to make a similar approach and it too was forced to execute a missed approach procedure. At 08163 an instrument approach mid a landing on Runway 19 were successfully completed by one of the holding aircraft. Immediately following this landing. Flight 723 was cleared to make an instrument approach to Runway 19. Three minutes later the flight advised the tower that its approach was being abandoned because the aircraft's flaps could not be lowered. It was then still at least 500 feet on top of clouds and was advised by the tower to remain there until further advised. At approximately 0830, the following message was transmitted from the Albany Tower: "All aircraft holding Albany. It now appears to be pretty good for a contact approach from the west. It looks much better than to the north." Immediately following this message, Flight 723 was asked by the tower if it would accept a contact approach from the west for a landing on Runway 10. After requesting and receiving current weather including altimeter setting (29.74) and the length of Runway 10 (4,500 feet). the flight stated it would accept a contact approach. Clearance was then issued the flight to make a contact approach to Runway 10. Acknowledgement of this clearance was the last radio contact with the flight. At approximately 0834, Flight 723 struck the radio towers and crashed. The weather reported at the time of the accident was thin scattered clouds at 500 feet, ceiling estimated 4,500 feet, broken clouds, visibility 1-1/2 miles, fog.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was that during the execution of a contact approach, and while maneuvering for alignment with the runway to be used, descent was made to an altitude below obstructions partially obscured by fog in a local area of restricted visibility. The following findings were reported:
- Upon arrival of the flight, Albany weather was below authorized landing minimums and the aircraft was required to hold,
- A standard instrument approach was started and later abandoned because of mechanical failure of the wing flap mechanism,
- A contact approach to Runway 10 was later accepted because improved weather, especially to the west of the airport, made this runway most feasible,
- The aircraft made a wide right turn southwest of the airport to align with Runway 10,
- The latter part of the approach was at low altitude through weather conditions which prevented adequate visual reference,
- Under existing conditions the pilot should have abandoned the approach,
- The aircraft struck radio towers, the upper portions of which were obscured by fog,
- These towers were hazard-painted and lighted in accordance with accepted standards,
- All CAA navigational and landing facilities were functioning properly,
- No evidence was found in the residual wreckage not destroyed by impact or fire to indicate that structural or mechanical failure occurred prior to impact other than to the wing flap mechanism.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson Model U in Albany

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC12119
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9007
YOM:
1932
Location:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon take off from Albany Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss AT-32C Condor II near Wilmurt

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1934 at 2035 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC12363
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Syracuse – Albany
MSN:
23
YOM:
1933
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The left engine encountered problems some 30 minutes after takeoff from Syracuse Airport. Due to heavy snow falls, the crew was unable to maintain a visual contact with the ground and radio communications with ATC were difficult. Few minutes later, the right engine lost power and the crew elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft impacted a tree with its right wing and crashed in a wooded area. All four occupants were rescued few hours later, seriously injured by low temperature and outside conditions (snow). Carburetors failed due to icing conditions.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Accident Board that the probable cause of this accident is the failure of the company to have on duty in the Division Control Office a dispatcher in charge of flight control.