Zone
Florida

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 off Fort Lauderdale: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1977 at 1132 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Stanley Aviation
Registration:
N6892S
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Juan - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
680-419-93
YOM:
1956
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
6405
Captain / Total hours on type:
1185.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Fort Lauderdale, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with storm activity and turbulences. He contacted ATC and sent a brief message when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. The main wreckage and the six occupants were not recovered. At the time of the accident, the airplane was flying under VFR mode in IMC.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. The following findings were reported:
- Thunderstorm activity,
- VFR flight plan,
- IMC conditions,
- Crashed in area of heavy thunderstorm activity.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: May 6, 1977 at 0302 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Inter Air Cargo Services
Registration:
N355W
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale – Miami – San Juan
MSN:
22523
YOM:
1945
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
20313
Captain / Total hours on type:
9130.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a cargo flight from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan with an intermediate stop in Miami, carrying three Enstrom helicopters, one passenger and two pilots. Shortly after a night takeoff from Hollywood Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about problems with the right engine that lost power. The captain decided to ditch the airplane that crashed into the sea about 300 yards offshore. While all three occupants were rescued, the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine during initial climb after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Powerplant - propeller and accessories: governors,
- Ignition systems: magnetos,
- Excessive-wear/play,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Right engine, left magneto excessive drop,
- Attempted feather right prop, unfeather due to pressure switch malfunction.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B off Great Stirrup Cay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1977 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Fred Bell Enterprises
Registration:
N69378
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chub Cay - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
402B-0522
YOM:
1973
Location:
Great Stirrup Cay
Berry Islands
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4335
Circumstances:
En route from Chub Cay to Fort Lauderdale, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Great Stirrup Cay. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent for unknown reasons.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1976 at 2238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Jack R. Sproch
Registration:
N50BB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tallahassee - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
31-323
YOM:
1968
Location:
Tallahassee
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Tallahassee Airport, while climbing by night under instruments, the twin engine airplane descended into ground and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground during climb to cruise after the pilot failed to maintain a positive rate of climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misread or failed to read instruments,
- Low ceiling (200 feet),
- Fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Florida: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1976 at 0954 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 414 Chancellor
Operator:
Ruel Insurance
Registration:
N8PR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Miami - Fort Lauderdale - Tallahassee
MSN:
414-0254
YOM:
1971
Location:
Brighton-Grass Field
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:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
798
Captain / Total hours on type:
266.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Fort Lauderdale bound for Tallahassee with three passengers and a pilot on board. While cruising at an altitude of 12,500 feet in good weather conditions, the airplane collided with a USAF Douglas F-4E Phantom II registered 67-0255. Engaged in a routine exercise with two other F-4, the fighter departed Homestead AFB with two pilots on board under call sign 'Reed 11' and was descending to enter a restricted area for low-level gunnery practice. Both planes collided outside the boundaries of restricted airspace. The Cessna dove into the ground and crashed in the Brighton Indian Reserve, killing all four occupants. A pilot onboard the F-4E was killed while the second pilot ejected successfully and was injured. Both aircraft were destroyed upon impact.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilots of the 'Reed 11' flight to maintain adequate vigilance in order to see and avoid the light aircraft. Base Supplement 1 to Tactical Air Command Manual 55-4 which allowed a VFR descent into the Avon Park gunnery range and Air Force Regulation 60-16 which required all flights to be conducted under IFR conditions unless to do so would result in contributing to the accident was the inconsistency between Homestead Air Force unacceptable mission derogation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Walker Cay

Date & Time: May 28, 1976 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
South Florida Airlines
Registration:
N34JH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Walker Cay
Location:
Walker Cay
North Andros
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Walker Cay Airport, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S into the Atlantic Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1975 at 1756 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Bush Aviation
Registration:
N80006
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Great Inagua
MSN:
A-65
YOM:
1946
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1350
Captain / Total hours on type:
845.00
Circumstances:
En route from Fort Lauderdale to Great Inagua Island, the pilot reported he was short of fuel. Radar contact was lost after the airplane crashed in to the sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the airplane nor the three occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Became lost/disoriented,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Improperly loaded aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Fort-de-France

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Sky Truck International
Registration:
N6931C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort-de-France - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
4813
YOM:
1957
Location:
Fort-de-France
Martinique
Country:
Martinique
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Fort-de-France-Le Lamentin Airport, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Following an unstable approach, the four engine airplane landed hard. The crew was able to stop the airplane in timely manner and while all three crew members were uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL off Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1975 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N9BC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Freeport - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
9510
YOM:
1943
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5373
Captain / Total hours on type:
833.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Fort Lauderdale, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. The right engine oversped while the left engine overheated. The crew decided to shut down the left engine and to feather the propeller but as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain elected to ditch the aircraft offshore. While all three occupants were rescued, the airplane sank and was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Propeller and accessories,
- RPM-uncontrollable-overspeed,
- Complete engine failure,
- Right propeller erratic, exceeded 3,000 rpm,
- Left engine overheated and lost power.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FP in Cynthiana: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1974 at 0705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Court Insurance Company
Registration:
N46832
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cincinnati - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
680-3177-142
YOM:
1964
Location:
Cynthiana
Kentucky
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1400
Circumstances:
While cruising by night at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a near vertical attitude in a field located in Cynthiana. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it was reported that control was lost shortly after the pilot informed ATC he was climbing from FL150 to FL170.
Final Report:
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