Las Vegas

The aircraft departed Las Vegas, NV as the 2nd of 5 aircraft on a scheduled Grand Canyon sightseeing flight. The 1st portion of the flight was over the Las Vegas strip area and Lake Mead and was uneventful. However, weather conditions precluded the pilot from continuing over the Shivwits plateau. Radio conversations between the pilot and other company aircrews indicated that the pilot of N88LV had encountered deteriorating weather conditions in the canyon and that he had decided to abort the flight and climb out. Later attempts to contact the aircraft were unsuccessful. The wreckage was found on 8/18/83 where the aircraft had collided on the west wall of a mesa inside the canyon. A helicopter pilot flying about 14 miles north of the crash site reported clouds at ground level (4,500 feet msl). The elevation of the accident site was 6,320 feet. Shortly before his last transmission, the pilot stated he was 'just short of Twin Peaks.' The pilot had transmitted his position from Peach VOR, indicating he was in the area of the crash site. Twin Peaks was northeast and had similar terrain. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Wallace S. Gustafson Jr., pilot.
Passengers:
Enrico Annibali,
Maria Vittoria Annibali,
Giancarlo Annibali,
Luciano Annibali,
Guliana Ranieri-Annibali,
Francesca Annibali,
Federica Annibali,
Stefano Annibali,
Daniele Vernava.
Photos: https://www.lostflights.com/Grand-Canyon-Aviation/81783-Las-Vegas-Airlines-Piper/

After takeoff, the pilot was cleared to proceed on an IFR flight plan. After being cleared to 15,000 ft msl, he reported having trouble maintaining his airspeed and subsequently declared an emergency. Shortly after that, radar contact was lost. The aircraft impacted at night near the top of a mountain ridge at about 4,700 ft msl. The wreckage was demolished and scattered over a large area, but there was no evidence of an inflight breakup. Some parts of the wreckage (including the right engine) were not found on the snow covered terrain. The weather forecast called for: thunderstorms in lines, mountains obscured, moderate and occasionally severe turbulence below 20,000 ft, occasional moderate icing in clouds and in precipitation from the freezing level (3,000 ft) to 20,000 ft. The aircraft was not certified for flight in known icing conditions.

Approximately 1/2 mile from the airport after takeoff, the pilot noticed the left front baggage door partly open and made a left turn back toward the airstrip. After the turn, the baggage door came completely open, the left wing dropped immediately and the aircraft stalled. The pilot added full power and lowered the nose. When he raised the nose near the ground, the aircraft shuddered and crashed. Two rescue personnel, both certified pilots, arrived shortly after the accident and found the nose baggage door in the unlocked position with the bayonet pins retracted. A Piper representative stated that if the left side nose baggage door of a PA-31 opened in flight there would be the likelihood of an interruption to the smooth airflow through the prop, possibly reducing the thrust produced by the blades.

On approach to Long Beach, both engines flames out. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck power cables and a fence before coming to rest. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While in normal cruise, the pilot reported severe icing conditions when both engines lost power. He attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in an isolated area located near Newhall. Both occupants were killed.

On final approach to New Orleans-Moisant Airport, both engines failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed few miles from the airport. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot was killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

While in cruising altitude on a flight from San Diego to Las Vegas, the pilot suffered physical impairment. The airplane crashed in a desert area near Lucerne Valley. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was written off.

Shortly after takeoff from Palm Springs Airport, while climbing by night at an altitude of 9,700 feet, the airplane struck a mountain located in the San Gorgonio Wilderness of the San Bernardino Mountains, about 22 miles northwest of Palm Springs. Due to very poor weather conditions, rescuers were able to reach the crash site three days later only. The aircraft struck the ground at a speed of 325 knots and disintegrated on impact. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Donald J. Weier,
Jerald Wayne Foley.
Passengers:
Dolly Sinatra, Frank Sinatra's mother,
Ann Carbone.

En route from Las Vegas to El Paso, while in cruising altitude, both engines lost power. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames near Wikieup and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.

En route from Eagle to Las Vegas by night, the pilot encountered strong headwinds and severe icing conditions. In low ceiling, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous terrain located near Hatch. The wreckage was found four days later, on January 24, and all six occupants have been killed.