Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Tucson - Dodge City

MSN:

402-0210

YOM:

1968

Location:

Cliff

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

George M. Campbell Oil & Gas Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4083

Captain / Total hours on type:

310.00

Circumstances:

En route from Tucson to Dodge City in good weather conditions, the right engine caught fire. The pilot shut down the engine and as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, he attempted an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field near Cliff and came to rest in flames. The pilot, sole on board, escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Powerplant fire and explosion in flight due to a cylinder assembly failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Powerplant detonation,
- Fire in engine,
- Intentional wheels-up landing off airport on land,
- Exhaust system: external supercharger,
- Foreign object damage, warped,
- Rough/uneven terrain,
- Hole burnt near n°2 exhaust valve seat,
- Density altitude 7,900 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Winkler County

Date & Time: May 22, 1981 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Registration:

N4200C

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Antonio - Winkler County

MSN:

414-0516

YOM:

1974

Location:

Winkler County

Texas

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4441

Captain / Total hours on type:

1456.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Winkler County Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Stall on final approach after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- Wind gusts to 18 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 Marquise in Alpena: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1981 at 0247 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

J & S Leasing

Registration:

N9JS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Alpena-County-Phelps-Collins

Schedule:

La Crosse - Alpena

MSN:

178

YOM:

1969

Location:

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16776

Circumstances:

While on a night ILS approach to Alpena-County-Phelps-Collins Airport, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low. On short final, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed 1,6 mile short of runway 36. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- Visibility 2 miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise in Lajitas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1981 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Viking Aviation

Registration:

N500GL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lajitas - Houston

MSN:

579

YOM:

1973

Location:

Lajitas

Texas

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Captain / Total hours on type:

4400.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Lajitas Airfield, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables then crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot and one passenger were killed while eight other occupants were injured, five of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Collision with wires/poles during initial climb after the pilot selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot misused or failed to use flaps,
- The pilot failed to abort takeoff,
- Airport conditions,
- High density altitude, about 4,800 feet,
- Rough/uneven terrain,
- 1% upslope runway,
- Aircraft near max gross weight,
- Aircraft CofG at limit,
- Wind gusting 15 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 6 in Luton

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1981 at 1953 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1329 JetStar

Operator:

Alco Aviation

Registration:

N267L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lagos - Hassi Messaoud - Luton

MSN:

5067

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12650

Captain / Total hours on type:

2630.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

15000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

300

Aircraft flight hours:

4777

Circumstances:

The aircraft made a surveillance radar approach (SRA) to the Luton runway 08 at night, in conditions of low cloud and poor visibility and landed well past the touchdown zone. It then overran the end of the runway, became airborne over a 10 metre deep escarpment, struck the ground and caught fire. The seven passengers escaped from the aircraft through a hole in the fuselage and the commander exited through his direct vision (DV) window; all of them sustained relatively minor injuries. The co-pilot received severe spinal injuries and was unable to vacate the cockpit without the assistance of the rescue services. The external and cabin fires were extinguished by the aerodrome fire service who were then delayed in entering the cabin by the concentration of smoke and the lack of breathing apparatus.

Probable cause:

It was concluded that the accident was caused by the commander's action in attempting a landing from a non-precision approach without sufficient visual reference.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340 near Santa Maria: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1981 at 1118 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

J. C. Enterprises

Registration:

N24MH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Santa Ana - Oakland

MSN:

340-0169

YOM:

1972

Location:

Santa Maria

California

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2585

Captain / Total hours on type:

245.00

Circumstances:

En route from Santa Ana to Oakland, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed north of Santa Maria, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. At the time of the accident, the pilot was performing acrobatics.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar in Roanoke: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1981 at 1003 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Cooper Wood Products

Registration:

N3641U

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional/Woodrum Field

Schedule:

Roanoke - Winchester

MSN:

61-0820-8063429

YOM:

1980

Location:

Virginia

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4352

Captain / Total hours on type:

79.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Roanoke-Woodrum Field, while climbing, both engines lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed near the airport. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure or malfunction due to improperly serviced aircraft by ground crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper fuel grade,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Inadequate supervision/training of ramp crews,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Aircraft refueled 8 of March with 100LL and 20 of March with Jet A by same individual on overtime due to supervisor illness.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Kenai: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1981 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Alaska Air Guides

Registration:

N6473

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Anchorage - East Twin Lake

MSN:

410

YOM:

1952

Location:

Kenai

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2304

Captain / Total hours on type:

702.00

Circumstances:

While completing a turn at low height, the aircraft stalled and crashed near Kenai. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Stall after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exercised poor judgment,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Low level turn,
- Aircraft at least 1,230 lbs over gross weight,
- CofG 5% aft of rear limits.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Bloomsburg

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1981 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

N7888Q

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bloomsburg - Gardner

MSN:

402B-0216

YOM:

1972

Location:

Bloomsburg

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region: