Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo

MSN:

LW-113

YOM:

1974

Location:

Nuevo León

Country:

Mexico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Monterrey-General Mariano Escobido Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed about 3 km north of the airfield. One occupant was seriously injured while three others were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of an engine failure for undermined reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Pontiac: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1981 at 1903 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31 Cheyenne

Operator:

SS Airways

Registration:

N321SS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tulsa - Pontiac

MSN:

31-8020035

YOM:

1980

Location:

Pontiac-Oakland County

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1700

Captain / Total hours on type:

33.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Pontiac-Oakland County Airport runway 09, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to low ceiling and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane struck two 40 feet approach lite towers located 2,400 and 2,200 feet from the approach end of the runway. The airplane lost height and crashed, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with wires/poles on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility down to zero,
- Weather conditions below minimums.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414A Chancellor in Rio Vista: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1981 at 0825 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Jack Dean Franks

Registration:

N2729D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vacaville - Rio Vista

MSN:

414A-0429

YOM:

1979

Location:

Rio Vista

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Rio Vista Municipal Airport, the pilot encountered low visibility due to fog and low ceiling. On final, the airplane was too low, struck the ground and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground and final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Descended below MDA during a VOR-A approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 731 in White Plains: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1981 at 1840 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1329 JetStar

Operator:

Texasgulf Aviation

Registration:

N520S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

White Plains-Westchester County

Schedule:

Toronto - White Plains

MSN:

5084

YOM:

1966

Location:

New York

Country:

Region:

S. A. International Trading Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

24000

Captain / Total hours on type:

4500.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8947

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1374

Aircraft flight hours:

7413

Aircraft flight cycles:

5308

Circumstances:

About 1840 e.s.t., on February 11, 1981, a Lockheed JetStar L-1329-731, N520S, crashed during an instrument landing system approach to runway 16 at the Westchester County Airport, White Plains, New York. The area weather was dominated by low obscured ceilings, rain, fog, and reduced visibility. Winds were strong and gusty with moderate to severe turbulence in the lower levels. Following a recent modification of the generator control. circuitry, the aircraft's electrical system had experienced several multiple generator failures.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of this accident was a distraction to the pilot at a critical time as a the result of a major electrical system malfunction which, in combination with the adverse weather environment, caused an undetected deviation of the aircraft's flightpath into the terrain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Chapel Hill: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1981 at 1910 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

Registration:

N8682K

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Chapel Hill-Horace Williams

Schedule:

Washington DC – Chapel Hill

MSN:

340A-0617

YOM:

1978

Location:

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12500

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Washington DC, the crew started the descent to Chapel Hill-Horace Williams when he encountered zero visibility due to fog. On approach, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast,
- Visibility down to zero,
- Maneuvering for contact approach,
- Loaded near aft CG limit,
- 554 lbs over max gross weight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Laredo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1981 at 2145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Fiesta Photo

Registration:

N69321

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Corpus Christi - Laredo

MSN:

402B-0436

YOM:

1973

Location:

Laredo

Texas

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 700 (Fuji FA-300)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2500

Captain / Total hours on type:

57.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Laredo Airport runway 32 by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed three miles southeast of the airport. The airplane was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility one mile or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 700 in Palacios

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1981 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N703SA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Palacios - Houston

MSN:

700-31

YOM:

1980

Location:

Palacios

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3034

Captain / Total hours on type:

410.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Palacios Airport, while climbing, both engines lost power. The pilot was cleared to return for an emergency landing and initiated a turn. While flying at low height, the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in a field. All four occupants were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

Partial loss of power on both engines due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improperly serviced aircraft by ground crew,
- Improper fuel-grade,
- High obstructions (power cables),
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Aircraft serviced with Jet A fuel.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 500 Citation I in Bluefield: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1981 at 0844 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 500 Citation

Operator:

Registration:

N501GP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Augusta - Bluefield - Frederick

MSN:

500-0026

YOM:

1972

Location:

Bluefield-Mercer County

West Virginia

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10463

Captain / Total hours on type:

3642.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4748

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1216

Aircraft flight hours:

4439

Circumstances:

The airplane overran the end of runway 23, following an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, crashed, and burned at the Mercer County Airport, Bluefield, West Virginia. The aircraft touched down between 500 and 2,000 feet on the runway which was covered with wet snow, and it did not decelerate normally. About 1,200 feet from the departure end of the runway, the pilot added engine thrust and rotated the aircraft for liftoff; however, it did not get airborne because of insufficient flying speed. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and struck three localizer antennas and a 10-foot embankment before it plunged down a steep, densely wooded hillside. The five occupants were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of the accident was the pilot's attempt to land on a slush covered runway with insufficient stopping distance available, and his delayed initiation of a go-around which resulted in there being insufficient runway available to complete the maneuver successfully. Contributing to the accident was the lack of adequate emphasis in the manufacturer's aircraft flight manual regarding the required aircraft landing/stop distances under wet and icy runway conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II off Muskegon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1980 at 1426 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Southern City Aviation

Registration:

N9394A

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Waukesha - New Haven

MSN:

421B-0531

YOM:

1973

Location:

Muskegon

Michigan

Country:

Region: