Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Rockwell Aero Commander 685

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

680-1426-149

YOM:

1964

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to George-Pieter Willem Botha Airport, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. Four passengers were killed while the pilot and another passenger were seriously injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 685 in Ashland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1980 at 1845 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Castle Aero Club

Registration:

N9221N

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ashland - Fresno

MSN:

685-12033

YOM:

1973

Location:

Ashland

Oregon

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA26T Merlin II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6100

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Ashland-Parker Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to maintain a positive rate of climb and crashed on a hill. The pilot was killed while four other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground during initial climb after the pilot failed to establish a positive rate of climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility 1/4 mile or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIB near Albany: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1980 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Mountain Farm Bakery

Registration:

N177MF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lexington - Albany

MSN:

T26-179

YOM:

1970

Location:

Albany-Dale Hollow

Kentucky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7628

Captain / Total hours on type:

24.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Albany-Dale Hollow Airport, the pilot was cleared by ATC to descend to 3,500 feet when he reported he was going to 'scoot down' under layer. In limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed on a mountain slope at an altitude of 1,700 feet. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash after the pilot-in-command exercised poor judgment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Visibility 4 miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise near Port Aransas

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1980 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Gulf Capital Corporation

Registration:

N44MR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brownsville - Atlanta

MSN:

611

YOM:

1973

Location:

Port Aransas

Texas

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:

10500

Captain / Total hours on type:

625.00

Circumstances:

While in normal cruise from Brownsville to Atlanta, the pilot reported engine problems. He elected to divert to the nearest airport but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed on soft ground and came to rest. All seven occupants were rescued, among them five were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Propeller blades failure in flight due to corrosion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fatigue fracture,
- Engine structure: mount and vibration isolators,
- Overload failure,
- Wet and soft ground,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Wind gusting to 24 knots,
- Propeller blade failed due to fatigue,
- Originating at stress corrosion crack.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Detroit

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1980 at 1715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Standard Machine & Equipment Company

Registration:

N200SM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County

Schedule:

Detroit - Connellsville

MSN:

421B-0649

YOM:

1974

Location:

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8685

Captain / Total hours on type:

450.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Detroit-Wayne County Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot reported a loss of power on the left engine and elected to return for an emergency landing. He quickly realized he could not make it so he attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane belly landed and slid for few dozen yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Both occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Engine failure and subsequent wheels-up landing due to inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the maintenance personnel. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Powerplant - exhaust system: manifolds,
- Material failure,
- Foreign object damage,
- Propeller and accessories: governors,
- Improperly secured,
- Failure of both engines,
- Wet and soft ground,
- High obstructions,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Metal from previous welded slab patch in left engine exhaust manifold jammed turbo,
- Right propeller governor arm loose.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401A in Fort Pierce

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1980 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Coastal Community

Registration:

N6233Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Fort Pierce-St Lucie County

Schedule:

Columbus - Fort Pierce

MSN:

401A-0033

YOM:

1969

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

988

Captain / Total hours on type:

66.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Fort Pierce-St Lucie-County Airport, the pilot initiated an evasive maneuver to avoid collision with another aircraft turning in front of him. Due to insufficient speed, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed. All three occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Stall during go-around after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FLP in Columbia

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1980 at 2222 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Cay International

Registration:

N1167Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cleveland - Columbia

MSN:

680-1499-16

YOM:

1965

Location:

Columbia

South Carolina

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft 200 Super King Air

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6150

Captain / Total hours on type:

225.00

Circumstances:

While descending to Columbia Airport, while initiating a last turn to intercept the glide, the pilot modified the position of the fuel selector from the auxiliary tanks to the main tank when both engines lost power. He attempted a forced landing when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed. Both occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach due to mismanagement of fuel. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fuel starvation,
- Rough terrain,
- Both auxiliary tanks near empty.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Ribeauvillé: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1980 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

F-GBRP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

International Trade & Investments

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Saint-Étienne – Colmar

MSN:

BB-368

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Saint-Étienne-Bouthéon Airport on an executive flight to Colmar-Houssen Airport, Haut-Rhin. On final approach, the crew was in contact with ATC when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded and mountainous area located near Ribeauvillé, about 10 km northwest of runway 19 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed, among them five French industrialists who were flying to Colmar to take part to a hunting party in the Alsacian forests.
Crew:
Jean-Claude Glatigny, pilot,
Jean-Paul Champagnon, copilot.
Passengers:
Jean-Pierre Gerard,
Henri Vignon,
Louis Gauchon,
Jacques Dreyfus,
Olivier Segond.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Candle

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1980 at 0815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Registration:

N333FL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Candle - Kotzebue

MSN:

BA-29

YOM:

1955

Location:

Candle

Alaska

Country:

Region: