Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Palm Springs - Burbank

MSN:

421A-0091

YOM:

1968

Location:

Palm Springs

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3963

Captain / Total hours on type:

362.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Palm Springs Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot reported an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. While making a turn, the twin engine airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both occupants were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Forces landing off airport on land,
- Pilot stated right engine failed and propeller would not feather,
- No failures revealed by engine inspection.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Houma: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1980 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Registration:

N444CS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

New Orleans - Houma

MSN:

401-0093

YOM:

1969

Location:

Houma-Terrebonne

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Companhia Textil Ferreira Guimaraes

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2145

Captain / Total hours on type:

250.00

Circumstances:

The pilot started the approach to Houma-Terrebonne Airport in marginal weather conditions (visibility 3 miles or less in fog and haze). On final, the Cessna 401 collided with a Cessna 180 registered N66186. Operated by Wurzlow Flying Service, it was approaching the same airport with one passenger and one pilot on board. Following the collision, the Cessna 401 went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. Its pilot was killed. The pilot of the Cessna 180 was able to complete an emergency landing and both occupants were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision on final approach after both pilots failed to see and avoid other aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Obstructions to vision,
- Visibility 3 miles or less,
- Haze,
- Not under radar contact,
- No control area,
- Convergence angle 30°,
- Horizontal collision angle 60°,
- Anti-collision lights on.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31 Navajo in Barbacena: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1980 at 2110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

PT-IAJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro - Barbacena

MSN:

31-772

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach in limited visibility due to rain falls, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located less than 2 km from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601P) near Summerville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1980 at 1954 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N90463

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chattanooga – Birmingham

MSN:

61P-0260-050

YOM:

1976

Location:

Summerville

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1362

Captain / Total hours on type:

56.00

Circumstances:

En route from Chattanooga to Birmingham, while in cruising altitude, the twin engine entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the loss of control could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air off Kotzebue

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1980 at 1204 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N908CM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Kotzebue-Ralph Wien Memorial

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Barrow - Kotzebue

MSN:

LW-233

YOM:

1977

Location:

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9430

Captain / Total hours on type:

553.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Kotzebue-Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in good weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low. The twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed short of runway threshold. All six occupants were rescued.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with water during initial approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot misjudged altitude and clearance,
- The aircraft came to rest in water,
- The pilot descended below minimum IFR altitude to VFR conditions, 400 feet cig, over water approach,
- Hit water while keeping landing in sight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Palma de Mallorca: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1980 at 2156 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 35

Operator:

Registration:

EC-DFA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Pacific Missionary Aviation

Schedule:

Madrid - Palma de Mallorca

MSN:

35-196

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a visual approach to runway 24, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 8 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S off Yap Island

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1980 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

N1824D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Federated States of Micronesia

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Woleai Atoll - Yap Island

MSN:

A-0812

YOM:

1952

Location:

Colonia

Yap Island

Country:

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3214

Captain / Total hours on type:

193.00

Circumstances:

En route from Woleai Atoll to Yap Island, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions and became lost. In adverse winds aloft (winds gusting up to 30 knots), both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot attempted an emergency landing about 80 km east of Yap Island. All seven occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in normal cruise and subsequent ditching due to fuel exhaustion after the pilot became lost/disoriented. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Adverse winds aloft,
- Wind gusting up to 30 knots,
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast,
- Forced landing off airport on water.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Spirit Lake

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1980 at 2220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Leonard Stoller

Registration:

N3249Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Dubuque - Spirit Lake

MSN:

401-0049

YOM:

1967

Location:

Spirit Lake-Lake Okoboji

Iowa

Country:

Region:

Aircraft Finance and Leasing Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1800

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Spirit Lake-Lake Okoboji Municipal Airport, during the last segment, one of the engine failed. The pilot decided to initiate a go-around when the airplane stalled and crashed on a residential building located near the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft and eight condominiums were destroyed by a post crash fire. While both people on board the airplane were injured, there were no injuries on ground.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Complete engine failure on engine,
- Single engine go-around.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Charleston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1980 at 0858 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N776SW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Charleston - Paducah

MSN:

31-7730009

YOM:

1977

Location:

Charleston-Intl

South Carolina

Country:

Region: