Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

New Orleans-Louis Armstrong (Moisant)

Schedule:

Las Vegas - New Orleans - Mobile

MSN:

404-0619

YOM:

1979

Location:

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

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.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure, stall and subsequent crash on final approach due to an inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Complete failure of both engines.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1980 at 1654 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Florida Preferred Equity

Registration:

N709Z

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood

Schedule:

Bimini - Fort Lauderdale

MSN:

15737/27182

YOM:

1945

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Aeroservicios Internacionales

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12053

Captain / Total hours on type:

64.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, the airplane stalled and crashed near Dania. A pilot was seriously injured while seven other occupants were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

Stall and subsequent crash while initiating a go-around. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command delayed in initiating go-around,
- The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed,
- The copilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The copilot misused or failed to use flaps.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Mexico

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 40

Operator:

Registration:

XA-EEU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

282-54

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered an accident at León Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Partenavia P.68B in Zaïre : 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Partenavia P.68

Operator:

Plankumu

Registration:

9Q-CTS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Isiro - Kisangani

MSN:

116

YOM:

1977

Location:

All Democratic Republic of Congo

Country:

Democratic Republic of Congo

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Isiro to Kisangani, the twin engine airplane disappeared. SAR operations were initiated but abandoned after a month as no trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants was found.

Crash of a Piper PA-31P-425 Navajo in Sion: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1980 at 1513 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Wekos Schrotthandels

Registration:

D-IHRK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bjornson Development Company

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Geneva - Sion

MSN:

31P-7300137

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

100.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Sion Airport runway 26, the pilot maintained radio contacts with ATC and all seems normal on board. At low height and low speed, the airplane banked left then right, went out of control and crashed in flames in a road located in the center of the city. The airplane as well as several cars were destroyed. Few buildings were damaged. Both occupants were killed while no one on the ground was injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the left engine was running abnormally fast at the time of impact while the right engine was in idle. No technical issue was found on the engines and it is believed that the pilot made a mistake during the approach by unintentionally shutting off the fuel supply to the right engine. This caused the aircraft to become unstable and the pilot was unable to correct the situation.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340 in Crystal: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1980 at 1924 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

Registration:

N98547

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Crystal - Fargo

MSN:

340-0027

YOM:

1972

Location:

Crystal

Minnesota

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1538

Captain / Total hours on type:

700.00

Circumstances:

During a night takeoff from a snow covered runway at Crystal Airport, the twin engine airplane drifted off, collided with trees and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured while both passengers were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums due to fog and snow falls.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees during initial climb after the pilot failed to abort takeoff and failed to maintain a positive rate of climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Snow on runway,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Drifted off, back on runway,
- Take off at end.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Linville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1980 at 0837 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Registration:

N9912F

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Myrtle Beach - Cincinnati

MSN:

401-0091

YOM:

1969

Location:

Linville

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8919

Captain / Total hours on type:

480.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 5,900 feet in limited visibility due to marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Linville. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced to zero due to low ceiling, rains falls and fog.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain during normal cruise after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Physical impairment of the pilot,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Blood ethanol level 90 mg %,
- Hit the mountain at 5,909 feet,
- Mountain obscured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Gulfport

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1980 at 1846 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Retzer & Retzer

Registration:

N1659T

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Gulfport - Greenville

MSN:

414-0452

YOM:

1974

Location:

Gulfport-Biloxi

Mississippi

Country:

Region: