Crash of a Learjet 36A in Forli: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1979 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-AIFA
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
London - Forli
MSN:
36-021
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed London on an executive flight to Forli, carrying two pilots and one passenger, Mr. Serafino Ferruzzi, founder and owner of the Italian Group Ferruzzi S.p.A. The approach to Forli Airport was initiated by night and poor weather conditions. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the left wing struck a tv antenna located on the top of a hill, some 2,300 meters short of runway 12 threshold. The airplane lost height and crashed on a house. All three people on board the aircraft as well as two people in the house were killed. At the time of the accident, the horizontal visibility was limited to 300 metres due to heavy rain falls and the runway 12 ILS glideslope was inoperative.
Crew:
Enzo Villani, pilot,
Roberto Cases, copilot.
Passenger:
Serafino Ferruzzi.
Those killed on ground were Fiorella Ricci et Libero Ricci.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in San Angelo

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1979 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N444JW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dallas - San Angelo
MSN:
31-7720015
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5680
Captain / Total hours on type:
670.00
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown at San Angelo-Mathis Field Airport, the twin engine airplane swerved then nosed over and came to rest in flames. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Swerved on landing due to improper operation of brakes and/or flight controls on part of the pilot-in-command who delayed in initiating a go-around.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Cahuita

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1979 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TI-RCP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Panama City - San josé
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was performing a flight from Panama City to San José, carrying one pilot, the President of the RECOPE Group, and his wife (RECOPE - Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo). En route, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to divert to Puerto Limón Airport for an emergency landing. While descending by night, he realized he could not make it so he ditched the aircraft about 150 meters off Cahuita, some 30 km southeast of Puerto Limón Airport. Both occupants were injured and rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Marquise near Post Oak: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1979 at 0555 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N234MA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jackson - Ardmore
MSN:
252
YOM:
1973
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
11274
Captain / Total hours on type:
1045.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Jackson, Mississippi, to Ardmore, Oklahoma, the twin engine airplane lost height then entered a dive and crashed near Post Oak. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground due to pilot physical impairment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Blood alcohol level 1,7‰,
- The pilot did not sleep for 48 hours,
- Autopilot on,
- Hyperactive dog aboard.
Final Report:

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 near Puerto Williams: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1979 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-MRX
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Río Gallegos – Ushuaia
MSN:
54
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Río Gallegos on a special flight to Ushuaia, carrying five members of the YPF and Hidronor Company who were completing visits of local oil fields. An ILS approach to Ushuaia Airport was initiated from the southeast. While descending, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck a hilly terrain and crashed about 20 km southeast of Ushuaia, about 25 km west of Puerto Williams, on Chilean territory. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Roberto Couceiro, pilot,
Vicente Sanz, copilot,
Guillermo Pérez, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Raúl Agustín Ondarts,
Carlos maria Sureda,
Guillermo Zubarán,
Luis Amílcar Medina,
Osvaldo Rubén Zenobi.

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar in Teterboro: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1979 at 1215 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N8099J
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Teterboro - State College
MSN:
61P-05917963261
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
8300
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 24 at Teterboro Airport, while climbing, one of the engine caught fire after the exhaust pipe separated. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames in Carlstadt, less than 1,2 mile from the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine fire or explosion during initial climb after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Exhaust system: stacks,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Fire in engine,
- Separation in flight,
- Exhaust pipe assembly part n° 32006-511 failed at flange weld.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 Marquise in Nashville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1979 at 2141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N873Q
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chattanooga - Nashville
MSN:
160
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1498
Captain / Total hours on type:
661.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nashville-Metropolitan Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. The twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed short of runway. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with power cables on final approach after the copilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Operational supervisory personnel: deficiency, company maintained equipment, services, regulation,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Fog,
- Crew scheduled for 18-20 hours, crew time routinely,
- Autopilot found on,
- Trim 10° nose down.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIA in Palo Alto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1979 at 2316 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N65103
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bakersfield - Palo Alto
MSN:
T26-140E
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3331
Captain / Total hours on type:
197.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Palo Alto Airport by night, during the last segment, the twin engine airplane collided with a flock of seagulls, causing the left engine to fail. The airplane lost height and struck the runway surface. It bounced then went out of control, veered off runway and eventually crashed inverted in the airport parking, damaging seven other aircrafts. The pilot was seriously injured and both passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Hard landing following a bird strike on short final. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- Spontaneous-improper actions on part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Uniontown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1979 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9277Y
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
West Mifflin - Connellsville
MSN:
31-368
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4338
Circumstances:
While descending to Connellsville Airport on a flight from West Mifflin, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low ceiling and rain falls. He failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck a hillside and crashed in Uniontown. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees and subsequent crash due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airways facilities, erratic,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- ADF ground line intermittent,
- Vectored to ADF from north at 5,000 feet, cleared for approach, minimum altitude procedure turn 3,500 feet,
- Mountain tops obscured.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680W near Alexandria

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1979 at 1915 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N713SP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pensacola - Fort Worth
MSN:
680-1805-27
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1841
Captain / Total hours on type:
31.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Pensacola to Fort Worth, the pilot contacted ATC and declared an emergency due to fire in the cabin and smoke in the cockpit. He was cleared to initiate a rapid descent and eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane landed safely in a pasture and burned immediately afterwards. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire or explosion for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Smoke in cockpit,
- Fire in cabin, cockpit and baggage compartment,
- Overload failure,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Smoke in cockpit.
Final Report: