Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

MSN:

348

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B near La Mercedes: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Citrex

Registration:

LV-HLE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Beechcraft 200 Super King Air

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

500-1127-73

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances into a mountain in the region of La Mercedes. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Valparaiso: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1977 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Barney S. Cam

Registration:

N17530

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Valparaiso

MSN:

BB-204

YOM:

1977

Location:

Valparaiso

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7715

Captain / Total hours on type:

911.00

Circumstances:

On final approach by night, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to local patches of fog. He decided to descend below the MDA when the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed about a mile short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with power cables due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Ground fog,
- Descended below MDA.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Vancouver: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1977 at 0825 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Mark 50 Machinery Sales

Registration:

N117HC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vancouver - Penticton

MSN:

31P-54

YOM:

1971

Location:

Vancouver

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7200

Captain / Total hours on type:

700.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Vancouver Airport, south Washington, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height when it stall and crashed in flames. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall after engine failure during initial climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Powerplant - ignition system: spark plug,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper maintenance,
- Powerplant - propeller and accessories: other,
- Directional control problem,
- Prop slow to feather,
- No aircharge,
- Pilot unable to maintain directional control.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Amarillo

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1977 at 1943 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Registration:

N100EP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Amarillo - Houston

MSN:

25-138

YOM:

1974

Location:

Amarillo-Rick Husband

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3250

Captain / Total hours on type:

920.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, just prior to liftoff, control was lost. The airplane veered off runway and crashed in flames. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Collision with ground during takeoff due to inadequate supervision of flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Simulated conditions,
- Pilot-in-command non CFI,
- Pulled engine at Vr,
- Copilot with no Learjet dual instruction made takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 100 King Air in Auburn: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1977 at 0740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N925BD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Auburn-Opelika-Robert G. Pitts (University Regional)

Schedule:

Birmingham - Auburn

MSN:

B-4

YOM:

1970

Location:

Alabama

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1500.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Auburn-Opelika-Robert G. Pitts (University Regional) Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. Two occupants were injured while a pilot was killed. It was reported that trees in area of first impact were about 73 feet below airport elevation and 650 feet below MDA.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Sky obscured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Pontiac: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1977 at 1409 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Drives Inc.

Registration:

N23796

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Moline - Hot Springs

MSN:

LJ-737

YOM:

1977

Location:

Pontiac

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3000

Captain / Total hours on type:

10.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 21,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, spiraled to the ground and crashed in a field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Rudder, horizontal stabilizers, elevators, outboard section of left wing separated in flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Sanford: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1977 at 2020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Registration:

N999HG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sanford - Flint

MSN:

25-178

YOM:

1974

Location:

Sanford

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Howard Super Ventura (Howard 500)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9364

Aircraft flight hours:

700

Circumstances:

About 2020 EST, on September 8, 1977, Champion Home Builders Company, Gates Learjet 25B, N999HG, crashed shortly after takeoff at Sanford, North Carolina. All five persons aboard were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft departed Sanford Airport about 2018 EST, for a flight to Flint, Michigan. In accordance with departure instructions from Fayetteville departure control, the flight was about 3 mi west of the airport, climbing through 3,000 ft, on a heading of 270°, when it disappeared from radar. There were no distress calls, but several witnesses west of the airport saw the aircraft on fire below the 600 feet suddenly dove to the ground. People in the immediate vicinity reported that the overcast ceiling. The flight completed a right turn to a northeasterly heading and aircraft was on fire before it crashed.

Probable cause:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was one or more low-order explosions in the aircraft's aft fuselage determine conclusively the fuel and ignition sources of the initial explosion; which resulted in a fire and loss of control capability. The Safety Board could not however, gases from the aircraft's batteries or fuel leakage from fuel system components, or both, could have been present in the area of the initial explosion.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard 500 in Pawhuska

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1977 at 1120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Intercontinental Oil Company

Registration:

N44HH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houston - Pawhuska

MSN:

500-115

YOM:

1943

Location:

Pawhuska

Oklahoma

Country:

Region: