Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Angelo - Houston

MSN:

559

YOM:

1972

Location:

Austin

Texas

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Shrike Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10800

Captain / Total hours on type:

3900.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled and crashed in flames in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

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

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S at Selfridge AFB

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1977 at 2015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Tech International Engineering

Registration:

N303E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Selfridge ANGB (Mt Clemens)

Schedule:

Allentown - Selfridge

MSN:

500-3092

YOM:

1971

Location:

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2600

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Selfridge AFB, the pilot reported low fuel pressure when the left engine failed shortly later. In relative poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog, the airplane lost height then struck trees and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Low fuel pressure reported by the pilot on approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air in Kankakee

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1977 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N34F

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Kankakee-Greater Kankakee

Schedule:

Gary - Kankakee

MSN:

LJ-119

YOM:

1966

Location:

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8754

Captain / Total hours on type:

1510.00

Circumstances:

On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the nose wheel struck a dirt bank located 33 feet short of runway threshold and the airplane crashed. All five occupants were injured, three of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Undershoot and collision with dirt bank on final approach after the copilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Wind gusting to 26 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor near Farson: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1977 at 1208 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

National Crude

Registration:

N8066Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Billings - Phoenix

MSN:

414-0501

YOM:

1974

Location:

Farson

Wyoming

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11500

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in flames near Farson. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent caused by the pilot exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Wings, empennage separated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Truckee

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1977 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

N100GP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2571

YOM:

1943

Location:

Truckee

California

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7191

Captain / Total hours on type:

15.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stall, struck the ground and crashed in flames. Both occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Airframe ince,
- 12 inches spanwise ice strip on upper wing surface.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Los Establos

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6287D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Swearingen SA226T Merlin III

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

680-591-229

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure in flight and the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a cotton field located near Los Establos and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin IIIA in San Antonio: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1977 at 0054 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Swearingen Aviation

Registration:

N34SM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Seattle – San Antonio

MSN:

T-263

YOM:

1976

Location:

San Antonio

Texas

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18812

Captain / Total hours on type:

283.00

Circumstances:

While approaching San Antonio Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. Too low, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames few miles short of runway 12R. It was destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on initial approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling (200 feet),
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Cleared for ILS approach runway 12R, navigation receiver turned to frequency for ILS approach to runway 03R.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Vorberg: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1977 at 1457 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

D-IAGA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Marchwiel Plant & Engineering

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bern - Basel

MSN:

421C-0019

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1877

Captain / Total hours on type:

89.00

Aircraft flight hours:

234

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Bern-Belmoos Airport at 1451LT on a VFR flight to Basel EuroAirport. Weather was poor en route with low clouds and limited visibility. Eight minutes after takeoff, while cruising in clouds, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain (1,145 metres high) located near Vorberg, Solothurn. The wreckage was found in the evening and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. Lack of visibility, low clouds and rain/snow were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air in Sturgate

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

G-BABX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: