Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Manchester - Bennington

MSN:

130

YOM:

1968

Location:

Argyle

New York

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2897

Captain / Total hours on type:

45.00

Circumstances:

While in initial approach to Bennington-William H. Morse State Airport, the twin engine airplane lost height, stalled and crashed in flames in Argyle, about 26 miles northwest of Bennington Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Fog,
- After four day checkout in an aircraft, instructor told the student pilot not to attempt IFR flight until he attended formal school.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Skaneateles: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1976 at 1236 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

A. S. Wikstrom

Registration:

N2692B

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Skaneateles – Salisbury – Wilmington

MSN:

560-192

YOM:

1955

Location:

Skaneateles

New York

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11200

Captain / Total hours on type:

3300.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff at Skaneateles Airstrip, the twin engine airplane touched the runway and drifted to the left, causing the left main gear to struck a snowbank. The takeoff was continued when the airplane went out of control and rolled inverted. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Ground loop during takeoff run after the pilot diverted attention from operation of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain directional control,
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Airport conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Owensville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1975 at 0905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Gail L. Bazzano

Registration:

N108E

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saint Louis - Vichy

MSN:

680-954-19

YOM:

1960

Location:

Owensville

Missouri

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1126

Captain / Total hours on type:

180.00

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions (fog and rain), the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a spin and crashed in a field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation in flight following a failure of the electrical system (inverter). The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rain,
- Fog,
- The two aircraft inverters were not rotating at impact,
- Instrument fragmentation precluded instrument investigations.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Moline: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1975 at 1814 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

T. A. Maag

Registration:

N699E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Hutchinson - Moline - Atlanta

MSN:

560-527

YOM:

1957

Location:

Moline-Quad City

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Professional Medical Specialities

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1599

Captain / Total hours on type:

208.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Moline-Quad City Airport, while on a flight from Hutchinson to Atlanta, both engines lost power. The airplane lost speed, stalled and crashed short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on approach due to improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper operation or failed to use the anti-icing/deicing equipment,
- Ice induction,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Partial loss of power on both engines,
- Obscuration,
- Visibility 1/2 mile or less,
- wind gusting to 22 knots,
- Ram air hoses blocked by cakes of ice and snow,
- Buildup present in carburetor in chamber.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Marquise in Jefferson City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1975 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Registration:

N69QJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Memphis - Jefferson City

MSN:

254

YOM:

1973

Location:

Jefferson City

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3180

Captain / Total hours on type:

169.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Jefferson City-Moore-Murrell Airport, the left engine failed. The airplane banked left the stalled and crashed in flames few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper operation of powerplan controls,
- Wreckage pattern indicative of aircraft in left rotation at impact,
- Left propeller 11-15°, right propeller 30° position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Charleston: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1975 at 0814 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

McJunkin Corporation

Registration:

N221MJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Charleston-Yaeger (Kanawha)

Schedule:

Charleston - Wilmington

MSN:

LJ-512

YOM:

1971

Location:

West Virginia

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4596

Captain / Total hours on type:

3923.00

Circumstances:

At liftoff, one of the engine failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that lost height and crashed in flames in woods downhill of dirt bank. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported.
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Berryville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1975 at 1328 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Escalante Coal

Registration:

N100QU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Arapahoe – Paducah

MSN:

421B-0471

YOM:

1973

Location:

Berryville

Arkansas

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 690

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6700

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Circumstances:

En route from Arapahoe (Colorado) to Paducah, while in normal cruise, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences and hail. Control was lost and the airplane disintegrated in the air before it crashed in Berryville. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and airframe failure in flight after the pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulences. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft,
- Overload failure,
- Hail,
- Turbulences,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Separation in flight,
- Flew into known thunderstorm conditions,
- Aircraft disintegrated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Nemacolin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1975 at 1058 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N847CE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pontiac – Pittsburgh – Nemacolin

MSN:

690-11223

YOM:

1974

Location:

Nemacolin

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4891

Circumstances:

On the leg from Pittsburgh to Nemacolin, weather conditions deteriorated with rain falls and fog. The crew started the descent to Nemacolin in IMC conditions and cancelled the IFR flight plan to continue the approach under VFR mode. While descending below MEA, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway 23. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain while descending under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Cruise clearance,
- Descended below MEA in IMC,
- Attempted VFR approach,
- The airport did not have approved instrument approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Joaçaba: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1975 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PT-IQG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site: