Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Northern Air Service - USA

MSN:

24-225

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Wilhelmshaven-Mariensiel Airport, the crew was completing a last turn at an altitude of about 600 feet when the airplane struck tree tops located 600 meters short of runway threshold. The airplane lost height and crashed in flames 100 meters short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Timberon

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1973 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

N26Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Timberon - El Paso

MSN:

A-953

YOM:

1953

Location:

Timberon

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Refrigerated Transport Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2400

Captain / Total hours on type:

140.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane did not liftoff, struck trees at the end of the runway and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was slightly injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot delayed action in aborting takeoff and selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following factors were reported:
- Downwind,
- High obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Tampa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1973 at 0517 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N6840L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Tampa - Coral Creek

MSN:

31P-44

YOM:

1971

Location:

Tampa-Intl

Florida

Country:

Region:

Wooley Tool & Manufacturing Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4620

Captain / Total hours on type:

790.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Tampa Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and elected to return. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane slid on the ground and crashed into a building located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Ignition system: spark plug,
- Carbon deposit,
- Improper clearance, tolerance,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Pilot declared emergency, crash landed and slid into building,
- Propeller feathered,
- Plugs fouled.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B Marquise near Guadalupe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1973 at 2025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Registration:

N882Q

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Midland - Long Beach

MSN:

168

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3800

Captain / Total hours on type:

76.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude by night, the twin engine airplane entered a dive and crashed in an isolated area located near Guadalupe, few miles from the Texas border. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

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

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Minneapolis: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1973 at 1607 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Registration:

N4932T

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Minneapolis - Gwinner

MSN:

411-0132

YOM:

1965

Location:

Minneapolis-Saint Paul

Minnesota

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA26T Merlin II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3450

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine lost power. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb caused by an improper adjustment of the fuel injection system. The following factors were reported:
- Improper maintenance,
- The pilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- The pilot failed to use all available runway,
- Partial loss of power on left engine because fuel mixt too rich,
- The pilot failed to feather the left propeller,
- Got below VMC,
- Near gross weight and aft CofG,
- The pilot took off from the intersection.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIB in Stuttgart: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1973 at 0915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Lanser

Registration:

D-ILSE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

T26-163E

YOM:

1969

Location:

Stuttgart-Echterdingen

Baden-Württemberg

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew started the approach to Stuttgart-Echterdingen in poor weather conditions. The visibility was very limited due to snow falls. On final, the twin engine airplane was too low, struck the ground and crashed in flames in an open field located few km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew descended below the MDA in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Niles: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1973 at 2053 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Midwest Tankers

Registration:

N300X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Owensboro - Niles

MSN:

31-412

YOM:

1968

Location:

Niles-Jerry Tyler

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16770

Captain / Total hours on type:

376.00

Circumstances:

The pilot started the approach to Niles-Jerry Tyler by night and in poor weather conditions. On final, due a visibility limited to a half of mile, he decided to descend below the minimal descent altitude when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain, fog and thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility limites to half a mile,
- Descended below MDA in known thunderstorm conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in La Storta: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1973 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aero Consultant Service

Registration:

HB-LGP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Palermo - Rome - Milan

MSN:

421A-0094

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was completing a flight from Palermo to Milan with an intermediate stop in Rome for refueling. Four minutes after his departure from Rome-Urbe Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,500 meters, the crew informed ATC about technical problems. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in a huge explosion near several houses located in La Storta, about 12 km north of Rome-Urbe Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Savoy: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1973 at 0510 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N7705

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Savoy - Chicago

MSN:

YOM:

1966

Location:

Savoy-Willard

Illinois

Country:

Region: