Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Flushing - Findlay

MSN:

25129

YOM:

1967

Location:

Findlay

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10966

Captain / Total hours on type:

2117.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Findlay Airport by night, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions with fog and low ceiling. Unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to abandon the approach and initiated a go-around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was also abandoned. During a third attempt, the pilot-in-command descended below the minimum descent altitude when the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few dozen yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all seven occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Improper in-flight decisions and improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Poor crew coordination,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Missed two straight-in VOR approaches,
- Attempted VOR circling approach in below minimum conditions,
- Descended below MDA.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680V in Augusta: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1972 at 2227 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Ivy Steele & Partners

Registration:

N1195Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houston - Augusta - Jacksonville

MSN:

680-1575-29

YOM:

1966

Location:

Augusta-Bush Field

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11000

Circumstances:

While on a night approach to Augusta-Bush Field Airport, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions. On final, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few dozen yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot exercised poor judgment and completed an improper IFR operation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- High obstructions,
- Visibility below minimums,
- RVR less than 1,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Tucumcari: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1972 at 2207 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Investment Dynamics

Registration:

N5033F

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tulsa - Tucumcari

MSN:

5887

YOM:

1943

Location:

Tucumcari

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6248

Captain / Total hours on type:

110.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Tucumcari Airport, the crew failed to realize he was misaligned with runway 26 due to limited visibility caused by night and low ceiling. On short final, the airplane struck the ground and crashed 471 feet left of the runway and 100 feet west of runway threshold. Both pilots and three passengers were killed while six other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

The crew descended below the minimum descent altitude during a VOR approach for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Not aligned with runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2F Marquise in Alcolu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1972 at 1526 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Registration:

N757Q

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Rocky Mount - Columbia

MSN:

151

YOM:

1969

Location:

Alcolu

South 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:

7500

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Alcolu. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and ground collision following a battery failure (electric system) in flight. The following factors were reported:
- Overheated,
- Fire in brakes, wheel assembly, wheel well,
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Thermal runaway and fire in n°2 nickel-cadmium battery in right wheel well,
- Pilot lost control for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crassh of an Howard 350 in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1972 at 1127 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Mar Pon Inc.

Registration:

N361MC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Newark – Philadelphia

MSN:

5275

YOM:

1943

Location:

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3768

Captain / Total hours on type:

68.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Philadelphia-Intl Airport, the crew inadvertently retracted the gear. The twin engine airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by a post crash fire that was caused by the rupture of a fuel tank in the left wing.

Probable cause:

The pilot inadvertently retracted the gear after landing. Left wing tank ruptured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Medellín: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1972 at 0950 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

HK-1388-G

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Medellín – Bogotá

Location:

Antioquia

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

One minute after takeoff from Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in an industrial area located by the airport. All three occupants and one person on the ground were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-24 LodeStar in Cebu City

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1972 at 1442 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

American Philippine Indonesian Malaysian Enterprises

Registration:

N666P

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Schedule:

Cebu City - Manila

MSN:

2456

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13377

Captain / Total hours on type:

25.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Cebu City Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, ground looped and lost its undercarriage before coming to rest.

Probable cause:

The cause of the loss of control remain unclear.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Cleveland: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1972 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Jerrico

Registration:

N123QF

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cleveland - Lexington

MSN:

421B-0139

YOM:

1971

Location:

Cleveland-Hardwick

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8500

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Cleveland-Hardwick Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power. The pilot was cleared to return for an emergency landing and started an immediate turn before trying to feather the right propeller. Due to insufficient speed, the airplane lost height, stalled and crashed, killing all five occupants.

Probable cause:

Loss of power on the right engine during initial climb due to material failure. The following factors were reported:
- Powerplant failure due to master and connecting rods failure,
- The pilot failed to follow the approved procedures,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Right engine n°5 cylinder connecting rod bolt failed,
- The pilot tried to return to airport before feathering the right propeller,
- Aircraft near gross weight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Sint Maarten

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1972 at 1117 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Placido Nieves Diaz

Registration:

N103P

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: