Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Atlantic City - Philadelphia

MSN:

503

YOM:

1970

Location:

Atlantic City

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Captain / Total hours on type:

40.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control, nosed down and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, few miles offshore. The aircraft was lost and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, there were some fog banks along the shore.

Probable cause:

Loss of control and uncontrolled descent following a bird collision from climb to cruise. The following factors were reported:
- Evidence that geese hit windshield, possibly incapacitating one or both pilots,
- Fog bank along the shore.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Skaneateles: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1972 at 1341 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

D. W. Winkelman

Registration:

N50W

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Skaneateles - Harrisburg

MSN:

BA-86

YOM:

1955

Location:

Skaneateles

New York

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA26T Merlin II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6200

Captain / Total hours on type:

54.00

Circumstances:

Just after takeoff from Skaneateles Airfield runway 10, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into Lake Skaneateles. The pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after takeoff following a partial loss of power on the right engine. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls,
- Improper operation or failed to use the anti-icing/deicing equipment,
- Ice carburetor,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Airport conditions,
- Low ceiling and snow,
- Took off from a strip too short to obtain VMC speed,
- Near gross weight, after CofG.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26T Merlin IIB in Nashville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1972 at 0805 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Copeland Refrigeration Company

Registration:

N4111X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sidney - Nashville

MSN:

T26-126

YOM:

1969

Location:

Nashville

Tennessee

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:

12486

Captain / Total hours on type:

438.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Nashville Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and bad visibility due to low ceiling and fog. The crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Descended below published MDA,
- The crew did not request nor was given current approach zone weather.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Jefferson: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1972 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3390Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wheeling - Jefferson

MSN:

421A-0120

YOM:

1968

Location:

Jefferson

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Jefferson-Ashtabula County Airport, the pilot completed a steep left turn to join the approach path when the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, fog and icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice windshield,
- Stalled during steep left turn on final on a VOR circling approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20F in Montreal

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 20

Operator:

Registration:

OH-FFW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Schedule:

Montreal - Keflavik - Helsinki

MSN:

243

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Mirabel Airport, while in initial climb, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and completed a safe belly landing in a snow covered field located near the airport. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines after takeoff due to both compressors icing.

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Midland

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1972 at 1310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N4087L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Midland - Ponca City

Location:

Midland

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13745

Captain / Total hours on type:

627.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Midland Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine caught fire. The pilot declared an emergency and did not feather the propeller. He reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a field and came to rest in flames. All five occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Fire on left engine during initial climb. The following factors were reported:
- Failure of the fuel system: lines and fittings,
- Fuel leak,
- Fuel starvation,
- Engine fire,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Fuel control line leaked, left engine caught fire, unfeathered propeller.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Samedan

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1972 at 1417 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 20

Operator:

Fred-Air

Registration:

HB-VCG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Zurich - Samedan

MSN:

231

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12849

Captain / Total hours on type:

1685.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2569

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1930

Aircraft flight hours:

742

Circumstances:

While descending to Samedan Airport, weather conditions worsened rapidly. Despite the situation, the captain decided to continue the approach under VFR mode. In a limited visibility of 2 km in snow falls, the pilot-in-command passed over Lake Silvaplana at low height then initiated a right turn when the right wing tip struck the icy water. The airplane crash landed and slid for 200 meters before coming to rest. All five occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew who failed to take into consideration the weather deterioration. At the time of the accident, the approach speed was too high while the altitude was too low. It was determined that the pilot-in-command took the decision to continue the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Narsarsuaq

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

Operator:

Colman & Eckert

Registration:

N6PC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

LC-94

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Narsarsuaq on a flight from the US, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in a fjord located few km from the airport. Both occupants were rescued few hours later and were injured by negative temperatures. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Victoria: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1972 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Tandy Corporation

Registration:

N658TC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fort Worth - Victoria

MSN:

25-044

YOM:

1969

Location:

Victoria

Texas

Country:

Region: