Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Islip – Morristown

MSN:

500-3093

YOM:

1971

Location:

Morristown

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2811

Captain / Total hours on type:

28.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Morristown Airport by night, the pilot encountered limited visibility. While completing the landing checklist, the airplane lost height and struck tree tops. The pilot increased engine power to make a go-around when the airplane lost height and crashed. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by the diverted attention of the pilot from operation. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to see and avoid objects or obstructions,
- High obstructions,
- Fog,
- Diverted attention while completing the landing checklist, lost contact with runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Oklahoma City: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1971 at 1453 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Monarch Tile Company

Registration:

N252Q

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Oklahoma City-Will Rogers

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Shreveport

MSN:

LD-150

YOM:

1963

Location:

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Oklahoma City-Will Rogers Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. He feathered the left propeller then initiated a left turn when control was lost. The airplane nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all seven occupants.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb due to a master and connecting rods failure. The following factors were reported:
- Under torqued,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of ground personnel,
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Over max gross weight about 550 lbs,
- Left engine n°5 conrod cap failed,
- The pilot turned to the dead engine.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680T off New Orleans: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1971 at 2323 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Air Lease

Registration:

N78D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Knoxville - New Orleans

MSN:

680-1580-33

YOM:

1966

Location:

New Orleans-Lakefront

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5812

Circumstances:

On a night approach to New Orleans-Lakefront Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling. Unable to locate the runway, he abandoned the approach and initiated a go-around. Few minutes later, during a second attempt to land, he decided to descend below MDA when the twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed into Lake Pontchartrain few miles short of runway. All three occupants were killed but only two bodies were recovered.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Pilot fatigue,
- The pilot descended below minimums and below MDA on localizer approach,
- Crashed into lake on second attempt to land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Charlottesville

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1971 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft H18

Operator:

Mercury Aircraft

Registration:

N717Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lexington - Charlottesville

MSN:

BA-710

YOM:

1964

Location:

Charlottesville

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA226T Merlin III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15575

Captain / Total hours on type:

485.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Charlottesville Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low ceiling and rain showers. Unable to locate the runway, he decided to initiate a go-around when he lost control of the airplane that nosed down and crashed few dozen yards short of runway. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed while initiating a go-around. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- Lost control on go-around from localizer approach,
- Full left rudder trim and full forward elevator trim found.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin III in São Paulo

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PT-DUX

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

T-215

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. The airplane was destroyed and all five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Canadair C-4GM North Star in Sarasota

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1971 at 1320 LT

Type of aircraft:

Canadair C-4 North Star

Operator:

Registration:

CF-UXB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sarasota - Miami - Cockburn Harbor

MSN:

117

YOM:

1948

Location:

Sarasota

Florida

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:

14500

Captain / Total hours on type:

8500.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Miami Airport, the crew did not get three greens and decided to return to Sarasota. On approach, engine number one and four were shut down and both other engines at an altitude of 500 feet. The airplane belly landed and slid for 1,800 feet before coming to rest. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the landing gear to extend properly. The following factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Improperly installed,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Left gear uplatch upper link assembly failed,
- Lower gear by emergency system due to improper blot installed.

Final Report:

Crash of an Howard Eldorado 700 in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1971 at 0922 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Youngstown Cartage Company

Registration:

N25YC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Reading – Philadelphia

MSN:

5598

YOM:

1943

Location:

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

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:

19000

Captain / Total hours on type:

400.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Philadelphia International Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and turbulences. On short final, the captain decided to make a go-around when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who descended below MDA while encountering severe turbulences and heavy rain from a thunderstorm cell. The weather was slightly worse than forecast.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1971 at 0005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Robert C. Haase

Registration:

N3198K

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Knoxville - Athens

MSN:

421A-0008

YOM:

1967

Location:

Athens

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2900

Captain / Total hours on type:

49.00

Circumstances:

On a night approach to Athens-McMinn County Airport, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames by the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled collision with ground caused by improper operation of the flight controls. The pilot lost control of the aircraft during turning pull-up type maneuver after low pass over the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Loreauville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1971 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Air Lease

Registration:

N296RB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Savannah – Lake Charles

MSN:

A-82

YOM:

1946

Location:

Loreauville

Louisiana

Country:

Region: