Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood

Schedule:

Fort Lauderdale – West End

MSN:

AF-233

YOM:

1952

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Turbo Commander 680/681

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1657

Captain / Total hours on type:

1454.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height, struck trees and power cables then crashed in flames. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure during initial climb for undetermined reasons. Engine lost power at a critical altitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Turbo Commander 681 near San José de Chiquitos: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

CP-894

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Puerto Suárez – Santa Cruz

MSN:

681-6015

YOM:

1970

Location:

San José de Chiquitos

Santa Cruz

Country:

Bolivia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Puerto Suárez to Santa Cruz, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near San José de Chiquitos, some 335 km northwest of Puerto Suárez. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL near Roanoke: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1971 at 1108 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Colorado Aviation

Registration:

N601JJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Atlanta – Martinsville

MSN:

680-491-161

YOM:

1957

Location:

Roanoke

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Circumstances:

En route from Atlanta to Martinsville, while cruising under VFR mode, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. In reduced visibility, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a hilly terrain located in the Catawba mountain range, some 11,8 miles northwest of Roanoke. The wreckage was found three days later. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them the American Actor Audie Murphy aged 45.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and attempted operations beyond his experience and ability level. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- High obstructions,
- Zero visibility,
- Entered instrument weather at an altitude too low to clear mountain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Bettles: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1971 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SR-10 Reliant

Operator:

Frank E. Birch

Registration:

N5709N

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks – Bettles

MSN:

77-33

Location:

Bettles

Alaska

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:

1200

Captain / Total hours on type:

440.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Bettles Airport, the pilot initiated a steep left turn from low pass at strip located between close-in mountains when the aircraft lost height and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Poor judgment on part of the pilot who failed to maintain flying speed. Observers reported wind strong, gusty.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I Donaldson Center: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1971 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Brookside-Pratt Mining Company

Registration:

N3194K

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Donaldson AFB-Donaldson Center Airport (Greenville)

Schedule:

Donaldson Center – Greenville

MSN:

421A-0004

YOM:

1967

Location:

South Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4140

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Donaldson Center Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It banked left then stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Physical impairment,
- Partial loss of power on one engine for unknown reason,
- Aircraft observed left turn in a nose high attitude,
- Engines appeared running low RPM,
- Pilot blood alcohol level 1,83 ‰.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Grand Canyon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1971 at 2246 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft G18S

Operator:

Scientific Company

Registration:

N318M

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Grand Canyon-National Park

Schedule:

Grand Canyon – Los Angeles

MSN:

BA-545

YOM:

1960

Location:

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2300

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from runway 21 at Grand Canyon-National Park Airport, while in initial climb by night, the crew initiated a right turn when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flying crew who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Improperly loaded aircraft and/or CofG.,
- High density altitude,
- Turned right into rising terrain,
- Over max gross weight about 257 pounds,
- Density altitude about 7,200 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Red Devil

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1971 at 1845 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Vanderpool Flying Service

Registration:

N49319

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Bethel – Red Devil

MSN:

15231/26676

YOM:

1944

Location:

Red Devil

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7500

Captain / Total hours on type:

4000.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Red Devil Airfield, the airplane hit a 3-foot high unmarked snowberm and came to rest. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The airport supervisory personnel failed to notify of unsafe conditions and failed to mark the obstruction. The following factors were reported:
- Unmarked obstructions at airport,
- Airport conditions, snow on runway,
- Overload failure,
- Unmarked snowberm on runway 3 feet high and 40 feet from the edge of the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Milwaukee: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1971 at 1601 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Peck Meat Packing

Registration:

N3283R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Kearney - Milwaukee

MSN:

411-0283

YOM:

1968

Location:

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7216

Captain / Total hours on type:

230.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Milwaukee Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog. He continued the descent and passed below the MDA when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 5,7 miles short of runway. A passenger was killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- Descended below MDA.

Crash of a Volpar E18S in Columbia: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1971 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Volpar Turboliner 18

Operator:

Registration:

N47A

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cleveland – Columbia – Fort Myers

MSN:

BA-153

YOM:

1956

Location:

Columbia

South Carolina

Country:

Region: