Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Muskogee - Hobbs - Muskogee

MSN:

681-6011

YOM:

1969

Location:

Altus

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15000

Captain / Total hours on type:

190.00

Circumstances:

En route to Muskogee, while cruising by night, the pilot reported engine trouble but did not report any emergency. Twenty minutes later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion near Altus. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure in normal cruise for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Thrust reversal unwanted,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Pilot reported engine problem approximately 20 minutes before accident but no emergency,
- Reported feathering the propeller for landing,
- Propeller found in reverse position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Lewis: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1970 at 1847 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Village Clubs

Registration:

N91119

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Burlington – Buffalo

MSN:

207-0081

YOM:

1969

Location:

Lewis

New York

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:

4050

Captain / Total hours on type:

200.00

Circumstances:

While flying at low altitude, the pilot encountered patches of fog when the single engine airplane hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Lewis, NY. The wreckage was found two days later and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Fog patches,
- Aircraft seen at treetop level prior to impact with mountain upslope.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Turbo Commander 680T off Pompano Beach

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1970 at 0705 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Baldwinsville Building Supply Company

Registration:

N541W

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Pompano Beach – Fort Lauderdale

MSN:

680-1554-13

YOM:

1965

Location:

Pompano Beach

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Pompano Beach Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control, lost height and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. The pilot was seriously injured while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines during initial climb for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-80 Queen Air at Bertrix Jehonville AFB

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Rentavia

Registration:

OO-CHG

Flight Type:

Site:

MSN:

LD-10

YOM:

1962

Location:

Bertrix Jehonville AFB

Luxembourg

Country:

Belgium

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Bertrix Jehonville Airbase. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Dublin

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1970 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N447S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dublin – Winston-Salem

MSN:

LC-8

YOM:

1960

Location:

Dublin-New River Valley

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10598

Captain / Total hours on type:

130.00

Circumstances:

When the pilot proceeded to the engine start-up at Dublin-New River Valley Airport, the left engine could not start for unknown reason. The pilot decided to takeoff with the right engine only. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck power cables and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot exercised poor judgement,
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- The pilot failed to obtain flying speed,
- The pilot failed to maintain directional control,
- Un start left engine on ground,
- Takeoff with right engine only.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Bethany: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1970 at 0039 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N988Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Bethany

MSN:

LC-124

YOM:

1962

Location:

Bethany

Oklahoma

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:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1374.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Bethany Airport by night, the pilot completed a last turn to join the approach path when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames few miles from the airfield. A passenger was seriously injured while four other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled collision with ground during a traffic pattern-circling caused by a spatial disorientation on part of the pilot. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Fog,
- IFR conditions,
- Disorientation while transitioning from VFR to IFR conditions while in a left turn at low altitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Prudhoe Bay

Date & Time: May 21, 1970 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Club Aire

Registration:

N75430

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pingo – Fairbanks

MSN:

4490

YOM:

1942

Location:

Prudhoe Bay

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8430

Captain / Total hours on type:

220.00

Circumstances:

En route to Fairbanks, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered engine problems and was unable to maintain de prescribed altitude. He decided to perform an emergency landing in a snow covered ground when the airplane crash landed, slid for dozen yards and came to rest, broken in two. All three occupants were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls,
- Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system,
- Improper/inadequate venting,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Initiated flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor icing,
- Complete engine failure on one engine,
- Idled engines too long prior to takeoff, condensation froze,
- Plugged lower breather pipe, oil went out top pipe.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Pellston: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1970 at 2128 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 23

Operator:

Registration:

N434EJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Pellston

MSN:

23-046

YOM:

1965

Location:

Pellston-Emmet County

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7760

Captain / Total hours on type:

2142.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3530

Circumstances:

The approach to Pellston-Emmet County was initiated in limited visibility due to clouds. On final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them Walter Reuther, President of the American Union of Workers in the Automotive Industry.

Probable cause:

Illusions produced by the lack of visual cues during a circling approach over unlighted terrain at night to a runway not equipped with approach lights or other visual approach aids . These illusions, which made the pilot think that he was higher than his true position, were made more acceptable to him because of a strong possibility of an erroneously high indication on his altimeter.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo Chieftain in Tallahassee

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1970 at 0115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N411AA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saint Petersburg – Tallahassee

MSN:

31-24

YOM:

1967

Location:

Tallahassee

Florida

Country:

Region: