Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Kansas City

MSN:

1121-068

YOM:

1966

Location:

Fayetteville-Drake

Arkansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5700

Captain / Total hours on type:

178.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 41,000 feet on an executive flight from Dallas to Kansas City, the crew encountered icing conditions when both engines failed almost simultaneously. The crew declared an emergency, started a rapid descent and was cleared to divert to Fayetteville-Drake Airport. On final, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field short of runway. A passenger was killed while seven other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Double engine failure caused by icing conditions,
- Improper emergency procedures on part of the flying crew,
- Icing conditions, including sleet and freezing rain,
- Lack of familiarity with the aircraft,
- Improper techniques used while attempting air starts,
- The undercarriage were lowered too soon on approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Reading: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1968 at 2018 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Teterboro Aircraft

Registration:

N3248Q

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

401-0048

YOM:

1968

Location:

Mohrsville

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1117

Captain / Total hours on type:

12.00

Circumstances:

While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the pilot encountered severe turbulences when control was lost. The twin engine aircraft entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in Mohrsville, north of Reading. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions and attempted operation beyond experience/ability level. Turbulence associated with clouds and/or thunderstorm activity exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft, causing the horizontal stabilizer to buckle on both sides from positive air loads.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53 on Frontón Island

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1968 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aerodyne Engineering

Registration:

N74139

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4930

YOM:

1942

Location:

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:

100.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a flight from Texas to the region of Tampico on behalf of Aerodyne Engineering, carrying two pilots and eight passengers. On final approach, the crew decided to make a go-around for unknown reason when the airplane stalled and struck the ground short of runway threshold. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

The pilot misjudged distance and speed and failed to maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-44A Widgeon off Lafitte: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1968 at 1806 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-44 Widgeon

Operator:

Registration:

N41982

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

1413

YOM:

1944

Location:

Lafitte

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6468

Captain / Total hours on type:

533.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Lafitte, south Louisiana, the amphibian aircraft went through a thunderstorm area and encountered severe turbulences. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the bayou of Rigolettes. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. The aircraft was owned by J. Ray McDermot.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. He encountered turbulences associated with clouds and/or thunderstorm activity.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Weston: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1968 at 0955 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft G18S

Operator:

D. L. Peterson Trust

Registration:

N172S

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

BA-541

YOM:

1960

Location:

Weston

Vermont

Country:

Region:

Black Hills Glass & Mirror Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6221

Captain / Total hours on type:

711.00

Circumstances:

While cruising under VFR mode in foggy conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located in the region of Weston. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The crew continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions and became lost and disoriented. The crew attempted an IFR flight with know defective directional gyro.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Rapid City: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1968 at 1112 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Registration:

N3400

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

BA-212

YOM:

1956

Location:

Rapid City

South Dakota

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

135.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Rapid City Airport, the pilot encountered gusty winds and lost control of the airplane that crashed in a huge explosion in a field. All nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper compensation for wind conditions on part of the pilot who failed to maintain flying speed. Inadequate preflight preparation snf unfavorable wind component were also reported. Improperly loaded aircraft was considered as a contributing factor. Gusting wind up to 20 knots exceeded rearward CofG limits.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Commander 680E near Lake Hughes: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1968 at 1723 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6243B

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Location:

Lake Hughes

California

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Shrike Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While completing a regional executive flight, the pilot encountered technical problems en route and elected to make an emergency landing. While flying over mountainous terrain, he attempted a wheels-up landing on a hillside when the airplane crashed. The burned wreckage was found a day later and the pilote, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Improper operation of powerplant on part of the pilot. Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction systems icing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500U in São Paulo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1968 at 2230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PT-DDQ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

MSN:

500-1727-30

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after a night takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near the airport. While both passengers were injured, both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in Columbia

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1968 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Industrial Electric

Registration:

N199H

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

AF-68

YOM:

1952

Location:

Columbia

South Carolina

Country:

Region: