Ferry

Flight Type:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Goose Bay - Keflavik

MSN:

402A-0037

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a ferry flight from Goose Bay to Keflavik, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the North Atlantic Ocean. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DK in the Mediterranean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Kurfiss Aviation

Registration:

ECT-025

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Madrid - Perpignan - Frankfurt

MSN:

13375

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The DC-3 aircraft had been decommissioned by Spanish Air Force and stored at Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport. It was auctioned in July 1979 and bought by Kurfiss Aviation of Germany to become part of an aviation museum. The aircraft was then repaired by mechanics contracted by the new owner. A provisional, restricted Certificate of Airworthiness was issued to allow the airplane to be ferried to Frankfurt via Perpignan Airport (PGF). On the day of the ferry flight a VHF radio was installed but two-way communication could not be established. The departure was delayed until finally took off at 15:29 hours, without authorization, using a runway which was not rated for the weight of the DC-3 aircraft. There was no communication with the flight due to the radio problems. The aircraft presumably reached the zone of Barcelona in very low visibility conditions, due to both the hazy conditions and the diminishing daylight hours. The airplane did not arrive at Perpignan. A search operation was started but no sign of the plane was found. It is presumed to have crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Saint-Agrève: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Mooney Aviation

Registration:

G-CTHS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saint-Tropez-La Môle - Helfpenny Green

MSN:

31-7952100

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Saint Tropez-La Môle Airport on a ferry flight to Halfpenny Green, Staffordshire. While cruising over the region of Valence, Drôme, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a pasture located near Saint-Agrève. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Münster: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1980 at 1617 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

D-IBUD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Münster-Telgte - Münster-Osnabrück

MSN:

500-0656-16

YOM:

1958

Location:

Münster-Telgte

North Rhine-Westphalia

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft and its crew took part to an airshow that day at Münster-Telgte Airport. At the end of the afternoon, the crew departed Telgte Airport to return to his base at Münster-Osnabrück Airport. About two minutes after takeoff, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed onto a farm located about 3,5 km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that during initial climb, the crew shut down one engine and feathered its propeller for unknown reasons. Investigations did not reveal any technical issues on the engine. The fact that one engine was cut caused the aircraft to lose speed and height.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in New Smyrna Beach

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1980 at 1647 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Jerry Rule

Registration:

N45864

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

New Smyrna Beach – Oranjestad

MSN:

9304

YOM:

1943

Location:

New Smyrna Beach

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3500

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at New Smyrna Beach Airport, en route to Oranjestad, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, collided with trees and burst into flames. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Ground loop during takeoff run after the pilot failed to maintain directional control. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to abort takeoff,
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Unqualified person operated aircraft,
- Pilot's blood level 1,5‰ ,
- Pilot did not have a type certificate and attempted flight without copilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950M near Kaikohe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1980 at 1155 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fletcher FU-24

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-CRP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Northland Regional Council

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Kaitaia – Whangarei

MSN:

125

YOM:

1966

Location:

Kaikohe

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

16.00

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Kaitaia at 1134LT being ferried to Whangarei. En route, the pilot made a low pass over his parent's house located in the Mataraua Valley then completed a 360° probably to gain height when the airplane crashed in the bush about 8 miles southwest of Kaikohe. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of this accident was the inability of the pilot to recover from a stall incurred while manoeuvering an aircraft with unfamiliar performance characteristics at a low level in hilly terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Columbus: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1980 at 1359 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Operator:

Air Traders International

Registration:

N74CA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Columbus-Municipal (Bakalar)

Schedule:

Columbus - Seattle

MSN:

4850

YOM:

1959

Location:

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

17250

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

100

Aircraft flight hours:

20000

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Columbus-Municipal (Bakalar) Airport on a cargo flight to Seattle, carrying a load of aircraft spare parts. After takeoff, during initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck power cables, stalled and crashed in flames in a soybean field. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The flight crew's inadequate and uncoordinated response to the No 2 engine fire warning. The flight engineer failed to correct a gradual power decay on the other engines which occurred while he was retarding the No 2 engine throttle, and the power decay went uncorrected by the pilot and co-pilot. The lack of co-ordination and the lack of corrective action may have been caused by the lack of recent flight crew experience in the L-1049 aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the aircraft's over maximum take-off weight, the crew's use of less than full power for take-off, and the use of less than take-off cowl flaps which precluded adequate engine cooling.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 in Port Orange: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1980 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-240

Operator:

Charles Clay

Registration:

N300GR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Port Orange - Santo Domingo

MSN:

115

YOM:

1948

Location:

Port Orange-Spruce Creek

Florida

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7300

Captain / Total hours on type:

25.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Port Orange-Spruce Creek Airport, the right engine caught fire and exploded. The crew failed to abort the takeoff and continued. During initial climb, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft descended, crashed in a field and burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground during initial climb after the crew attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to abort takeoff,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Fire in engine,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- The crew was aware that oil lines were 15 years old,
- The aircraft was approximately 7,353 lbs over gross weight for takeoff conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-10 Marquise in Henderson: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1980 at 2042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Interflight

Registration:

N307MA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Las Vegas-Henderson Executive (Sky Harbour)

Schedule:

San Angelo – Albuquerque – Henderson

MSN:

0007

YOM:

1967

Location:

Nevada

Country:

Region: