Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Natalin Yar: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1977 at 1459 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32112
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Urgench – Uralsk – Penza – Myashkovo
MSN:
1G93-18
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
5950
Aircraft flight cycles:
19234
Circumstances:
A group of seven PZL-Mielec AN-2 must be transferred from Urgench, Uzbekistan, to Myashkovo, with intermediate stops in Uralsk and Penza, carrying mechanics and crew members. En route from Uralsk to Penza, while cruising at an altitude of 500 meters, both aircraft registered CCCP-28938 and CCCP-32112 entered a cloudy area with light rain. They collided then entered a dive and crashed in flames 350 meters further, 25 meters from each other. Both aircraft were totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation and planning as all crew and the people in charge of the mission failed to analyze weather conditions en route. The collision occurred while both crew were flying under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Natalin Yar: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1977 at 1459 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-28938
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Urgench – Uralsk – Penza – Myashkovo
MSN:
1G08-23
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
10058
Aircraft flight cycles:
27097
Circumstances:
A group of seven PZL-Mielec AN-2 must be transferred from Urgench, Uzbekistan, to Myashkovo, with intermediate stops in Uralsk and Penza, carrying mechanics and crew members. En route from Uralsk to Penza, while cruising at an altitude of 500 meters, both aircraft registered CCCP-28938 and CCCP-32112 entered a cloudy area with light rain. They collided then entered a dive and crashed in flames 350 meters further, 25 meters from each other. Both aircraft were totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation and planning as all crew and the people in charge of the mission failed to analyze weather conditions en route. The collision occurred while both crew were flying under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Milwaukee

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1977 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9929Z
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kenosha - Milwaukee
MSN:
AF-868
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5454
Captain / Total hours on type:
1575.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Milwaukee-General Billy Mitchell Airport by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck approach lights. It lost height, struck a fence and came to rest near the runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undershoot and collision with approach lights on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Incorrect altimeter setting,
- Misjudged distance and altitude,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Altitude found at setting that would cause aircraft to be 180 feet lower than indicated.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Lagos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5N-AKQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
31-7612051
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lagos-Murtala Muhammed Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2G Marquise in Angoulême: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-TBW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Angoulême - Antwerp
MSN:
526
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On takeoff at Angoulême-Brie-Champniers Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed for unknown reasons. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board was killed. He was flying back to his base in Antwerp after dropping passengers flying from Antwerp.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Degtyarnovo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1976 at 1748 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35088
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sokolsky - Ivanovo
MSN:
1G112-04
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
4695
Aircraft flight cycles:
14777
Circumstances:
During the day, the crew completed crop spraying missions for the sovkhoz of 'Garsky' located in the region of Sokolsky. At 1713LT, the airplane departed Sokolsky on a ferry flight to Ivanovo with three crew members and one unauthorized passenger on board. While cruising at a relative low altitude, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 2 km northwest of Degtyarnovo. The burnt wreckage was found in the evening and all four occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that all four occupants (both pilots, the mechanic and the passenger) were intoxicated at the time of the accident. The crew decided to embark a passenger at Sokolsky without prior permission and all of them consumed alcohol during all day and prior to departure. A lack of discipline, a high alcohol level in blood and a total distraction caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. The alcohol level was 5,4‰ by the captain, 2‰ by the copilot, 4,4‰ by the mechanic and 2,5‰ by the passenger.

Crash of a Cessna 340 in Laramie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1976 at 1547 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N69498
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ogden – Laramie – Denver
MSN:
340-0336
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1349
Circumstances:
While descending to Laramie-General Herbert J. Brees Regional Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with snow falls. On final, the airplane banked left, went into a near vertical attitude then lost height and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Spin on final approach after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Snow,
- Observers reported weather marginal in accident quadrant.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1900G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hilo - Papeete
MSN:
BA-742
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Circumstances:
While in normal cruise, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine. He was able to feather the propeller but unable to maintain a safe altitude as the aircraft was heavy. The twin engine airplane later crashed into the ocean. SAR operations were conducted but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas YC-112A-DO in Van Nuys: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1976 at 1044 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N901MA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Burbank - Ontario
MSN:
36326
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
MA901
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
10558
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6600
Aircraft flight hours:
10280
Circumstances:
During acceleration, the flight engineer stated, "Look at that warning light on No. 3." There was no verbal response from any other crewmember. The aircraft was accelerated normally to V1 and V2, was rotated, and was lifted off without difficulty. Shortly after the captain called for gear and flaps up, a loud noise was heard and the flight engineer announced that they had lost the No. 3 engine. The No.. 1 blade of the No. 3 propeller had and the loss of the blade caused an imbalance that caused separation, almost instantly, of the No. 3 engine from the aircraft. The propeller blade penetrated the lower fuselage of the aircraft and penetrated the lower inboard side of the No. 2 engine. As the blade passed through the fuselage, it severed pneumatic, hydraulic, and emergency airbrake lines as well as the electrical wiring for propeller controls and some engine instruments. The first officer informed the captain that the engine had separated. The aircraft continued to climb and began a right turn. An emergency was declared and the crew requested and received clearance for a landing on runway 07. Debris was discovered on the intersection of runways 07/25 and 15/23, but the pilot decided to continue the approach. The aircraft touched down near the end of runway 07. The captain called for flap retraction and for the props to be put in reverse pitch. The engine sounds increased, and the first officer advised the captain that the propellers were not going into reverse and to use the brakes. As the engine sound decreased, the captain replied that nothing was happening. Maximum power was applied and the aircraft again took off, and cleared the blast fence at the end of the runway by approximately 30 feet (9 m). At 10:39:35, the crew advised the Hollywood-Burbank Tower that they had no brakes and that they were proceeding to the Van Nuys Airport (VNY). The crew the saw that the No. 2 oil pressure was low and that there was no BMEP indication. Attempts to feather the No. 2 propeller were not successful, and the No. 2 engine stopped with the propeller blades at a positive, low pitch angle. Van Nuys cleared the flight for landing on runway 16, but the crew replied that they wouldn't make it, and requested runway 34. At 10:43:22, the Van Nuys local controller cleared the flight to land on runway 34L. While approaching the airport, the airplane was losing altitude and airspeed. The crew realized that they would not make it to the runway. The throttles were retarded and a forced landing was attempted on the Woodley Municipal Golf Course, about 1 mile south of the Van Nuys Airport. The aircraft touched down on it's main landing gear and bounced three times. The nose of the aircraft struck a 24-inch-high (61 cm) concrete foundation of a partially constructed building. The aircraft came to rest against a house trailer parked nearby and caught fire about 20 minutes after it came to rest. Three crew members were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The degraded performance of the aircraft after two engines failed. The dual failure was precipitated by the in-flight failure of the No.1 blade of the No.3 propeller assembly. The failure of the propeller blade resulted from a fatigue crack which originated in the leading edge under the deicer boot. The crack had not been detected during an improperly performed overhaul.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24 in Bari

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-AMME
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
24-310
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Bari-Palese Airport, while climbing, the airplane collided with gulls. Some of them were ingested by engine which lost power. The airplane lost height and crashed in an open field. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Bird strike during initial climb.