Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Sovetsk: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1973 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-48982
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kotlas - Voronezh
MSN:
2 34 437 07
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
10761
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a ferry flight from Kotlas to Voronezh with two passengers and a crew of five on board. The flight was operated at an altitude of 1,500 meters from Kotlas to Kirov and after passing Kirov, the crew was cleared to climb to 1,800 meters. At 1056, the crew was instructed for heading 219° when nine minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in an uninhabited area located northwest of Sovetsk. The wreckage was found in the afternoon. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft became uncontrollable after it encountered severe turbulences while cruising in thunderstorm activity. Investigations revealed that the crew has not been informed about the possible presence of thunderstorms as the main weather radar of the local meteorologist was out of service due to maintenance.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove in Moses Lake

Date & Time: May 15, 1973 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N4041B
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moses Lake - Twin Falls
MSN:
04385
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2795
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff run, at V1 speed, the crew started the rotation when the left engine lost power. The captain elected to abandon the takeoff procedure but following a lack of coordination and poor experience, the crew lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The crew failed to maintain flying speed,
- The crew failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Misused of flaps,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Left engine lost power,
- Pilot continued the takeoff and did not feathered the propeller,
- Flaps were retracted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Midway

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1973 at 1600 LT
Registration:
N2668B
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tulsa - Jacksonville
MSN:
560A-382
YOM:
1956
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4740
Captain / Total hours on type:
85.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Tulsa to Jacksonville, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot informed ATC about the situation and he reduced his altitude to attempt an emergency landing. The twin engine airplane struck trees then crashed near Midway. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Fuel on board 156 gallons,
- In flight for 3 hours and 30 minutes,
- Cause of fuel exhaustion could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation in Miami

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1973 at 1420 LT
Registration:
N6906C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Miami
MSN:
4020
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Miami-Intl Airport, the right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to a halt. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear due to hydraulic leak and material failure. The downlock mechanism failed to prevent the right gear from retract after hydraulic pressure loss for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Lake Khattavtur: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1973 at 1325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01262
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yelushkino – Kondinskoye
MSN:
1 71 473 16
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
12736
Circumstances:
After eight workers have been dropped off in Yelushkino, the crew was returning to Kondinskoye with one passenger, the Director of Kondinskoye Airport. En route, the crew initiated hazardous manoeuvres and lost control of the airplane that nosed down to an angle of 90° and crashed in a snow covered field located southeast of Lake Khattavtur, about 57 km west of Kondinskoye. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. Blood analysis revealed an alcohol level of 0,8‰ with the copilot and 3,4‰ with the captain.
Probable cause:
Loss of control while the crew was intoxicated.

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Detroit: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1972 at 1146 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N20M
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Detroit - Lexington
MSN:
23-094
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4302
Captain / Total hours on type:
1072.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from runway 03R at Detroit-Wayne County Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane crashed on a fuel storage tank and exploded. Both pilots, en route to Lexington on a ferry flight, were killed, as well as one people on the ground.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Te Karaka: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1972 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CZO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Te Karaka - Gisborne
MSN:
1533
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
20000
Circumstances:
After completing a topdressing mission in the Te Karaka area, the pilot was flying back to his base in Gisborne. En route, the single engine airplane turn steeply to the right then entered a dive and crashed by a wooded area. The aircraft was totally destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
An examination of the wreck revealed nothing that could have caused the pilot Alex Williams to lose control of the aircraft. It was concluded that the pilot had been suddenly incapacitated while in flight. A post mortem examination showed three separate medical conditions, which had they been known about by the Civil Aviation medical authorities, could have resulted in the pilot being assessed as unfit for flying duties.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680E into the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1972
Registration:
N8441C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Anchorage - Annette Island
MSN:
680-789-52
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a ferry flight from Anchorage to Annette Island, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the north part of the Pacific Ocean, off the Alaskan coast. No trace of the airplane nor both occupants was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Kalispell

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1972 at 1830 LT
Registration:
N424WP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kalispell - Boulder
MSN:
421B-0143
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3860
Captain / Total hours on type:
278.00
Circumstances:
Following a long takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the twin engine airplane overran and came to rest. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Powerplant for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command exercised poor judgment,
- The pilot-in-command failed to abort takeoff,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Used all of runway before liftoff,
- No engine malfunction found while pilot stated left engine failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2D into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1972 at 2144 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N19D
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Francisco - Hilo
MSN:
14109
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11980
Captain / Total hours on type:
2500.00
Circumstances:
On a ferry flight from San Francisco to Hilo, while cruising by night, all four engines stopped simultaneously. The crew informed ATC about his position and attempted to ditch the aircraft that came to rest in water about 219 miles off the Hawaiian coast. Both pilots were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew who miscalculated the fuel consumption and the flight time to check point. The following factors were reported:
- The crew became lost and disoriented.
Final Report: