Crash of a Consolidated CA-10A Catalina off Santo Antônio do Içá: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
6550
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1681
YOM:
1944
Location:
Santo Antônio do Içá
Amazonas
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while trying to land off Santo Antônio do Içá, Amazonas. All 12 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Kuopio: 15 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1978 at 2131 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
DO-10
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kuopio - Helsinki
MSN:
12050
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kuopio
Northern Savonia
Country:
Finland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Kuopio Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The captain elected to return for an emergency landing and initiated a turn to the left when the airplane lost height and crashed in the Juurusvesi Lake, about one km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed, among them politicians and businessmen who were flying back to Helsinki after attending a National Defence Course meeting organized by the Finnish Defence Forces.
Crew:
1st Lt Kari Halmetoja, pilot,
M/Sgt Seppo Raninen, copilot,
Sgtm Heikki Mannila, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Risto K. Alanko,
Kirsti Hollming,
Aaro Kenttä,
Pekka Lahdensuu,
Olavi Majlander,
Arto Merisaari,
Antti Pohjonen,
Kari Sinisalo,
Viljo Särkkä,
Olli Varho,
Col Aarno Hukari,
Lt Col Tapio Kokkonen.
Probable cause:
The failure of the right engine was the consequence of the failure of the 5th cylinder due to fatigue cracks that could not be detected during the last maintenance check.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-75-LO Orion in Poland: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1978 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152757
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brunswick - Trenton
MSN:
185-5199
YOM:
1966
Location:
Poland
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Brunswick NAS, Maine, at 1205LT on a flight to Trenton, Ontario, where it was dispatched to an airshow. While climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with stormy weather when the engine n°1 went in whirl mode and detached. 11 feet of the left wing separated and struck the left horizontal stabilizer that was torn off as well. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and partially disintegrated before crashing near Poland. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Francis William Dupont Jr.,
Lt Jg Donald Edward Merz,
Lt Jg George D. Nuttelman,
Lt Jg Ernest A. Smith,
Aw2 James Allen Piepkorn,
Awan Paul G. Schulz,
Ad3 Robert Lewis Phillips Jr.,
Adc Larry Miller.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine went into a whirl mode which corresponds to a low frequency vibration in the engine mounts that can cause the separation of the engine in flight. It is believed that weather turbulences may affect the proper functioning of the engine.

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 200 in Manila: 33 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1978 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
10328
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Laoag - Nichols AFB
MSN:
10328
YOM:
1967
Location:
Nichols AFB (Manila)
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
33
Aircraft flight hours:
11726
Aircraft flight cycles:
11307
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a special flight from Laoag to Nichols AFB (Manila Intl Airport) on behalf of the Philippines Presidency, carrying soldiers, policemen, journalists and members of the government security agency flying back to Manila after taking part to the celebrations of the 61st anniversary of the President Ferdinand Marcos. On final approach to runway 06 in poor weather conditions, the airplane lost height, struck 10 houses and crashed in a swampy area located few hundred meters short of runway threshold. Seven occupants in the airplane were rescued while 21 others were killed as well as 12 people on the ground. 20 other people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane lost height on final approach due to windshear. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity, winds up to 35 knots, heavy rain falls and turbulences.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Guam Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1978 at 1141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
17152
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Agana - Ulithi Atoll
MSN:
12342
YOM:
1942
Location:
Guam Island
All Guam Island
Country:
Guam Island
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4500
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Agana at 0949LT to Ulithi Atoll with a crew of five and 25 passengers, among them officers and musicians with their instruments. About 10 minutes after takeoff, while cruising to the southwest at an altitude of 6,000 feet and a speed of 180 knots, the crew reported an oil leak on the right engine but the situation seemed to be under control. About an hour later, at 1046LT, oil pressure fluctuated and the captain decided to return to Andersen Airbase. About 15 minutes later, the right engine was shut down and its propeller was feathered. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew asked the passengers to jettison the cargo but the airplane continued to lost height. Eventually, the captain decided to ditch the airplane about 13 km southwest of the Guam Island coast. The aircraft landed at 1141LT and came to rest on water. The occupants evacuated the cabin and took refuge in dinghies, the airplane sank about 10 minutes later. 28 people, most of them injured, were evacuated about an hour later. Unfortunately, one passenger and the flight engineer drowned.
Source: Seth P. Washburne
Report: http://thirsty13th.com/Images/Guam_Airplane_Crash_1978.pdf
Probable cause:
The starboard engine developed an oil leak or other malfunction, from an undetermined source, of such severity that it caused cockpit indications of low oil pressure, illuminated the oil pressure warning light, and ultimately resulted in a propeller overspeed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Mauritania

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
5T-MAT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
765
YOM:
1976
Location:
Laâyoune
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Western Sahara, mayb in the region of Laayoune, while taking part to a military operation against Polisario Front rebels. It is believed the aircraft was shot down by ground fire and crashed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Kennedy: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1978 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-680
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Riohacha – Santa Marta – Barranquilla – Bogotá
Location:
Mt Kennedy
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The C-47 departed Riohacha Airport at 1615LT on a flight to Bogotá with intermediate stops in Santa Marta and Barranquilla. About five minutes before ETA, while cruising in low clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kennedy located about 22 km east of Santa Marta-Simon Bolivár Airport. The wreckage was found in an isolated area three days later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Jaime Sánchez Tocarruncho, pilot,
Lt Ramon Villanueva Rodriguez, copilot,
Cpt Jose Orlando Moscoso Valencia, navigator,
Cpt Edra Rincón TAvera, navigator,
Ezequiel Prada Rueda, mechanic,
Omar Hernán Linares Rifaldo, mechanic.
Passengers:
1st Lt Guillermo Leon Valencia Obando,
Sgt Ramiro Waldo Giraldo Ramirez.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules near Pichincha: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
FAE748
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4748
YOM:
1977
Location:
Pichincha
Guayas
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
En route, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Pichincha. All 11 occupants attached to the 11th Airborne squadron were killed.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 100 on Terceira Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Casa 212 Aviocar
Operator:
Registration:
6518
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lajes - Lajes
MSN:
50
YOM:
1976
Location:
Serra de Santa Bárbara (Terceira Island)
Azores Islands
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While flying in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Serra de Santa Bárbara National Forest, on the west side of Terceira Island. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Tarija: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
FAB-012
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
402B-0211
YOM:
1972
Location:
Tarija
Tarija
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Tarija. All four occupants were killed.
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