Military

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Clark - Kadena - Yokota - McChord

MSN:

6054

YOM:

1964

Location:

Mt Constance

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

16793

Circumstances:

The airplane was conducting a flight from Clark AFB, Philippines, to McChord AFB with intermediate stops at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, and Yokota AFB, Tokyo, carrying 16 people among them six marines. En route to McChord, while cruising by night, the crew established contact with ATC and was cleared to descend from FL370 to FL150 then FL100. Few minutes later, after confusing the C-141 with another Navy aircraft, the air traffic controller cleared the crew to descent to 5,000 feet which was a too low altitude for the area. While descending at an altitude of 7,000 feet in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Constance (7,756 feet high) located in the Olympic National Park, about 52 miles northwest of McChord AFB. The airplane impacted the mountain about 150 feet below the summit and caused an avalanche. Debris were found scattered on a wide area and none of the 16 occupants survived the crash.

Probable cause:

The air traffic controller with whom the captain conversed mistook the C-141 with another Navy aircraft. As a result, he cleared him to descend to FL050 when the minimum prescribed altitude was FL100. Due to limited visibility caused by night, lack of ground visual references and clouds, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain. This resulted to a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Peru

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FAP314

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

MSN:

717

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Peru. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Peixe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2047

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Peixe - Carolina

MSN:

13841

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Peixe Aerodrome, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power, stalled and crashed. A crew member was killed while three others were injured.

Probable cause:

Los of engine power after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Rushinga

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

R3707

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Rushinga-Forward Airfield

MSN:

16198/32946

YOM:

1945

Location:

Mashonaland Central

Country:

Zimbabwe

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5818

Circumstances:

After touchdown, the airplane ground looped due to brake failure. Both propeller detached and the airplane came to rest with its left main gear partially torn off. Both pilots Ed Paintin and Frank Wingrove were uninjured while the flight engineer John Mitchell was slightly wounded. The aircraft was trucked to Salisbury for repair but was later considered as written off.

Probable cause:

Failure of the brake systems upon landing.

Crash of a Transall C-160D near Chania: 42 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1975 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Transall C-160

Operator:

Registration:

50+63

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Hohn - Chania

MSN:

D085

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Hohn Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein on a flight to Chania-Souda Airport, Greece, carrying 37 German soldiers and a crew of five who were to join a NATO contingency in Crete. The approach to Chania Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with fog and snow falls. While descending to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kukules located about 24 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 42 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in India

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

IJ818

Flight Type:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in India. Occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Convair VT-29D off Newport News: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1975 at 1836 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair T-29

Operator:

Registration:

52-5826

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Meridian - Langley

MSN:

52-25

YOM:

1954

Flight number:

M32

Location:

Newport News

Virginia

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6840

Captain / Total hours on type:

1332.00

Aircraft flight hours:

14473

Circumstances:

While approaching Langley AFB by night on a flight from Meridian, Massachusetts, the airplane collided with a Cavalier Flyers Cessna 150 registered N50430 and carrying two people. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the James River, about four miles west of Newport News. Both aircraft were destroyed and all nine people were killed.

Probable cause:

The human limitation inherent in the see-and-avoid concept, which can be critical in a terminal area with a combination of controlled and uncontrolled traffic. A possible contributing factor was the reduced nighttime conspicuity of the Cessna against a background of city lights. The following findings were reported:
- No controlling agency,
- Not under radar contact,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- Continued versus uncontrolled traffic.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in New Orleans: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

58-0721

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: