Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-3 Islander in Richards Bay

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-IZZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
317
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After liftoff from Richards Bay Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck a building then crashed onto the ground. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Oulu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1974
Operator:
Registration:
OH-ACK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
500-1134-76
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Oulu Airport by night, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances few hundred meters short of runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-14 LodeStar in Asunción

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N850M
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2214
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash under unknown circumstances while on approach to Asunción-Silvio Pettirossi Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were slightly injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 in Midland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1974 at 1924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N34W
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Midland - Denver
MSN:
282-47
YOM:
1965
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
15367
Captain / Total hours on type:
2770.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Midland Airport, while in initial climb by night, the airplane entered a nose-down attitude then crashed in a huge explosion few miles from the airfield. The airplane disintegrated on impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent during initial climb for undetermined reason. Entered a high speed dive and crashed. Near total destruction limited the scope and decisiveness of investigations.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation in Tamarac

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1973 at 1925 LT
Registration:
N6202C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Freeport - Saint Petersburg
MSN:
4002
YOM:
1952
Location:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
17000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Circumstances:
On a positioning flight from Freeport to St Petersburg, the crew was trying to transfer fuel when all four engines stopped simultaneously. The captain reduced his altitude and attempt an emergency belly landing in a open field located in Tamarac. The airplane slid on its belly for few dozen yards before coming to rest. While all eight occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight caused by inadequate supervision of flight and improper use of equipment. The following factors were reported:
- Fuel starvation,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Failure of the fuel system: pumps as the protective devices were corroded,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper transfer of fuel,
- Circuit breaker corroded.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Osinovka: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1973 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-35577
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Osinovka – Almaty
MSN:
1G115-28
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
1870
Circumstances:
While on a positioning flight from Osinovka-Andreyevka to Almaty for crop-spraying operations for the sovkhoz (state farm) 'Andreyevski' with 2 mechanics and 2 local guides on board, the captain decided not to circumvent the Chubundy (Shybyndy) mountain ridge but to make a straight-in flight. Few minutes later, he encountered below-minima weather conditions and decided to return to Andreyevka but this was too late. Shortly later, while completing a turn in clouds at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the single engine airplane collided with the summit of a ridge located about 15 km northeast of Andreyevka Airport and crashed. Injured, the copilot walked down the mountain to find help. The captain was killed while all five other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain caused by wrong in-flight decisions on part of the captain.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 60 in Montrose: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1973 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N743R
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Montrose - Denver
MSN:
306-11
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
84.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2372
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Montrose Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,000 feet, the airplane banked left to an angle of 55° then stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after the left engine thrust reverser deployed. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operations of powerplant,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Unwanted thrust reversal,
- Continued operations of left engine at climb power after unwanted in-flight deployment of the left engine thrust reverser.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Blaine: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1973 at 0659 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9503Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Blaine - Hibbing
MSN:
282-10
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6402
Captain / Total hours on type:
288.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Blaine-Anoka County Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10R off Funchal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1973 at 0140 LT
Operator:
Registration:
EC-BID
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Madrid - Funchal
MSN:
228
YOM:
1969
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight from Madrid-Barajas to Funchal. While approaching the airport by night, the pilot-in-command made a turn to join the runway 06 approach path when the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea few km off shore. The wreckage sank by a depth of 740 meters and was not recovered. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it is believed that the aircraft's speed was probably too low during the last turn, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash. The distance between the aircraft and the water surface was insufficient to expect recovery.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Frobisher Bay

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
CF-OOV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Frobisher Bay – Resolute Bay
MSN:
13300
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Frobisher Bay Airport, while climbing, one of the engine lost power. The crew elected to return when the airplane stalled and crashed by the airport. All three occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The aircraft was returning from a major overhaul in Toronto few days ago.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power for unknown reason.