Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar off Napier

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CGV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2051
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on approach to Napier-Hawke’s Bay Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Napier harbor. The pilot was rescued by fishermen while the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on approach after a flap control cable broke on the right wing, causing a flap to extend unexpectedly.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Phnom Penh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1971 at 1220 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N55L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville
MSN:
15230/26675
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
15608
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Phnom Penh-Pochentong Airport, while climbing, the right engine caught fire and exploded. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure and explosion of the right engine for unknown reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet in Texel

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-CIRO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hamburg - Cologne - Paris
MSN:
1044
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Hansa Jet departed Hamburg (HAM) at 0725LT on a positioning flight to Cologne (CGN) where it was to pick up some passengers who were to be taken to Paris for the signing of the Airbus treaty. While descending through a thick layer of clouds for Cologne, the right engine high pressure fuel pump failed. Some 22 seconds later the electrical system failed. The airplane entered a spiral descent until the first officer was able to light the instrument panel using a flash light. He noticed the severe right bank and told the captain to turn left and pull up. The airplane was brought under control and the crew climbed above the layer of clouds. It was decided to fly on a heading of 330° towards the North Sea, because the crew expected VFR weather there for an emergency landing. After flying for about half an hour the crew saw an island between the clouds, which turned out to be the Dutch island of Texel. Failing to see an airport in the area, it was decided to carry out a forced belly landing on the beach of Texel. The aircraft sustained additional substantial damage when being salvaged.

Crash of a Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander in Lexington: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1970 at 1917 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N100RC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Columbus – Lexington
MSN:
1121-060
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5859
Captain / Total hours on type:
2070.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lexington-Blue Grass Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In rain falls, the airplane was observed in a steep right bank descending then rolled to opposite direction before impact. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation during a night approach in marginal weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and rain.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1970 at 1138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6637L
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Charlotte - Fort Wayne
MSN:
31-575
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1545
Captain / Total hours on type:
495.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Fort Wayne Airport, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions (fog, rain falls and low clouds). He reduced his altitude to minimum and lost control of the airplane while completing a steep turn at low altitude. The airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who failed to obtain/maintain flying speed on final approach. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- Descended below published approach minimums,
- Lost control during steep low altitude turn.
Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Thubun Lake

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-NJV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
564
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Thubun Lake, while climbing, the airplane lost height, crashed and came to rest upside down. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and positioned the fuel selector on an empty tank. In such conditions, the engine stopped shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-63CF in New York: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1970 at 1606 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4863T
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New York – Washington DC – London
MSN:
45951/414
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
TV863
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
22300
Captain / Total hours on type:
7100.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
15775
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4750
Aircraft flight hours:
7878
Circumstances:
Approximately 1,500 feet from the initiation of the takeoff roll, the aircraft was observed rotating to an excessively nose-high attitude. The aircraft became airborne about 2,800 feet down the runway after which it continued to rotate slowly upward to an attitude estimated to be between 60° and 90° above the horizontal, at an altitude estimated to be between 300 and 500 feet above the ground. The aircraft rolled about 20° to the right, rolled back to the left until it reached approximately a vertical angle of bank, and then fell to the ground in that attitude. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post impact fire. All 11 crew members, the only occupants of the aircraft, died in the accident.
Probable cause:
The Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of pitch control caused by the entrapment of a pointed, asphalt-covered object between the leading edge of the right elevator and the right horizontal spar web access door in the aft part of the stabilizer. The restriction to elevator movement, caused by a highly unusual and unknown condition, was not detected by the crew in time to reject the takeoff successfully. However, an apparent lack of crew responsiveness to a highly unusual emergency situation, coupled with the captain's failure to monitor adequately the takeoff, contributed to the failure to reject the takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of an Howard 350 in Miami

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1970 at 2018 LT
Registration:
N350Q
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brooksville - Miami
MSN:
5892
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7600
Captain / Total hours on type:
211.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful positioning flight from Brooksville-Hernando County Airport, the crew started the approach to Miami-Opa Locka Airport. The twin engine airplane landed on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. Both crew members escaped without injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. The crew reported that the gear was lowered prior to touchdown while the gear handle was found in up position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-990-30A-8 Coronado in Acapulco

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1970 at 0002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5603
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Acapulco
MSN:
30-10-13
YOM:
1963
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
15054
Captain / Total hours on type:
2624.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Acapulco-General Juan N. Alvarez Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck approach lights and crashed in flames short of runway. All eight crew members were rescued (a stewardess was found badly injured few hours later) and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach below the glide for unknown reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401B near Yakima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1970 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7917Q
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Omak – Troutdale
MSN:
401B-0017
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7029
Captain / Total hours on type:
513.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night under IFR mode with the autopilot system ON, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Yakima. The wreckage was found a day later. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot has been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was 10 miles of the intended course for undetermined reason.
Final Report: