Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Hartford

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1968 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N4000Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AF-820
YOM:
1954
Location:
Hartford-Brainard
Connecticut
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3631
Captain / Total hours on type:
151.00
Circumstances:
While on a positioning flight to Hartford-Brainard Airport, the pilot encountered strong crosswinds upon arrival. After touchdown, control was lost. The airplane lost its undercarriage and came to rest by the runway shoulder. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot exercised poor judgment and landed with unfavorable wind conditions. Upon landing, there was a right cross wind (80°) at 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27T at Paisano Ranch: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1968 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Eastex Inc.
Registration:
N27W
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
123
YOM:
1967
Location:
Paisano Ranch
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13000
Captain / Total hours on type:
540.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to the Paisano Ranch private airstrip, the captain decided to make a go-around for unknown reason. The airplane stalled and crashed short of runway, killing both pilots who were conducting a positioning flight.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper flight decisions or planning,
- The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- The crew selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- The crew attempted a go-around with propellers in ground fine position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680E off San Juan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1968 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
ABC-PRS Airways
Registration:
N408EE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
680-665-8
YOM:
1958
Location:
San Juan
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3602
Captain / Total hours on type:
369.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a positioning flight when control was lost. The airplane crashed into the sea off San Juan. Some debris were found a day later but no trace of the pilot who was presumed dead.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Chicago

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1968 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N9943Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AF-208
YOM:
1952
Location:
Chicago-O'Hare
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5700
Captain / Total hours on type:
110.00
Circumstances:
While properly aligned on the glide, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed few miles short of runway threshold. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by vortex from a preceding aircraft landing at the same airport. The pilot did not allow adequate separation behind landing jet aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500S in Murray: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1968 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Ohio Valley Aviation
Registration:
N6248B
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
500-637-3
YOM:
1958
Location:
Murray
Kentucky
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
15541
Captain / Total hours on type:
445.00
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. Two other aircraft return to their base while the pilot of N6248B decided to continue. While cruising at low height in fog, the airplane struck a radio antenna (406 feet high) and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot took the decision to continue under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. An incorrect altimeter setting was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Dubovka: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1967 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09210
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Baku - Kizlyar - Stavropol - Kharkiv
MSN:
1G21-18
YOM:
9
Location:
Dubovka
Stavropol Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
2764
Circumstances:
On the leg from Kizlyar to Stavropol of a positioning flight from Baku to Kharkov for overhaul, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (low clouds and snowfall). He failed to return and decided to continue in such conditions when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located northwest of Dubovka (Aleksandrovskoye district of the Stavropol region). A pilot and the passenger (an aircraft mechanic) were killed while the second pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the flying crew who decided to continue the flight in poor weather conditions. The lack of ATC assistance and some technical issues with the VHF radio systems were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Calhoun: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1967 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Crest Airlines
Registration:
N2677B
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
560-177
YOM:
1954
Location:
Calhoun
Georgia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4169
Captain / Total hours on type:
1293.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, on a positioning flight, the landing gear were lowered and the flaps were positioned to a full down angle. The twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed near Calhoun. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control could not be determined with certainty.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18 in Perpignan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
GLAM - Groupe de Liaisons Aériennes Ministérielles
Registration:
F-RAEY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Perpignan - Villacoublay
MSN:
BA-83
YOM:
1955
Location:
Perpignan-Rivesaltes
Pyrénées-Orientales
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport, while climbing in heavy rain falls, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed near the airport. All three crew members were killed. They were performing a positioning flight to Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport near Paris.
Crew:
Lt Roger Creach,
Adj Yves Plancon,
Adj Daniel Colomb.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R off Ventura: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1967 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Sabreliner 40
Operator:
Registration:
N739R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
282-078
YOM:
1966
Location:
Ventura
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7224
Captain / Total hours on type:
950.00
Circumstances:
While flying at a cruising altitude along the California coast, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed into the sea some six miles off Ventura. Both crew members were killed and only few debris were found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Moscow: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1967 at 0328 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75563
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
184 0078 02
YOM:
1964
Location:
Moscow-Domodedovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
2264
Aircraft flight cycles:
929
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Krasnoyarsk to Moscow-Domodedovo, the crew was supposed to complete a positioning flight to Moscow-Vnukovo Airport on behalf of the 235th Separate Aviation Detachment for the Soviet Government. Less than two minutes after takeoff from Domodedovo Airport, while climbing by night, the pilot-in-command started a turn to the left according to published procedures when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field located about 3 km past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris scattered on a distance of 650 meters long by 180 meters wide. All eight crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determined the exact cause of the accident. All four engines were functioning properly at impact and some vibrations may have occur on both wings, maybe following ailerons issues.
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