Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Zaporozhie: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1976 at 1308 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87638
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Zaporozhie - Zaporozhie
MSN:
9 14 19 19
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
5762
Aircraft flight cycles:
6627
Circumstances:
The crew departed Zaporozhie Airport at 1257LT on a local training flight. About 11 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 2,100 metres in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ATC that he was losing height when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a 25-30° nose down attitude and a 6° left bank in a field located 20 km northwest of Zaporozhie Airport and 1,400 metres from the Novogupalovka Station. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to insufficient speed while the crew was practicing stabilizer trim change. The aircraft stalled due to poor piloting techniques and a probable wrong interpretation of the indicator airspeed value.

Crash of a MBB HFB-320ECM Hansa Jet in Schwabmünchen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1976 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
16+22
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1059
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 9,500 feet on a training mission, the Hansa Jet was hit behind by a German Luftwaffe Fiat G.91T-3 fighter registered 34+49 and carrying a crew of two. The Fiat struck the Hansa Jet in a slight left turn at a speed of 145 knots. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Schwabmünchen. All five occupants on board the Hansa Jet were killed while both pilots on board the Fiat ejected safely. At the time of the collision, it was determined that the crew of the Fiat was just leaving a Temporary Reserved Airspace and was descending to FL100 to a VFR airspace. At this time, the Fiat's transponder was on a 'stand by' mode.
Probable cause:
The collision was the consequence of a failure on part of the Fiat's instructor who failed to see and avoid potential traffic. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The Fiat's crew was flying towards the sun,
- The poor contrast of the Hansa Jet silhouette against the background,
- Visibility was obstructed by braces of the canopy and maps that were stowed against the canopy,
- Limited observation outside because the instructor also had to monitor the students navigation and steering.

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader at Atsugi NAS: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
146023
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
53
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On final approach to Atsugi NAS, the airplane went out of control and crashed on a golf course located less than 2 km from runway 01 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Laury K. Backman +5.
Probable cause:
It is believed that control was lost on short final due to an aileron failure.

Crash of a Grumman CS-2F-3 Tracker in Bayswater: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
12182
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shearwater - Shearwater
MSN:
DH81
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bayswater while completing a local training mission out from Shearwater AFB. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Spa

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1976
Registration:
OO-SPW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
207-0211
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a North American TB-25N Mitchell in Chicago: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1976 at 1525 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N9446Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chicago - Chicago
MSN:
108-34012
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff at Midway Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane lost speed, stalled, struck three houses and crashed in flames 0,75 miles west of the airport. Both pilots were killed as well as one people on the ground.
Probable cause:
The left engine failed and caught fire shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Vienna

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FLI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vienna - Vienna
MSN:
421B-0650
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (an instructor and two student pilots) was engaged in a local training flight out from Vienna-Schwechat Airport. At liftoff, while in initial climb, the instructor shut down an engine to simulate a failure at low altitude. The pilot-in-command (under supervision) inadvertently shut down the second engine. Due to insufficient speed, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. All three occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a Grumman S-2 Tracker near Gimhae: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
133256
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
227
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Struck a mountain near Gimhae while completing a training mission in poor weather conditions. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in Entebbe

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5X-AAB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Entebbe - Entebbe
MSN:
222
YOM:
1964
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4723
Captain / Total hours on type:
36.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
455
Copilot / Total hours on type:
69
Aircraft flight hours:
1953
Circumstances:
The aircraft was operating circuits, from Entebbe Airport, for the purpose of a DHC-4 Type Rating (Night) Flight Examination. The cadet pilot was flying the aircraft from the left hand seat while the check captain occupied the right hand seat. There were no passengers. The first circuit involved a simulated hydraulic failure and was completed without incident. During the second circuit the starboard engine was intentionally feathered and the aircraft made a landing approach on one engine. Just prior to touchdown a sudden increase in engine power resulted in the aircraft yawing and rolling steeply towards the starboard side. The aircraft started skidding on its starboard wheel and wing tip. It skidded across the runway and over the adjoining grass strip, towards the aerodrome boundary. Somme 220 m further down, the aircraft crossed a drainage ditch and crashed through a barbed wire fence around the aerodrome perimeter. The fuselage broke in half during the crash and the wreckage came to a halt approximately 15 m beyond the aerodrome perimeter. The check captain suffered severe back injuries; the cadet pilot sustained no injuries. Investigations carried out after the accident revealed that the aircraft was operating satisfactorily prior to the accident. It is concluded that the probable cause of the accident was the application of considerable engine power when the aircraft was in an asymmetric landing configuration and at a speed probably below the single engine minimum control speed (Vmc). Lack of understanding between the two flight crew as to what each was doing immediately prior to the accident and the student/instructor relationship between the two crew members as well as the prevailing dark night conditions were contributory factors.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred most probably due to strong asymmetric thrust caused by increasing engine power on the operative engine when the aircraft was about to touch down with one engine feathered. Contributory factors were:
- The lack of understanding between the two flight crew members of what each other was doing immediately prior to the accident,
- The student/instructor relationship between the two and the prevailing dark night-time conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy C.1 at RAF Boscombe Down: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
XR105
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
MSN:
6783
YOM:
1962
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at RAF Boscombe Down. On final approach with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the airplane banked left and right, causing a wing to drop and to struck a building. Out of control, the airplane lost height and crashed. A crew member was injured while two other occupants were killed, among them an officer from the Italian Army.