Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Immingham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Varsity
Operator:
Registration:
WF334
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
MSN:
526
YOM:
1951
Location:
Immingham
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Lindholme on a training mission. While in cruising altitude, the airplane collided with a private Cessna 337 registered G-ATJO. The Cessna went out of control and crashed in a field, killing its pilot, sole on board. Following the collision, three cadets on board the Varsity bailed out and the captain attempted an emergency landing in a field. Six crew members were found alive while one of the cadet who bailed was killed as his parachute was not properly fastened. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas DC-7 in Denver

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Registration:
N6339C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Denver
MSN:
45153/822
YOM:
1957
Location:
Denver-Stapleton
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5002
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Denver-Stapleton Airport. On touchdown, one of the nose wheel tire burst. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid on its nose for several yards before coming to rest. All four crew members were uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Mainliner Capt Ralph Jonston was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The nose wheel tire recap separated on touchdown, struck and disconnected the nose gear torque link pins, causing the leg to collapse.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Brighton: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1966 at 1817 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N6227X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Denver - Denver
Location:
Brighton
Colorado
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:
11558
Captain / Total hours on type:
1135.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Denver-Stapleton on a local training mission for practicing stalls, single engine and emergency procedures. While in cruising altitude, the aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion near Brighton. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to maintain flying speed and exercised poor judgment. The crew also attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment, the aircraft did not have dual flight controls.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Apia: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1966 at 1810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
5W-FAB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Apia - Apia
MSN:
13996/25441
YOM:
1944
Location:
Apia
All Samoa Islands
Country:
Samoa Islands (Western Samoa)
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4812
Captain / Total hours on type:
1060.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1791
Aircraft flight hours:
7290
Circumstances:
The crew departed Apia-Faleolo Airport around 1735LT for a local training flight, carrying three pilots. After several circuits in the area, the crew decided to return to the airport when, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and eventually crashed into the Apolima Strait, few km off shore. Few debris were found floating on water while the main wreckage was not recovered. All three crew members were killed, among them the Chief Pilot and General Manager of the company.
Probable cause:
The in-flight opening and separation from the structure of the air-stair door which struck the aircraft's tail and so damaged it that uncontrollable pitch-down of the nose resulted in the aircraft diving into the sea.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Clarendon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1966 at 1238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
N235R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Amarillo - Dallas
MSN:
23-032
YOM:
1965
Location:
Clarendon
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:
2554
Captain / Total hours on type:
380.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight from Amarillo to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. While climbing to an altitude of 41,000 feet, the crew lost control of the aircraft that entered an uncontrolled descent, dove into the ground and eventually crashed in a field located about a mile southwest of Clarendon, Texas. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and both occupants were killed. Turbulences were reported in the flight area at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the loss of control was caused by the failure of both gyro horizons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman CSR-110 Albatross near Hope Slide: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
9302
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Comox - Williams Lake
MSN:
G-450
Location:
Hope Slide
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Comox Airbase on a training flight to Williams Lake. While cruising in limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the seaplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 10 miles east of Hope Slide. The aircraft was destroyed and while the f/o Bob Reid survived, all five other occupants were killed. More info on https://www.notaries.bc.ca/resources/scrivener/fall2004/walkdownthemountains-50.pdf
1st Lt Pete Semak, †
1st Lt Phil Montgomery, †
F/O Chris Cormier, †
F/O Bob Reid,
Lac Bob MacNaughton. †
Passenger:
James Braiden. †

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-55-LO Orion into the Pacific Ocean: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1966 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152171
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Moffett - Moffett
MSN:
5141
YOM:
1965
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an anti-submarine exercise when control was lost. It crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 187 miles off San Diego. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the disengagement of the autopilot in flight for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Ramenskoye: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1966 at 1702 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-65710
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ramenskoye - Ramenskoye
MSN:
18428908
YOM:
1948
Location:
Ramenskoye
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
13672
Aircraft flight cycles:
11115
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a local training mission out from Ramenskoye Airport, southeast of Moscow, carrying 3 instructors, five student-pilots and one passenger aged 15. While cruising at an altitude of 2,100 meters in clouds, the aircraft encountered turbulences when control was lost. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and struck the ground in a 70° nose-down attitude in a field located 12 km south of Ramenskoye Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed. Parts of the left wing were found about 400 meters from the main fuselage.
Probable cause:
It was determined that control was lost when severe turbulences were encountered in flight, causing the left wing and the elevators to partially detach as the forces exceeded their certification.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Golubichnoye: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1966 at 1857 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79860
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Khabarovsk - Khabarovsk
MSN:
1 163 473 02
YOM:
1962
Location:
Golubishnoye
Khabarovsk Krai
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
4792
Circumstances:
The crew departed Khabarovsk-Maly Airport at 1757LT on a local training mission. An hour later, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a snow covered field located 16 km west of Golubichnoye, in the Amur district. The wreckage was found a day later. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It was determined that at an altitude of 800 meters, the airplane descended at a vertical speed of 7 meters per second until the altitude of 200 meters then 21 meters per second until it struck the ground. At impact, the aircraft was in a nose down angle of 25°, 15° left angle and a speed of 250-300 km/h.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be established, either a fire had emerged in flight or the crew had lost spatial orientation in a snow-flurry.

Crash of a Shijiazhuang Yunsunji Y-5 in Guangzhou

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Shijiazhuang Yunsunji Y-5
Operator:
Registration:
18152
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Guangzhou
Guangdong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountains area located in the region of Guangzhou. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was written off.
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