Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross into the Gulf of Mexico: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
2123
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
MSN:
G-350
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
This crew was dropping parachute flares to illuminate a search area when one of the flares accidentally ignited in the aircraft. Intense smoke incapacitated the pilots and crew and the aircraft became uncontrolled and crashed into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
LCDR Francis W. Miller,
LTJG Jerald M. Mack,
AD1 Harold D. Brown Jr.,
AM2 Benjamin R. Gaskins Jr.,
AT2 John F. Harrison,
AT2 John P. Pledger.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680E into the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1972
Registration:
N8441C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Anchorage - Annette Island
MSN:
680-789-52
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a ferry flight from Anchorage to Annette Island, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the north part of the Pacific Ocean, off the Alaskan coast. No trace of the airplane nor both occupants was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK into the Atlantic Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
CF-FOL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Keflavik - Saint John's
MSN:
14038/25483
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a charter flight from Keflavik to Saint John's, Newfoundland. En route, both engines failed simultaneously due to fuel exhaustion. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 160 km east of Saint John's. All three occupants were killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was inexperienced on this type of aircraft and that he never flew a transatlantic flight in the past. Investigations reported that the crew encountered strong headwinds all along the flight, causing the fuel consumption to be higher than expected with a lower speed than calculated. It was determined that the aircraft's speed was in fact 112 km/h instead of the expected 150 km/h.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1972 at 1344 LT
Registration:
CC-CEO
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santiago - Valparaíso - Robinson Crusoe Island
MSN:
680-288-3
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing a charter flight from Santiago de Chile to the Island of Robinson Crusoe on behalf of the Fishing Cooperative of Juan Fernandez. After departing Los Cerrillos Airport in Santiago, the pilot completed a technical stop at Valparaíso-Rodelillo Airport to refuel. While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet about 330 km west the Chilean coast in strong west winds, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure. Shortly later, the airplane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the airplane nor the eight occupants was ever found.
Crew:
Germán Acevedo Salas, pilot.
Passengers:
Víctor Duque Martínez,
Eulogio Riveros,
Carmen Camacho,
Mónica Araya,
N. Araya,
Guillermina N. de Araya,
Varsovia N. de Recabarren.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the engine failure was caused by fuel contaminated by water was not ruled out.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 2 Heron into the Irish Sea

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XR444
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
14091
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over the Irish Sea on a liaison flight, all four engines stopped simultaneously. The crew reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft. All 11 occupants were quickly rescued and the aircraft was later recovered. It was written off.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the wing fuel tanks had not been selected thus starving the engines of fuel.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 690 into the Atlantic Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
D-INIX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Reykjavik - Narsarsuaq
MSN:
690-11013
YOM:
1972
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Atlantic Ocean while on a flight from Reykjavik to Narsarsuaq. No trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-50-LO Orion into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152155
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moffett - Moffett
MSN:
185-5125
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants was found.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2D into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1972 at 2144 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N19D
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Francisco - Hilo
MSN:
14109
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11980
Captain / Total hours on type:
2500.00
Circumstances:
On a ferry flight from San Francisco to Hilo, while cruising by night, all four engines stopped simultaneously. The crew informed ATC about his position and attempted to ditch the aircraft that came to rest in water about 219 miles off the Hawaiian coast. Both pilots were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew who miscalculated the fuel consumption and the flight time to check point. The following factors were reported:
- The crew became lost and disoriented.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound into the Mediterranean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
155122
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Naples - USS Independence
MSN:
17
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Naples to the USS Independence cruising in the Mediterranean Sea. En route, the crew reported technical problems and later, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea. Eight people were rescued while both pilots were killed when the airplane sank six minutes after it was ditched.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problems.