Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound into the South China Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152793
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cubi Point - Saigon
MSN:
10
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from Cubi Point NAS to Saigon, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the South China Sea, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1971 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N857JA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Cockburn Harbour
MSN:
92
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed San Juan-Isla Grande Airport with deficiencies with the radio navigation equipment. En route, he lost his orientation and became lost. He ditched the plane in the Atlantic Ocean and was quickly rescued by the crew of a ship. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Pilot knew that the radio navigation equipment was malfunctioning.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing C-135B Stratolifter into the Pacific Ocean: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1971 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-0331
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Hickam
MSN:
18238/C16
YOM:
1962
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
11062
Circumstances:
The crew departed Pago Pago on a flight to Hickam Field, Honolulu, taking part to an observation mission of the French atmospheric nuclear tests in the Pacific. While flying in good weather conditions at an altitude of 33,000 feet and at a speed of 870 km/h, a crew member contacted ATC but the content of the message was inaudible. Five minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Pacific Ocean some 1,100 km southwest of Hawaii. Few debris were found floating on water and none of the 24 occupants survived the crash.
Occupants:
Donald E. Ashland,
Cpt Byron C. Burnett,
Rola F. Blanchard,
John P. Cahill,
Thomas R. Connor,
Charles V. Dito,
1st Lt James M. Gilbert,
Dean L. Hoar,
S/Sgt Kenneth Steven Kowal,
Maj John R. McGinn,
T/Sgt Hubert Miles Jr.,
Allen Moriffette,
Maj William Edward Page Jr.,
David Penney,
Lt Col Victor John Reinhart,
Cpt Perry Thomas Rose,
Col Billy L. Skipworth,
Edward M. Slagel,
Anthony J. Theriault,
John B. Tumas,
Maj william Herman Unsderfer Jr.,
Maj Joseph B. William,
S/Sgt Elno Roe Weimer.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the aircraft was intact until impact with water surface. Also, it is believed that the recent technical modification did not have any incidence with the accident. Few days prior to the mishap, the aircraft was equipped with 11 additional portholes and a radome.

Crash of a Grumman E-2B Hawkeye in the South China Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
151719
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
A039
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Disappeared in the South China Sea while on a mission on behalf of the USS Midway (CVA-41) contingent. All five crew members presumed dead.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-95RTs into the Barents Sea: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
31 black
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
67MRTs401
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While completing a maritime patrol flight, the crew informed ground about an engine fire. Shortly later, in a second message, the crew confirmed the fire was extinguished. Seven minutes later, control was lost and the airplane entered a dive before crashing into the Barents Sea, off the Bear Island, south of the Svalbard Archipelago. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 12 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control may have been caused by the loss of a propeller blade in flight that penetrated the fuselage, causing a brutal decompression.

Crash of a Nord 262E into the Mediterranean Sea: 31 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1970 at 2309 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BNGB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Algiers - Mahón
MSN:
2
YOM:
1963
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Algiers Airport late in the evening on a charter flight to Mahón, Balearic Islands, Spain, carrying three crew members and 28 members of the Algerian soccer team Air Liquide (AGAL). While cruising by night at his assigned altitude, the pilot declared an emergency at 2309LT and reported his position 65 nautical miles north of Algiers. Radar and radio contact were lost and the airplane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. SAR operations were jointly conducted by Spanish, Algerian and French authorities but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 31 occupants was found. It was reported that all passengers were players, members of staff and family members of the Air Liquide soccer team who were flying to Mahón to take part to a New Year's soccer tournament.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidence, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1970 at 2320 LT
Registration:
N91110
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kansas City – Los Angeles – Honolulu
MSN:
207-0076
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6276
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Kansas City on a delivery flight to Honolulu with an intermediate stop in Los Angeles. While cruising by night over the Pacific Ocean, the pilot declared an emergency and reported his position about 646 miles northeast from the Oahu Island. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. Engine failure in flight caused by a lubricating issue and oil exhaustion. No prove was made for extra oil, engine lost oil pressure then failed.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-22 into the North Atlantic Ocean: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1970 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09303
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moscow - Keflavik - Halifax - Lima
MSN:
9340207
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a humanitarian flight from Moscow to Lima, Peru, carrying 15 passengers, a crew of eight and various goods in favor of the victims of the recent earthquake. About 47 minutes after takeoff from Keflavik Airport, radio and radar contact were lost with the aircraft that crashed in unknown circumstances into the North Atlantic Ocean. SAR operations were conducted jointly by Canadian, American, Iceland and Soviet Authorities but not trace of the aircraft nor the 23 occupants was found. All SAR operations were suspended after a month.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Fairchild AC-119K Stinger into the South China Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1970
Operator:
Registration:
52-5935
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Đà Nẵng - Đà Nẵng
MSN:
11114
YOM:
1952
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route on a night gunship mission, the captain informed ground that he lost a propeller blade on the left engine. He elected to return to Đà Nẵng Airport but eventually decided to continue over the South China Sea where all 10 crew members abandoned the aircraft that crashed into the sea. Nine occupants were found alive while the body of the 10th crew member (T/Sgt Clyde Douglas Alloway) was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Lost of propeller blade in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando into the Caribbean Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1281
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santa Marta – Pointe-à-Pitre
MSN:
33275
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The C-46 departed Santa Marta Airport at 1211LT on a cargo flight to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, carrying a load of 5 tons of meat. While cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about his ETA in Guadeloupe at 1755LT when contact was lost. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found.