Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Owensville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1975 at 0905 LT
Registration:
N108E
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saint Louis - Vichy
MSN:
680-954-19
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1126
Captain / Total hours on type:
180.00
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions (fog and rain), the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a spin and crashed in a field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation in flight following a failure of the electrical system (inverter). The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rain,
- Fog,
- The two aircraft inverters were not rotating at impact,
- Instrument fragmentation precluded instrument investigations.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Kansas City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1975 at 0450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7010
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lincoln - Kansas City
MSN:
BA-179
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4720
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Kansas City Airport, while on a ferry flight from Lincoln, the airplane went out of control, rolled over and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent on final approach for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Fog,
- Sound of engine surging heard.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in Springfield

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 2106 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3486
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Reno – Denver – Atlanta
MSN:
1245
YOM:
1938
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16052
Captain / Total hours on type:
715.00
Circumstances:
En route from Denver to Atlanta, the crew reported technical problems to ATC and was cleared to divert to Springfield Airport. On approach in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to initiate a go-around when both engines failed. The airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. All eight occupants were injured, two of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines during a go-around due to a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Localizer and glide slope unreliable,
- Fuel exhaustion during climb to top overcast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Duenweg

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1974 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N510BB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Albuquerque - Joplin - Saint Louis
MSN:
31-786
YOM:
1972
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1300
Captain / Total hours on type:
760.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a flight from Albuquerque to Saint Louis with an intermediate stop in Joplin. On approach by night and marginal weather conditions, he was unable to locate the runway and decided to make a go-around. A second approach was abandoned few minutes later. During the third approach, low fuel reserves forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing on a highway. In limited visibility, the twin engine airplane struck a highway bridged and crashed about 5 miles southeast of runway 31 threshold. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Low ceiling,
- Low on fuel,
- Adverse/unfavorable weather,
- Missed second ILS approach, saw highway, attempted landing and struck bridge.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Bunker: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1974 at 1322 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3139K
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hagerstown - Pueblo - Las Vegas
MSN:
421A-0116
YOM:
1968
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
On the leg from Hagerstown to Pueblo, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences and icing. Control was lost and the airplane entered a dive during which elevators and stabilizers detached. The airplane then crashed in the Clark National Forest and was destroyed on impact. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent following improper in-flight decisions or planning. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of anti-icing/deicing equipment,
- Airframe ice,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Separation of flight control surfaces such as horizontal stabilizers,
- Icing conditions,
- Thunderstorm activity and turbulences,
- No weather update at Saint Louis,
- Line of thunderstorms west,
- Heavy icing conditions,
- Horizontal stabilizers and elevators separated.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Lebanon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1974 at 0754 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N1628T
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mexico - Lebanon
MSN:
414-0408
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6380
Captain / Total hours on type:
3200.00
Circumstances:
After passengers deplaned at Mexico Airport, Missouri, the pilot was returning to his base at Lebanon-Floyd W. Jones Airport. On approach, the pilot initiated acrobatics maneuvers when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot exercised poor judgment. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Low level acrobatics over airport,
- Stall following recovery from roll.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in Saint Louis: 38 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1973 at 1743 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4215
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Nashville – Clarksville – Paducah – Cape Girardeau – Marion – Saint Louis
MSN:
513
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
OZ809
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Captain / Total flying hours:
9170
Captain / Total hours on type:
4382.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3921
Copilot / Total hours on type:
989
Aircraft flight hours:
14300
Circumstances:
Ozark Air Lines Flight 809, an FH-227B, was a regular flight between Nashville Metropolitan Airport, TN (BNA) and St. Louis (STL), with intermediate stops at Clarksville, TN (CKV), Paducah, KY (PAH), Cape Girardeau Airport, MO (CGI) and Marion-Williamson County Airport, IL (MWA) with an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight departed Marion at 17:05. The flight proceeded via the V-335 airway toward St. Louis without difficulty. At 17:26, the Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (KCC) controller requested that Flight 809 make a 360 degree turn to the right. He advised that there would be about a 5-minute delay and that the right turn would keep the flight clear of the weather. At 17:28, the KCC controller cleared the flight to proceed to the St. Louis VOR and to contact St. Louis Approach Control. One minute later the first officer transmitted, "Approach, this is Ozark eight oh nine, seven thousand, with Quebec." Weather information 'Quebec' indicated: Estimated ceiling-4,000 feet broken, visibility-5 miles, haze and smoke, wind-120° at 8 knots , temperature-92 degrees, altimeter-30.06, ILS runway 12R approaches in use, landing and departing runways 12. The approach controller responded: "Ozark eight oh nine, Roger, maintain seven thousand and, ... continue toward the VOR, be vectors runway three zero left ILS." Between 17:32 and 17:39, the approach controller gave Flight 809 radar vectors through an area of thunderstorm cells that lay south and southeast of the St. Louis Airport. At 17:40, the controller cleared the flight for an ILS approach to runway 30L and cleared the flight crew to contact the St. Louis Control Tower. The Tower controller cleared the flight to land. At 17:42:31, the local controller said, "Ozark eight oh nine, it looks like a heavy rain shower moving right across the approach end of the runway now." The first officer replied, "Roger, we see it." After passing the Outer Marker, the aircraft began to descend below the glide slope until it struck the ground. First, the aircraft struck tree tops about 55 feet above the ground then crashed on a hillside located less than two miles from runway 30L threshold, in the district of Normandy. Two crew members and four passengers survived while all 38 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft's encounter with a downdraft following the captain's decision to initiate and continue an instrument approach into a thunderstorm. The captain's decision probably was influenced by the lack of a timely issuance of a severe weather warning by the National Weather Service, and the improper assessment of the weather conditions in the terminal area by the flight crew and the flight dispatcher.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Eldon

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1970 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N94N
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Leonard Wood – Omaha
MSN:
1101
YOM:
1937
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the right engine lost power. Unable to maintain the assigned altitude, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a prairie and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. All 12 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight caused by a contaminated fuel by water. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Water in fuel,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Water and rust found in the right engine carburetor,
- Improper single engine procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1970 at 0108 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5659D
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Little Rock – Kansas City
MSN:
BA-392
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2014
Captain / Total hours on type:
1133.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kansas City Airport, while completing a night mail flight, the pilot encountered engine problems. Control was lost and the airplane crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial approach caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Powerplant problems caused by vacuum pumps failure,
- The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice on windshield,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- The pilot was aware of the icing conditions,
- The left vacuum pump failed at an undetermined time, limiting the de-icing capabilities.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 80 Queen Air in Republic: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1969 at 1825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N1539S
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boca Raton - Republic - Springfield
MSN:
LD-20
YOM:
1962
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6577
Captain / Total hours on type:
105.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Boca Raton, the pilot was approaching Republic when he was informed by ATC about icing conditions in the area. While descending in poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and collision with ground during initial approach caused by icing conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice propeller,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast,
- Approach control advised icing conditions in clouds,
- Pilot reported heavy icing,
- Full deicing equipment activated.
Final Report: