Nevada

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Yuma to Spokane with an intermediate stop in Beatty, Nevada, and was carrying a load consisting of two tyres and a spare engine. Following several non standard turns in traffic pattern, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

The approach to Winnemucca was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On final, the airplane struck the ground below airport elevation and crashed. The pilot and a passenger were killed while a second passenger was seriously injured.

On approach to Henderson-Sky Harbor Airport, the pilot encountered technical problems with the fuel supply system. On final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in a rocky area located one mile short of runway. The aircraft burst into flames and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Las Vegas-McCarran Airport. During the takeoff roll, just after V1 speed, the pilot-in-command started the rotation. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

After takeoff from runway 25, at an altitude of 100 feet above ground level, the aircraft pitched up and reached a maximum pitch attitude of 50° to 75°. The aircraft crossed the highway while climbing to an altitude of about 400 feet, 2,000 feet from the departure end of the runway. It then began what witnesses described as a 'wingover' or 'sudden violent nose down turn' to the right, recrossed the highway and crashed in an almost level pitch attitude while in a slight right bank and a slight left yaw. Witnesses to the accident were attracted to the aircraft by the high pitch attitude after takeoff. During the post takeoff maneuver, the engines were reported to be running at a high power setting. The aircraft crashed about one minute after the takeoff roll began; it came to rest in an open field about 1,150 feet past the departure end of the runway and about 650 feet to the right of the runway. The impact heading was 025° magnetic. All 10 occupants were killed, among them Australian tourists.

On approach to Beatty, one of the engine failed. The pilot elected to make a go-around when the airplane lost height, struck power cables and crashed. All four occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On approach to Elko, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, snow falls, turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm. He descended below the MDA until the twin engine airplane struck a hill located few miles from the airport. The wreckage was found three days later on December 2. Both occupants have been killed.

The crew departed Elko Airport in the early evening on a fire fighting mission in the region of Eureka. While flying at low height, the pilot-in-command initiated a sharp turn when control was lost. The airplane crashed in a hilly terrain and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Both pilots were killed.

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a drug smuggling flight from San Luis, Mexico, carrying marijuana. While approaching Searchlight by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck power cables 2,5 miles short of runway. After impact, the airplane lost height and crashed in flames. All three occupants were killed.

The crew departed Nellis AFB in Las Vegas on a flight to Barbers Point NAS, Hawaii, with an intermediate stop at North Island-Halsey Field NAS in San Diego. Few minutes after takeoff, the airplane went through a thunderstorm area and encountered heavy turbulences. The pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a desert area located 10 miles northwest of Searchlight, Nevada. The airplane was totally destroyed and debris scattered on more that half a mile. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew (VP-17):
Lt Timothy D. Bailing,
Lt Norman L. Johnson,
Ltjg Henry J. McGreevey,
Adj1 Ambrose Ordonia,
Adj1 Johnny D. Shelton,
Atn3 Cletus L. Morrison,
Aw3 John D. Maas,
Aw3 John W. Schmitz,
Aw3 Michael A. Silvers,
Aw3 Bruce E. Weaver.