Crash of a Lockheed L-1649 Starliner in Las Vegas

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1968 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N7314C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1016
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
96
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
19250
Captain / Total hours on type:
1700.00
Circumstances:
After liftoff at McCarran Airport, while in initial climb, the crew raised the landing gear when two engines suffered a simultaneous loss of power. The captain initiated an immediate landing and the airplane belly landed on the runway and slid for few dozen yards before coming to rest. All 104 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Aircraft improperly serviced by ground crew,
- Fuel contamination, improper fuel grade,
- Premature liftoff,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Erroneously serviced with jet fuel,
- Aircraft airborne prior to V2 speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 6BA in Las Vegas: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1968 at 0335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4040B
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
04328
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
17091
Captain / Total hours on type:
348.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Las Vegas-McCarran Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it was reported that the aircraft caught fire during initial climb and crashed following an uncontrolled descent. It is believed that the fire of undetermined origin beneath cockpit floorboard.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R5D-2 on Mt Tobin: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1968 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
50850
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Quantico - Buckley - Seattle
MSN:
10427
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet on a flight from Buckley AFB, Denver, and Seattle, the navigator informed ATC about difficulties to maintain the assigned altitude and was cleared to descend to 10,500 feet. Few minutes later, the copilot reported icing conditions to ATC and requested the permission to gain altitude. About 20 minutes later, while cruising at the altitude of 10,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Tobin (2,980 meters high). The wreckage was found few hours later about 300 meters below the summit and all 19 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was not the consequence of icing conditions but a loss of control caused by atmospheric downdrafts.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Las Vegas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1966 at 0928 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N280E
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
560-207
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
16754
Captain / Total hours on type:
10.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Las Vegas-McCarran Airport, while in initial climb, both engines lost power. The pilot informed ATC and requested permission to return for a safe landing but realized it would not be possible. He raised the undercarriage and attempted a belly landing in an open field. The airplane crash landed near the airport and came to rest. The pilot was killed and all five passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Partial loss of power on both engines due to fuel contamination with water. Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The aircraft was improperly loaded as at the time of the accident, it was overloaded by 532 pounds.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Minden

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1965 at 1825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N9506Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
AF-375
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5200
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Minden-Douglas County Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the airplane was written off.
Probable cause:
Stall caused by an insufficient climb speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F-27F in Las Vegas

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1965 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N757L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Las Vegas
MSN:
54
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
15167
Captain / Total hours on type:
3765.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8791
Circumstances:
A full flap landing was carried out, followed by flap-retraction to practice a no-flap takeoff. The Fairchild veered left upon rotation and cartwheeled off the runway, coming to rest 557 feet left of the runway and 6000 feet from the takeoff end. It appeared that the right inboard and outboard flaps were fully extended; the left inboard flap was extended 17 degrees and the left outboard flap was fully retracted.
Probable cause:
An asymmetrical flap condition during takeoff caused by foreign object jamming of the flap gear box and malfunction of the rotary flap actuator assembly. Inadequate maintenance and inspection. Inadequate function of the asymmetrical flap warning indicator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S near Elko: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1965 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5970C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
A-845
YOM:
1952
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4900
Circumstances:
En route, weather conditions worsened with snow falls, thunderstorm activity and turbulences. In low visibility, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Elko. Due to poor weather conditions, SAR operations were hampered and eventually suspended few days later. The wreckage was found on 13 May 1965 in an isolated area. The pilot was killed. The aircraft was owned by David E. Gast.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following a powerplant failure for undetermined rasons. The pilot in command continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions (turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm, downdrafts and updrafts).
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F-27A near Las Vegas: 29 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1964 at 2025 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N745L
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Phoenix – Las Vegas
MSN:
29
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
BO114
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Captain / Total flying hours:
11171
Captain / Total hours on type:
4055.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3249
Copilot / Total hours on type:
811
Aircraft flight hours:
14401
Circumstances:
Weather was poor near Las Vegas with indefinite ceiling at 500 feet, sky obscured, 900 m visibility and light snow. Flight 114 was flying a VOR/DME-3 approach when the plane descended below altitude minima. At 9.7 DME, at an elevation of 3575 feet msl the plane struck rising terrain and crashed. The flight should have been at 4300 feet msl at that point. It appeared that the VOR/DME-3 approach procedure was relatively new, having become effective on October 3, 1964. Until November 15 no approaches using this procedure had been flown. The approach chart depiction for the segment of the approach from the 15 mile fix to the 6 mile fix displayed no descent information on the profile section. However, the profile did show a solid horizontal line between the 6 mile fix and the 3 mile fix, with an altitude of 3,100 feet. Further, the solid line was defined in the Chart Legend as "Flight Path," which implied that a descent to 3,100 feet was proper once the fix to which the flight has been cleared is reached.
Probable cause:
The misinterpretation of the approach chart by the captain which resulted in a premature descent below obstructing terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Austin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1964 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N152Z
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
AF-264
YOM:
1953
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4130
Captain / Total hours on type:
1044.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local crop spraying mission on forest located in the region of Austin, Nevada. While flying at low height, the airplane went our of control and crashed in a wooded area. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident may have been the result of an incapacitation of the pilot. Nevertheless, the exact cause off the accident could not be determined. A post mortem disclosed heart condition which could not be proved or disproved as factor or cause.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Tonopah

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1964 at 2005 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N61350
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Burbank – Hawthorne
MSN:
4535
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
HNA707
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
8209
Circumstances:
The DC-3 was cruising at FL115 between Burbank and Hawthorne when a no. 2 engine failure forced the crew to shut the engine down and feathered the propeller. At 20:50 EDT the crew radioed Tonopah, NV and said they wanted to make an emergency landing there. At 20:58 EDT the no. 1 engine lost power. The propeller couldn't be feathered and an emergency glide was initiated towards Mud Lake airfield. A 2000 feet/min rate of descent was necessary to maintain a 110 knots airspeed. All electrical and hydraulic power was lost during the descent. The DC-3 struck the ground in a 10-20 degree nose down attitude during the flareout and overturned. It appeared that there were numerous maintenance irregularities, a.o. improperly adjusted valve clearances, improperly adjusted voltage regulators and improperly installed cylinders. The plane was equipped with 2 28V dc generators and one 12V battery. All electrical components other than the starters were designed for 12V dc operation. It also appeared that all maintenance was performed by companies other than the operator. In many instances inadequate and incomplete records failed to reflect work accomplished.
Probable cause:
In flight failure of both engines caused by a fatigue failure on the right engine No.12 cylinder and failure of the left front master rod bearing, necessitating a night emergency landing on unlighted terrain. Inadequate maintenance and inspection.