North Carolina

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Winston-Salem - Charlotte

MSN:

31-415

YOM:

1968

Location:

Charlotte-Douglas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13950

Captain / Total hours on type:

1870.00

Aircraft flight hours:

7267

Circumstances:

The aircraft was first radar identified about 18 miles north of the airport and was given radar vectors for a right downwind and base to runway 36R. While on a downwind heading 150°, the pilot was assigned a heading of 270° and was queried if the airport was in sight. The pilot responded '...we got it.' However, radar data shows the aircraft continuing the turn through 270° to about 350°. After about 1/2 mile, the aircraft turned left to 250° descending. The turn continued to a southwest heading approximately aligned with a city street that passes south of the airport on a course of 250°. The altitude decreased with a consistent rate to 900 feet when radar contact was lost. Elevation at the approach end of runway 36R is 724 feet. Wreckage distribution was along a 245° heading. A flight inspection of the runway 36R edge lights at night during VFR conditions indicated the lights were not visible beyond 30° of the runway centerline. The pilot got up at 0730 on 11/14.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader in Elizabeth City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Grumman C-1A Trader

Operator:

Registration:

146040

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City

MSN:

YOM:

1958

Location:

Elizabeth City

Country:

Region:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training mission at Elizabeth City Airport consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Cessna 414A Chancellor in Marion

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1983 at 2200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Country Club Homes

Registration:

N5ER

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Marion - Raleigh

MSN:

414A-0037

YOM:

1978

Location:

Marion

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16372

Captain / Total hours on type:

1571.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1582

Circumstances:

During the takeoff run, at 85 knots, the aircraft hit a bump and the pilot stated his forward vision was obstructed by water on the windshield. He instinctively pulled back on the controls and become airborne. He lost sight of the right side set of runway lights and was reportedly flying 'blind.' The aircraft drifted left into trees and came to rest in shallow water in a backwater area 150 feet north of the departure end of runway 10. Many of the runway lights were either not operating or were obstructed. No lights in the last 1000 feet of the runway were both operating and unobstructed. The noaa airport/facility director contains a remark for the airport 'runway subject to flooding after very heavy rains.' This remark does not appear in the Jeppesen 'airport directory' that the pilot was using. After the accident the pilot stated he walked through the eastern end of the runway and found himself 'up to his ankles' in about 3 inches of water. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (f) airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - water,glassy
2. (f) charts/other manuals - inadequate
3. (f) unsafe/hazardous condition warning - not identified - manufacturer
4. (f) airport facilities,runway edge lights - inadequate
5. (f) other airport/runway maintenance - inadequate - airport personnel
6. (f) notams - not issued - airport personnel
7. (c) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
8. (c) unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected - pilot in command
9. (f) light condition - dark night
10. (c) aircraft handling - inadequate - pilot in command
11. (c) visual/aural detection - pilot in command

Final Report:

Ground explosion of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules at Pope AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1983

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

74-1693

Flight Phase:

Parking

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4693

YOM:

1976

Location:

Pope AFB (Fayetteville)

Country:

Region:

Bright Maintenance Corporation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While parked at Pope AFB, the crew started the engine when an explosion occurred. The aircraft caught fire and was totally destroyed, killing all six crew members.

Probable cause:

An APU connected to the aircraft overheat and exploded for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Plymouth

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1982 at 0820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Registration:

N4411W

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

411-0005

YOM:

1963

Location:

Plymouth

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot attempted a takeoff on a wet turf runway and lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft left the runway and collided with trees. Sometime later the aircraft caught fire. The pilot did not cut the switches off. The origin or destination of the flight is unknown and the owner has not been located.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of control - on ground/water
Phase of operation: takeoff - roll/run
Findings
1. (f) terrain condition - wet
2. (c) unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected - pilot in command
3. (c) aborted takeoff - not performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: takeoff - roll/run
Findings
4. (f) object - tree(s)

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Brevard: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1982 at 0514 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Hill-Williford Aviation

Registration:

N59771

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Columbus - Asheville

MSN:

31-7652401

YOM:

1976

Location:

Brevard

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3300

Captain / Total hours on type:

900.00

Aircraft flight hours:

5131

Circumstances:

After a missed approach at Asheville the flight was cleared to the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport at Greer, SC. Enroute to Greer radar contact was lost. In response to a query from Atlanta artcc the pilot verified his position as being on the 235° radial of Spartanburg VOR and 11.9 miles southwest. He was then cleared to descend to 2,700 feet and execute an ILS approach. The aircraft impacted a mountain at the 3,200 feet level. The wreckage was found on the 235° radial of the Sugarloaf mountain vortac and at 24 miles. Review of the aircraft's logbook revealed that mechanical irregularities reported were not corrected for long periods of time. No corrective action was listed for an "outer marker inop aural and visual (needs to be fixed now, since ADF is also inoperative) and 'light in #2 VOR head out'. The marker beacon was described as inoperative on three dates beginning 22 August 1981 and the ADF was described as inoperative on seven dates beginning 8 May 1981. No corrective action was listed for any entry about the marker beacon or ADF. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - normal
Findings
1. (f) comm/nav equipment - inoperative
2. (f) maintenance - not performed - company maintenance personnel
3. (f) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted - pilot in command
4. (f) company-induced pressure - company/operator management
5. (f) light condition - dark night
6. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
7. (f) missed approach - performed - pilot in command
8. (c) ifr procedure - improper - pilot in command
9. (c) flight/navigation instrument(s) - improper use of - pilot in command
10. (f) company-induced pressure - company/operator management
11. (f) excessive workload (task overload) - pilot in command

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Elizabeth City

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1982 at 0910 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 24

Operator:

Registration:

N13MJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Elizabeth City - Elizabeth City

MSN:

24-314

YOM:

1975

Location:

Elizabeth City

Country:

Region:

Ralph Lowry Aircraft Sales

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7500

Captain / Total hours on type:

1000.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2415

Circumstances:

After the two aircraft were established at 14,000 feet during a target towing operation, N13MJ (lead aircraft) maintained straight and level flight on autopilot while N47MJ (chase) came up along the left side to observe the target on the left wing. While moving forward and looking out the right window to see a light on the target, the chase pilot lost sight of the lead aircraft. He reduced power and in the process of backing away, the chase aircraft struck the top of the flying tail of the lead acft with its radome jamming the flying tail. The lead aircraft pitched down, lost about 6,000 feet and then recovered. During the emergency landing of the lead aircraft, it pitched over when the gear was extended on short final, struck the ground hard short of the runway, bounced and started porpoising. As the pilot added power for a go-around, the aircraft started to roll. Power was reduced and about 5,000 feet down the runway, the gear collapsed causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. The pilot of the chase aircraft was not military trained and had no formal formation flight training.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: midair collision
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (c) aircraft handling - improper - pilot of other aircraft
2. (c) clearance - not maintained - pilot of other aircraft
3. (f) lack of total experience in type operation - pilot of other aircraft
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
4. (c) horizontal stabilizer surface - distorted
5. (c) flight control,elevator - jammed
----------
Occurrence #3: altitude deviation,uncontrolled
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
----------
Occurrence #4: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
Findings
6. Precautionary landing - performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #5: main gear collapsed
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
7. Go-around - initiated - pilot in command
8. Aborted takeoff - performed - pilot in command
9. Landing gear,main gear - overload
10. Landing gear,main gear - failure,total
11. Landing gear,nose gear - overload
12. Landing gear,nose gear - failure,total

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Wilmington: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1981 at 1513 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N7318L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Wilmington-New Hanover County

Schedule:

Fayetteville - Wilmington

MSN:

31P-71

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

S. A. International Trading Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2453

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, departed Fayetteville, NC, on a flight to Wilmington to demonstrate the airplane to potential customers. After being cleared for a VOR approach to runway 34, the pilot started the descent in bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. In severe turbulences, control was lost and the airplane stalled and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Stall on approach after the pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulences. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Turbulence associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility 3/4 of a mile or less,
- Lightning in vicinity of accident,
- Wind gusting 27 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340A in Chapel Hill: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1981 at 1910 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

Registration:

N8682K

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Chapel Hill-Horace Williams

Schedule:

Washington DC – Chapel Hill

MSN:

340A-0617

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region: