Texas

Site:

Schedule:

Monterrey - Laredo

MSN:

25028

YOM:

1968

Location:

Laredo

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6042

Captain / Total hours on type:

533.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Laredo Airport on a flight from Monterrey, the airplane stalled and crash landed. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Stall on final approach after the pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Several witnesses stated that the pilot appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E90 King Air in Mineral Wells: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1981 at 1431 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Butler-Johnson

Registration:

N114K

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mineral Wells - Shreveport

MSN:

LW-122

YOM:

1975

Location:

Mineral Wells

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8500

Captain / Total hours on type:

1500.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Mineral Wells, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left, lost altitude and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure during initial climb after the left wing detached. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor/inadequate design on part of the production-design personnel,
- Rules, regulations, standards personnel,
- Airframe - wings: attachment fittings, bolts,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Corrosion,
- Wing separation in flight,
- Lack of company or FAA requirement for adequate inspection procedures,
- Corrosion cracks found on left wing lower attachment bolt.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2-60 Marquise in McLeod: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1981 at 1653 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Brigadier Industries

Registration:

N233MA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dallas - Thomson

MSN:

251

YOM:

1973

Location:

McLeod

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2526

Captain / Total hours on type:

155.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 21,000 feet, the pilot was cleared to climb to 23,000 feet when the airplane's speed dropped about 53 knots. The airplane entered a rapid descent and was observed spinning until it crashed in a field. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall and rapid descent due to improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Incorrect weather briefing,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A80 Queen Air near Madisonville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1981 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Universal Airways - USA

Registration:

N100UV

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Houston - Dallas

MSN:

LD-151

YOM:

1964

Location:

Madisonville

Country:

Region:

George M. Campbell Oil & Gas Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

398

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude in marginal weather conditions on a flight from Houston to Dallas, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive. During the descent, wings and stabs separated and the aircraft crashed near Madisonville. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- The pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Wings: spars,
- Flight control surfaces: horizontal stabilizer, attachments,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Aircraft observed falling from clouds with wings and stabs separated,
- Pilot lacked recent instrument experience and multi-engine instrument time.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Winkler County

Date & Time: May 22, 1981 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Registration:

N4200C

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Antonio - Winkler County

MSN:

414-0516

YOM:

1974

Location:

Winkler County

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4441

Captain / Total hours on type:

1456.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Winkler County Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Stall on final approach after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- Wind gusts to 18 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Hammond: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1981 at 0726 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Houston Piper Aviation

Registration:

N3544J

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Houston - Mineral Wells

MSN:

31-8012004

YOM:

1980

Location:

Hammond

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Circumstances:

En route from Houston to Mineral Wells, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. While flying in adverse weather conditions, he suffered a spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field near Hammond, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent crash after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Fog,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility 2 miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise in Lajitas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1981 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Viking Aviation

Registration:

N500GL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lajitas - Houston

MSN:

579

YOM:

1973

Location:

Lajitas

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA226T Merlin III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Captain / Total hours on type:

4400.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Lajitas Airfield, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables then crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot and one passenger were killed while eight other occupants were injured, five of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Collision with wires/poles during initial climb after the pilot selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot misused or failed to use flaps,
- The pilot failed to abort takeoff,
- Airport conditions,
- High density altitude, about 4,800 feet,
- Rough/uneven terrain,
- 1% upslope runway,
- Aircraft near max gross weight,
- Aircraft CofG at limit,
- Wind gusting 15 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA227TT Merlin IIIC in San Marcos

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1981 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1011R

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Marcos - San Marcos

MSN:

T-303E

YOM:

1979

Location:

San Marcos

Country:

Region:

Crutcher Resources Corporation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7922

Captain / Total hours on type:

112.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local test flight at San Marcos Airport. Following several circuits, the crew initiated a new approach with the copilot at controls. Due to an improper level off, the twin engine airplane landed hard and came to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Hard landing caused by an improper level off on part of the pilot at controls and an inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command. This was a manufacturer's test flight with an FAA copilot at controls.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 100 King Air in Houston

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1981 at 1540 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N999CR

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houston - Dallas

MSN:

B-12

YOM:

1970

Location:

Houston-William P. Hobby

Country:

Region: