Texas

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - San Angelo

MSN:

31-7720015

YOM:

1977

Location:

San Angelo-Mathis Field

Country:

Region:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5680

Captain / Total hours on type:

670.00

Circumstances:

Upon touchdown at San Angelo-Mathis Field Airport, the twin engine airplane swerved then nosed over and came to rest in flames. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Swerved on landing due to improper operation of brakes and/or flight controls on part of the pilot-in-command who delayed in initiating a go-around.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Marquise near Post Oak: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1979 at 0555 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Turbine Aircraft Parts

Registration:

N234MA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Jackson - Ardmore

MSN:

252

YOM:

1973

Location:

Post Oak

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11274

Captain / Total hours on type:

1045.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Jackson, Mississippi, to Ardmore, Oklahoma, the twin engine airplane lost height then entered a dive and crashed near Post Oak. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground due to pilot physical impairment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Blood alcohol level 1,7‰,
- The pilot did not sleep for 48 hours,
- Autopilot on,
- Hyperactive dog aboard.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air in Laredo

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1979 at 1712 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

A. M. Leyendecker

Registration:

N332K

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Laredo - Laredo

MSN:

LJ-79

YOM:

1966

Location:

Laredo

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Captain / Total hours on type:

400.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Laredo Airport, while in a local test flight, one engine stopped. The crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in an open field located near the airport. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both pilots escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during climb due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Martin 404 in Miami

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1979 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Martin 404

Operator:

Alpha Aviation - USA

Registration:

N40408

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pampa - Pampa

MSN:

14108

YOM:

1951

Location:

Miami

Country:

Region:

Eastern Distribution Inc.

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15000

Captain / Total hours on type:

61.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed in the early morning the airport of Pampa-Perry Lefors Field to spray grasshoppers on pasture land in the region of Miami, north Texas. While flying at low height in restricted vision, the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Collision with dirt bank during swath run after the pilot misjudged altitude and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Windshield dirty, restriction vision,
- Sunglare,
- Goggles not used,
- Spray from another aircraft collected on windshield according to the pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-88 Queen Air near Seminole

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1979 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 88 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N707ED

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

El Paso – Lubbock

MSN:

LP-16

YOM:

1966

Location:

Seminole

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA226T Merlin III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

20175

Captain / Total hours on type:

620.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a single engine positioning flight from El Paso to Lubbock. En route, the remaining engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a desert area located in the region of Seminole. Both occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

In-flight engine malfunction and subsequent wheels-up landing caused by a cylinder assembly failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Fire in engine,
- Fire warning system: powerplant,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Single engine ferry flight to repair the other engine.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin III in San Marcos

Date & Time: May 31, 1979 at 1042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5654M

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Marcos - San Marcos

MSN:

T-303

YOM:

1979

Location:

San Marcos

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5300

Captain / Total hours on type:

6.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a local experimentation flight at San Marcos Airport on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During the last segment, at level off, the airplane landed hard and struck the runway surface. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane came on its belly. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Hard landing following improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper level off,
- Overload failure,
- FAA flight test pilot at controls.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Claude

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1979 at 0026 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Hammonds Flying Service

Registration:

N61517

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houma - Amarillo

MSN:

31-7552021

YOM:

1975

Location:

Claude

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7119

Captain / Total hours on type:

7.00

Circumstances:

While on a night cargo flight from Houma to Amarillo, one of the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a prairie. Upon landing, the airplane collided with fences and came to rest. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Collision with fences,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Hidden obstructions,
- Complete failure on one engine,
- Pilot failed to check quantity of fuel in tanks prior to takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith Aerostar 601P) near New Braunfels: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1979 at 1435 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Velocity

Registration:

N9779Q

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Antonio – Lake Charles

MSN:

61-0407-143

YOM:

1977

Location:

New Braunfels

Country:

Region:

Crutcher Resources Corporation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1200

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a flight from San Antonio to Lake Charles, the twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed near New Braunfels, Texas. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent ground collision after the pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Suffered a spatial disorientation,
- One day prior to the accident, flight instructor recommended the pilot not to fly IFR till 10 hours additional dual instruction received.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Alief: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1979 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N88CR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Alief-Andrau Airpark (Houston)

Schedule:

Alief - Alief

MSN:

LJ-514

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region: