Texas

Schedule:

Amarillo - Houston

MSN:

25-138

YOM:

1974

Location:

Amarillo-Rick Husband

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:

3250

Captain / Total hours on type:

920.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, just prior to liftoff, control was lost. The airplane veered off runway and crashed in flames. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Collision with ground during takeoff due to inadequate supervision of flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Simulated conditions,
- Pilot-in-command non CFI,
- Pulled engine at Vr,
- Copilot with no Learjet dual instruction made takeoff.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1977 at 1521 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N74906

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Austin - Galveston

YOM:

1973

Location:

Austin-Robert Mueller

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

996

Captain / Total hours on type:

280.00

Circumstances:

At liftoff, the twin engine rolled to the right and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was slightly injured.

Probable cause:

Stall during takeoff run after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper maintenance,
- Exhaust system: external supercharger,
- Failed to obtain flying speed,
- Premature liftoff,
- Misused or failed to used flaps,
- Weste gate pivot pin p/n 400460-817 missing on right supercharger,
- Past history of power problems.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Normana

Date & Time: May 3, 1977 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Talimena Aircraft

Registration:

N6578L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Austin - McAllen

MSN:

31-503

YOM:

1969

Location:

Normana

Country:

Region:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3100

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the right engine caught fire and failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and completed an intentional wheels-up landing in a pasture. The airplane slid on its belly and came to rest. The pilot was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight due to improper maintenance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Engine structure - valve assemblies missing,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Fire in engine,
- Suspected or known aircraft damage,
- Three valve cover screws missing from both center cylinder on right engine, ten others loose.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise near Austin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1977 at 1602 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Mitsubishi Air

Registration:

N777MA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Angelo - Houston

MSN:

559

YOM:

1972

Location:

Austin

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10800

Captain / Total hours on type:

3900.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled and crashed in flames in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the loss of control and the subsequent accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in McAllen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1977 at 1047 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Victor M. Bernavides

Registration:

N762D

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McAllen - Laredo

MSN:

A-803

YOM:

1952

Location:

McAllen

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA226T Merlin III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13258

Captain / Total hours on type:

2002.00

Circumstances:

Just after takeoff from McAllen-Miller Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane rolled to the left then lost height and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb, stall and uncontrolled descente. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Water in fuel,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Aircraft last refueled on 21 October 1976 and parked outside,
- No witnesses observed preflight inspection.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin IIIA in San Antonio: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1977 at 0054 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Swearingen Aviation

Registration:

N34SM

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Seattle – San Antonio

MSN:

T-263

YOM:

1976

Location:

San Antonio

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18812

Captain / Total hours on type:

283.00

Circumstances:

While approaching San Antonio Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. Too low, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames few miles short of runway 12R. It was destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on initial approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling (200 feet),
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Cleared for ILS approach runway 12R, navigation receiver turned to frequency for ILS approach to runway 03R.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680E in Mineral

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Andan G. Oscar

Registration:

N344V

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

680-0770-46

YOM:

1959

Location:

Mineral

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While completing an illegal drug transportation flight, the pilot elected to land on a private terrain when the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and pilot was not found.

Probable cause:

Collision with wires/poles after the pilot failed to see and avoid objects or obstructions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Illegal flight,
- Aircraft believed burned by pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-117B Skytrain near Victoria: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-117 Skytrain

Operator:

Registration:

N2010

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

18549/34130

YOM:

1945

Location:

Victoria

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane and its crew were engaged in a special operation to disperse sterile screw worms on behalf of the US Department of Agriculture. While flying at an altitude of 5,500 feet in marginal weather conditions and limited visibility, the airplane struck a mountain and was destroyed. All five occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Sachse

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1976 at 2250 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Midwest Air Carrier

Registration:

N2050D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Huntington

MSN:

A-849

YOM:

1952

Location:

Sachse

Country:

Region: