Texas

Country:

Region:

Howard Super Ventura (Howard 500)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4710

Captain / Total hours on type:

15.00

Circumstances:

While cruising over a mountainous area, the twin engine airplane adopted a slight descent until it struck the slope of a mountain located near Fort Hancock. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found. The wreckage was localized on December 9, 1972, in an isolated area. Both occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. It was established that the airplane flew into rising terrain while in a slight descent for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard Super Ventura in Austin

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1972 at 0923 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Beta Leasing

Registration:

N446DD

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Laredo - Dallas

MSN:

5696

YOM:

1943

Location:

Austin-Robert Mueller

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

20470

Captain / Total hours on type:

308.00

Circumstances:

En route from Laredo to Dallas, one of the engine lost power due to oil exhaustion. The pilot was cleared to divert to Austin-Robert Mueller Airport but following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft was not properly aligned. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane suffered hydroplaning then veered off runway and came to rest. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

In-flight engine failure or malfunction. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Wet runway,
- Rain,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Not aligned with runway,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Cause of oil exhaustion not determined,
- Annual maintenance check performed the day before the accident,
- Other runway available,
- Wrong switch used for wipers.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-14 in Fort Worth: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1972 at 0724 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

N3305L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Fort Worth-Greater Southwest (Amon Carter Field)

Schedule:

Fort Worth - Fort Worth

MSN:

45700/11

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

DL9570

Location:

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6220

Captain / Total hours on type:

845.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

7800

Copilot / Total hours on type:

450

Aircraft flight hours:

18998

Circumstances:

The crew (three company pilots and a FAA pilot) were completing a local training flight at Fort Worth-Greater Southwest (Amon Carter Field) Airport. Following a normal approach to runway 13, the airplane passed over the threshold when it rolled left and right, causing the right wing struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane rolled to the right and crashed in flames. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

An encounter with a trailing vortex generated by a preceding "heavy" jet which resulted in an involuntary loss of control of the airplane during final approach. Although cautioned to expect turbulence the crew did not have sufficient information to evaluate accurately the hazard or the possible location of the vortex. Existing FAA procedures for controlling VFR flight did not provide the same protection from a vortex encounter as was provided to flights being given radar vectors in either IFR or VFR conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Carswell AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

58-0048

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Carswell AFB (Fort Worth)

Schedule:

Carswell - Carswell

MSN:

17793/263

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Carswell AFB. During the last segment, while trying to land, the right wing dropped and struck the runway surface. The airplane went out of control, cartwheeled and crashed in flames, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Midland

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1972 at 1310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N4087L

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Midland - Ponca City

Location:

Midland

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13745

Captain / Total hours on type:

627.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Midland Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine caught fire. The pilot declared an emergency and did not feather the propeller. He reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a field and came to rest in flames. All five occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Fire on left engine during initial climb. The following factors were reported:
- Failure of the fuel system: lines and fittings,
- Fuel leak,
- Fuel starvation,
- Engine fire,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Fuel control line leaked, left engine caught fire, unfeathered propeller.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Corpus Christi

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1972 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

N3485

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Corpus Christi - Matamoros

MSN:

1013

Location:

Corpus Christi

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Corpus Christi Airport, the pilot decided to abandon the procedure and started an emergency braking procedure. In unclear circumstances, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The pilot exercised poor judgment and lost control of the airplane in unfavorable wind conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Right cross wind 068 to 112°,
- 070° right crosswind gusting up to 24 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Victoria: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1972 at 0745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Tandy Corporation

Registration:

N658TC

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fort Worth - Victoria

MSN:

25-044

YOM:

1969

Location:

Victoria

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15500

Circumstances:

During a non precision approach to Victoria County-Foster Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with fog. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a pole located 1,7 mile short of runway 12L. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command misjudged altitude,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Lack of altitude awareness of crew on descent into known poor visibility,
- Illusory effect present due to the combination of fog and sun.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) in Victoria

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1971 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Overhead Door Company

Registration:

N7497S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Muskogee - Victoria

MSN:

60-0048-109

YOM:

1970

Location:

Victoria

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:

2250

Captain / Total hours on type:

395.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Victoria Regional Airport, Texas, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and fog. On final, he descended below MDA when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed. All five occupants were injured, two of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Flight and navigation instruments: altimeters,
- Improper clearance/tolerance,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast,
- The pilot descended below minimus, below MDA,
- Altitude read 130-140 feet too high,
- Pilot was not given updated weather by FSS.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in Fort Worth: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1971 at 1305 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

REI Industries

Registration:

N7480S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fort Worth - Fort Worth

MSN:

61-0047-092

YOM:

1970

Location:

Fort Worth-Meacham

Country:

Region: