Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Erie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1989 at 1201 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N478AD
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Erie - Erie
MSN:
P-59
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3100
Captain / Total hours on type:
2100.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed on a local VFR flight at 1117. At 1154 he contacted Erie tower for landing. He then advised the tower at 1159 that he had feathered the right engine. One minute later he reported that the left engine was '...kicking out.' The aircraft stalled into a house 6 miles from the airport, and just short of the shoreline of Lake Erie. No fuel was found in the right wing. 7 gallons were drained from the left wing; no fuel was found in the left engine. Right fuel quantity c/b secured in out position by wire tie; several burned components found on back of right fuel quantity gage pc board. Most recent record of fuel purchase which could be found was for May 25, 1989. A pocket diary was found in the wreckage which contained entries of flight times and fuel quantity notations. The accident occurred at 155 Euclide Avenue, Erie, about six miles east of runway 24 threshold. Both occupants were killed.
Pilot:
Floyd E. Smith.
Passenger:
Elwood Graham.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to assure that the aircraft had an adequate supply of fuel on board for the intended flight. Contributing factors to the accident were an inoperative right fuel quantity gage which resulted in inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, and an inadvertent stall as the pilot attempted to reach a lake shore for an emergency landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Gaston: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1989 at 1642 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N78TW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gastonia – Fort Pierce
MSN:
P-445
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1290
Captain / Total hours on type:
26.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1669
Circumstances:
After obtaining a weather briefing in which he was informed of thunderstorms and current sigmets for his intended route of flight, the pilot elected to depart his home airport on a personal flight. At the time of departure, witnesses indicated the presence of thunderstorms adjacent to the airport. After trying to obtain his IFR clearance from charlotte, the pilot was issued his IFR clearance when approaching Columbia, SC. The pilot had deviated around at least one thunderstorm while approaching Columbia. The pilot had been cleared to climb to his requested altitude of 17,000 feet and had reached 16,400 when the radar return was observed to indicate a descent and then was lost. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the airplane exit the clouds in flames. The evidence indicated that the horizontal tail had separated followed by the wings and other components of the airplane. No evidence of separation due to structural weakening from heating was found. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot exercised questionable judgement in initiating a flight into an area of known thunderstorms. Further, either deliberately or inadvertently entered a thunderstorm and overstressed the airframe structure resulting in an inflight separation of the aerodynamic surfaces.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Moorhead

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1989 at 1139 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5AN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
P-542
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
650
Circumstances:
The aircraft made a hard landing, ran off the right side of the runway and collided with the terrain. Subsequently, the plane erupted in flames and was destroyed, but the pilot and passengers were not injured.
Probable cause:
Improper flare by the pilot during the landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Manassas: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1989 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N98DS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Manassas – Wilmington
MSN:
P-227
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
25130
Aircraft flight hours:
1775
Circumstances:
Witnesses reported the aircraft took off and climbed to about 300 feet while in a wide left turn. According to witnesses, the wings were rocking and erratic engine sounds were noted. The aircraft was turning downwind when it abruptly pitched down, rolled left until inverted, descended and crash. Examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of malfunction, although the left prop had less rotational damage than the right prop. Examination of aircraft records revealed the aircraft was inactive for about 9 years until it was returned to service less than a year before the accident. The aircraft accumulated about 17 hours since it was returned to service. The pilot stated to a witness before the accident that he had not done single engine operation in the aircraft. The aircraft was overloaded more than 200 lbs. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
A loss of aircraft control due to the pilot's failure to maintain minimum engine control speed after a partial loss of power of the left engine for undetermined reasons. The pilot's inexperience in type of aircraft and an over maximum gross weight aircraft were contributing factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Norwood

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1988 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N8PX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norwood – West Bow
MSN:
P-436
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4800
Captain / Total hours on type:
120.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1400
Circumstances:
The pilot had just climbed to 2,500 feet when the right engine started to sputter. When he placed the fuel selector in crossfeed, both engines quit. The pilot elected to land in a field leading to substantial damage to the nose, wings, and tail section of the aircraft. A post crash inspection of fuel system revealed no fuel in the tanks or the fuel metering units for either engine. The pilot stated after the accident that the last time he refueled the aircraft was several weeks before and that it had been flown several times since its last refueling.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: climb
Findings
1. All engines
2. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
3. (c) aircraft preflight - inadequate - pilot in command
4. (c) refueling - not performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
5. Object - tree(s)
6. Wheels up landing - performed - pilot in command
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Pageland: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1988 at 0735 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N21TP
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rock Hill – Pageland
MSN:
P-114
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1250
Aircraft flight hours:
3833
Circumstances:
The airplane was observed to approach the airport from the northwest. As it crossed the northeast end of the runway, it initiated a right turn to cross the runway about the midpoint to a position for a left downwind for landing on runway 5. Its altitude was estimated to be about 200-300 feet above the ground and the landing gear was down. The witness did not observe the airplane further. It collided with the ground about 0.4 miles from the threshold. The morning sun was about 10° above the horizon and was about 33° to the right of the runway centerline. It would have been in the pilot's face during his flight from the last departure point. The landing runway sloped upward from the landing threshold. The lower-than-normal traffic pattern, the sun's position in relation to the airplane flight path, and the runway slope could have caused the pilot to perceive his altitude as being higher than it actually was. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
1. (f) light condition - sunglare
2. (f) terrain condition - uphill
3. (c) proper altitude - misjudged - pilot in command
4. (c) clearance - not maintained - pilot in command
5. (f) visual/aural detection - pilot in command
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Virac: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RP-C1907
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On final approach to Virac Airport runway 24, in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed 12 km from the airfield. All six occupants were killed, among them the politician Moises M. Tapia.

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Santa Rosa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1987 at 1028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7485D
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santa Rosa – South Lake Tahoe
MSN:
P-165
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5505
Circumstances:
The pilot and his wife planned a 30 minutes pleasure flight to Lake Tahoe. Prior to departure the pilot failed to visually inspect the amount of fuel in the right wing tank. The tank was full. The tank's cap probably appeared to be secured when, in fact, because of a unique design characteristic, it was merely resting on top of the filler neck. Upon takeoff rotation the cap came off the filler neck and it was followed by a fuel spray. The pilot responded and stayed in a very low altitude and close-in traffic pattern. He attempted to land immediately. He lost control during the turn to final, stalled and collided with the pavement prior to reaching the threshold. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause(s) of this accident to be the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed on final approach which Resulted in the aircraft stalling.
Findings:
Occurrence #1: miscellaneous/other
Phase of operation: standing - pre-flight
Findings
1. (f) fuel system, cap - not secured
2. (f) aircraft preflight - inadequate - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
Findings
3. (f) fluid, fuel - siphoning
4. (f) precautionary landing - attempted - pilot in command
5. (c) emergency procedure - improper - pilot in command
6. (c) airspeed (vso) - not maintained - pilot in command
7. (f) stall - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Wall

Date & Time: May 27, 1987 at 0851 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4314W
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Angelo – San Antonio
MSN:
P-264
YOM:
1974
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2553
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2645
Circumstances:
Aircraft was destroyed during an attempted off airport emergency landing following a dual engine failure while leveling off at cruise flight. Pilot stated that left engine, then right engine surged and quit as he was leveling off at 9,000 feet msl. At the time of the engine failures the fuel totalizer was reading 60 gallons, but the aircraft fuel gauges were reading empty. Pilot broke out of overcast at 3,500 msl (about 1,200 feet agl) and was unable to find a suitable clear area to land before committing to an emergency landing in trees. Gear was down, flaps were up and neither engine was feathered at impact. Pilot stated that he knew he was out of gas when both engines quit and that he did not attempt an air start. Both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (c) fluid,fuel - exhaustion
2. (c) refueling - disregarded - pilot in command
3. (c) fuel consumption calculations - not performed - pilot in command
4. (c) complacency - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
5. Weather condition - low ceiling
6. Emergency procedure - not performed - pilot in command
7. Propeller feathering - not performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
8. (f) object - tree(s)
9. (f) terrain condition - high obstruction(s)
10. (f) terrain condition - none suitable
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Carp Lake: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1985 at 1538 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N24RT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pontiac – Pellston
MSN:
P-329
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
910
Captain / Total hours on type:
9.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2684
Circumstances:
During arrival, the pilot reported a problem with his #1 nav, but said he would try to make an ILS approach. He said he would return to Pontiac, if his ILS did not work. ARTCC cleared him for the ILS runway 32 approach and instructed him to contact Pellston radio (FSS). At 1525, he called the FSS and reported he was 20 miles south. At approximately 1534, the FSS specialist heard an aircraft fly over, but did not know if it was N24RT. He asked the pilot if he was making a missed approach. The pilot gave a negative reply and reported he was picking up the glide slope, then said he was having trouble with his #1 nav. A witness about 6 miles north and west of the airport saw the aircraft on a northerly heading at about 200 feet agl. About one minute later, the aircraft collided with trees, crashed and burned approximately 8 miles from the airport at an approximately elevation of 900 feet. The airport elevation was 720 feet. The nav equipment was too badly damaged during the accident to be tested. According to the aircraft radio log, the last VOR check was on 9/10/83. The pilot had logged 5.4 hours of instrument time during the previous 6 months, but had not logged any approaches. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: approach
Findings
1. (f) comm/nav equipment - erratic
2. (f) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued - pilot in command
3. (f) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
4. (f) lack of recent instrument time - pilot in command
5. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
6. (f) weather condition - snow
7. (c) ifr procedure - not followed - pilot in command
8. (c) missed approach - not performed - pilot in command
9. (f) object - tree(s)
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report: