Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Scott M. Brunke

Registration:

N7277R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wichita – Grand Rapids

MSN:

P-318

YOM:

1975

Location:

Wichita-Beechcraft Field

Kansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3600

Captain / Total hours on type:

60.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1100

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, the left engine began to progressively lose power and was shut down. The aircrew notified Beech Tower of the problem and reported they would like to return and land. The aircraft was observed on final approach to runway 18 with the gear extended and the left prop stopped. Before landing, the aircraft began veering to the left. It crossed over the end of the airport at about 40 feet agl and 300 feet left (east) of the runway. The left wing and nose dropped and the aircraft impacted the ramp, left wing first. The aircraft then skidded across the ramp on a heading of 160° and collided with and damaged three other aircraft; a Beechcraft F33A registered N1833S; another Beechcraft 60 Duke registered N6747D and a Beechcraft 58 registered N5800B. An investigation revealed that the #2 exhaust valve lifter had become flat and the #2 exhaust valve had failed from fatigue. Both pilots escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - mech failure/malf
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
1. (c) engine assembly, valve,intake - other
2. (c) engine assembly, valve,intake - fatigue
3. Propeller feathering - performed - pilot in command
4. Performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
5. Precautionary landing - performed - pilot in command
6. (c) airspeed (VMC) - not maintained - pilot in command

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke off Santa Monica

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1982 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ralph E. Phillips Consulting Engineers

Operator:

Registration:

N726RP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Santa Monica – Oceano

MSN:

P-65

YOM:

1969

Location:

Santa Monica

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1407

Captain / Total hours on type:

100.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1843

Circumstances:

At about 700 feet msl the pilot reported to Santa Monica tower that his left eng had failed. He immediately feathered the left prop and continued to climb, planning to attempt a restart before returning to land. At about 1,000 feet msl the pilot determined that the aircraft was no longer climbing. His airspeed was below the single engine best rate of climb speed and he felt a power loss in the right engine. He put the nose down and feathered the right prop. The aircraft struck the water 2,000 yards from the Santa Monica pier. Life guards were on the scene with a rescue boat when the pilot surfaced.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined
----------
Occurrence #2: ditching
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
2. (c) aircraft performance,two or more engines - failure,total
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Driggs: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1980 at 0007 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N17JC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Novato – Reno – Driggs

MSN:

P-223

YOM:

1973

Location:

Driggs-Reed Memorial

Idaho

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1250

Captain / Total hours on type:

600.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Novato Airport, California, at 1830LT on November 26 with five passengers and one pilot on board. A fuel stop was completed at Reno Airport then the airplane proceeded to the northeast. While descending to Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport by night and foggy conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent crash after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation while continuing VFR flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Pilot engaged in normal work-day activities before departing Novato at 1830LT.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke off Pompano Beach

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1980 at 0917 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N354D

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Fort Lauderdale – Freeport

Location:

Pompano Beach

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1826

Captain / Total hours on type:

109.00

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale-Executive Airport, while climbing, both engines failed. The pilot elected to ditch the aircraft off Pompano Beach. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- Complete failure both engines.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Hayden: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1979 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Vernon E. Faulconer

Registration:

N6030S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Denver - Hayden

MSN:

P-328

YOM:

1975

Location:

Hayden-Yampa Valley

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12800

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a corporate flight from Denver to Hayden-Yampa Valley Airfield, Colorado. On approach, he encountered poor weather conditions due to low ceiling and fog. At an altitude of 7,200 feet, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed in flames 3,3 nm from the runway 10 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Zero visibility.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke near Jackson: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1978 at 2046 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

McCart Aviation

Registration:

N135D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers (Allen C. Thompson)

Schedule:

Montgomery - Tulsa

MSN:

P-7

YOM:

1968

Location:

Mississippi

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Captain / Total hours on type:

60.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was completing a demo flight from Montgomery, Alabama, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, carrying seven passengers and a pilot. While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet in icing conditions, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to divert to Jackson-Municipal Airport. On descent, the aircraft went out of control and crashed few miles from Jackson Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled collision with ground on final approach due to powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Fog,
- Complete failure on one engine,
- Weather briefing included freezing level 13,000 to 15,000 feet,
- Cruising altitude 14,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Faribault: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1978 at 0758 LT

Type of aircraft:

Southwest Aircraft Leasing

Operator:

Registration:

N777HH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Olivia - Lafayette

MSN:

P-109

YOM:

1969

Location:

Faribault

Minnesota

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3209

Captain / Total hours on type:

338.00

Circumstances:

En route from Olivia to Lafayette, Indiana, while in normal cruise, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The airplane went out of control, entered an uncontrolled descent, suffered a general disintegration and crashed in an open field. All six occupants were killed. It was determined that the pilot departed Olivia with the aircraft's weather radar inoperative.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure and subsequent uncontrolled descent after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather radar inoperative.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Palm Desert: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1976 at 1455 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Chartair - USA

Registration:

N37D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Diego – Palm Springs

MSN:

P-335

YOM:

1975

Location:

Palm Desert

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4900

Captain / Total hours on type:

38.00

Circumstances:

En route from San Diego to Palm Springs, weather conditions deteriorated and the twin engine airplane entered a thunderstorm area with severe turbulences and strong winds. The right empennage assembly and the right outboard wing panel failed in flight, causing the airplane to enter an uncontrolled descent and to crash in flames near Palm Desert. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent after the pilot exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Windshear,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Overload failure,
- Continued VFR flight in adverse weather conditions,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast,
- Gusts 80 knots,
- Severe turbulence was reported in area.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Houston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1975 at 2130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Salvador Esquino

Registration:

N8794R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Houston-George Bush-Intercontinental

Schedule:

Brownsville - Houston

MSN:

P-294

YOM:

1974

Location:

Texas

Country:

Region: