Beechcraft H18

Operator:

Allen County Airlines

Registration:

N729F

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Olathe-Johnson County (New Century)

Schedule:

Olathe - Iola

MSN:

BA-706

YOM:

1964

Location:

Kansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3566

Captain / Total hours on type:

1647.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Iola Airport in poor weather conditions on a cargo flight to Olathe-Johnson County Airport. En route, communication systems (transmitter/receiver) failed and on approach, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Stall and subsequent crash after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Communications and navigation equipment: transmitters and/or receivers,
- Communications failure,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Lost radio transmitter,
- Destination NDB/ILS glideslope inoperative,
- Low visibility on approach,
- Ice on wings and stabilizers.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Brownsville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1978 at 2000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Larry Johnson Air Services

Operator:

Registration:

N204CC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Brownsville-South Padre Island

Schedule:

Brownsville - Springfield

MSN:

BA-733

YOM:

1965

Location:

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3550

Captain / Total hours on type:

258.00

Circumstances:

Few minutes after a night takeoff from Brownsville Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames three miles from the airfield. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was en route to Springfield, Missouri, on a cargo flight.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and ground collision for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility less than a mile.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Saint Louis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1978 at 1052 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Astro Airways

Registration:

N58JM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Pine Bluff - Saint Louis

MSN:

BA-695

YOM:

1964

Location:

Saint Louis-Downtown

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

865

Captain / Total hours on type:

80.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Saint Louis-Downtown Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility with low ceiling and icing conditions. Too low, the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in Centreville, near the airport. Three passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Collision with wires/poles on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Visibility three miles or less,
- Fog,
- Hit wires during localizer approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 near Wrangell: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Galaxy Aviation

Registration:

C-GWUY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ketchikan – Wrangell

MSN:

BA-655

YOM:

1963

Location:

Wrangell

Alaska

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:

6.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Wrangell on a pleasure flight from Ketchikan, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. At an altitude of 3,000 feet, the twin engine airplane struck a mountain and crashed. The wreckage was found few hours later and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 into the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Service

Registration:

N1900G

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Hilo - Papeete

MSN:

BA-742

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7000

Circumstances:

While in normal cruise, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine. He was able to feather the propeller but unable to maintain a safe altitude as the aircraft was heavy. The twin engine airplane later crashed into the ocean. SAR operations were conducted but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Saint Augustine: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1974 at 1025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Misener Marine

Registration:

N500MM

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saint Petersburg – Cocoa Beach – Saint Augustine

MSN:

BA-715

YOM:

1964

Location:

Saint Augustine

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9293

Captain / Total hours on type:

100.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Saint Augustine Airport, the passenger reported to ATC that pilot had no control over aircraft after controls frozen. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames, killing both occupants. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire, precluding determination of cause.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on approach for undetermined reason. The following findings were reported:
- Fog,
- The passenger reported pilot had not control over aircraft,
- Controls frozen,
- Extensive fire damage precluded determination of cause.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Iron Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1974 at 0151 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N72FA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lansing - Iron Mountain

MSN:

BA-631

YOM:

1962

Location:

Iron Mountain

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12345

Captain / Total hours on type:

4000.00

Circumstances:

During a night approach to Iron Mountain Airport, the pilot descended below the MDA when the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on a night approach following improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- High obstructions,
- Descended below clearance limit of 3,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Salvador: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

2891

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Salvador-Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhães (ex Dois de Julho)

MSN:

BA-678

YOM:

1964

Location:

Bahia

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Salvador-Dois de Julho Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed few km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Iron Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1974 at 0145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N73FA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lansing - Iron Mountain

MSN:

BA-649

YOM:

1963

Location:

Iron Mountain

Michigan

Country:

Region: