Cessna 208A Caravan

While cruising by night at an altitude of 11,000 feet on a cargo flight from Christchurch to Wellington, the pilot encountered icing conditions. The airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in the sea off Kaikoura. Both occupants were killed.

While cruising on a scheduled cargo flight in IMC the pilot encountered moderate to severe turbulence near an area where weather cells could have been observed on the aircraft's radar. The pilot reversed course, declared an emergency and lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, collided with terrain and was destroyed. The recently hired pilot had completed the FAA approved ground and flight training program in the aircraft. During the pilot's recent training, neither the FAA nor the operator required the pilot to demonstrate proficiency in unusual attitude recoveries or have knowledge in the operation of the aircraft's weather radar. Company employees, which included the pilot's husband, stated that the pilot had no previous experience with weather radar and did not understand the weather radar installed in this aircraft. They further stated that the pilot appeared to be tired. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

After leveling at 5,500 feet, the standby power annunciator light illuminated, followed by loss of oil pressure. The pilot turned back toward the airport, but there was a progressive loss of engine power and the prop went to a feathered position. During an emergency landing at night, the aircraft hit a power line and trees, then crashed. During an engine teardown, disassembly of the reduction gearbox scavenge pump revealed that a retaining nut and tang washer (w/i the scavenge pump) had backed off and lodged between the spur gears, which resulted in a sheared scavenge pump drive shaft. In turn, this resulted in the loss of oil pressure and allowed the prop to feather.

After takeoff from Monrovia-Roberts, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in the sea few hundred meters offshore. Two passengers were rescued while 16 other occupants were killed.

While on a day/VFR flight from Ontario, CA to Las Vegas, NV, the aircraft collided with mountainous terrain near the top of a 6,500 feet peak. Radar data showed that approximately 20 minutes before the accident, the aircraft began a gradual descent from about 10,000 feet. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft, engine or autopilot was found. The pilot had a rest period on the previous day, but the investigation did not determine whether he had obtained any sleep before a 1700 pst flight. After the 1700 pst flight, he voluntarily flew on a late night flight with another company. That flight was delayed in returning and did not land at Ontario until about 0500 pst the next morning. Approximately 41 min later, the pilot took off on the accident flight.

A total loss of power was experienced on takeoff due to the fuel selector being in the off position. The pilot attempted to restart the engine during which time the aircraft entered a stall and collided with the terrain. According to passengers the pilot did not use a checklist nor where the passengers briefed before the flight. The wreckage was visible from the airport control tower but was not located until several hours after the accident by air search. Two passengers were seriously injured while a third passenger and the pilot were killed.

As the pilot and 16 jumpers departed on a skydiving flight, the engine lost power at approximately 300 feet agl. The aircraft then banked steeply left, spiraled in a steep nose down attitude and crashed. An exam revealed fuel in the tanks was contaminated with water and foreign material with the appearance of brown algae. Milky fluid (approximately 65% jet fuel and 34% water) was found in the engine fuel control, as well as iron contaminants. Dark stringy material was found in the fuel filters. The aircraft had been refueled from 55 gallons drums which contained contaminated fuel. The drums were stored upright and rain water could leak thru the filler caps. N551CC had a history of fuel contamination which on occasions caused the fuel bypass indicator to display. Reportedly, the stall warning circuit breaker had been disengaged on other occasions, so as not to startle the jumpers; however, due to damage, its preimpact position could not be verified. Aircraft was estimated to be 370 lbs over its max weight limit and 1 foot forward of the cg limit. The nine pax seats had been removed to haul up to 18 jumpers. Pax seat belts were not used. Lack of FAA surveillance was noted. All 17 occupants were killed.