Crash of a Cessna 401 in Skive

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
OY-AGP
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
401-0299
YOM:
1969
Location:
Skive
Midtjylland
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Skive Airport. There were no casualties. Believed to be operated by a Danish 'CM' operator.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Die: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1971 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
F-BRPU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris - Cannes
MSN:
401-0127
YOM:
1968
Location:
Die
Drôme
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1123LT bound for Cannes, carrying a passenger, the CEO of Laboratoires UPSA Camille Bru, and a pilot. While flying over Drôme at an altitude of 3,000 meters in good weather conditions, the airplane collided with a Robin DR-308 registered F-BSLO. The pilot, sole on board, departed Gap Airfield at 1230LT bound for Chartres via Moulins, towing two gliders on behalf of the Bertin de Chatenay Aeroclub. Immediately after the collision, the pilots of both gliders were able to detach and landed safely. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of Mt Salaure, at an altitude of 1,100 meters. Both aircraft were totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 401A in Fort Lauderdale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1970 at 1531 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
N6235Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Augusta – Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
401A-0035
YOM:
1969
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2575
Captain / Total hours on type:
418.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, the pilot was too close to a preceding Boeing 727 and was cautioned by ATC about wake turbulences. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach because the pilot failed to follow the approved procedures. The airplane encountered turbulences approximately 95 seconds behind and below a landing Boeing 727 flight path. The pilot was cautioned by tower about wake turbulences.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401B near Yakima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1970 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
N7917Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Omak – Troutdale
MSN:
401B-0017
YOM:
1969
Location:
Yakima
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7029
Captain / Total hours on type:
513.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night under IFR mode with the autopilot system ON, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Yakima. The wreckage was found a day later. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot has been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was 10 miles of the intended course for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Spruce Pine: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1970 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Thompson Street
Registration:
N4077Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
401-0177
YOM:
1969
Location:
Spruce Pine
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7686
Captain / Total hours on type:
1400.00
Circumstances:
En route, the left engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck a tree and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The pilot-in-command misjudged clearance,
- High obstructions,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Cause of the left engine malfunction not determined due to ground fire.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401A in Morrisville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1970 at 0001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Roberts Construction
Registration:
N401RA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huntsville – Morrisville
MSN:
401A-0117
YOM:
1969
Location:
Morrisville
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
3247
Captain / Total hours on type:
297.00
Circumstances:
On final approach in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, struck trees and crashed in an open field located short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot-in-command. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Improper compensation for wind coditions,
- Sudden windshift,
- Erratic flight path after passing outer marker,
- ILS straight-in approach,
- Strong windshift reported at approximately 400 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Piketon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1969 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
N8167F
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cincinnati - Parkersburg
MSN:
401-0236
Location:
Piketon
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
8477
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine caught fire that spread to the right wing. An aileron detached, causing the airplane to be uncontrollable. The pilot informed ATC and elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in an open field located in Piketon. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent following the failure of the right engine turbocharger in flight. Escaping heat ignited fuel and oil lines caused the aileron to burn and detach. The following factors were reported:
- Powerplant, engine accessories failure,
- Material failure, fire in engine and wing,
- Separation in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Snaaskerke

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
D-IFLI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
401-0033
YOM:
1967
Location:
Ostend
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Ostend Airport, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The twin engine aircraft came to rest in a field located in Snaaskerke, about 4 km southeast of the airfield. The pilot was injured and the airplane was written off.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Hopewell

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1968 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
N348E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Hopewell
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6976
Captain / Total hours on type:
169.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Hopewell Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility and was unable to locate the runway lights. He failed to execute a missed approach and continued to descend until the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All five occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Low ceiling,
- Obstruction to vision,
- The pilot did not execute a missed approach when runway was not in sight,
- The visibility was reduced due to smoke from a local factory and fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Reading: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1968 at 2018 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Teterboro Aircraft
Registration:
N3248Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
401-0048
YOM:
1968
Location:
Mohrsville
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
1117
Captain / Total hours on type:
12.00
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the pilot encountered severe turbulences when control was lost. The twin engine aircraft entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in Mohrsville, north of Reading. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions and attempted operation beyond experience/ability level. Turbulence associated with clouds and/or thunderstorm activity exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft, causing the horizontal stabilizer to buckle on both sides from positive air loads.
Final Report:
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