Cessna 402

Pilot was executing an non-directional beacon approach to runway 23. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Radar information obtained during the investigation revealed the pilot did not stabilize the airspeed while executing the approach. Witnesses near the accident site indicated they had heard a low flying aircraft at the approximate time of the accident. The wreckage path revealed a gradual descent swath in the trees which terminated with ground impact. Witnesses near the airport stated that the airport was obscured by fog. Both occupants were killed.

On a charter flight from Mombasa to Nairobi, the pilot encountered foggy conditions. While cruising at an insufficient altitude, the twin engine aircraft struck the Malwa Hill located near Machakos. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed, among them eight European tourists; 4 Italians, two French and two Swiss.

During arrival, the flight was cleared for an ILS/DME approach to runway 27. While on the approach, the aircraft crashed in the ocean about 2.7 miles east of the runway threshold. The pilot reported that he was making the approach, using instruments, and landed short for unknown reasons. He received a serious head injury, but was rescued by fishermen who heard the aircraft crash and went to where they heard the voices of the victims in the fog. The 0835 weather at Boston was in part: partial obscuration, 25,000 feet overcast, 4 miles visibility with fog and haze, wind from 140° at 7 knots. Other pilots reported low ceilings and a fog bank in the vicinity of the crash site. The captain survived while the copilot died.

This aircraft disappeared on a flight from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Bimini, Bahamas. After departure, the aircraft flight plan was activated by radio. This was the last communication with the aircraft. An itap radar readout revealed an aircraft flight that departed at the appropriate time. This target headed for Bimini, and after about 10 minutes, slowed to 90 knots airspeed. About 4 minutes later the target entered a 5,400 fpm rate of descent and disappeared off radar. Two witnesses saw an aircraft crash into the water near Bimini between 0830 and 0900 on 3/31. The missing aircraft departed Fort Lauderdale at 0823 on 3/31/84. Th aircraft and all six occupants were not recovered. The injury index and acft damage are presumed.

The aircraft collided with trees and the ground during flight in adverse weather. There is no record of the pilot receiving a pre-flight briefing and no flight plan was filed. Witnesses heard an aircraft flying low followed by a loud thud. About 16 miles north at Sarasota, FL, the 2128 est weather was: 200 feet partial obscuration, visibility 3 miles with fog. Persons in the vicinity of the accident stated that the area had heavy, patchy ground fog. All four occupants were killed.

The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan; however, he took off in VFR conditions and did not activate the flight plan. Radar data showed that the latter part of the flight was flown at 6,300 feet, then at 1712:39 est, a descent was begun. One minute later, the flight was last recorded at 3,700 feet. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed near the top of a 3,165 feet mountain. The elevation of the crash site was about 3,000 feet. The terrain was rocky and covered with ice and snow when the investigators arrived at the crash site. Approximately 8 miles west-northwest at Keene, NH, the 1755 est weather was, in part, 3,200 feet broken, 5,500 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles, wind from 130° at 10 knots. The elevation of the Dillant-Hopkins Airport at Keene was 487 feet. Both occupants were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Ngong Hills National Reserve located south of Ngong. Occupant fate unknown.

Crashed in unknown circumstances while taking off from a soggy airfield at Mayo. Occupant fate unknown.

While approaching Tarapoto-Comandante Guillermo del Castillo Paredes Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The twin engine airplane crashed in unclear conditions few km from the airport, killing both occupants.

The pilot, Lorance Weinberg, had a history of logging hours on aircraft he had not been trained to fly as well as logging hours on aircraft in which he had only traveled as a passenger. On 4 June 1983 he booked a Cessna 402 under false pretenses to fly to Durban, but in fact took a party of 9 to Cape Town for a wedding. The following day he filed an IFR flight plan to return to Johannesburg when he was not IFR rated, but had trouble filling in the forms. He took off just before 13:00 in deteriorating weather with his 8 passengers and immediately ran into trouble. He did not follow any instructions from air traffic control and evaded their questions when they decided it would be best to bring him back for landing. It was noted on radar that he was flying in ever decreasing circles until the aircraft finally crashed onto the Polkadraai Road running between Kuils River and Stellenbosch. Weinberg, five adult passengers and a baby were killed, but two adults survived.
Source: Fields of Air by James Byrom.