Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

On approach to Augsburg-Mühlhausen Airport, the pilot encountered foggy conditions with a visibility down to 500 meters. Unable to establish a visual contact with the runway, he initiated a go-around procedure and diverted to Munich-Riem Airport. On approach to Munich, weather conditions were poor. On short final, he realize the aircraft was not properly aligned and decided to attempt a go-around maneuver when the aircraft struck the ground and crashed to the left of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, visibility and RVR were below minimums.

At 0716, the pilot received a weather brief for a proposed takeoff of 1130. The FSS briefer provided info on thunderstorms forecast in GA and FL. No info was provided about forecast lines and clusters of thunderstorms in SC coastal plains and sern GA. En route, the pilot was given info about level III thunderstorms across the projected flight path by Beaufort and Savannah approach control. ATC radar data revealed that the aircraft flew the route contained in the flight plan clearance. Radio transmissions from the aircraft indicated that onboard weather radar was being used. ATC radar data and radio communications indicated that the aircraft entered a thunderstorm, then made a 180° turn to exit the storm. Examination of the wreckage revealed plastic deformation of the wings inboard of the engines in an upward direction. Also, both wings broke off outboard of the engines in a downward direction. The horizontal stab and elevator were not recovered. There was fuselage damage which indicated that the horizontal stab separated aft and down. All five occupants were killed.

Due to the impending arrival of a snow storm, the certificated commercial pilot and 5 passengers departed one day earlier than planned, from an uncontrolled airport located in mountainous terrain to begin a night, cross country flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. Prior to departure, the pilot was given an ifr clearance void time from an ARTCC. The pilot was climbing toward a VOR located about 27 miles southeast of the departure airport while attempting to contact the ARTCC to open his instrument flight plan. The pilot failed to maintain terrain clearance, and became lost/disoriented. The airplane struck trees and snow covered terrain at 10,200 feet msl, 7 nautical miles and about 22° to the right of the intended course. Four passengers were killed while two other occupants, among them the pilot, were injured.

The flight departed without a flight plan or weather brief. En route deteriorating weather was encountered and an IFR flight plan was filed to a revised destination. Clearance was received for a VOR approach and the pilot was advised of 1/2 mile visibility in snow and fog. A missed approach was reported over the unicom frequency. Impact occurred with a heading of about 170° at 7,700 feet msl in mountainous terrain on the 173° radial, 7.3 miles from the VOR. The inbound course to the final approach fix was 170° with an inbound final approach course of 196°. Airport elevation was 5,914 feet msl. The airport was located on the 196° radial, 5.5 miles from the VOR final approach fix. The VOR approach to runway 21 called for a missed approach to be executed at 5.5 DME from the VOR and a minimum descent altitude of 6,600 feet. All five occupants were killed.

The airplane was observed flying erratically at a low altitude, then enter a left wing, nose low attitude, impacting the ground in a residential area. Autopsies on both occupants included findings of massive traumatic injuries sustained during a struggle. The passenger reportedly planned to take his life by jumping out of an airplane over the mountains of Colorado because he believed he had an inoperable brain tumor.

The twin engine aircraft was returning to Stuttgart after a flight from Corsica, carrying six passengers and one pilot. While descending to Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog and heavy rain falls. In such conditions, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Bargauer Horn located southeast of Schwäbisch Gmünd, about 49 km northeast of Stuttgart Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.

Three minutes after takeoff from Machala Airport, while in initial climb, the crew encountered technical problems (engines?) when the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a shrimp pond. All 10 occupants were killed.

Upon landing at Marsh Harbour, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Before reaching his descent, the pilot advised approach control that his right engine was 'blowing some smoke' and losing oil pressure. Vectors were provided for a visual approach, but there were low clouds in the area and visibility was restricted due to haze. After reaching the vicinity of the airport, the pilot said it was in sight and he was entering a downwind for runway 30. Witnesses saw the aircraft on a left downwind, but said the aircraft overshot the 1st turn to final approach. Subsequently, while maneuvering to land, the aircraft crashed approximately 2,500 feet northeast of the runway in a wooded area. Witnesses agreed the aircraft was slow and in a steep right turn with the gear extended before it crashed in a steep descent and burned. An examination revealed evidence the starter on the right engine had backed off; 3 starter bolts had fractured thru the threaded area with signs of fatigue cracking; wear marks on the starter gear and engine gear ring indicated the starter motor had shifted aprx 3/4' rearward. Also, there was evidence the torsional damper was loose on its shaft before the accident and that both props were operating at low pitch during initial impact.

The pilot bought the aircraft about a month prior to the accident. He had limited experience in the aircraft, and limited experience with high altitude flight and its weather phenomenon. The pilot obtained two weather briefings for the flight. During both, he was advised of the forecast and pilot reported conditions of moderate to severe mixed icing and turbulence associated with a mountain wave on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Instead of flying along his intended route on the western side of the mountains, he chose a direct route, which placed the aircraft on the eastern side of the mountains. The track of the aircraft was established by recorded radar data. The data showed the aircraft in cruise at 16,500 feet until about 1 minute prior to the accident. The aircraft was shown to climb to 17,200 feet before it disappeared. The last radar target was observed about 2 miles from the impact location. The aircraft impacted in a steep nose down descent. All four occupants were killed.