Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Memphis: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1978 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N121GW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Memphis - Memphis
MSN:
4
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3647
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Memphis Airport. Following several maneuvers and while circling in the traffic pattern at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine airplane collided with a private Cessna 150 registered N6423K and carrying two pilots. Following the collision, both airplane entered a dive and crashed about 3,8 miles west of the airport. All six occupants in both aircrafts were killed.
Probable cause:
The in-flight collision on approach was the consequence of a poor ATC coordination. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to see and avoid other aircraft,
- Inadequate spacing of aircraft on part of ATC,
- ATC failed to advise of other traffic,
- Under radar contact and controlled airport,
- No evasive action taken,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- The controller of Falcon assumed coordination had been accomplished between local controllers.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Naples

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1976 at 0857 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N27R
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Naples - Winston Salem
MSN:
303
YOM:
1974
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3826
Captain / Total hours on type:
768.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Naples Airport, while initial climb, the airplane collided with a flock of seagulls that entered the engines. Both engines' compressors stalled, the airplane lost speed then stalled and crashed in an open field located past the runway end. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 11 occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Bird strike during initial climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Failure to provide adequate directives, manual, equipment,
- Failure to notify of unsafe conditions / and or failure to mark obstruction,
- Bird ingestion,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Passengers not briefed,
- Emergency card instructions not correct for exits.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C near Chilpancingo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1976 at 0230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N888AR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Houston - Acapulco
MSN:
33
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
373.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Houston, the crew was cleared to descend from 37,000 feet to 19,000 feet for an approach to Acapulco-General Juan N. Álvarez Airport. For unknown reasons, the crew continued the descent below 19,000 feet when, at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 20 km southwest of Chilpancingo, about 70 km north of Acapulco. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced by night and rain falls.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew started the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the glide and to struck the ground. controlled flight into terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Rambouillet: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
154/F-RAFK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Toulouse-Francazal
MSN:
154
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Vélizy-Villacoublay, en route to Francazal Airbase in Toulouse, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in Rambouillet, about 30 km southwest of its departure point. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C at Grand Prairie NAS

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1975 at 0646 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N990L
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Grand Prairie - Washington DC
MSN:
43
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
13287
Captain / Total hours on type:
1423.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 17 at Grand Prairie-Hensley Field NAS, the pilot-in-command elected to takeoff but this was impossible due to an incorrect trim setting. As the aircraft unrotated, the crew decided to attempt an emergency braking procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran runway 17, collided with a fence and eventually came to rest into the Mountain Creek Lake. All five occupants were injured, both pilots seriously.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Wet runway,
- Failed to use the checklist,
- The crew did not check the stab trim prior to takeoff,
- Spoilers and drag chute not deployed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20E in Kermanshah: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
EP-AGX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tehran - Kermanshah
MSN:
283
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On approach to Kermanshah Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Apparently to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew decided to reduce his altitude when the airplane struck a hill located 3 km short of runway threshold. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames 300 meters further. Two crew members were killed while a third occupant was injured.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue the approach in foggy conditions without any visual contact with the ground. At the time of the accident, Kermanshah Airport was not equipped with a control tower.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Fort Worth

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1974 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7824M
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montgomery - Fort Worth
MSN:
42
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7400
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
The crew expected to make a straight-in approach but was cleared by ATC to make an ILS circling approach that was completed in rain showers with a tailwind of 8 knots. After touchdown on a wet runway, the crew encountered difficulties to decelerate properly as the airplane suffered hydroplaning. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest few dozen yards further. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Overran runway and collided with a dirt bank after the crew selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following factors were reported:
- Failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Airport conditions: wet runway,
- Rain falls,
- Tail wind from 158 to 202°,
- Cleared for ILS circling approach while the pilot requested a straight in approach,
- Landed normally in heavy rain but failed to deploy the drag chute.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Norwich

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1973 at 1538 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN-FOE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norwich - Göteborg
MSN:
62
YOM:
1967
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5939
Captain / Total hours on type:
1902.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5814
Copilot / Total hours on type:
864
Aircraft flight hours:
4779
Circumstances:
The Dassault Falcon 20C jet aircraft was on charter to fly passengers from Norwich, U.K. to Gothenburg, Sweden, and during the morning it made an uneventful positioning flight from Oslo, Norway, to Norwich where it landed at 12:28 hrs. The six passengers boarded the aircraft at about 15:20 hrs and the aircraft received clearance from Norwich Tower to taxi out for take-off on runway 28. While taxying the crew received an airways clearance and the aircraft was lined up on the runway without delay. The co-pilot, a qualified commander on this type of aircraft, was in the left hand pilot's seat, and the aircraft commander in the right hand seat. No bird flocks were seen by either of the pilots whilst taxying to the active runway. The aircraft took-off at 15:37 hrs piloted from the left hand seat. On becoming airborne, at a position a little over halfway down the runway, the crew saw a flock of birds ahead flying just above the ground. The pilot increased slightly the aircraft's climb attitude and the flock passed underneath. A few seconds later a second flock was seen at a higher level and directly in the aircraft's flight path. The pilot lowered the aircraft nose and the flock passed overhead. On re-establishing the climb and at a height of between 100 and 200 feet a third flock was seen, again directly ahead. This flock extended from ground level to well above the aircraft and there was no possible way for the pilot to avoid it; almost immediately the crew heard the sound of multiple bird strikes on the aircraft, the commander described the noise as 'like a machine gun'. The pilot maintained the aircraft in the climb attitude and the commander, who was checking the aircraft's instruments, noticed the RPM on both engines running down very fast, he also observed the engine pressure ratio (EPR), and exhaust gas temperature (EGT) instrument readings dropping. The pilot heard a bang from the engines, followed by the sound of the engines running down in a rough and abnormal manner. He quickly asked if both engines had failed. This was confirmed by the commander who tried to move the thrust levers without any response from the engines. By this time the aircraft was at a height of approximately 300 feet with the landing gear still down, the crew not having had time to select it up because of their preoccupation with avoiding the bird flocks. The speed, which had been about 150 knots prior to the bird strikes, had dropped to 135 knots. The control column was eased forward to maintain speed and the aircraft began to lose height. The pilot saw a field ahead and slightly left of the aircraft which he considered the best forced landing area. On receiving confirmation of his decision from the commander, the pilot made a turn to the left and lined up the aircraft for an approach to the selected field. Visibility was not good because of approaching darkness but the crew were able to see some trees at the approach end of the field. These were avoided and a positive touch down made; the stall warning sounded just before the aircraft hit the ground. Battery and fuel switches were turned off either just before or after ground impact and an attempt was made to close the thrust levers, but these would not move. All three landing gear legs were torn off shortly after ground impact and the aircraft finally came to rest on the belly of the fuselage. The commander, although partially blinded by blood from cuts on his head, made his way to the main cabin door, which he opened, and all the occupants were evacuated.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by failure of both engines because of mechanical damage due to bird ingestion. The following factors were reported:
- Prior to takeoff no concentration of birds was seen on the airport by the aircraft crew or by ATC personnel in the tower,
- A large concentration of seagulls was either on the active runway or was arriving over the airport at the time of takeoff,
- The aircraft suffered multiple bird strikes immediately after takeoff and both engines failed due to bird ingestion,
- The crew made a successful forced landing in a field near the end of the runway and are to be commanded for the high degree of professional airmanship displayed,
- During the forced landing the aircraft was substantially damaged but the passengers did not suffer any appreciable injuries; the three crew members however suffered varying degree of injury.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20F in Montreal

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OH-FFW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montreal - Keflavik - Helsinki
MSN:
243
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mirabel Airport, while in initial climb, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and completed a safe belly landing in a snow covered field located near the airport. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines after takeoff due to both compressors icing.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Samedan

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1972 at 1417 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HB-VCG
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Zurich - Samedan
MSN:
231
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12849
Captain / Total hours on type:
1685.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2569
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1930
Aircraft flight hours:
742
Circumstances:
While descending to Samedan Airport, weather conditions worsened rapidly. Despite the situation, the captain decided to continue the approach under VFR mode. In a limited visibility of 2 km in snow falls, the pilot-in-command passed over Lake Silvaplana at low height then initiated a right turn when the right wing tip struck the icy water. The airplane crash landed and slid for 200 meters before coming to rest. All five occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew who failed to take into consideration the weather deterioration. At the time of the accident, the approach speed was too high while the altitude was too low. It was determined that the pilot-in-command took the decision to continue the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions.