Country
Canada

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in New York: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1969 at 0657 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N558MA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
New York - Newark
MSN:
175
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
NY901
Location:
New York-JFK
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
12110
Captain / Total hours on type:
180.00
Circumstances:
As the crew was 12 minutes behind the schedule, he decided to start the takeoff procedure from an intersection and the departure was precipitated despite ATC warned the crew about the recent takeoff of a Boeing 707 from the same runway. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane became unstable then stalled and crashed. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while 11 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew lost control of the airplane due to wake turbulences caused by a Boeing 707 that just took off from the same runway. The crew failed to consider the warning from ATC.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Lake Minchumina: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1969 at 1552 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N4901
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fairbanks – Lake Minchumina – Bethel
MSN:
3
YOM:
1966
Location:
Lake Minchumina
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10104
Captain / Total hours on type:
796.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lake Minchumina Airport, the pilot encountered whiteout conditions and lost control of the airplane that crashed few dozen yards short of runway. A passenger that was killed while four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation on final approach in whiteout conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Santa Ana: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1968 at 1959 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N7666
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Santa Ana
MSN:
148
YOM:
1968
Location:
Santa Ana-John Wayne
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
12276
Captain / Total hours on type:
234.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Los Angeles, the crew started the descent to Santa Ana Airport when he encountered poor visibility due low clouds and fog. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a 30 feet steel light pole located along the Costa Mesa Freeway. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames 1,8 mile short of runway 20R threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and none of the nine occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Improper IFR operation,
- The pilot-in-command misjudged altitude,
- Low ceiling and foggy conditions,
- Visibility limited to 3/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 on Mt Col Visentin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1967 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
I-CLAI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Milan - Venice - Cortina d'Ampezzo
MSN:
30
YOM:
1967
Location:
Mt Col Visentin
Veneto
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Milan in the afternoon on a flight to Cortina d'Ampezzo with an intermediate stop in Venice. Few minutes after takeoff from Venice-Marco Polo Airport, while flying above the Dolomites Mountain Range, the crew encountered foggy conditions. The pilot decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when, in the Fadalto Valley, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Col Visentin (1,763 meters high). The wreckage was found on the Colcanin Hill, north of Vittorio Veneto. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while a third passenger was injured.
Subscribe to De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter