Crash of a Piper PA-31P Prerssurized Navajo in Ocala

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1980 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Air Activities
Registration:
N7651L
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31P-7300125
YOM:
1973
Location:
Ocala
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked at a local airport, the twin engine airplane was stolen during the night and the 'pilot' attempted a local flight when the left engine caught fire in flight. The airplane crash landed and came to rest in flames. The sole occupant was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. Fire in left engine due to oil filler cap not secured. The crew fled from stolen aircraft after landing allowing fire to spread and destroy the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Mobile: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1980 at 1005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Lake Aviation
Registration:
N6492L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mobile - Ocala
MSN:
31-456
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mobile-Bates Field
Alabama
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:
1500
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a demonstration flight from Mobile to Ocala, Florida, carrying five passengers and one pilot. After takeoff, the airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft on part of the pilot,
- The pilot failed to use or misused flaps,
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- High temperature,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- The aircraft was 449 lbs over max gross weight, out of forward cg limit,
- Flaps were full down at takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P-425 Navajo in Sion: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1980 at 1513 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Wekos Schrotthandels
Registration:
D-IHRK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Geneva - Sion
MSN:
31P-7300137
YOM:
1973
Location:
Sion
Valais
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Sion Airport runway 26, the pilot maintained radio contacts with ATC and all seems normal on board. At low height and low speed, the airplane banked left then right, went out of control and crashed in flames in a road located in the center of the city. The airplane as well as several cars were destroyed. Few buildings were damaged. Both occupants were killed while no one on the ground was injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine was running abnormally fast at the time of impact while the right engine was in idle. No technical issue was found on the engines and it is believed that the pilot made a mistake during the approach by unintentionally shutting off the fuel supply to the right engine. This caused the aircraft to become unstable and the pilot was unable to correct the situation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Guatemala City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
FAS001
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Salvador – Guatemala City
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On approach to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, the pilot encountered low visibility due to heavy rain falls when the twin engine airplane crashed near Santa Catarina Pinula, few km from the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed, three officers of the Salvadoran Air Force, among them Gilberto Balmore Escamilla, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
Crew:
Maj Fernando Salazar Mena,
Cpt Fredy Roberto Asencio.
Passenger:
Gilberto Balmore Escamilla.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Ecuador: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Ecuavia
Registration:
HC-AQC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
31-397
YOM:
1968
Location:
Ecuador
All Ecuador
Country:
Ecuador
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in a mountainous area located in Ecuador. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-300 Navajo in Appomattox

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1980 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Amick Airways
Registration:
N77QC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Norfolk - Roanoke
MSN:
31-511
YOM:
1969
Location:
Appomattox
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3330
Captain / Total hours on type:
1027.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a taxi flight from Norfolk to Roanoke, the pilot informed ATC about a double engine failure and elected to divert to the nearest airport. Shortly later, he decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in an open field. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Douglas engine failure in flight due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Powerplant-instruments: fuel quantity gauge, improperly alignment/adjustment,
- Forces landing off airport on land,
- Fuel gauges read 1/8 full, tanks empty.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Halifax: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Eastern Flying Services
Registration:
C-GLFS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-735
YOM:
1971
Location:
Halifax-Stanfield
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances while on final approach to Halifax-Stanfield Airport. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Cahuita

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1979 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
TI-RCP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Panama City - San josé
Location:
Cahuita
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was performing a flight from Panama City to San José, carrying one pilot, the President of the RECOPE Group, and his wife (RECOPE - Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo). En route, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to divert to Puerto Limón Airport for an emergency landing. While descending by night, he realized he could not make it so he ditched the aircraft about 150 meters off Cahuita, some 30 km southeast of Puerto Limón Airport. Both occupants were injured and rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Jacksonville

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1979 at 1903 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Thomas Rex Long
Registration:
N20KA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Jacksonville
MSN:
31-61
YOM:
1968
Location:
Jacksonville-Executive at Craig
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2579
Captain / Total hours on type:
460.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Jacksonville-Craig Airport, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to night, fog and rain falls. On final, the pilot delayed in initiating a go-around maneuver when the airplane struck the ground and crashed. All eight occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Visibility 2 miles or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Uniontown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1979 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Coal Baron
Registration:
N9277Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
West Mifflin - Connellsville
MSN:
31-368
YOM:
1968
Location:
Uniontown
Pennsylvania
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:
4338
Circumstances:
While descending to Connellsville Airport on a flight from West Mifflin, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low ceiling and rain falls. He failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck a hillside and crashed in Uniontown. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees and subsequent crash due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airways facilities, erratic,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- ADF ground line intermittent,
- Vectored to ADF from north at 5,000 feet, cleared for approach, minimum altitude procedure turn 3,500 feet,
- Mountain tops obscured.
Final Report:
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