Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N9173Y

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Charlotte - Charlotte

MSN:

31-230

YOM:

1968

Location:

Charlotte-Douglas

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3950

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training mission at Charlotte-Douglas Airport. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the instructor pilot cut the right engine mixture. The airplane encountered difficulties to gain height then stalled and crashed near the airport. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb after the crew exercised poor judgment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Aircraft flaps remained down,
- Pilots preoccupied with engine restart.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Aix-en-Provence

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

F-ZBAA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Marseille - Marseille

MSN:

31-197

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

Bengal 66

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Marseille-Marignane under call sign Bengal 66 for a local training flight. While cruising over Aix-en-Provence / Les Milles, an engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing on a plateau. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in East Hampton

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1978 at 0033 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N9093Y

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elmira - East Hampton

MSN:

31-128

YOM:

1968

Location:

East Hampton

New York

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2507

Captain / Total hours on type:

150.00

Circumstances:

The crew was approaching East Hampton Airport and encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility to 3/4 of mile due to the night and ground fog. While in a missed approach configuration, the crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed few miles from the airfield. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Stall during a missed approach after the crew failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Sky obscured,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Pilot transitioned from visual reference to instrument reference,
- Encountered ground fog after MDA.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo into the Caribbean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Latimer W. Spinney

Registration:

N689WW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Santa Marta - Port-au-Prince

MSN:

31-69

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4975

Captain / Total hours on type:

125.00

Circumstances:

En route from Santa Marta to Port-au-Prince, the twin engine airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed in unknown circumstances into the Caribbean Sea. The airplane and both occupants were never found.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo in Los Angeles

Date & Time: May 30, 1978 at 0804 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N59839

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Santa Ana - Los Angeles

MSN:

31-7612048

YOM:

1976

Location:

Los Angeles

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2810

Captain / Total hours on type:

51.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Los Angeles Airport, the airplane encountered vortex turbulences and crashed. Both occupants were injured, the passenger seriously. The approach was completed with a 5 knots tailwind.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to vortex turbulences. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Downwind,
- 5 knots tailwind.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: May 23, 1978 at 1905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Safair Flying Services

Registration:

N9057Y

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Teterboro - Rochester

MSN:

31-80

YOM:

1968

Location:

Fleetville

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

23000

Circumstances:

On a cargo flight from Teterboro to Rochester, the twin engine airplane was abnormally flying at a very low altitude when it struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash after the pilot suffered physical impairment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Pilot blood alcohol level 1,3‰.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1978 at 0345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aborne Airbourne

Registration:

N7488L

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Leesburg-Flying Baron Estates

Schedule:

Leesburg - Leesburg

MSN:

31-7300911

YOM:

1973

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

500

Circumstances:

While flying in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Leesburg-Flying Baron Estates Airport. The passenger was killed and the pilot was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in São Paulo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Operator:

Taquari Agro Comercial

Registration:

PT-DTK

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

MSN:

31-62

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and attempted to return for an emergency landing when the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames on a road located near the airport. All three occupants were killed and two people on the ground were injured.

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

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1978 at 1705 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Harding College

Registration:

N6751L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Searcy - Searcy

MSN:

31-653

YOM:

1970

Location:

Searcy

Arkansas

Country:

Region: