Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Walla Walla: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1973 at 1707 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
N66798
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Spokane - Walla Walla
MSN:
31-7300158
YOM:
1973
Location:
Walla Walla
Washington
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:
25000
Captain / Total hours on type:
529.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Walla Walla Airport by night, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to fog. He descended below the MDA when the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment and improper IFR operation caused the airplane to crash on final approach. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, fog and snow,
- Limited visibility,
- Descent below MDA,
- Night VFR approach,
- Single piloted aircraft.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
CF-YTL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Le Havre-aux-Maisons - Gaspé
MSN:
31-461
YOM:
1969
Location:
Gaspé
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Gaspé-Michel Pouliot Airport runway 28, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a wooded area located near Haldimand, about 6 km east of the airfield. All eight occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
UC Leasing Company
Registration:
N582DC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
MSN:
31-20
YOM:
1967
Location:
Mexico
All Mexico
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Mexico in December 1973 (exact date unknown). The occupant's fate remains uncertain.

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

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Tropicales - TAT Colombia
Registration:
HK-1591
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Yavi
MSN:
31-379
YOM:
1969
Location:
Yavi
Tolima
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Yavi Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo on Mt Sabyinyo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Compagnie Cotonnière et Industrielle
Registration:
9Q-CCC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bukavu - Goma
Location:
Mt Sabyinyo
Nord-Kivu
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet in clouds, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Sabyinyo (3,669 meters high), some 50 km northeast of Goma. The wreckage was found few hours later and all seven occupants have been killed, among them two children.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Tampa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1973 at 0517 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Refrigerated Transport Company
Registration:
N6840L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Tampa - Coral Creek
MSN:
31P-44
YOM:
1971
Location:
Tampa-Intl
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:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4620
Captain / Total hours on type:
790.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tampa Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and elected to return. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane slid on the ground and crashed into a building located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during initial climb for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Ignition system: spark plug,
- Carbon deposit,
- Improper clearance, tolerance,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Pilot declared emergency, crash landed and slid into building,
- Propeller feathered,
- Plugs fouled.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: May 3, 1973 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Jim French
Registration:
N3105E
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chihuahua - Deming
MSN:
31-313
YOM:
1968
Location:
Chihuahua
Chihuahua
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
24100
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane banked left then crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1973 at 2053 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Midwest Tankers
Registration:
N300X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Owensboro - Niles
MSN:
31-412
YOM:
1968
Location:
Niles-Jerry Tyler
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
16770
Captain / Total hours on type:
376.00
Circumstances:
The pilot started the approach to Niles-Jerry Tyler by night and in poor weather conditions. On final, due a visibility limited to a half of mile, he decided to descend below the minimal descent altitude when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain, fog and thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility limites to half a mile,
- Descended below MDA in known thunderstorm conditions.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Yewlands Engineering Company
Registration:
G-AZTL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-589
YOM:
1969
Location:
Stapleford
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Stapleford Airfield in poor weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees located 2,400 meters short of runway threshold. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a field, injuring both occupants.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Ronneby: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Firma Aerosimport
Registration:
SE-FHL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
31-507
YOM:
1969
Location:
Ronneby
Blekinge
Country:
Sweden
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The approach to Ronneby-Kallinge Airport was initiated in limited visibility due to rain falls. On short final, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located six km short of runway threshold. All eight occupants have been killed.
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