Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

The aircraft exhausted fuel enroute to destination during cross country night flight. The pilot advised ATC of loss of engines about 20 miles out. The pilot made deadstick landing on highway, struck bridge divider. No fire or reported injuries. Inspection disclosed dry fuel tanks.

During an IFR arrival, the aircraft was vectored for an NDB runway 23 approach to the Westmoreland County Airport. At the NDB final approach fix (8.1 miles from the runway), the crew turned inbound and continued to the airport. They contacted the tower and reported over the ILS outer marker (an intermediate point on the NDB final approach, 3.9 miles from the runway). The tower issued the local landing advisories and cleared the aircraft to land. Moments after the copilot advised the captain that they were 15 seconds from the missed approach point, the aircraft collided with trees. Impact occurred 3.8 miles se of the airport at the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 1,900 feet amsl. An examination of the aircraft records indicated a recurring and current squawk concerning the hsi slaving system. Just before beginning the approach, the Latrobe wind had changed from 230° at 4 knots (a headwind) to a strong quartering tailwind. During arrival the crew were advised the wind was from 340° at 18 knots. They had figured their timing to the missed approach point by using a ground speed of 120 knots. Earlier that day, the same crew and aircraft had terminated the same NDB approach, 1 mile east of the airport. All seven occupants were injured, five seriously.

The pilot reported that shortly after the aircraft became airborne, he noted a substantial change in propeller pitch noise and an associated loss of performance. Insufficient runway remained to permit a landing straight ahead. The pilot raised the landing gear and flap, however the aircraft failed to climb and the airspeed decayed to below the safe single engine speed. The take-off attempt was abandoned and a forced landing was carried out off the end of the runway. The rear fuselage impacted heavily on a dirt bank 78 metres beyond the runway threshold, following which the aircraft passed through a fence and slid for a further 78 metres before coming to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured.

After takeoff from Staniel Cay Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the sea. All three occupants were killed.

The aircraft crashed after executing a missed approach at Whitefield during IMC weather. The aircraft was seen at 300-400 feet agl during some part of the maneuvering near the airport. The aircraft seemed to be heading for the airport when last seen by ground observers. The only indication of trouble was the low altitude of flight. The aircraft crashed at the 2,800 feet level of twin mountain on a heading of 120° at 2035 hours. It was last seen about 2015 hours. No fuel was found in the engine fuel dividers or fuel lines. The inboard tanks were more than half full of fuel. Normal operation calls for takeoff, climb and descent on the inboard tanks. The outboard tanks are used for non-maneuvering flight during cruise. A passenger was seriously injured while four other occupants were killed.

The aircraft crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff on an unauthorized flight. The pilot was a student pilot who worked as a refueler of aircraft. The student pilot took the unattended parked aircraft without permission and went for a solo flight at sometime around 0200 hours. The flight ended almost as soon as it began as the aircraft crashed into the ocean 300 yards offshore from Key West, FL. The aircraft sank in 10 feet of water. The pilot was slightly injured.

En route from Edmonton to Peace River, while cruising by night, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. Due to interferences, the crew was unable to receive the signal from the Whitecourt VOR and thought he already overflew the mountain range located southeast of High Prairie. Too low, the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area covered by snow and located on Mt Swan, southwest of Lesser Slave Lake. The wreckage was found the following day in an isolated area. A pilot and three passengers were injured while six other occupants were killed, among them the Canadian politician Walter Grant Notley aged 45.

Flight departed in instrument meteorological conditions. After departure pilot failed to maintain assigned headings several times and had to be corrected by ATC. After 15 minutes of flight the pilot reported he was having problems with the right engine and would like to return to the airport. ATC advised the pilot that Craig Airport was available and was currently reporting VFR conditions. Pilot stated he wanted to go to Jax int'l because the 4,000 feet runway at Craig was not long enough. Jax int'l was reporting IFR conditions. The pilot continued to have trouble holding headings while being vectored for an ILS approach. While in the downwind position for the approach the pilot asked ATC, 'how far is 982 from landing?'. As the aircraft was turned onto the localizer the pilot called and stated he had lost control and was in a spin. Post crash inspection of the right engine revealed the #5 cylinder had detonated until a hole was burned in the piston. Additionally the #5 and #6 rods had burn damage and the #6 rod bolts had failed in overload. The pilot was killed and both passengers were injured.

The pilot, sole on board, was completing an illegal flight and attempted to land in a remote area near St Petersburg when the aircraft crash landed in unclear circumstances. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was not found.

The flight departed Fort Lauderdale, FL, on 8-2-84 at approximately 0815 edt for Cincinnati, OH. The aircraft wreckage was found on 11-17-84 on an up slope of big Fodderstack Mountain. The aircraft had contacted a 25 feet tall tree located 200 feet west of the main wreckage. The only known radio contact was recalled by the Monroe County airport manager who stated the pilot radioed to exchange the day's greeting. Exact weather at the accident site could not be determined. However, the airport manager recalled the high terrain being obscured with poor visibility. Both occupants were killed.