Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne I in Baltimore: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1979 at 1958 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
N6123A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lynchburg - Baltimore
MSN:
31-7804008
YOM:
1978
Location:
Baltimore-Washington-Thurgood Marshall
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6522
Captain / Total hours on type:
136.00
Circumstances:
While on approach to Baltimore-Martin State Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The visibility was reduced to 1/4 of a mile due to low ceiling and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane struck power cables. The captain increased engine power and initiated a go-around before diverting to Baltimore-Washington-Thurgood Marshall International Airport. On approach, while trailing about 1,500 feet of wire, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames few hundred yards from the runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with wires on final approach and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility about 1/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Lamar: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1978 at 2140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Benjamin G. Cobb
Registration:
N176CC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lamar - Fort Collins
MSN:
31-7620024
YOM:
1976
Location:
Lamar
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Lamar Municipal Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane entered a controlled descent then crashed in a field located three miles south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground during climb to cruise due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Two large dogs and a cat in aircraft unrestrained,
- The pilot flew approximately 6 hours and performed 2 operations on the day of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Pellston: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1978 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Campbell Air Midwest
Registration:
N82271
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bridgeville - Boyne Falls
MSN:
31-7820044
YOM:
1978
Location:
Pellston-Emmet County
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
15000
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Boyne Falls Airport, the pilot was unable to locate the runway and decided to divert to the alternate airport of Pellston-Emmet County. On final, he encountered poor weather conditions with fog and a visibility reduced to 3/8 of a mile. In a 200 feet ceiling, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the brand new twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed two miles short of runway 32. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during a missed approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Alternate forecast below minimums.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Beckley: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1977 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Kirkway Corporation
Registration:
N801HD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
DuPage - Beckley
MSN:
31-7620031
YOM:
1976
Location:
Beckley-Raleigh County
West Virginia
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:
6500
Captain / Total hours on type:
232.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Beckley-Raleigh County Airport, the pilot encountered foggy conditions. During the last segment, the twin engine airplane struck a steel reinforced concrete wall and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with object due to improper IFR operation and improper level off. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Visibility down to zero.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Harrisburg: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1977 at 0924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Registration:
N631PT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
New Cumberland - Harrisburg - University Park - New Cumberland
MSN:
31-7720001
YOM:
1977
Location:
Harrisburg-Capital City
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
4469
Captain / Total hours on type:
32.00
Aircraft flight hours:
173
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Harrisburg-Capital City Airport runway 08, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames onto a house located in a populated area in the town of Bressler, 1,55 statute miles from the departure end of runway 08. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed as well as one people in the house.
Those on board were:
Crew:
David M. Wolf, pilot,
Edward Soisson, copilot.
Passengers:
William Sherlock, State Transportation Secretary,
Richard C. Frame, State GOP Chairman,
William R. Smith, Sherlock's Chief of Staff,
Charles Wilson, PennDOT Public Relations Officer,
Larry G. Pennsyl, PennDOT photographer,
John W. Krebs, PennDOT data processing manager.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the flightcrew's failure to insure that the aircraft was loaded properly and that it's center of gravity was within certificated limits. As a result, the aircraft's control characteristics were degraded significantly by a center of gravity well aft of the certificated limits. This imbalance led to the pilot's inability to control a longitudinally unstable aircraft during a climbing turn in instrument meteorological conditions. There was no evidence of engine failure or malfunction, the flight crew was properly certified and the pilots had no medical or psychological problems. The accident was not survivable.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Shannon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1976 at 1722 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
HB-LHT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Shannon - London - Geneva
MSN:
31-7520003
YOM:
1975
Location:
Shannon
Munster
Country:
Ireland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1456
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Aircraft flight hours:
877
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing an on-demand taxi flight from Shannon to Geneva with an intermediate stop in London, carrying four employees of the Digital Company and one pilot. The takeoff roll was initiated from runway 06 at Shannon Airport in poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to fog. After liftoff, the airplane failed to maintain a positive vario and failed to gain sufficient height. At a speed of 160 knots, it nosed down to an angle of 5° and struck the runway surface about 1,600 metres from the runway threshold (point of departure). It bounced then struck successively a fence and a stone wall before crashing in flames in a prairie. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the runway visual range for runway 06 was 250 metres, which was considered as below the published procedures of the company and the airport which stipulated a minimum of 300 metres. No technical anomalies were found on the aircraft, its engines or instruments. The pilot took the decision to takeoff in below weather minimums and his experience was considered as insufficient with only 30 flying hours on type.
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