Crash of a Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in Springfield

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 2106 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N3486
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Reno – Denver – Atlanta
MSN:
1245
YOM:
1938
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16052
Captain / Total hours on type:
715.00
Circumstances:
En route from Denver to Atlanta, the crew reported technical problems to ATC and was cleared to divert to Springfield Airport. On approach in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to initiate a go-around when both engines failed. The airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. All eight occupants were injured, two of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines during a go-around due to a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Localizer and glide slope unreliable,
- Fuel exhaustion during climb to top overcast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Red Hill: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1975 at 1018 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N181Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Atlanta - Atlanta
MSN:
500-1310-122
YOM:
1963
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9535
Captain / Total hours on type:
1446.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Atlanta for a local training mission. En route, while in normal cruise, the airplane was observed to pitch up and entered a spin. It crashed near Red Hill, killing both pilots.
Probable cause:
Engine failure or malfunction after a failure of the fuel injection system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Miscellaneous acts, conditions: loose, part/fitting,
- Improper operation of flight controls on part of the student pilot,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Rough or surging engine heard,
- Not equipped with flight Bob-WT system.
Final Report:

Ground fire of a Beechcraft 99 in Brunswick

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1974 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N848NS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brunswick - Atlanta
MSN:
U-077
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8900
Captain / Total hours on type:
130.00
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Brunswick-Malcolm McKinnon Airport, a fie erupted on board and the crew immediately stopped the airplane. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The cause of fire could not be determined. However, heavy deposit of black soot was found in area adjacent to the power distribution panel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Perry

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1973 at 1820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N816TP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Winter Haven - Atlanta
MSN:
414-0002
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5875
Captain / Total hours on type:
64.00
Circumstances:
En route from Winter Haven to Atlanta, while in cruising altitude, the right engine failed. The pilot decided to divert to Perry-Houston County Airport when on final, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed. The pilot was slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- High obstructions,
- Right propeller not feathered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL near Roanoke: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1971 at 1108 LT
Registration:
N601JJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Atlanta – Martinsville
MSN:
680-491-161
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Circumstances:
En route from Atlanta to Martinsville, while cruising under VFR mode, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. In reduced visibility, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a hilly terrain located in the Catawba mountain range, some 11,8 miles northwest of Roanoke. The wreckage was found three days later. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them the American Actor Audie Murphy aged 45.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and attempted operations beyond his experience and ability level. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- High obstructions,
- Zero visibility,
- Entered instrument weather at an altitude too low to clear mountain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin 404 in Atlanta: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1970 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N40412
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Atlanta - Fort Myers
MSN:
14116
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
HGH701
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
29
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
25871
Captain / Total hours on type:
1216.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4221
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1718
Aircraft flight hours:
21613
Circumstances:
Lehigh Acres Development, Inc., Flight 701, a Martin 404, N40412, departed from Runway 02R at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Chamblee, Georgia, at 0916 e.d.t. on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan to Fort Myers, Florida. Two pilots, two cabin attendants and 29 passengers were on board. The aircraft had been fueled to approximately 800 gallons prior to departure. The weather at the time of takeoff was: Measured 400 feet overcast, visibility 1 mile with very light rain and fog. Atlanta Departure Control established radar and radio contact with the flight one minute after takeoff. .During the climb, there was a loss of power from the No. 2 engine. This loss rapidly deteriorated to the extent that little useful power was being developed. While the crew was working to correct the discrepancy with the No. 2 engine, the No. 1 engine lost power. The crew declared an emergency and reported that they were going down. Departure Control attempted to vector the aircraft to the Atlanta International Airport for an emergency landing. When the aircraft descended below the overcast, the pilot observed Interstate Highway 285 just below and decided to make an emergency landing on the median strip, heading west. Touchdown on the highway occurred at approximately 0930. The aircraft skidded along the highway for approximately one-half mile, struck the side of the Moreland Avenue bridge, and came to rest on top of the bridge. As the aircraft proceeded along the highway, it struck an automobile that was traveling east and inflicted fatal injuries to the five occupants. One passenger in the aircraft received fatal injuries. The two pilots and one flight attendant received serious injuries. Twenty-seven passengers received injuries requiring medical treatment or hospitalization. The aircraft was destroyed by impact; no fire developed.
Probable cause:
The Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of effective engine power because of improper fuel having been placed in the tanks by relatively untrained personnel. A contributing factor was that the flight crew did not detect the error.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B99 Airliner in Monroe: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1969 at 2122 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N844NS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Atlanta - Greenville
MSN:
U-016
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
KQ168
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
8753
Captain / Total hours on type:
987.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3898
Copilot / Total hours on type:
254
Aircraft flight hours:
2226
Circumstances:
Air South Flight 168 departed Atlanta at 21:07. At 21:13 the flight reported level at its assigned cruising altitude of 7,000 feet. The Beech had been cruising for eleven minutes when it attained a gradual nose down attitude due to a change in the longitudinal trim. The pilots noticed the change after about six seconds and initiated a recovery action. The horizontal stabilizer continued to move to a full nose down position. Excessive pulling force on the control column was necessary to recover from the high speed dive. The necessary stick forces for such an out-of-trim condition can exceed the capability of one pilot, and in some cases two pilots, to control. The Beech continued to descend until both wings failed at high speed, just before the airplane crashed into the ground in a near vertical attitude.
Probable cause:
An unwanted change in longitudinal trim which resulted in a nosedown high-speed flight condition that was beyond the physical capability of the pilots to overcome. The initiating element in the accident sequence could not be specifically determined. However, the design of the aircraft flight control system was conducive to malfunctions which, if undetected by the crew, could lead to a loss of control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Crossville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1969 at 1129 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N2761B
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Benton Harbor - Atlanta
MSN:
560-442
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
889
Captain / Total hours on type:
236.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude in poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed few dozen seconds later in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice carburetor,
- The pilot entered known icing conditions with no prop or airframe de-icing systems on aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in Baton Rouge

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1964 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9885F
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Atlanta-New Orleans
MSN:
32878
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
DL029
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7209
Captain / Total hours on type:
478.00
Aircraft flight hours:
19842
Circumstances:
Weather at New Orleans was below landing minima, so the flight was diverted to Baton Rouge. Weather at Baton Rouge was a ceiling 300 feet overcast, visibility 1,5 miles in light rain and fog, wind 360deg/5 knots. Runway 13 ILS minima were 300 feet ceiling and 3/4 mile visibility, weather was below circling minima. However, the approach was continued and the plane touched down fast 2,500 feet past the runway threshold. Approaching the end of the runway, the pilot attempted to ground loop, but the plane just turned 20° and slid off the runway. Both pilots were evacuates while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
"Failure of the captain to execute a go around during a landing overshoot under existing unfavourable wind and adverse runway conditions. Ineffective braking caused by hydroplaning. The copilot completed the approach and the captain took over control after touchdown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Alma: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1959 at 2346 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7840B
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami – Orlando – Atlanta – Chicago
MSN:
30242
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
RDD402
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13496
Captain / Total hours on type:
5950.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6304
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6043
Aircraft flight hours:
3278
Circumstances:
En route from Orlando to Atlanta, while cruising by night, the crew reported to ATC that a fire erupted in the cabin and requested the permission to divert to the nearest airport. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in a prairie located in Alma, Georgia. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and both crew members were killed. Prior to the crash the fire was observed by ground witnesses when it burned through the fuselage, allowing burning cargo and debris to be scattered over a large area. After making several left circles, the burning aircraft plunged to the ground.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the ignition of cargo in the aft belly compartment caused by contact with an unguarded light bulb. It is believed the fire then breached the compartment wall, and damaged a hydraulic unit or line in the wing center section area at the rear spar., igniting the flammable hydraulic fluid.
Final Report: