Zone
Florida

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-313 near Belle Glade

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1979 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
M. J. Supply Inc.
Registration:
N21782
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Saint Louis - Boca Raton
MSN:
2170
YOM:
1939
Location:
Belle Glade
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
525.00
Circumstances:
En route from Saint Louis to Boca Raton, both engines failed. The crew declared an emergency, reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing near Belle Glade. After touchdown, the airplane struck high vegetation then nosed down and crashed. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines in flight due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Micalculated fuel consumption,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Improper alignment/adjustment of the fuel quantity gauge,
- High vegetation,
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Boca Raton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1979 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 65 Queen Air
Operator:
Edward Orlando
Registration:
N72DR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
West Palm Beach – Boca Raton – Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
LC-6
YOM:
1960
Location:
Boca Raton
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
162
Circumstances:
On final approach to Boca Raton Airport, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around when the twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames short of runway. All three passengers were injured, two of them seriously, while the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with power cables during a go-around procedure after the pilot failed to follow approved procedures. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Witnesses stated that the aircraft appeared overtaking another aircraft on final,
- No communication established,
- Gear down during go-around.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Boca Raton

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1971 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 20
Operator:
General Transportation Company
Registration:
N805F
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
White Plains - Boca Raton
MSN:
60
YOM:
1966
Location:
Boca Raton
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12486
Captain / Total hours on type:
1560.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Boca Raton Airport, the captain attempted to retard the throttles but inadvertently shut down both engines. The airplane lost speed, stalled and struck the ground 900 feet short of runway 04 threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off, the airplane slid for several yards and came to rest in a construction area. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Improper operation of powerplant controls on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Landed in construction area,
- Failure of both engines,
- Retarded thrust levers aft, inadvertently shut down both engines.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 80 Queen Air in Republic: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1969 at 1825 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Springfield Flight Services
Registration:
N1539S
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Boca Raton - Republic - Springfield
MSN:
LD-20
YOM:
1962
Location:
Republic
Missouri
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:
6577
Captain / Total hours on type:
105.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Boca Raton, the pilot was approaching Republic when he was informed by ATC about icing conditions in the area. While descending in poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and collision with ground during initial approach caused by icing conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice propeller,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast,
- Approach control advised icing conditions in clouds,
- Pilot reported heavy icing,
- Full deicing equipment activated.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-20-FA Packet in Boca Raton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1956 at 0505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Sky Spray
Registration:
N4832V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami - Boca Raton
MSN:
10070
YOM:
1944
Location:
Boca Raton
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
4976
Captain / Total hours on type:
186.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3179
Copilot / Total hours on type:
170
Aircraft flight hours:
1016
Circumstances:
N4832V departed Masters Field, Miami, Florida, for Boca Raton Airport at 0448, August 8, 1956. Aboard the aircraft were Pilot Charles W. Day, Copilot Rae F. Howry, and three company insecticide-mixer personnel. The purpose of the direct 36-mile flight was the movement of the aircraft, crew and mixer personnel to the Boca Raton Airport from which the spraying operation was to be conducted. The takeoff of N4832V was followed immediately by another company operated C-82, N4829V and the two aircraft proceeded at an altitude of approximately 500 feet. N4829V flew to the left, slightly above and to the rear of N4832V until reaching Boca Raton. Both aircraft arrived over the city of Boca Raton shortly after 0500 and proceeded north and west the mile or so to the airport. Dawn was breaking and the runways, although unlighted, were plainly visible. N4832V made a eight turn for approach to runway 04. After passing over more than one-third of the length of the 5,000-foot runway a go-around was initiated. The aircraft then Immediately went into a climbing left turn. During this turn the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all five occupants.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident ins loss of power on the left engine and the drag-induced effect of the unfeathered left propeller, resulting in loss of directional control daring an attempted go-around. The following findings were reported:
- During approach to the airport serious malfunctioning of the left engine occurred,
- An improperly planned final approach resulted in runway misalignment and necessitated a go-around,
- During the attempted go-around the left engine rear master rod bearing failed resulting in loss of power on the left engine,
- The propeller was not feathered for single-engine operation,
- The lack of left engine power at low at low airspeed, and the drag resulting from the unfeathered left propeller resulted in loss of directional control,
- During the resulting left turn the aircraft was stalled and entered an "over-the-top" spin.
Final Report:
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