Casper

ARTCC asked the pilot of Airspur 8773 if he would be able to execute the VOR instrument approach. The pilot said he could, but he wanted to "hold for a while to see if [the weather] gets a little better" [according to the METAR, visibility was 1.75 statute miles and there was a 200-foot overcast ceiling]. He was cleared to hold north of the VOR at 12,000 feet msl. While holding, the pilot filed the following PIREP indicating light rime icing. Shortly thereafter, he was cleared for the approach. Three witnesses saw the airplane on the downwind leg, just past midfield, at an estimated altitude of 500 feet. Shortly thereafter, one of them heard the engine "spool up to high power...[like reversing] the pitch of the propeller to slow down," and he thought the airplane had landed. Five witnesses said the airplane emerged from the overcast and banked "sharply to the left, then back to the right, then back to the left, then took a hard bank to the right," rolled inverted and struck the highway just south of the airport perimeter. The airplane slid down the embankment and out into a lake, becoming partially submerged. Witnesses said it was "snowing hard" and the highway was covered with 1 to 2 inches of slush. Wreckage examination revealed the flaps were down 30 degrees, the wing deice boots were "ribbed," and the inertial separator was open. According to the toxicological report, chlorpheniramine, desmethylsertraline, sertraline, and pseudoephedrine were detected in blood. In addition, chlorpheniramine, sertraline, phenylpropanolamine, and pseudoephedrine were detected in the urine. The urine also contained acetaminophen. Sertraline (trade name Zoloft) is a prescription antidepressant medication. According to the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners, "The use of a psychotropic medication is considered disqualifying. This includes all... antidepressant drugs..." Chlorpheniramine is an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine used primarily for the treatment of allergies. Pseudophedrine (trade name Sudafed) is a decongestant. Acetaminophen (trade name Tylenol) is an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever-reducer. According to Dr. Stanley R. Mohler's "Medication and Flying: A Pilot's Guide," the adverse side effects of chlorpheniramine include drowsiness, dizziness, and lessened coordination. The side effects of pseudophedrine are usually mild and infrequent, but may include sleepiness, dizziness, restlessness, headache, and perhaps some loss of coordination and alertness or confusion.

During a preflight weather briefing, the pilot was advised of thunderstorms and intense rain showers on the route of flight. However, he filed an IFR flight plan and took off. During flight, the ATC controller advised the pilot of a level 6 cell ahead and noted that he had no report on its top. The pilot reported that he was 'not showing anything' on his radar. Attempts were made to deviate. Approximately 20 minutes later, the pilot reported the aircraft was encountering icing conditions and was losing altitude. After another 1 min and 38 seconds, he reported 'we're going in.' Subsequently, an in-flight breakup occurred. The wreckage was found scattered over a 1/2 mile area. An exam revealed that the outboard wing panels had failed in flight. Witnesses reported seeing either smoke or fire in flight before the aircraft crashed. Evidence of an electrical discharge was found on the outboard portion of the right wing. However, the pilot had not mentioned any encounter with lightning on this flight. No evidence of metal fatigue was found. All three occupants were killed.

After takeoff the aircraft was observed to trail a brown substance. About 3 miles from the airport the right engine oil pressure dropped. The pilot decided to return to the airport. When he thought the runway was attainable he lowered the flaps; however, a loss of power in the left engine occurred and a landing was made in a wheat field. Investigation revealed failure of the front master rod bearing in the right engine. The aircraft had not been flown for five years prior to this flight and evidence of oil starvation was apparent in both engines. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries.

While on a return flight to their company headquarters in McAllen, Texas, from Thermopolis, Wyoming, the president of Sky Train Air Inc., the chief pilot, and another company pilot stopped in Casper, Wyoming, for fuel. The lineman noted a fuel imbalance when 320 gallons of fuel were added to the left wing and only 260 gallons of fuel were added to the right wing tanks. According to the lineman, the crew was aware of the imbalance. A total of 585 gallons of Jet-A with Prist (anti-ice additive) was supplied which filled the wing tanks to capacity. No fuel transferring was necessary during the refueling. The lineman stated that he believed the fuselage tank was full because the nosegear strut was extended 6 to 12 inches. We stated a ground power unit was used to start the engines and he did not notice any difficulties with the aircraft during the crew's preflight checks. The flight plan filed by the president, reported to be the pilot-in-command, as follows: IFR to McAllen, Texas, at Flight Level (FL) 450, true airspeed 450 knots, Airway J170 to Denver, J17 to Amarillo, J17 to San Antonio, J25 to Corpus Christi, direct McAllen; time en route 2 hours 20 minutes with 3 hours 40 minutes of fuel on board. A weather briefing was not given to him because he had reported that he already had the weather information. The crew called the Casper Air Traffic Control Tower for taxi clearance at 1352:08 and began its departure from runway 21 at 1357:02. At 1449:39, while in cruise flight at FL 450, the flightcrew made initial radio contact with Sector 71 of the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The aircraft was "squawking" transponder code 0670. About 1458, a new controller took over the radar and data positions. At 1459:36, he issued a frequency change to which the crew did not respond. At the time, the controller noticed no transponder target reply from the aircraft. Until 1501:39, he made several attempts to contact the aircraft, but received no response. Albuquerque ARTCC radar computer data showed that radar contact with the aircraft was lost at 1458:07 at FL447. Five witnesses at Felt, Oklahoma, located in the southwest portion of the Panhandle, heard an aircraft overhead at a very high speed. One witness stated that he heard a vibration sound which indicated to him the aircraft was overspeeding. Another witness stated that the aircraft was about lo break the sound barrier. Of the five witnesses interviewed, only one saw the aircraft - and only momentarily - and he stated the aircraft was in about a 45° descent angle and the wings appeared to be rocking up and down. All the witnesses stated that they heard an explosion and saw a mushroom cloud of black smoke erupt when the aircraft crashed to the ground. The accident occurred at approximately 1502LT. The aircraft crashed 2.5 miles southwest of Felt, Oklahoma. All three occupants were killed.

While flying in marginal weather conditions (low ceiling, snow and icing conditions), both engines lost power. The pilot elected to divert to the nearest airport but the airplane lost height and eventually collided with terrain. The wreckage was found a day later. A passenger was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Casper-Hartford Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames near the runway end. All eight occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Shortly after take off from runway 25 at Casper Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 3 miles northwest of the airfield. All eleven occupants were killed.

The pilot was performing a mail flight from Billings to Cheyenne with intermediate stops in Sheridan and Casper. While cruising in poor weather conditions, he reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground. While following Route 185 to Cheyenne, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane impacted a hill located 21 kilometers south from Glendo. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.