Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Lexington

MSN:

23-094

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4302

Captain / Total hours on type:

1072.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from runway 03R at Detroit-Wayne County Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane crashed on a fuel storage tank and exploded. Both pilots, en route to Lexington on a ferry flight, were killed, as well as one people on the ground.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Iowa City

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1971 at 1915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N8000Y

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit – Iowa City

Location:

Iowa City

Iowa

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10025

Captain / Total hours on type:

620.00

Circumstances:

The pilot started the approach to Iowa City Airport by night and marginal weather conditions. Due to poor visibility, he made a go-around and followed a circuit for few minutes before starting a second approach. In half mile visibility with ceiling at 300 feet, he continued the approach and passed below the MDA when the airplane struck the ground and crashed. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot, The following factors were reported:
- Electrical failure,
- Low ceiling (300 feet), 0.5 mile visibility, rain,
- The pilot stated that VOR DME fluctuated,
- Right alternator inoperative,
- The pilot descended below the published MDA on second VOR approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Inkster

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1968 at 1855 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

N629B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

A-461

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2418

Captain / Total hours on type:

339.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Detroit-Wayne County Airport, while in initial climb, the crew encountered serious difficulties with the aircraft that was unstable and failed to gain sufficient altitude. The airplane then stalled and crashed in Inkster, north of the airfield. All four occupants were seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Inadequate supervision of flight crew,
- Failure to provide adequate directives, manual and equipments,
- Deficiency in company maintained equipment, services, regulations,
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- Improperly loaded aircraft-weight and/or CofG,
- Inadequate supervision of flight on behalf of the pilot-in-command,
- Unable to reduce the angle of attack to obtain V2 speed during initial climb as the total weight was 1,727 lbs above gross weight and the CofG was 9,26 inches after the max CofG limits.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount in Akron

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1967 at 1526 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

N7429

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Akron

MSN:

127

YOM:

1956

Location:

Akron-Canton

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11000

Captain / Total hours on type:

8000.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Akron-Canton Airport, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and went down an 23 feet embankment before coming to rest 400 feet further. A passenger was seriously injured while all other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command who misjudged distance and speed upon landing and failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Columbia City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1966 at 0848 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

N10415

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Detroit – Kansas City

MSN:

341

YOM:

1945

Location:

Columbia City

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14067

Captain / Total hours on type:

6732.00

Circumstances:

While on a cargo flight from Detroit to Kansas City, the C-46 collided with a private Piper Aztec registered N5628Y. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Columbia City. Both pilots on board the C-46 and the pilot of the Aztec were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision caused by an inadequate visual contact to avoid collision on part of the crew.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 near Jackson: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1965 at 1935 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 23

Operator:

Registration:

N804LJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Detroit – Wichita

MSN:

23-015

YOM:

1964

Location:

Jackson-Reynolds Field

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3419

Captain / Total hours on type:

642.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8460

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Circumstances:

A Lear Jet Model 23, N804LJ, operated by the Lear Jet Corporation crashed eight miles east-northeast of Jackson, Michigan, at approximately 1935 e.s.t., on October 21, 1965. The pilot and copilot were killed. There were no passengers. The aircraft was destroyed by impact. The flight was operating in accordance with an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan from Detroit, Michigan to Wichita, Kansas, at an assigned altitude of Flight Level 250. The radar controller working the radar contact at 1933, and observed the target traveling in a southwest direction ". . . when the aircraft started a sharp turn to the right (i.e. north) (sic). As the aircraft passed through a northerly heading the beacon target disappeared from the radar." The aircraft was traversing an area of moderate to severe turbulence when it deviated from the assigned route.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of adequate attitude reference resulting from AC electrical power failure under night, turbulent conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Detroit: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1964 at 0214 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

N608Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cleveland – Detroit – Denver

MSN:

30328

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

21400

Captain / Total hours on type:

7520.00

Aircraft flight hours:

7385

Circumstances:

The C-46 Commando had been cleared for a runway 03L ILS approach at Detroit in poor weather (sky obscured, visibility 1 mile, light drizzle). During the approach, at 1,5 miles right of the ILS course and 1 mile NE of the Outer Marker, the aircraft suddenly entered a 45° bank left turn. The bank angle exceeded 60° as the plane crossed the localizer course from left to right. The aircraft struck several 84 feet tall trees in an 8° nose down and 30° right bank attitude, struck the ground and disintegrated. In the investigation an incapacitation of the captain was considered, but not supported by postmortem examination.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during night instrument approach in adverse weather for an undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Detroit

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1964 at 0611 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

N3971B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit – Wilmington

MSN:

22594

YOM:

1945

Flight number:

VK11346

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10376

Captain / Total hours on type:

5676.00

Aircraft flight hours:

25018

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a cargo flight from Detroit to Wilmington and the aircraft was loaded to about 20 pounds under the maximum allowable gross weight of 48,000 pounds. After takeoff from runway 21L, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the aircraft suffered vibrations then stalled and crashed in a field located 2,050 feet pas the runway end. It slid for about 448 feet before coming to rest with its both wings partially sheared off. Both pilots were evacuated and the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

A loss of lift during takeoff, resulting from airframe icing caused by inadequate deicing and preflight inspection. It was determined that the airplane has been improperly deiced prior to takeoff and that a layer of 3 mm of ice was still on the wings at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Detroit

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

41-37104

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-6593

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region: