Zone
Indiana

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar 602P (Ted Smith 602) in Bradford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 2002 at 2233 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)
Operator:
Poke Aire
Registration:
N700DJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Evansville - Bradford
MSN:
62-0923-8165047
YOM:
1981
Location:
Bradford
Pennsylvania
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:
1300
Circumstances:
The pilot attempted an ILS approach during night, instrument meteorological conditions. The inbound course was 322 degrees magnetic, and the glideslope outer marker crossing altitude was 3,333 feet msl. The decision altitude was 2,370 feet msl and the airport elevation was 2,143 feet msl. A wreckage path, about 370 feet in length, along a track 320 degrees magnetic, commenced with a tree strike about 300 feet southeast of the outer marker, at an elevation of about 2,200 feet msl. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure, which resulted in an early descent into trees and terrain. A factor was the night, instrument meteorological conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Evansville: 17 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1992 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
58-0732
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Evansville - Evansville
MSN:
3527
YOM:
1959
Location:
Evansville-William H. Dress
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Evansville-William H. Dress Airport on behalf of the Kentucky National Guard, consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. On approach to runway 22, the crew was instructed by ATC to initiate a go-around for unknown reasons. The crew increased engine power and climbed to a height of 1,500 feet when the aircraft entered a nose down attitude, plunged and crashed onto an hotel located 4,800 feet short of runway 22 threshold. The aircraft, the hotel and a restaurant were destroyed. All five crew members as well as 11 people on the hotel/restaurant were killed. A police officer who was seriously injured in the accident died from his injuries 10 days later.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of negligences on part of the crew who maintained an insufficient speed while initiating a go-around procedure, causing the aircraft to suffer an aerodynamic stall.

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Minneapolis

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1978 at 0802 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 25
Operator:
Flight Training Center
Registration:
N40SN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Evansville
MSN:
25-021
YOM:
1968
Location:
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Minnesota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1147
Captain / Total hours on type:
262.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, the airplane suffered an uncontrolled collision with ground, skidded on runway and came to rest. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot-in-command. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Airframe ice,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Snow,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Snow/ice on wings,
- Flaps 28°,
- Full nose-up trim.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Evansville: 29 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1977 at 1922 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N51071
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Indianapolis - Evansville - Nashville
MSN:
4837
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
Air Indiana 216
Location:
Evansville-William H. Dress
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Captain / Total flying hours:
9100
Captain / Total hours on type:
4600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1330
Copilot / Total hours on type:
80
Aircraft flight hours:
19777
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a charter flight from Indianapolis to Nashville with an intermediate stop at Evansville Airport, carrying members of the University of Evansville basketball team and associated personnel. Takeoff from runway 18 was completed in marginal weather conditions with mist and light rain. After rotation, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn to the left when the airplane struck two trees located to the east of the airfield. Then the aircraft rolled to the right and crashed about a mile southeast from runway 18 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 29 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
An attempted take-off with the rudder and right aileron control locks installed, in combination with a rearward centre of gravity, which resulted in the aircraft's rotating to a nose-high attitude immediately after take-off, and entering the region of reversed command from which the pilot was unable to recover. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the flight crew to ensure that the passenger baggage was loaded in accordance with the configuration contained on the load manifest. Their failure resulted in a rearward centre of gravity that was aft of the optimum range, but forward of the rearmost limit.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-340-38 in Evansville

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1968 at 2007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-340
Operator:
Registration:
N4820C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
152
YOM:
1954
Location:
Evansville-William H. Dress
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
En route, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to divert to Evansville-Dress Airport for an emergency landing. On short final, the captain decided to make a go-around when the airplane stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. All 42 occupants were evacuated among them 10 were injured. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight following the rupture of an exhaust valve in number 15 cylinder. The pilot lost control of the airplane when he started a single engine go-around and aborted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar in Evansville: 10 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1943 at 2326 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-55864
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cleveland – Monroe
MSN:
18-2254
YOM:
1942
Location:
Evansville-William H. Dress
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Cleveland, Ohio, to Monroe, Louisiana. En route, due to weather deterioration, the crew decided to divert to Evansville-Dress Airport. During the final approach completed by night and marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft crashed few miles short of runway threshold and was destroyed by impact forces. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Paul D. Jones,
Cpt William V. Litvin,
1st Lt George F. Dennison,
1st Lt Carlton B. Overton Jr.,
2nd Lt Howard D. Baer,
2nd Lt John W. Kerrigan,
2nd Lt Charles W. McLaughlin,
2nd Lt Micharl W. Schaffer,
S/Sgt James P. Taylor,
S/Sgt Arthur A. Vandoli.
Probable cause:
The crew adopted a wrong approach configuration and was flying at a too low and unsafe altitude when the accident occurred.
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