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Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Bradford

Date & Time: Mar 31, 2003 at 1312 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N215CQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Islip - Gary
MSN:
P-458
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4580
Captain / Total hours on type:
1318.00
Aircraft flight hours:
517
Circumstances:
The pilot first reported that the engine oil temperature had dropped below what he normally observed while en route. When he tired to exercise the left propeller control, and then later tried to feather the left engine, he was unable to change the engine rpm. He then heard a pop from the right engine, and advised air traffic control (ATC), he needed to perform a landing at Bradford. He also reported a double power loss. While being radar vectored for the ILS runway 32 approach, he told ATC he was getting some power back. He was radar vectored inside of the outer marker, and broke out mid-field and high. At the departure end of the runway, he executed a right turn and during the turn, the airplane descended into trees, and a post crash fire destroyed it. A witness reported he heard backfiring when the airplane over flew the runway. When the airplane was examined, the landing gear was found down, and the wing flaps were extended 15 degrees. Neither propeller was feathered. Both engines were test run and performed satisfactorily. The left engine fuel servo was used on the right engine due to impact damage on the right engine fuel servo. The right fuel servo was examined and found to run rich. However, no problems were found that would explain a power loss, prevent the engine from running, or explain the backfiring heard by a witness. Both propellers were examined and found to be satisfactory, with an indication of more power on the left propeller than on the right propeller. The weather observation taken at 1253 included a ceiling of 1,100 feet broken, visibility 1 mile, light snow and mist. The weather observation taken at 1310 included a ceiling of 900 feet broken, visibility 3/4 mile, and light snow and mist. According to the pilot's handbook, the airplane could maintain altitude or climb on one engine, but it required the propeller to be feathered, and the landing gear and wing flaps retracted.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper decision to maneuver for a landing in a configuration that exceeded the capability of the airplane to maintain altitude, after he lost power on one engine for undetermined reason(s).
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air in Kankakee

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1977 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N34F
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gary - Kankakee
MSN:
LJ-119
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8754
Captain / Total hours on type:
1510.00
Circumstances:
On final approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the nose wheel struck a dirt bank located 33 feet short of runway threshold and the airplane crashed. All five occupants were injured, three of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Undershoot and collision with dirt bank on final approach after the copilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Wind gusting to 26 knots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in Valparaiso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1975 at 1950 LT
Registration:
N78378
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gary - Gary
MSN:
500-1263-86
YOM:
1962
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
459
Captain / Total hours on type:
155.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Gary Airport in the early evening on a local flight. While in normal cruise, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a prairie. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an improper operation of flight controls on part of dual student. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Aircraft observed to enter a stall followed by a spin,
- The student log had two previous dual flights, one by a CFI.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Gary

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1973 at 0054 LT
Registration:
N566E
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Kansas City – Gary
MSN:
4838
YOM:
1958
Location:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16774
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on the runway for few dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed. The fire was quickly extinguished.
Probable cause:
Improper level off/touchdown on part of the copilot who was PIC at the time of the accident. Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the captain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Atlanta: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1972 at 0127 LT
Registration:
N6319U
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gary - Atlanta
MSN:
500B-1384-138
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1012
Captain / Total hours on type:
4.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Gary, Indiana, with known deficiencies in equipment and encountered technical problems with instruments en route to Atlanta. On approach to Atlanta-William Berry Hartsfield Airport by night and poor weather conditions (low ceiling, fog and rain falls), he descended below the MDA when the airplane struck trees and crashed in College Park, about a mile short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- Aircraft radios operated intermittently while enroute,
- Descended below MDA on ILS approach,
- One hour dual in type.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Gary

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1966 at 1545 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1914
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gary - Gary
MSN:
520-122
YOM:
1953
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Gary, Indiana, simulating engine failure. En route, one of the pilot voluntarily cut one of the engine to simulate a failure. After few seconds, he was unable to restart the engine nor to raise the gear and due to an insufficient speed, the airplane stalled and crashed in a gravel pit. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow the approved procedures. Improper emergency procedures.
Final Report: