Zone
Alabama

Crash of a Beechcraft B70 Queen Air near Fowler: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1971 at 0804 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 70 Queen Air
Operator:
Texas Department of Corrections
Registration:
N1384A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pueblo - Huntsville
MSN:
LB-18
YOM:
1969
Location:
Fowler
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when control was lost. The airplane crashed near Fowler and was destroyed, killing all three occupants. The wreckage was found a day later.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by icing conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate weather briefing,
- Airframe ice,
- Aircraft equipped with deicing system but usage undetermined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401A in Morrisville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1970 at 0001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Roberts Construction
Registration:
N401RA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Huntsville – Morrisville
MSN:
401A-0117
YOM:
1969
Location:
Morrisville
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
3247
Captain / Total hours on type:
297.00
Circumstances:
On final approach in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, struck trees and crashed in an open field located short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot-in-command. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Improper compensation for wind coditions,
- Sudden windshift,
- Erratic flight path after passing outer marker,
- ILS straight-in approach,
- Strong windshift reported at approximately 400 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Huntsville

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1965 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
N37519
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
43008
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
UA624
Location:
Huntsville
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16823
Captain / Total hours on type:
1750.00
Aircraft flight hours:
46423
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Huntsville Airport, when V1 speed was reached, the pilot-in-command started the rotation when the nose gear retracted. The airplane sank on its nose, slid for several yards, overran and came to rest 300 feet further. All 16 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Retraction of the nose gear during takeoff for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Kaiser-Fraser C-119G Flying Boxcar near Huntsville: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
53-8102
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sewart - Brookley
MSN:
205
YOM:
1952
Location:
Huntsville
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft struck the Shin Hook ridge located about 18 miles southeast of Huntsville, Alabama. Two passengers were rescued while nine other occupants were killed. The crew was performing a flight from Sewart AFB (Smyrna, Tennessee) to Brookley AFB in Mobile, Alabama.
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