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Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690B in Burns: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1981 at 1600 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N81521
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Klamath Falls - Burns
MSN:
690-11351
YOM:
1976
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2177
Captain / Total hours on type:
506.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Burns Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7 on Peak Surveyor: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1979 at 2047 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4SW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Redmond - Klamath Falls - Medford
MSN:
44287/538
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
Tanker 69
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
8200
Captain / Total hours on type:
475.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
250
Aircraft flight hours:
21025
Circumstances:
Using the call sign Tanker 69, the aircraft was on a company business flight from Redmond to Medford with an en route stop at Klamath Falls. At Redmond, about 600 gallons of 100/130-grade fuel were added to the 1,000 gallons on board, 8 employees were enplaned, and the aircraft departed Redmond for Klamath Falls about 1945. The purpose of the flight was to transport Butler employees to an end-of-season barbecue in Medford that had started between 1930 and 2000. Tanker 69 landed at Klamath Falls at 2029. Two additional Butler employees were enplaned, and the aircraft departed runway 14 at 2040. The flightcrew did not file a flight plan and the weather was such that none was required. Witnesses saw the aircraft begin a steep right turn about one mile south of the runway and momentarily disappear from their view behind hangars and airport buildings; it then proceeded on a westerly course. A few minutes later, a pilot located 11 miles west-southwest of the airport saw the aircraft pass overheard an altitude he estimated to be 750 feet above ground level. He said that the aircraft lights were on and that engine sounds were normal. About 2047, witnesses located 25 miles west-northwest of the airport heard sounds, which they first thought to be from a car or truck with loud mufflers. Subsequently, they determined that the sounds were an approaching aircraft. They heard engine sounds become 'choppy', resembling the noise made by a helicopter blade, and saw a fireball on Surveyor Peak, about 3,5 miles south of their location. Weyerhauser Company and Oregon State Forestry Department personnel located about 12 miles from Surveyor Peak also saw the fireball on the peak. After notifying authorities, they took firefighting equipment to the scene. The aircraft crashed at night during hours of darkness at an elevation of about 6,400 feet. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The flight crew’s decision to undertake a direct point-to-point high-cruise-speed flight at low altitude. The crew’s judgment in the selection of a low-altitude flight profile may have been influenced by their familiarity with the terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27A in Klamath Falls: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1967 at 0503 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2712
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Klamath Falls – Medford – North Bend – Portland – Seattle
MSN:
73
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
WC720
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
9271
Captain / Total hours on type:
4684.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1064
Copilot / Total hours on type:
258
Aircraft flight hours:
16202
Circumstances:
Fairchild F-27 N2712 operated on a flight from Klamath Falls to Seattle via Medford, North Bend and Portland. Because snow was falling at Klamath Falls, the aircraft was loaded in the hangar instead of on the ramp. There was some delay in pushing out the aircraft onto the ramp because the tow tractor lost traction in the snow. The aircraft was exposed to the falling snow for about 11 minutes before the plane was able to taxy out to runway 14. A few minutes later, at 05:01 the aircraft took off. During the takeoff roll, after rolling about 1000 feet, the aircraft gradually served to the left. The nose wheel left the ground 600 feet prior to the main gear at a point where the track was half way between the center of the runway and the left row of runway lights. The left main gear was about 12 feet off the left edge of the runway for a distance of 250 feet prior to lift-off. Just after lift-off the aircraft swerved sharply to the right and immediately back to the left. On climb out the aircraft tended to the left, despite several course corrections. After reaching 5250 feet, the altitude dropped again to 4700 feet. The aircraft continued to climb until it crashed on a steep ridge on the northwest slope of Stukel Mountain at an elevation of 5049 feet (1539 m). The F-27 was in a right wing low attitude when this wing contacted the mountain; the aircraft then cartwheeled up the 30° up slope of the mountain. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to ice accretion on airframe surfaces. The Board further determines that the pilot should have required that deicing fluid be applied to the aircraft to remove the accumulation of ice and snow prior to takeoff. This had not been done by the appropriate maintenance personnel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Klamath Falls: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1965 at 1353 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6455C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6280
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1807
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire-fighting mission in the region of Klamath Falls. While flying at low height in strong wind conditions, one of the engine failed. The crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude nor the good track when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of one engine caused by a master rod bearing failure. Improper in-flight decisions on part of the crew and unfavorable wind conditions (up to 60 mph at the time of the accident) were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report: