Zone
Colorado

Crash of a Beechcraft E18 in Gainesville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1980 at 0947 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Tampa Air Centre
Registration:
N65V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barstow - Lake City
MSN:
BA-144
YOM:
1956
Location:
Gainesville
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
8267
Circumstances:
En route from Barstow to Lake City, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and was cleared to divert to Gainesville Airport. On final, in a limited visibility due to fog, the twin engine airplane collided with electronic towers and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to see and avoid objects or obstructions,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection of aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Fuel system: filters, strainers, screens - missing,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Complete failure of the right engine,
- Visibility two miles or less,
- Right fuel filter filtering element missing,
- Left filter sub amt of debris,
- Main oil screens abnormally dirty.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Lake City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1967 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N9528Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
AF-109
YOM:
1952
Location:
Lake City
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8400
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was involved in a local training mission, carrying three crew members and several skydivers (firefighters) on behalf of the US Forest Service. Following two successful missions, the crew was approaching the mountain over Lake City and the pilot-in-command reduced his speed to allow the skydivers to bail out when the airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. A crew member was killed and two others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot-in-command misjudged distance, speed and altitude following a poorly planned approach. High density altitude and downdrafts/updrafts were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:
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