Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules near Berkeley Springs: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1992 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
63-7881
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Martinsburg - Martinsburg
MSN:
3952
YOM:
1964
Location:
Berkeley Springs
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Martinsburg-Eastern West Virginia-Shepherd Field for a local training flight. While flying at low height, the four engine aircraft struck power cables and crashed onto a house located 3 km northwest of Berkeley Springs. All six crew members were killed while the unique person in the house was slightly injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Capon Bridge: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1990 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
K & K Aircraft
Registration:
N1FN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Martinsburg - Winchester
MSN:
11685
YOM:
1943
Location:
Capon Bridge
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
22000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
34906
Circumstances:
While spraying gypsy moths with dimilin over wooded/hilly terrain, the DC-3 collided with power lines in a valley area. Witnesses in an nearby observation aircraft reported the DC-3 entered a gradual climb, which continued until the DC-3 was in a steep nose high attitude. The pilot of the observation aircraft tried to communicate with the DC-3 pilots, but could not make radio contact. The observation pilot reported the DC-3 entered a stall/spin at about 1,200 feet agl, then crashed. An investigation revealed no evidence of a preimpact failure. The DC-3 was not equipped with a wire cutter kit. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of the DC-3, which resulted in their failure to see-and-avoid the powerlines. Factors related to the accident were: the obstruction (transmission wires), and the lack of visual cues for the pilots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in Pekin: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1972 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N78376
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Martinsburg - Peoria
MSN:
500-1275-98
YOM:
1963
Location:
Pekin
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
758
Captain / Total hours on type:
465.00
Circumstances:
The descent to Peoria Airport was initiated by night and marginal weather conditions. On final, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in Pekin, about seven miles southeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on approach after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- The pilot was cleared for an ILS approach and was requested to report over the outer marker. The report was not recorded by approach control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53B in Martinsburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1958 at 1358 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N49553
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Washington DC – Martinsburg
MSN:
4820
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
CA003
Location:
Martinsburg-Eastern West Virginia-Shepherd Field
West Virginia
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:
5625
Captain / Total hours on type:
1600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3333
Copilot / Total hours on type:
787
Aircraft flight hours:
32396
Circumstances:
A Capital Airlines DC-3 crashed and burned near Martinsburg Airport, Martinsburg, West Virginia, at 1358 on June 4, 1958, injuring the three occupants-an instructor and two pilot-trainees. One trainee, who was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident, died the following day of severe burns. The aircraft was on a training flight from Washington National Airport and was practising takeoffs and landings at Martinsburg Airport. During the pilot's attempt to climb out after abandoning a single-engine approach to runway 8, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area. A crew member was killed while two other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was that, following the trainee-pilot's failure to maintain minimum-control speed during an attempted go-arounds the instructor-pilot failed to take control of the aircraft in sufficient time to prevent a critical loss of altitude. A contributing factor was the malfunction of the landing gear latch which delayed retraction of the landing gear and caused the distraction of the instructor-pilot for several seconds during a critical period of the go-around.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Martinsburg-Eastern West Virginia-Shepherd Field