Zone
Tennessee

Crash of a Swearingen SA26T Merlin IIA in Olive Branch: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1978 at 1851 LT
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA26T Merlin II
Operator:
Registration:
N2301N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Jackson - Memphis
MSN:
T26-002
YOM:
1967
Location:
Olive Branch
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Memphis International Airport in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed in Olive Branch, about 8 miles southeast of the airport. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling (300 feet),
- Visibility less than a mile,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Controller warned pilot of low altitude alert three times.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F in Memphis

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1978 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Hawk Aviation
Registration:
N680RG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - Memphis
MSN:
680-1020-49
YOM:
1961
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2157
Captain / Total hours on type:
141.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Memphis Airport, while in initial climb, both engines failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure during initial climb due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Overload failure,
- Complete engine failure two engines,
- Gear collapsed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Memphis: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1978 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 20
Operator:
Registration:
N121GW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - Memphis
MSN:
4
YOM:
1965
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3647
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Memphis Airport. Following several maneuvers and while circling in the traffic pattern at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine airplane collided with a private Cessna 150 registered N6423K and carrying two pilots. Following the collision, both airplane entered a dive and crashed about 3,8 miles west of the airport. All six occupants in both aircrafts were killed.
Probable cause:
The in-flight collision on approach was the consequence of a poor ATC coordination. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to see and avoid other aircraft,
- Inadequate spacing of aircraft on part of ATC,
- ATC failed to advise of other traffic,
- Under radar contact and controlled airport,
- No evasive action taken,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- The controller of Falcon assumed coordination had been accomplished between local controllers.

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Madison

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1977 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Miller Air Travel
Registration:
N4530Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Memphis - Jackson
MSN:
402A-0030
YOM:
1969
Location:
Madison
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2700
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Jackson Airport, both engines failed. The pilot elected to make a forced landing when the aircraft struck trees and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Covington: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1976 at 2239 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Registration:
N1052N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wakeman - Memphis
MSN:
BA-265
YOM:
1957
Location:
Covington
Tennessee
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:
22950
Circumstances:
While approaching by night to Memphis Airport on a cargo flight from Wakeman, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located in Covington, about 40 miles northeast of Memphis Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined as the aircraft was totally destroyed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Marquise in Jefferson City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1975 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Professional Medical Specialities
Registration:
N69QJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - Jefferson City
MSN:
254
YOM:
1973
Location:
Jefferson City
Tennessee
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:
3180
Captain / Total hours on type:
169.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Jefferson City-Moore-Murrell Airport, the left engine failed. The airplane banked left the stalled and crashed in flames few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper operation of powerplan controls,
- Wreckage pattern indicative of aircraft in left rotation at impact,
- Left propeller 11-15°, right propeller 30° position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Memphis

Date & Time: May 15, 1975 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Registration:
N617JC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - Baton Rouge
MSN:
411-0096
YOM:
1965
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4070
Captain / Total hours on type:
800.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Memphi Airport, while climbing, the right engine malfunctioned. The pilot elected to return but as he was unable to feather the propeller, he attempted an emergency landing in an open field located few miles from the airport. The aircraft belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. All six occupants were injured, three of them seriously. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction after a failure of the propeller governor control system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Propeller control P/N 5000009-10 broken at swaged on fitting, pilot secured the engine but was unable to return to the airport due to windmilling propeller.
Final Report:

Crash of a Carstedt CJ600F Jetliner in Addison

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1975 at 0229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Carstedt Jet Liner 600
Operator:
Registration:
N1200H
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - Addison
MSN:
04448
YOM:
1955
Location:
Addison
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3800
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Addison Airport, the twin engine airplane descended below the minimum descent altitude when it struck power cables at 36 feet agl then crashed 1,5 mile short of runway threshold. Both pilots were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Weather below minimums.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Memphis: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1971 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Memphis Air Charter
Registration:
N9672C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - Linden
MSN:
AF-332
YOM:
1953
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3547
Captain / Total hours on type:
97.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the right engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return for a safe landing. A circuit was completed in stormy weather and while making a last turn to join the approach path, control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed near the airport. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The crew attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipement. The following factors were reported:
- Deficiency in the company maintenance equipment, services and regulation,
- Engines structure: valve assemblies,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the maintenance personnel,
- The pilot-in-command exercised poor judgment,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Low ceiling, rain and thunderstorm activity,
- Right engine rough prior to takeoff, known to pilots and supervisor,
- Circling approach too high,
- Go-around made in stormy weather.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-216 in New Orleans: 16 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1969 at 0655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Avion Airways
Registration:
N142D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Memphis - New Orleans - Belize City
MSN:
1946
YOM:
1937
Location:
New Orleans-Louis Armstrong (Moisant)
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Captain / Total flying hours:
15300
Captain / Total hours on type:
1600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
900
Aircraft flight hours:
7584
Circumstances:
William Jackson of Travel Associates leased DC-3 N142D from Avion Airways for the purpose of transporting sportsmen from Memphis to Belize. The aircraft departed Memphis at 04:36 on an IFR flight to New Orleans. At 06:35 the crew contacted New Orleans approach control: "... out of three point four for three thousand." The approach controller told the crew to maintain 3000 feet and proceed direct to the ILS outer compass locator. He gave the weather as "sky partially obscured visibility 1/16 fog and smoke, altimeter 30.00, runway 10 runway visual range less than 600 feet". The pilot elected to carry out the approach despite the fact that minimum visibility for an approach was 2400 feet and that the centerline lights were inoperative. After being given vectors for the runway 10 approach he decided to carry out a low pass and continue if runway lights became visible. Apparently the pilot continued the descent. The aircraft contacted the runway very hard 1198 feet past the threshold, bounced and after power was applied, the DC-3 struck the ground again 3100 feet further on. The airplane cartwheeled and caught fire.
Probable cause:
The controlled descent of the aircraft into known below minima weather conditions and the failure of the crew to discontinue the landing attempt upon reaching the decision height. Contributing to the cause are existing regulations which permit an approach to be initiated in conditions well below minima, lack of clarity in the regulations in describing missed approach procedures while following visual cues to the runway, misinterpretation by the crew of information received from the approach controller (in this case, the legality of landing in low visibility conditions), improper crew action at the time of initial runway contact , and poor crew judgement partially induced by fatigue, and the lack of management required for such an operation.
Final Report:
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