Zone
Alabama

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Fort Worth

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1974 at 1845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 20
Operator:
Registration:
N7824M
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Montgomery - Fort Worth
MSN:
42
YOM:
1966
Location:
Fort Worth-Meacham
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:
7400
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
The crew expected to make a straight-in approach but was cleared by ATC to make an ILS circling approach that was completed in rain showers with a tailwind of 8 knots. After touchdown on a wet runway, the crew encountered difficulties to decelerate properly as the airplane suffered hydroplaning. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest few dozen yards further. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Overran runway and collided with a dirt bank after the crew selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following factors were reported:
- Failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Airport conditions: wet runway,
- Rain falls,
- Tail wind from 158 to 202°,
- Cleared for ILS circling approach while the pilot requested a straight in approach,
- Landed normally in heavy rain but failed to deploy the drag chute.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura near Union Springs: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1973 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Clark Aerial Service
Registration:
N45CK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Montgomery - Montgomery
MSN:
5333
YOM:
1943
Location:
Union Springs
Alabama
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:
5100
Captain / Total hours on type:
67.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission in the region of Union Springs and departed Montgomery-Franklin Airport in the early morning. While flying at low height above a wooded area, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees after the pilot-in-command misjudged speed and altitude. The following factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Jettisoned load,
- Aircraft descended and hit ground in near level flight attitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Central Mills

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1973 at 1331 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 520
Operator:
Joe T. Poston
Registration:
N7324
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Greenville - Montgomery
MSN:
520-94
YOM:
1953
Location:
Central Mills
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
360.00
Circumstances:
En route from Greenville, Mississippi, to Montgomery, Alabama, both engines failed almost simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Central Mills. While both passengers were slightly injured, the pilot was seriously wounded.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines in flight caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Fuel system: vents, drains, tank caps,
- Fuel siphoning,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions,
- One side of locking arm of the right fuel cap broken off, rust in break,
- Red fuel stains on wing and fuselage.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Dallas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1972 at 0725 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Sportsman Air
Registration:
N6204D
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Dallas - Montgomery
MSN:
680-3370-1456
Location:
Dallas-White Rock
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1223
Captain / Total hours on type:
16.00
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Dallas-White Rock Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane nosed down then crashed in flames between two rows of houses located in the district of Alley. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and collision with ground after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation during initial climb. The following factors were reported:
- Initiated flight in adverse weather conditions,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Loss of control in known IFR conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in Tallahassee: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1962 at 0756 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
N45W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Montgomery – Jacksonville
MSN:
2477
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tallahassee
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
A Lockheed Lodestar 18, registered N45W and owned by Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc, departed Montgomery-Dannelly Field, Alabama, at approximately 07:06 on company business flight to Jacksonville, Florida. En route altitude was 8,000 feet. A Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star US Air Force jet trainer, serial 51-4532, departed Moody AFB at approximately 07:13 on a local IFR training flight. The T-33 climbed to 20,000 feet following takeoff from Moody and proceeded to the Tallahassee VOR where it was cleared by Tallahassee Approach Control for penetration and an ILS approach to runway 36 at Tallahassee Airport. While under Tallahassee Approach Control, two ILS approaches were completed followed by two ILS missed approaches. After the second ILS missed approach, the flight was cleared at approximately 07:50 by Tallahassee Approach Control, "...from present position direct to the Tallahassee OMNI, maintain 3,000, anticipate routing Victor 22, Greenville, direct to Valdosta OMNI." After that the T-33 reported VFR on top at 4000 feet. The crew continued VFR and requested a climb to 20.000 feet, direct to Valdosta, which was approved. The two aircraft collided in midair at approximately 8,000 feet altitude, approximately 4.3 miles northwest of the Tallahassee VOR Station. The T-33 climbed up into the Lodestar. The Lodestar's right propeller cut through the forward end of the T-33 right tip tank. The Lodestar's fuselage lower surface scrubbed across the T-33's right wing upper surface just inboard of that tip tank at an angle of 14 degrees leftward from the T-33's longitudinal axis. The various impacts on the T-33's right wing caused it to yaw to the right, with the result that its tail assembly ripped through the Lodestar's left wing at a greater angle than that of initial impact. The Lodestar's left wing was severed from trailing edge to leading edge at this time. The impact severed the T-33's tail assembly causing loss of control. The T-33 entered an inverted flat spin in which it remained until contact with the ground. Both crew members of the T-33 ejected safely. The Lodestar crashed, killing all four on board.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was failure of the T-33 pilots to observe the Lodestar while climbing through its flight altitude. unauthorized deviation from an IFR flight plan was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Montgomery

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1938 at 2244 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13735
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Antonio – Houston – New Orleans – Mobile – Montgomery – Atlanta – Spartanburg – Charlotte – Greensboro – Richmond – Washington DC – Baltimore – Camden – Newark
MSN:
1261
YOM:
1934
Flight number:
EA002
Location:
Montgomery
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2546.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1092
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while climbing to a height of 1,000 feet, the pilot retracted the landing gear when he felt several vibrations coming from the right engine. A fire erupted on the right engine and the crew decided to return to Montgomery. Because the situation deteriorated rapidly, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located near the airport. The aircraft slid for few dozen metres before the right wing was partially torn off while contacting a tree. All occupants escaped uninjured, except the captain who was slightly burned. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Fire in the right engine nacelle, resulting from progressive failure of engine parts, which increased in area and intensity to such an extent as to make it impossible to continue the aircraft in flight. The fire on the right engine was caused by the failure of the sixth cylinder.
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