San Diego

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Sacramento - Los Angeles - San Diego

MSN:

19688/589

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

PS182

Location:

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

128

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

142

Captain / Total flying hours:

14382

Captain / Total hours on type:

10482.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

10049

Copilot / Total hours on type:

5800

Aircraft flight hours:

24088

Aircraft flight cycles:

36557

Circumstances:

The crew was completing flight PS182 from Sacramento to San Diego with an intermediate stop in Los Angeles. While descending to San Diego-Lindbergh Field runway 27, the crew was informed about the presence of a Cessna 172M registered N7711G and operated by the Gibbs Flight Center. The single engine airplane just departed San Diego Airport for a local training mission with one student pilot and one instructor on board. At 0901:47, at an altitude of 2,600 feet and 3 NM northeast of San Diego Airport, both airplane collided. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed into several houses and the 805 highway located between the districts of Altadena and City Heights. Both aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 137 occupants in both aircraft were killed as well as seven people on the ground. Nine other people on the ground were seriously injured as dozen houses were destroyed.

Probable cause:

The failure of the flight crew of Flight 182 to comply with the provisions of a maintain-visual-separation clearance, including the requirement to inform the controller when visual contact was lost; and the air traffic control procedures in effect which authorized the controllers to use visual separation procedures in a terminal area environment when the capability was available to provide either lateral or vertical separation to either aircraft. Contributing to the accident were:
- The failure of the controller to advise Flight 182 of the direction of movement of the Cessna;
- The failure of the pilot of the Cessna to maintain his assigned heading;
- The improper resolution by the controller of the conflict alert.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Upland: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1977 at 0740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

El Dorado Leasing

Registration:

N6853S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Upland - San Diego

MSN:

680-367-53

YOM:

1956

Location:

Upland

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1675

Captain / Total hours on type:

320.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Upland-Cable Airport in marginal weather conditions, the pilot reported problems with gyro when cruising at low in low ceiling, the airplane crashed into an airport complex. Four employees of the complex were injured while all five occupants of the airplane were killed.

Probable cause:

The airplane crashed after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Instruments/equipment and accessories - flight and navigation instruments: attitude gyro,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Low altitude flight in low ceiling area,
- Pilot declared gyros out, reason undetermined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell T-39D Sabreliner near San Diego: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner

Operator:

Registration:

150545

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

277-4

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances 30 miles east of San Diego while completing a reconnaissance mission. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Palm Desert: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1976 at 1455 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Chartair - USA

Registration:

N37D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Diego – Palm Springs

MSN:

P-335

YOM:

1975

Location:

Palm Desert

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4900

Captain / Total hours on type:

38.00

Circumstances:

En route from San Diego to Palm Springs, weather conditions deteriorated and the twin engine airplane entered a thunderstorm area with severe turbulences and strong winds. The right empennage assembly and the right outboard wing panel failed in flight, causing the airplane to enter an uncontrolled descent and to crash in flames near Palm Desert. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent after the pilot exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Windshear,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Overload failure,
- Continued VFR flight in adverse weather conditions,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast,
- Gusts 80 knots,
- Severe turbulence was reported in area.

Final Report:

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-202 near Borrego Springs

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1974 at 1110 LT

Type of aircraft:

NAMC YS-11

Operator:

Registration:

N208PA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Diego - San Diego

MSN:

2082

YOM:

1968

Location:

Borrego Springs

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5673

Captain / Total hours on type:

797.00

Circumstances:

The crew (four pilots) departed San Diego Airport on a training mission. En route, the crew simulated stall conditions when both engines failed to respond. Shortly later, both engines caught fire and the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed about 8,8 miles east of Borrego Springs and came to rest in flames in a desert area. While all four crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight due to inadequate maintenance and inspection and failure of the propeller system. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Excessive temperature,
- Failure of both engines,
- Fire on both engines,
- Hi stop hub connecting switch inoperative.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-73 Mallard off Avalon: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1967 at 1017 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-73 Mallard

Operator:

Registration:

N2968

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Avalon – San Diego

MSN:

J-25

YOM:

1947

Flight number:

216

Location:

Avalon (Catalina Island)

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7054

Captain / Total hours on type:

6271.00

Circumstances:

While leaving the Avalon-Pebbly Beach seaplane base, the airplane struck waves caused by an engine-boat. The airplane went out of control, overturned and crashed. A pilot was killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

The pilot added power to continue takeoff when the airplane struck waves and failed to abort takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-1 in Palm Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1958 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-240

Operator:

Registration:

N8405H

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Las Vegas – Palm Springs – San Diego

MSN:

YOM:

1948

Flight number:

WA019

Location:

Palm Springs

Country:

Region:

Aerovias Contreras Ensenada

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9845

Captain / Total hours on type:

3547.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

5240

Copilot / Total hours on type:

785

Aircraft flight hours:

22516

Circumstances:

About 1342 Flight 19 took off from runway 31. The takeoff appeared normal, and the aircraft climbed to approximately 500 feet above the ground. At this time several ground witnesses saw two or more silvery pieces separate from the aircraft. Most witnesses said the pieces seemingly separated from the area of the right wing. Almost simultaneously the aircraft was observed to nose down sharply and descend at a steep angle. As it neared the ground it leveled off considerably but continued to descend. It contacted the ground raising a large cloud of dust and then disappeared from the view of the observers behind intervening higher terrain. Seconds later large columns of smoke were seen rising from the accident site. During the ground roll the aircraft struck large boulders in its path and fire occurred which consumed the major portion of the aircraft. There were no fatalities but serious injuries resulted to 5 of the 18 passengers and minor injuries to most of the others. The crew of three received minor or slight injuries.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of a mechanic to secure properly the right wing leading edge section as a result of which the unit separated in flight. This improper installation was undetected because of inadequate inspection. The following findings were reported:
- During the departure from Palm Springs the right wing leading edge separated in flight,
- Separation of the component resulted in severe control difficulty and buffeting of the aircraft,
- A gear-down emergency landing was made in the boulder-strewn desert about four miles north-northwest of the airport,
- During the ground roll impacts with the boulders caused severe damage and breakup of the aircraft, and a fire in the left wing spread rapidly and destroyed the aircraft,
- N8405H received a No. 3, areas 1 and 3, heavy maintenance check about two hours of flying time before the accident,
- During the maintenance a mechanic assigned to close and secure the right leading edge forgot to install the retaining screws,
- The gap straps were properly installed,
- An inadequate inspection of the aircraft by the lead mechanic resulted in his failure to detect the omission,
- The gap straps held the leading edge in place until the Palm Springs departure when they failed from loads beyond their design strength.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-1-CU Commando near San Diego: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

XA-GOT

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

26403

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located east of San Diego. Both pilots were killed in the accident.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster in Iron Mountain: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

KB995

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Vancouver – San Diego

Location:

Iron Mountain

Oregon

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On a flight from Vancouver to San Diego, the four engine aircraft crashed on the Iron Mountain located in the Syskiyou Mountain Range, southern Oregon. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Joseph Yvon Aurele Elias Bourgeois,
F/O John William Brownie,
F/O Robert James Calder,
F/O David Fair Lancaster Ellis,
F/O Kenneth Edgar Elsden,
LAC John Haraldson,
F/O Harry Charles Maddick,
Cpl Donald Gordon Lancaster Spence,
F/O Cyril Jerome Lancaster Williams,
LAC William Henry Waldron.

Crash of a Convair B-36D-25-CF Peacemaker off San Diego: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1952 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Operator:

Registration:

49-2661

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

San Diego - San Diego

MSN:

121

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region: