San Jose

Site:

Schedule:

Concord - San Jose

MSN:

FA-109

YOM:

1986

Location:

Concord-Buchanan Field

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10868

Captain / Total hours on type:

35.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3801

Circumstances:

The twin turboprop airplane overran the runway, impacted two fences, and an occupied automobile after the airline transport pilot attempted to abort a takeoff. The pilot performed a rolling takeoff and was paying close attention to balancing the engine power and keeping runway centerline alignment. As the airplane accelerated, the pilot set the power above 80 percent and began an instrument scan. He then noted the airspeed indicator was reading zero with the needle resting on the peg. After a moment's hesitation, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff by reducing the power levers to flight idle, and subsequently over the gate to ground fine. He reported to the FAA that he did not place the power controls into the reverse position. Air traffic controllers reported they observed the airplane with its nose wheel off of the ground approximately 3/4 of the way down the 4,602-foot long runway. The aircraft's left and right pitot/static systems were examined and tested after the accident, and no anomalies were noted. The pilot obtained verbal training on rejected/aborted takeoffs for the accident airplane. He obtained his type rating and 14 CFR 135 check-out in the accident airplane approximately 1 month prior to the accident. The pilot had accumulated a total of 10,867.5 hours of flight time, of which 34.7 hours were accumulated in the accident aircraft make and model. The pilot reported his total pilot-in-command flight time in the accident aircraft make and model as 20 hours, all of which were accumulated within the preceding 30 days of the accident. Examination of the airplane, the flight instruments and the pitot/static system found no explanation for the pilot reported lack of airspeed reading. The brakes were found to be fully functional. Review of the performance charts for the airplane disclosed that for the weight and ambient conditions of the takeoff, the airplane required 4,100 feet for an
accelerate-stop distance; the runway was 4,602 feet long.

Probable cause:

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff and his failure to utilize the propeller's reverse pitch function.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Orland

Date & Time: May 21, 1999 at 1725 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Robert J. Scott

Registration:

N8153Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Jose – Redding

MSN:

414-0053

YOM:

1970

Location:

Orland

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12000

Captain / Total hours on type:

480.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4471

Circumstances:

The pilot refueled the auxiliary tanks of the airplane at a different airport 1 month prior to the accident, and had not flown on the auxiliary tanks since that time. He was repositioning the airplane back to home base after a series of revenue flights when the accident occurred. About 20 minutes after takeoff he positioned the left and right engines to their respective auxiliary fuel tanks, and then returned to the mains 30 minutes later. The right engine began to surge and subsequently stopped running. Turning on the fuel boost pump restarted the engine. Five minutes later the engine quit and he secured it after unsuccessful restart attempts. Then the left engine began to surge and was developing only partial power. He diverted to an alternate airport with decaying altitude and power in the remaining engine. Crossing the airport, he saw he was too high to land with a tailwind so he circled to land into the wind. On the base leg he made the decision to land straight ahead in a field due to power lines in his path, rapidly decaying altitude, and power. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a ditch. The left and right main fuel filters contained a foreign substance, which upon laboratory examination, was found to be a polyacrylamide. This is a manmade synthetic polymer that is used as an agricultural soil amendment that aids in reducing soil erosion. Distribution of the polymer is typically not done by aircraft. Inspection of the fueling facility revealed that the employees who do refueling did not have any formal or on-the-job training. There was no record that the delivery system filters had been examined or changed. The maintenance to the truck, delivery system, and storage facility are done by the employees on an as needed, time permitted basis. The fuel truck was found to be improperly labeled, and the fuel nozzle was lying in a compartment amid dirt, gravel, and other contaminates with no caps or covers for protection.

Probable cause:

A loss of engine power in both engines due to fuel contamination, which resulted from the fueling facilities improper quality control procedures.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A100 King Air in San Jose

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1996

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 100 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

RP-C710

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

MSN:

B-15

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at San Jose Airport, the aircraft collided with a dog. On impact, the right main gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on its belly. The right engine struck the ground and caught fire. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The dog was killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in San Jose: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1995 at 0019 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N27954

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Oakland - San Jose

MSN:

31-7952062

YOM:

1979

Flight number:

AMF041

Location:

San Jose

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4659

Captain / Total hours on type:

914.00

Aircraft flight hours:

9840

Aircraft flight cycles:

10966

Circumstances:

The aircraft impacted mountainous terrain in controlled flight during hours of darkness and marginal VFR conditions. The flight was being vectored for an instrument approach during the pilot's 14 CFR Part 135 instrument competency check flight. The flight was instructed by approach control to maintain VFR conditions, and was assigned a heading and altitude to fly which caused the aircraft to fly into another airspace sector below the minimum vectoring altitude (MVA). FAA Order 7110.65, Section 5-6-1, requires that if a VFR aircraft is assigned both a heading and altitude simultaneously, the altitude must be at or above the MVA. The controller did not issue a safety alert, and in an interview, said he was not concerned when the flight approached an area of higher minimum vectoring altitudes (MVA's) because the flight was VFR and 'pilots fly VFR below the MVA every day.' At the time of the accident, the controller was working six arrival sectors and experienced a surge of arriving aircraft. The approach control facility supervisor was monitoring the controller and did not detect and correct the vector below the MVA.

Probable cause:

The failure of the air traffic controller to comply with instructions contained in the Air Traffic Control Handbook, FAA Order 7110.65, which resulted in the flight being vectored at an altitude below the minimum vectoring altitude (MVA) and failure to issue a safety advisory. In addition, the controller's supervisor monitoring the controller's actions failed to detect and correct the vector below the MVA. A factor in the accident was the flightcrew's failure to maintain situational awareness of nearby terrain and failure to challenge the controller's instructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Orinda: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1988 at 1906 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Tanner Construction

Registration:

N6ET

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Redding - San Jose

MSN:

31-7612012

YOM:

1976

Location:

Orinda

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6500

Circumstances:

Before the accident, witnesses observed the aircraft circling in a valley beneath a low cloud layer and below the surrounding hilltops. They estimated the ceiling was 400 feet obscured. Two witnesses said the aircraft entered clouds before it crashed. A 3rd witness, who was a pilot, said the aircraft was at a very low altitude when it approached rising/mountainous terrain; he said the aircraft then entered a steep climbing turn and stalled after making two complete turns. Impact occurred in a nose low, left wing down attitude. No preimpact mechanical problem was found. The FAA had issued the pilot a special 3rd class medical certificate after he had quintuple heart bypass surgery. He was reported to have gotten 'quite angry' before the flight, when 2 passengers were late. A pathologist believed the pilot's death may have been due to arteriosclerotic heart disease; however, this was not verified. The pilot did not have an instrument rating and no record of a preflight weather briefing was found. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
1. (f) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
2. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
3. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
4. (f) weather condition - fog
5. (f) vfr flight into imc - continued - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: maneuvering
Findings
6. Maneuver - initiated
7. (c) airspeed - not maintained - pilot in command
8. (c) stall - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in San Jose: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1980 at 1034 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Air National

Registration:

N8078J

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Aerial photography

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

San Jose - San Jose

MSN:

61P-0565-7963245

YOM:

1979

Location:

San Jose

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2400

Captain / Total hours on type:

15.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed San Jose Municipal Airport on a local aerial photography mission, carrying one passenger and one pilot. En route, the airplane stall, entered a spin and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall and subsequent spin after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. During a radar vector to ILS, the pilot reported he would be taking pictures at a slow speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1979 at 1529 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Polynesian Air-Ways

Registration:

N145DC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

San Jose - Honolulu

MSN:

AF-564

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from San Jose to Honolulu on a delivery flight, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and elected to ditch the airplane about 1,500 km northwest of Honolulu. The aircraft came to rest in water and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 6 in Chicago: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1976 at 1431 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1329 JetStar

Operator:

International Air Service

Registration:

N1EM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chicago - San Jose

MSN:

5077

YOM:

1966

Location:

Chicago-Midway

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12250

Captain / Total hours on type:

61.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Chicago-Midway Airport runway 13R, the nose gear lifted off twice but the airplane failed to takeoff. Decision to abandon the takeoff procedure was taken too late. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran at a speed of about 60-80 knots, crossed a perimeter road, went through a fence, struck an ILS antenna and came to rest in flames against concrete blocks. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with fence posts after an aborted takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Ran off the end of runway,
- Pilot-in-command flew JetStar version 8 and never flew the 6 version which has 1,200 lbs less thrust than the 8 version.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Shelter Cove: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1971 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Lake Riverside Estates

Registration:

N90627

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Shelter Cove – San Jose

MSN:

4642

YOM:

1942

Location:

Shelter Cove

Country:

Region: