San Luis Obispo

The flight was cleared for a loc runway 11 approach. About 3 minutes later, the 2nd-in-command (sic) reported '. . . We don't get the localizer can you see if we're on course.' The LAX ARTCC R-15 controller confirmed the flight was right of course and below the required altitude. The aircraft's mode C indicated an altitude of 1,400 feet; the controller advised the flight crew to maintain at least 2,300 feet until past the final approach fix (faf). The crew then replied that they were in VMC. Radar svc was terminated and a frequency change to tower was approved. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft hit a eucalyptus tree at about 90 feet agl, 2.05 miles from the approach end of the runway and about 195 feet right of the loc. Elevation of the crash site was 101 feet; minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the approach was 640 feet. The 0645 pdt weather was, in part: indefinite ceiling, 100 feet obscured, vis 1/8 mile with fog, wind from 220° at 4 kts. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the aircraft was found. All four occupants were killed.

A recently discharged USAir employee boarded PSA flight 1771 after having left a goodbye message with friends. He bypassed security and carried aboard a borrowed 44 caliber pistol. A note written by this passenger, found in the wreckage, threatened his former supervisor at USAir, who was aboard the flight. At 1613, the pilot reported to Oakland ARTCC that he had an emergency and that gunshots had been fired in the airplane. Within 25 seconds, Oakland control controllers observed that PSA 1771 had begun a rapid descent from which it did not recover. Witnesses on the ground said the airplane was intact and there was no evidence of fire before the airplane struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. The cover tape revealed the sounds of a scuffle and several shots which were apparently fired in or near the cockpit. The pistol was found in the wreckage with 6 expended rounds. FAA rules permitted airline employees to bypass security checkpoints. All 43 occupants were killed.

Wings West Airlines Flight 628, a commuter flight, departed Los Angeles for San Francisco, with scheduled en route stops at Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo. At 11:10, Flight 628 left the gate at San Luis Obispo. The weather at the time was essentially clear and the visibility was 15 miles. At 11:16, after taking off from runway 29, Flight 628 called the Los Angeles ARTCC and reported that it was climbing through 2,700 feet 'IFR to San Francisco.' At 11:17:23, the Los Angeles ARTCC’s radar controller cleared Flight 628 to the San Francisco airport, as filed, to climb and maintain 7,000 feet. At 11:17:38 the aircraft collided head-on with Rockwell Commander N112SM at 3,400 feet. This single-engined aircraft had departed Paso Robles Airport on a training flight with two pilots on board. Nll2SM was flying in visual meteorological conditions and under VFR in the vicinity of the San Luis Obispo Airport just before the collision.

During departure, the pilot climbed in IFR conditions to 6,000 feet. After leveling, a frequency change was made and he was cleared to 8,000 feet, which he acknowledged. About 2 minutes later, the controller radioed to the pilot that he was about 4 miles north of the airway, but there was no reply from the pilot. Shortly after that radar contact was lost and the plane crashed in mountainous terrain. Several residents in the area reported hearing extremely loud engine noises followed by complete silence. An investigation revealed that both wings had separated outboard of their respective engine nacelle assemblies. An examination of the fractures revealed the wings had separated from positive overload. The leading edges of both wings had ballooned upward, indicative of extreme airspeed. The empennage had separated in a yaw and from right torsional overload. Parts of the aircraft were found within a 1 mile arc, north of the main impact area. The pilot's recent instrument experience could not be verified. All three occupants were killed. Turbulence was forecasted below 8,000 feet.

After completing touch-and-go, the pilot increased engine power and elected to takeoff. While climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing all four occupants.

The crew was searching for an overdue vessel along the California coastline in marginal weather. While cruising in limited visibility due to fog, the seaplane struck a mountain slope and crashed north of San Luis Obispo. Three crew members were killed while five others were rescued.
Those killed were:
LTJG Francis J. Charles,
AD3 William E. Prowitt,
AD3 John G. Medek.