Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air near Leeville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1979 at 0135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N724N
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Houston - Tampa
MSN:
LJ-82
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2404
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a night flight from Houston to Tampa, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with icing. After the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and partially disintegrated in the air before crashing in a lake located near Leeville. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and subsequent airframe failure in-flight after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exceeded designed stress limits of the aircraft,
- Incorrect weather briefing,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Flight control surfaces: horizontal stabilizer, attachments,
- Wing spars,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Aircraft came to rest in water.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Kingston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1977 at 2003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N483LC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Tampa
MSN:
31-426
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
715
Circumstances:
While approaching the Jamaican coast on a flight from Barranquilla to Tampa, both engines failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea off Kingston. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 off Tampa

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1976 at 1156 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N111TV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tampa - Tampa
MSN:
401-0158
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
437
Captain / Total hours on type:
129.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Tampa Airport in the morning for a local pleasure flight. On final approach to Tampa Airport, the pilot failed to extend the landing gear. Upon landing, the engine's propeller struck the runway surface. The pilot initiated a go-around but unable to maintain altitude, the aircraft lost height and crashed into Tampa Bay. All six occupants were rescued with minor injuries and the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Wheels-up landing and controlled collision with water during go-around manoeuvre. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to extend landing gear on approach,
- Un maintain altitude during go-around due to prop damages.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Sarasota

Date & Time: May 11, 1973 at 1217 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7697C
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kingston - Tampa
MSN:
AF-404
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7226
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
While cruising along the west coast of Florida on a cargo flight from Kingston to Tampa, the pilot informed ATC about an engine fire and elected to divert to Sarasota-Bradenton Airport for an emergency landing. On approach, the pilot realized he could not make it so he landed the airplane in a prairie. The aircraft rolled for few dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. While the pilot escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight and precautionary landing off airport. Fire after impact. The pilot executed a wheels down landing. The cause of fire described as whitish in colour could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-880-22-2 in Chicago

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8807E
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tampa - Chicago
MSN:
22-00-29
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
DL954
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
86
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2400.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
500
Aircraft flight hours:
37640
Circumstances:
Flight DL954 from Tampa landed uneventfully at Chicago-O'Hare Airport. The crew was cleared to taxi to the gate and to cross runway 27L when the airplane was struck by a North Central Airlines Douglas DC-9-31 registered N954N. En route to Duluth via Madison, the DC-9 was carrying 41 passengers and a crew of four and his pilot just received the clearance to take off from runway 27L. One of the DC-9's wing struck the tail of the Convair that stopped immediately. out of control, the DC-9 veered off runway and came to rest in flames. The Convair was damaged beyond repair and the DC-9 was destroyed by a post crash fire. Among the 93 occupants on board the Convair, 10 were injured. Among the 45 occupants on board the DC-9, 10 were killed and 35 were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Failure of the air traffic control system to ensure separation of aircraft during a period of restricted visibility. This failure included the following:
- The controller omitted a critical word which made his transmission to the flight crew of the Delta CV-880 ambiguous,
- The controller did not use all the available information to determine the location of the CV-880,
- The CV-880 flight crew did not request clarification of the controller's communications.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra in Chicago: 37 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1961 at 0857 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N137US
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Milwaukee – Chicago – Tampa – Fort Lauderdale – Miami
MSN:
1142
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
NW706
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Captain / Total flying hours:
15898
Captain / Total hours on type:
314.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6643
Copilot / Total hours on type:
90
Aircraft flight hours:
614
Circumstances:
At approximately 0855 1, the flight was cleared for takeoff on runway 14R. At this time the aircraft was taxing on a westerly heading in the runup area adjacent to runway 14R. Flight 706 acknowledged the clearance, while continuing toward the runway, and made a running takeoff No witnesses were found who observed the actual lift-off. N137US was observed after lift-off, 3,000 to 4,000 feet down the runway at an estimated altitude of 50 to 75 feet and in a normal climb attitude. At the 8,000-foot marker the altitude of the aircraft was estimated to have been approximately 100 feet, which is a slightly lower altitude than Electra aircraft normally attain at this point during takeoff. Five witnesses noted a change in engine sound during this portion of the flight. Between the 8,000 and the 9,000 foot runway marker the aircraft was observed to commence an apparently coordinated right turn with a slowly increasing rate of bank. When the bank angle was 30 to 45 degrees, the crew made a short, garbled transmission. Immediately thereafter, at a bank angle of 50 to 60 degrees, the aircraft began to lose altitude. The minimum altitude attained in the entire turn was 200 to 300 feet. The right wing near the No. 4 engine struck powerlines adjacent to the Chicago Northwestern Railroad tracks, severing the lines at an angle of about 70 degrees from the horizontal, and causing a bright bluish flash. The aircraft then continued in a direction of about 271 degrees magnetic and, when in a bank of about 85 degrees and a nose-down attitude of about 10 degrees, the right wing of the aircraft struck the railroad embankment. Continuing to roll about its longitudinal axis, the aircraft cartwheeled, the nose crashing into the ground 380 feet beyond the point of first Impact, and landed right side up It then slid tall first another 820 feet. The aircraft disintegrated throughout its path, and wreckage was strewn over an area 200 feet wide and 1,200 feet long. Evidence of ground fire was found at various points along this path. Impact occurred on airport property about 3,800 feet abeam and to the right of the end of runway 14R, about 500 feet north of Irving Park Road. After passing beyond the railroad embankment the aircraft was lost to view by most of the eye witnesses because of trees and other obstructions; immediately thereafter a large mushroom of orange-red flame accompanied by heavy black smoke was seen. Time of impact was established as 0857. The aircraft was demolished by impact and fire. All occupants were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a mechanical failure in the aileron primary control system due to an improper replacement of the aileron boost assembly, resulting in a loss of lateral control of the aircraft at an altitude too low to effect recovery.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B off Pilottown: 42 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1959 at 0055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4891C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami – Tampa – New Orleans
MSN:
45355
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
NA967
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
42
Captain / Total flying hours:
14700
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8710
Copilot / Total hours on type:
400
Aircraft flight hours:
6578
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet by night and approaching the Louisiana Coast, the airplane disappeared from radar screens and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about 30 miles east of Pilottown. Intensive sea and air searches resulted in finding nine floating bodies and a small amount of floating debris the following morning. None of this disclosed conclusive evidence as to the genesis of the accident. The main wreckage has not been located despite several well planned searches. There was no radio message of impending trouble or any distress call from the crew prior to the accident. All 42 occupants were killed in the crash.
Probable cause:
Analysis of this accident must rest almost entirely on circumstantial evidence for the aircraft's wreckage still lies on the bottom of the Gulf. There is little or no physical evidence upon which to explain this accident. The aircraft was airworthy at the tine of departure, the crew was competent, weather conditions were good, and when disaster struck, the flight was very close to being both on course and on schedule. No operational or maintenance item was found which can reasonably be linked to this accident. It may safely be concluded that there was no warning of the disaster. This is evident by the lack of any unusual radio messages. As has been detailed, the fire marks on bodies and on debris were of the type caused exclusively by a flash surface fire, probably both hot and brief, upon impact with the water. Because of the lack of physical evidence, the probable cause of this accident remains unknown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin 404 in Melbourne

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N496A
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tampa – Melbourne
MSN:
14244
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Melbourne Airport, the aircraft was too low, causing an undercarriage to struck a gravel pile located short of runway threshold. The crew continued the approach and at touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All ten occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation in Brampton

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1954 at 2132 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CF-TGG
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tampa-Toronto
MSN:
4564
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
TCA407
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
763
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Tampa, the captain started a night approach to Toronto-Malton Airport. During an ILS approach in poor weather conditions (300 feet ceiling), the four engine aircraft descended below the glide and hit the ground about 11 miles short of runway 10. It slid for 2,000 feet before coming to rest in flames. All 23 occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The Board of Inquiry found that the accident was caused by negligence on the part of the captain. The following findings were reported:
- The first officer, despite his duties which involved "In-Range" and "Pre-Landing" checks during the approach pattern, displayed an alertness concerning the procedures carried out by the captain, and on three separate occasions indicated to the captain conditions which required correction,
- The captain of the aircraft showed poor airmanship in the execution of his approach pattern, in that he made inadequate allowance for the strong prevailing wind and failed to utilize the ADF receiver to home on the outer marker,
- The captain failed to carry out an approved ILS let-down and, in so far as the position and the altitude of the aircraft were concerned, he ignored the indications of the ADF needle tuned to the marker, the ILS glide path needle and the altimeter,
- The captain ignored the warning from his first officer that he had descended below the regulation height,
- The captain was under the impression that he was very much closer to the airport than he actually was,
- The captain broke the regulations regarding the minimum altitude at which the glide path is to be intersected, the minimum altitude at which the outer marker is to be crossed, and the minimum altitude to which the aircraft may descend on the approach at Malton without becoming contact, and continued his descent until he flew into the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Saint Petersburg

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N66559
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tampa – Guatemala City
MSN:
30504
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Tampa Airport, on a cargo flight to Guatemala City, the crew encountered engine problems en decided to divers to St Peterburg Airport where a safe landing was completed. Technicians proceeded to several controls on both engines and nothing abnormal was reported, so the crew left St Petersburg. Shortly after takeoff, ATC reported to the crew that white smoke was spreading from the right engine. In such conditions, the crew obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing, shut down the engine and feathered the propeller. For unknown reason, the aircraft missed the runway and flew over its entire length without landing. In such situation, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine for unknown reason. The aircraft then stalled due to one engine inoperative and while the flaps were fully deployed, which was considered as a contributory factor.