Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Parsippany: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1966 at 1252 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Chatham Aviation
Registration:
N3804C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Morristown - Morristown
MSN:
560-732
YOM:
1959
Location:
Parsippany
New Jersey
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:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight from Morristown Airport when, while in cruising altitude, control was lost. The airplane went into a dive and eventually crashed in an open field located near Parsippany. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight after the right wing spar failed because the pilot was doing steep, low altitude maneuvers. Forces exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft. Overload failure.
Final Report:

Ground accident of a Martin 404 in Roanoke

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1966 at 0954 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Registration:
N40446
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14238
YOM:
1952
Location:
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional/Woodrum Field
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked at Roanoke-Woodrum Airport, all passengers embarked when the undercarriage failed. The airplane sank on its belly. All 42 occupants were evacuated safely and the airplane was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Improper maintenance by the maintenance personnel as the hydraulic reservoir, lines and fittings were not properly serviced. Investigations revealed the landing gear pin was not in. On hydraulic test, ground handle moved up due to excessive clnc in sel valve and air hydraulic system.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-60-LO Orion near Battle Creek: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1966 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152172
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Floyd Bennett Field – Glenview – Moffett
MSN:
185-5142
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
PE-05
Location:
Battle Creek
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Floyd Bennett Field Airport in New York on a flight to Moffett Airbase, California, with an intermediate stop at Glenview Airport, Illinois, under call sign PE-05. At 2035LT, while cruising at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about his position. Shortly later, the airplane entered a spin, crossed the last cloud layer at an altitude of 3,000 feet in a right turn and struck the ground in a 60° nose down attitude at a speed of 800 km/h. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed. The wreckage was found seven miles northeast of Battle Creek.
Crew:
Lt William E. Xiques, pilot,
Lt John P. Fitzmaurice III, copilot,
ADJ2 Charles J. Lurvey, flight engineer,
ADJ3 Larry W. Battson, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Investigations determined that there was no in-flight fire and no major structural failure had occurred. The plane was only about a year old at the time of the accident. The only clues were unintelligible voice transmissions at 2037 and again at 2039. The voice was masked by extreme high frequency background noise. Despite attempted computer analysis of the voice and an extended accident investigation, the cause was never determined. It was believed that some kind of catastrophic failure had occurred that incapacitated the crew. It was also surmised that it was possible that the windshield failed in-flight under decompression forces causing sound comparable to high velocity air in the cockpit. Not enough of the windshield was recovered to perform an analysis and come to any conclusions about this possibility.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-208 in Long Beach: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1966 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Aeronaut Air Services
Registration:
N17337
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gulfport – New Orleans
MSN:
1962
YOM:
1937
Location:
Gulfport-Biloxi
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2132
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Gulfport-Biloxi Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The copilot informed ATC about his situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane stalled and crashed in Long Beach, southeast of the airport. A pilot and a passenger were killed while 10 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine due to the failure of the number 3 piston ring caused by an oil starvation. This was the result of an inadequate maintenance and inspection.
The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Right propeller was not feathered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Columbia City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1966 at 0848 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N10415
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Detroit – Kansas City
MSN:
341
YOM:
1945
Location:
Columbia City
Indiana
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:
14067
Captain / Total hours on type:
6732.00
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Detroit to Kansas City, the C-46 collided with a private Piper Aztec registered N5628Y. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Columbia City. Both pilots on board the C-46 and the pilot of the Aztec were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision caused by an inadequate visual contact to avoid collision on part of the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in South Haven: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1966 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Jack Adams Air
Registration:
N209PP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
South Haven
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was conducting a ferry flight out from Memphis-Metropolitan Airport. While in cruising altitude, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent. Due to overload failure, several parts of the airplane separated and it eventually crashed in an open field located near South Haven. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed the loss of control was the result of a temporary pilot incapacitation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A Constellation in Kenai

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-749 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
N86523
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2659
YOM:
1950
Location:
Kenai
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Kenai Airport for unknown reason. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-5 Navigator in Lihue: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1966 at 0348 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft SNB-2 Navigator
Operator:
Skyway Air Cargo
Registration:
N91296
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6609
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lihue
Hawaii
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7086
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-5 Navigator in Milroy

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft SNB-2 Navigator
Operator:
TRB Flying Services
Registration:
N91373
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3072
YOM:
1942
Location:
Milroy
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4709
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight to Milroy, Pennsylvania. While on approach in poor weather conditions (low ceiling and rain), both engines failed simultaneously. Unable to maintain the prescribed altitude due to an insufficient speed, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in an open field when the aircraft crashed few miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on approach due to a fuel starvation caused by a mismanagement of fuel and inattentive to fuel supply on part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7 in Denver

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Registration:
N6339C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Denver - Denver
MSN:
45153/822
YOM:
1957
Location:
Denver-Stapleton
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5002
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Denver-Stapleton Airport. On touchdown, one of the nose wheel tire burst. The landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid on its nose for several yards before coming to rest. All four crew members were uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Mainliner Capt Ralph Jonston was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The nose wheel tire recap separated on touchdown, struck and disconnected the nose gear torque link pins, causing the leg to collapse.
Final Report:
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