Crash of a Boeing 727-22 in Salt Lake City: 43 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1965 at 1752 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7030U
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York – Cleveland – Chicago – Denver – Salt Lake City – San Francisco
MSN:
18322
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
UA227
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
85
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
43
Captain / Total flying hours:
17743
Captain / Total hours on type:
334.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6074
Copilot / Total hours on type:
84
Aircraft flight hours:
1781
Circumstances:
Flight 227 took off from New York-LaGuardia (LGA) for a flight to San Francisco (SFO) via Cleveland (CLE), Chicago (MDW), Denver (DEN) and Salt Lake City (SLC). The aircraft took off from Denver at 16:54 and climbed to its assigned cruising altitude of FL310. At 17:38 flight 227 began its descent for Salt Lake City. The flight proceeded in accordance with radar vectors. After a radar handoff to Salt Lake City Approach Control new clearance altitudes were given. At 17:47 the approach controller advised, "United seventy twenty seven ... five miles south of Riverton Fan Marker coming on localizer course cleared for ILS runway three four left approach." The pilot replied "Okay we're slowed to two fifty (Knots) and we're at ten (10,000 feet) we have the runway in sight now, we'll cancel and standby with you for traffic." Control of the flight was transferred to the tower and at 17:49:40 landing clearance was issued. The aircraft crossed the outer marker over 2,000 fee & above the ILS glide slope. The rate of descent during the final approach exceeded 2,000 ft/min, approximately three times the United Air Lines recommended rate of descent for landing approaches. The first officer attempted to apply power but the captain stopped him. Power was then applied too late to arrest the rate of descent. The airplane touched down 335 feet short of the threshold of runway 34L. The right and left main landing gear began to separate and the airplane slid onto the runway. Severe upward and rearward impact forces from the right main Landing gear assembly produced a large impact hole and ruptured fuel lines and the no. 3 generator leads between fuselage station 1030 and 1130 on the right side. The fuel was ignited by sparks from the fuselage scraping on the runway and/or the severed generator leads. 13 passengers were uninjured while 35 people were wounded. 43 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the Captain to take timely action to arrest an excessive descent rate during the landing approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1965 at 1934 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N52
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh
MSN:
20419
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10570
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
The crew was performant the calibration of the ILS system at Pittsburgh-Greater Pittsburgh Airport. While approaching from the northeast, the engine stopped. The airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed in Coraopolis, some 3 miles northeast of the airfield. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by fuel starvation due to the left fuel selector valve poppet seal leakage.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-23 in Cincinnati: 58 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1965 at 1902 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1996
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Cincinnati
MSN:
18901
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
AA383
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
56
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
58
Captain / Total flying hours:
16387
Captain / Total hours on type:
225.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
14400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
35
Aircraft flight hours:
938
Circumstances:
American Airlines Flight 383, a Boeing 727, N1996, departed New York-LaGuardia Airport (LGA) at 17:38 for a scheduled flight to the Greater Cincinnati Airport (CVG). It was to be an IFR flight with a requested cruising altitude of 35,000 ft and an estimated time en route of 1 hour 23 minutes. The en route part of the flight was uneventful. About 18:55, when the flight was about 27 miles southeast of the Greater Cincinnati Airport, radar traffic control was effected by Cincinnati Approach Control. Subsequent descent clearances were issued to the flight and at 18:57 flight 383 reported: "...out of five for four and how about a control VFR, we have the airport." The Approach Controller replied: "... continue to the airport and cleared for a visual approach to runway one eight, precip lying just to the west boundary of the airport and its ... southbound." The crew acknowledged the clearance and the controller cleared the flight to descend to 2,000 feet at their discretion. At 18:58 Approach Control advised the flight that its radar position was six miles southeast of the airport and instructed them to change to the Cincinnati tower frequency. One minute later the tower controller cleared the flight to land. During the approach the visibility at the airport deteriorated as it began to rain. The tower controller reported: "American three eighty three we are beginning to pickup a little rain right now." At 19:01:14 the tower asked: "American three eighty three you still got the runway Okay?" To which the crew replied "Ah just barely we'll ah pickup the ILS here". At this point, thirteen seconds before impact, the 727 was descending at a rate of 2100 feet/min to an altitude of approximately 725 feet (165 ft below published field elevation) with the airspeed holding at 160 knots. The descent rate then decreased to about 625 ft/min for approximately the last 10 seconds of flight with the airspeed decreasing to 147 knots at impact. The right wing struck a tree at an altitude of 665 feet msl which is approximately 225 feet below the published field elevation. The aircraft slid a distance of 340 feet relatively intact through scrub trees and ground foilage before impacting and coming to rest amidst a group of larger trees. Following impact an intense ground fire erupted which completely destroyed the aircraft cabin forward of the tail section. A stewardess and three passengers survived while 58 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the crew to properly monitor the altimeters during a visual approach into deteriorating visibility conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Lake Dallas

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1965 at 0925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N69565
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
77-11
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
150.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff, during initial climb, the single engine struck trees and crashed. All four occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who failed to use or incorrectly used anti-icing/deicing equipment.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing EC-97G Stratofreighter at Palmdale AFB

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
53-0358
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
17140
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For undetermined reason, the four engine aircraft made a wheels-up landing at Palmdale AFB, slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Learjet 23 near Jackson: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1965 at 1935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N804LJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Detroit – Wichita
MSN:
23-015
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3419
Captain / Total hours on type:
642.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8460
Copilot / Total hours on type:
22
Circumstances:
A Lear Jet Model 23, N804LJ, operated by the Lear Jet Corporation crashed eight miles east-northeast of Jackson, Michigan, at approximately 1935 e.s.t., on October 21, 1965. The pilot and copilot were killed. There were no passengers. The aircraft was destroyed by impact. The flight was operating in accordance with an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan from Detroit, Michigan to Wichita, Kansas, at an assigned altitude of Flight Level 250. The radar controller working the radar contact at 1933, and observed the target traveling in a southwest direction ". . . when the aircraft started a sharp turn to the right (i.e. north) (sic). As the aircraft passed through a northerly heading the beacon target disappeared from the radar." The aircraft was traversing an area of moderate to severe turbulence when it deviated from the assigned route.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a loss of adequate attitude reference resulting from AC electrical power failure under night, turbulent conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Meeker

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1965 at 0840 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6228D
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7300
Captain / Total hours on type:
420.00
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot informed ATC that one of the engine failed and obtained the permission to divert to the nearest airport for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the pilot realized it would be impossible for him to reach the airport so he decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by fuel contaminated with water. Investigations determined that the aircraft was refueled during a heavy rainstorm at the departure airport, causing water to spill into fuel tanks.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Huntsville

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1965 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N37519
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43008
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
UA624
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16823
Captain / Total hours on type:
1750.00
Aircraft flight hours:
46423
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Huntsville Airport, when V1 speed was reached, the pilot-in-command started the rotation when the nose gear retracted. The airplane sank on its nose, slid for several yards, overran and came to rest 300 feet further. All 16 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Retraction of the nose gear during takeoff for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Boise: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1965 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N60361
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boise - Boise
MSN:
77-43
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Boise Airport, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure when the aircraft struck a dirt bank and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants, performing a demo flight, were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot delayed in initiating go-around procedure and seat belt was not fastened.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7B in Charlotte

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1965 at 1647 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N824D
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
45333/888
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12879
Captain / Total hours on type:
1463.00
Aircraft flight hours:
20138
Circumstances:
On short final to Charlotte-Douglas Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low. The right main gear struck the ground short of runway threshold. Upon touchdown on the concrete runway, the right main gear was sheared off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. While all 62 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command misjudged distance, speed and altitude on final approach.
Final Report: