Crash of an Aero Commander 500B in Rockford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1965 at 1337 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N78333
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2424
Captain / Total hours on type:
367.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, one of the engine failed. Due to insufficient speed, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a technical issue on the fuel/injection system. Investigations determined that a fuel-flow distributor diaphragm p/n 383237 failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound off Cuttyhunk Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
148147
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
01
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local test flight when control was lost. The airplane crashed in the sea off Cuttyhunk Island, killing all four crew members. First C-2A Greyhound in service.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6A on Mt Rainier: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1965 at 1423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6541C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Seattle – Ogden-Hill
MSN:
45369/984
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
AAX1422A
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
6861
Captain / Total hours on type:
4088.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
17310
Copilot / Total hours on type:
5214
Aircraft flight hours:
18315
Circumstances:
On April 23, 1965, at 1423 P.s.t., an AAXICO Airlines, Inc., Douglas DC-6A, N6541C, crashed on the west slope of Mt. Rainier, Washington. The accident site was 40.2 nautical miles southeast of the Seattle ‘VORTAC, on the 125° radial, at an elevation of 10,200 feet m.s.l. The aircraft was being operated as Logair Flight 1422A, on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight from Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, to Hill Air Force Base (AFB), Utah. All five crew members received fatal injuries as a result of the crash. The flight was attempting to obtain an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) clearance when it struck the snow covered glacier. The aircraft was destroyed by impact. There was no fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the improper correlation of the aircraft position with respect to obstructing terrain while continuing the flight on a VFR flight plan in instrument weather conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F-27F in Las Vegas

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1965 at 0445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N757L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Las Vegas
MSN:
54
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
15167
Captain / Total hours on type:
3765.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8791
Circumstances:
A full flap landing was carried out, followed by flap-retraction to practice a no-flap takeoff. The Fairchild veered left upon rotation and cartwheeled off the runway, coming to rest 557 feet left of the runway and 6000 feet from the takeoff end. It appeared that the right inboard and outboard flaps were fully extended; the left inboard flap was extended 17 degrees and the left outboard flap was fully retracted.
Probable cause:
An asymmetrical flap condition during takeoff caused by foreign object jamming of the flap gear box and malfunction of the rotary flap actuator assembly. Inadequate maintenance and inspection. Inadequate function of the asymmetrical flap warning indicator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor off Miami

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1965 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N9523Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
AF-201
YOM:
1952
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5587
Captain / Total hours on type:
460.00
Circumstances:
Sole on board, the pilot was completing an on-demand cargo flight. While flying along the Feast Florida coast, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot contacted ATC, reported his position and elected to make an emergency landing but was eventually forced to ditch the aircraft off Miami. While the pilot was evacuated safely, the airplane sank and was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight for undetermined reason. The exact cause of the accident could not be determined as the aircraft was not recovered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Bellefontaine: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1965 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N84R
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
AF-767
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
14096
Captain / Total hours on type:
85.00
Circumstances:
En route on a cargo flight to Chicago-Midway Airport by night, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low clouds and rain showers. The VOR receiver failed en route and the pilot decided to reduce his altitude, probably to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the airplane struck a hill and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot attempted the flight with known deficiencies in equipment as the transmitter/receiver was inoperative prior to takeoff. The second system failed in flight while in poor weather conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II near Cordova: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1965 at 1415 LT
Operator:
Registration:
52-1075
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dover - Dover
MSN:
43984
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Dover AFB on a training mission. During flight, the right wingtip detached and separated until the engine number four. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located near Cordova. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Bridgeport: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1965 at 0821 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N844K
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
BA-207
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
9042
Captain / Total hours on type:
1069.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bridgeport Airport, while climbing in heavy snow falls, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a snow covered field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is reported the accident occurred in very bad weather conditions with snowstorm. With icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain, etc, the weather conditions were conducive to carburetor/induction system icing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-50 LodeStar in Philipsburg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1965 at 1358 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N600N
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Monmouth – Chicago
MSN:
2567
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5334
Captain / Total hours on type:
261.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4756
Circumstances:
En route to Chicago, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and elected to divert to Philipsburg-Mid-State Airport. On final, the visibility was poor due to snow falls when the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames in a snow covered field. A passenger was seriously injured while both other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines in flight due to fuel tank selector broken. The pilot decided to divert to an airport that was closed to traffic due to snow on runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LearStar I in Miami: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1965 at 1026 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N300N
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami – Pontiac
MSN:
2137
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12100
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3777
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight from Miami to Pontiac, Michigan. Shortly after takeoff from Miami-Intl Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the twin engine aircraft nosed down, plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The elevator trim went into a full down position, causing the aircraft to descend and crash. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of this.
Final Report: