Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of an Aero Commander 680 in Westfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1964 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N344S
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Washington DC – Westfield
MSN:
680-448-119
YOM:
1956
Location:
Westfield-Barnes
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10759
Captain / Total hours on type:
731.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Washington DC, the pilot started the approach to Westfield-Barnes Airport in marginal weather with a visibility less than two miles due to fog. On final, while under control, the twin engine aircraft struck the ground about three miles short of runway, near Southampton. The pilot and a passenger were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Edwin T. Zimny. †
Passengers:
Ted Kennedy, Senator,
Birch Bayh, Senator,
Mrs Bayh,
Edward Moss, personnel assistant to Mr. Kennedy. †
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operations on part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Wichita

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1964 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
N801L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wichita - Wichita
MSN:
23-001
YOM:
1963
Location:
Wichita
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5700
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Aircraft flight hours:
194
Aircraft flight cycles:
167
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight at Wichita Airport on this first model of the Lear 23. At liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. Out of control, it struck the ground, rolled for several yards and came to rest in flames in a wasteland. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate pre-flight preparation and/or planning on part of the flying crew who failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment. It was determined that during a test flight, while simulating a failure of the left engine, the crew attempted to takeoff with spoilers extended.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Wooster: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1964 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Registration:
N9921
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
BA-2
YOM:
1954
Location:
Wooster-Wayne County
Ohio
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:
2403
Captain / Total hours on type:
320.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wooster-Wayne County Airport, the twin engine aircraft was too low, struck power cables and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged the distance and altitude during the final approach, causing the airplane to struck power cables and to crash.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Memphis

Date & Time: May 31, 1964 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Registration:
N80492
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
A-326
YOM:
1946
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7708
Captain / Total hours on type:
1457.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Memphis Airport, the pilot reported engine problems and elected to return for a safe landing. Unable to maintain control of the airplane, he attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Improper operation of the anti/de-icing equipment caused conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing. The non-instrument rated pilot attempted operation in below VFR minimum conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II in Cooperton: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1964 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
52-1008
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Clovis – Dover
MSN:
43917
YOM:
1952
Location:
Cooperton
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an uninhabited area located near Cooperton, OK. The debris were found on a large area and all six crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the loss of control was caused by severe turbulences while flying in a thunderstorm.

Crash of a Fairchild F-27A in San Ramon: 44 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1964 at 0649 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
N2770R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Reno – Stockton – San Francisco
MSN:
36
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
PC773
Location:
San Ramon
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Captain / Total flying hours:
20434
Captain / Total hours on type:
2793.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6640
Copilot / Total hours on type:
988
Aircraft flight hours:
10252
Circumstances:
A Pacific Air Lines, Inc., Fairchild F-27, N2770R, operating as Flight 773, crashed near San Ramon, California, at approximately 0649, May 7, 1964, while en route from Reno, Nevada, to San Francisco, California. None of the 44 occupants aboard, including the three crew members and 41 passengers, survived the crash. The aircraft was destroyed by impact. The flight proceeded in a routine manner until approximately 26 nautical miles from its destination, the San Francisco International Airport. At that point, a message was received by Oakland Approach Control and the radar target associated with Flight 773 disappeared from the controller's radar scope. The recorded message, later determined to have been that of the copilot of N2770R was: "... Skippers shot. We're ben shot. (I was) Try'in ta help." A .357 Smith and Wesson Magnum revolver identified as having belonged to one of the passengers on the flight was found in the wreckage area. It contained six empty cartridges, which had been fired from the weapon.
Probable cause:
The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the shooting of the captain and first officer by a passenger during flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-123 Provider at Hurlburt Field AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hurlburt Field - Hurlburt Field
Location:
Hurlburt Field AFB
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training at Hurlburt Field AFB and was completing touch and go manoeuvres. On final approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed half a mile short of runway threshold. Four crew members were killed and four others were injured.

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S in Beaufort

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1964 at 0635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C18S
Operator:
Rosenbalm Aviation
Registration:
N6419C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beaufort - Beaufort
MSN:
6050
YOM:
1944
Location:
Beaufort-Michael J. Smith
North Carolina
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:
9000
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a local flight to test new chemical products for spraying mission. Shortly after takeoff, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 65 in Billings: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1964 at 1005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 65 Queen Air
Operator:
Hood Corporation
Registration:
N451H
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Boise – Billings
MSN:
LC-90
YOM:
1961
Location:
Billings-Logan
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
7041
Circumstances:
On final approach to Billings-Logan Airport, one of the engine failed. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames onto a house. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a mismanagement of fuel on part of the crew. Due to inadequate supervision of flight, a fuel starvation occurred.
Contributing factors were:
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Complete engine failure/flameout on one engine,
- Fire after impact.
Final Report:

Crash of an Aero Commander 520 in Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1964 at 0450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 520
Operator:
Registration:
N9094R
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
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:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Fort Lauderdale-Bradley Airport, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls on part of the pilot. Engine loaded up and partial loss of power on one engine was a contributing factor.
Final Report:
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