Crash of a Douglas DC-8-63F in Toledo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1992 at 0326 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N794AL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Seattle - Toledo
MSN:
45923
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
ATI805
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
16382
Captain / Total hours on type:
2382.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5082
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1143
Aircraft flight hours:
70425
Aircraft flight cycles:
22980
Circumstances:
ATI Flight 805 departed from Seattle at 23:20 for a flight to Toledo. The 1st officer was flying the ILS approach to runway 07. For undetermined reasons, he failed to properly capture the ILS localizer and/or glide slope during the approach. At 03:13 the captain decided to carry out a go-around. The aircraft was vectored onto a base leg and given a heading of 100° to intercept the final approach course again. With a 35 knots crosswind (at 180°) on the approach the 1st officer had trouble capturing the localizer/glide slope. At 03:24, as the 1st officer was attempting to stabilize the approach, 3 GPWS glideslope warnings and sink rate warnings sounded. The captain took over control at 03:24:17 and performed another missed approach manoeuvre. He became spatially disoriented and inadvertently allowed an unusual attitude to develop with bank angles up to 80° and pitch angles up to 25°. When in a nose-low and left bank angle attitude, control of the airplane was transferred back to the 1st officer who began levelling the wings and raising the nose of the airplane. Impact with the ground occurred before the unusual attitude recovery was completed. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The failure of the flight crew to properly recognize or recover in a timely manner from the unusual aircraft attitude that resulted from the captain's apparent spatial disorientation, resulting from physiological factors and/or a failed attitude director.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Lanai

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1992 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N33AP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honolulu - Lanai
MSN:
BA-748
YOM:
1967
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1571
Captain / Total hours on type:
464.00
Circumstances:
The pilot said that the approach to the airport was normal, with a 100 knot indicated airspeed. The pilot said the winds were about 110° at 10 knots during the approach; however, on short final he encountered a very strong gust from the right. The pilot corrected for the wind gust then it stopped and the aircraft suddenly dropped hard to the runway without warning. The pilot said he suspected a windshear encounter was responsible for the accident. Witnesses said the approach seemed normal when the aircraft suddenly dropped to the runway and bounced. The witnesses said that a thunderstorm had passed through the area just prior to the aircraft's approach.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to compensate for an encounter with a windshear phenomena. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a low level windshear warning system or a system for the collection and dissemination of weather advisories.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26T Merlin II in Glenwood Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1992 at 2055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N26JB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Grand Junction - Denver
MSN:
T26-163
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8600
Captain / Total hours on type:
750.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3988
Circumstances:
The pilot of the air ambulance feathered the right propeller after reporting 'a bit of a problem' with the right engine. He attempted to divert to the nearest suitable airport, but after receiving its latest weather report, elected to return to base. The airplane made a left turn, reentered IMC, and impacted a mountainside on a magnetic heading of 092°. The heading to the airport of intended landing was 272°. The accident occurred during a snowstorm at night. All five occupants survived and were rescued the following afternoon. Thick grease on the right engine fuel control camshaft prevented a spring from returning the 3d cam to a lower altitude position. The cam was found struck on the shaft at a position equating to an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet. The fuel flow schedule for flight idle was below specifications. In addition, shroud material was found delaminated from the left engine second stage compressor housing.
Probable cause:
Malfunction of the right engine fuel control that caused the engine to flame out, and delamination of the left engine compressor shroud. Factors were: the pilot became disoriented, the mountainous terrain, the dark night, and the weather conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 425 Conquest in Lakeland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1992 at 0602 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N66LM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bartow - Lakeland
MSN:
425-0137
YOM:
1981
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10850
Circumstances:
The pilot departed VFR and flew to his destination and found it fogged in. He then requested and was given an IFR clearance for an ILS approach to another airport. He was observed to break out of the clouds at about 100 feet agl in a left bank and yaw. He then crashed short of the runway and to the left of the centerline. Examination of the airplane, engines and propellers revealed no preexisting failures. After the crash a fire partially consumed the wreckage. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight by the pilot for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune near Dixon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1992 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N70600
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tucson - Greybull
MSN:
726-7227
YOM:
1958
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
180.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8401
Circumstances:
The flight had departed Tucson, AZ, on a special VFR ferry flight to Greybull, WY. The airplane was not instrumented for IFR flight. When the flight reported over Winslow, it was advised that VFR flight was not recommended northbound from its present position. Surface weather conditions in southcentral wyoming/northwestern Colorado at the time of the accident were consistent with low ceilings, clouds and snow as reported by witnesses and surface weather observations. The witnesses, located near the Dixon Airport, reported hearing a low flying aircraft travelling west to east, and another witness northeast of the arpt heard an aircraft 'revving' its engines. Radar data shows the aircraft tracking northbound slightly east of the Dixon airport, and executing a clockwise 360° turn northeast of the airport and in the vicinity of one of the witnesses. The last radar target received placed the aircraft approximately one mile north-northeast of the accident site. The aircraft impacted snow covered terrain in a steep nose-down attitude. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in a loss of control due to the lack of aircraft attitude indicators and resultant pilot spatial disorientation. A factor which contributed to the accident was the weather condition(s).
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Richmond Heights: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1992 at 2101 LT
Registration:
N725AC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Richmond Heights - Richmond Heights
MSN:
500-3144
YOM:
1972
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1111
Captain / Total hours on type:
71.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3276
Circumstances:
The pilot had the waste gates on the turbocharges adjusted and wanted to test fly the airplane after the work was completed. The airplane departed and had reached an altitude of about 1,000 feet when witnesses heard an engine sputter. The airplane was seen making a left turn and enter a nose low, left spin before impacting the terrain. A tear down of the left engine revealed that the exhaust valves in cylinders #3 and #5 were burnt through at the valve head. The #5 exhaust valve had a deep preexisting deep mark on the valve stem. The failures of both valves were sufficient enough to cause a power failure in the left engine. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper emergency procedures and failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent spin at too low an altitude to allow recovery. Factors in this accident were; a power loss in the left engine as result of the exhaust valve failures in cylinders #3 and #5.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in Evansville: 17 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1992 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0732
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Evansville - Evansville
MSN:
3527
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Evansville-William H. Dress Airport on behalf of the Kentucky National Guard, consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. On approach to runway 22, the crew was instructed by ATC to initiate a go-around for unknown reasons. The crew increased engine power and climbed to a height of 1,500 feet when the aircraft entered a nose down attitude, plunged and crashed onto an hotel located 4,800 feet short of runway 22 threshold. The aircraft, the hotel and a restaurant were destroyed. All five crew members as well as 11 people on the hotel/restaurant were killed. A police officer who was seriously injured in the accident died from his injuries 10 days later.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of negligences on part of the crew who maintained an insufficient speed while initiating a go-around procedure, causing the aircraft to suffer an aerodynamic stall.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Toledo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1992 at 1606 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6038A
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Toledo - Washington
MSN:
31-7820072
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6850
Circumstances:
The pilot made routine radio communications in preparation for takeoff. The airplane departed from runway 25 in daylight instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with light snow and fog. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane's radar target disappeared from the controller's scope. The airplane crashed on wooded terrain about two miles south-southwest of the departure end of runway 25. Impact occurred in an steep, nose down, left wing low attitude. The airplane was destroyed by ground impact forces and a post-impact fire. No physical incapacitation of the pilot-in-command was determined. No contributory mechanical malfunctions of the airplane were discovered. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of aircraft control for an undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Clewiston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1992 at 2022 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2714A
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Sarasota
MSN:
402C-0209
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2250.00
Aircraft flight hours:
13708
Circumstances:
The scheduled passenger flight departed without a flight plan and was last heard from while descending in attempt to remain in VFR conditions. Witnesses on the ground stated that there was extremely heavy rain and thunderstorms at the time of the accident. The wreckage was located the next day and evidence indicated that the airplane hit the ground in a 50° nose down attitude at a high rate of speed. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Pilot-in-command's improper inflight decision to attempt to descend and remain in VFR conditions in an area of thunderstorms and heavy rain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot-in-command's loss of control in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 in Elmira

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1992 at 1028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N964VJ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ithaca - Elmira
MSN:
47373
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
US305
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
19000
Captain / Total hours on type:
9500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
59251
Circumstances:
At the time of the accident, gusty winds were forecast for the surface to higher altitudes. The copilot was flying and configured the airplane about four miles out for landing on runway 24. The flightcrew received progressive wind information during the approach; the last report was wind at 310° and 25 knots. The approach speed was v ref + 10. According to the flightcrew, during the landing flare a wind gust occurred, and the airplane lifted in a nose down attitude. The gust stopped and then the airplane descended to the runway and landed hard. The examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage cracked near where the wings were attached and the aft fuselage was bent down about 7°. Two passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The aircraft encountered a sudden wind gust during landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Final Report: