United States of America

The crew departed Eielson AFB southeast of Fairbanks on a training mission in the region of Valdez under callsign Mary 24. Following two successful approaches under MLS procedure, the crew started a third approach about four miles north of the prescribed MLS inbound course. While descending too low in poor visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was recovered by walkers on August 2, 1985.

The pilot attempted a VOR approach and missed. He advised ATC he was going to attempt the NDB and if he could not see the runway he would go to metro at Detroit or Pontiac. On the NDB approach the aircraft struck trees 960 feet below the MDA. The aircraft flipped over landing on the nose and top of the fuselage. Both occupants were killed.

The aircraft contacted livestock, a fence and the gear collapsed during a forced landing following a loss of power on the right engine. The pilot reported that after he feathered the right engine propeller and lowered the gear he noted the aux hydraulic system pressure gage was indicating zero. Post accident inspection disclosed evidence of an oil leak from the left lower section of the right engine. Tests revealed the leak originated from the oil cooler pressure line which failed due to severe corrosion of the wire braid and deformation of the inner cover. Testing of the auxiliary hydraulic pressure pump disclosed the 35 ampere current limiter was blown and 40 amperes were required to drive the pump motor. The pilot, sole on board, was slightly injured.

This flight originated near Becharof Lake and was destined for Cold Bay. Aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain at the 7,500 feet level, 23 miles left of course. Marginal weather conditions existed including a 35 knot right crosswind. Pilot had flown the same route about 1 hour prior to the accident. Company VFR flight plan was filed. Accident occurred at sunset. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The aircraft crashed during a LOC DME approach. According to ATC the aircraft crashed after making a procedure turn at the faf. The winds in the area were being called 250° at 10 knots gusting to 28 knots. A caution on the approach plate has a remark, 'precipitous terrain - expect turbulence'. Both occupants were killed.

The flight had not yet been scheduled when the pilot retired for the evening at 2230 to 2300 est. At 0230, he was awoken and notified to make a night cargo flight. The owner obtained a weather briefing and filed a flight plan, then briefed the pilot later. The pilot arrived at the airport at 0430. He preflighted the aircraft while the owner updated the weather briefing. The aircraft was cleared as filed with a clearance void time of 0500; the clearance was radioed to the pilot by unicom. During takeoff, at 0510, the aircraft was observed climbing northbound to aprx 800 feet agl in moderate snowfall with the landing light on. A short time later, the aircraft crashed approximately one mile northeast of the airport while in a steep nose down, right wing low attitude. No pre- impact part failure/malfunction was found. Reportedly, when the pilot 1st hired on, he exaggerated his flight experience; he had problems with instrument flying and was not scheduled for flights in marginal weather; and he was given extra help. At the time of the accident, snow was falling, mixed icing was forecast in clouds and there was a sigmet for moderate to severe turbulences below 8,000 feet. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot was flying his wife and her 4 friends to Aspen, CO for a ski vacation. Witnesses reported that during takeoff, the right baggage door opened. They observed the aircraft turn left onto a downwind with the landing gear extended. Eight witnesses reported the engines were producing power of varying degrees; two stated the left engine stopped running and two reported the right engine had a reduction of power or rpm. In the vicinity of where the pilot would have made a base turn, the aircraft entered a left descending turn, collided with the tops of trees beside a road, impacted in the roadway on an easterly heading, slid to a stop and burned. An exam revealed the gear was down, the left propeller was feathered and there was evidence the right baggage door was open. The throttle quadrant was found with the left throttle 2/3 forward, the right throttle full aft, the left propeller control in the feather position, the right prop control full forward and the mixtures at or near their forward positions. The flight characteristics of the aircraft were considered normal with the baggage door open. All six occupants were killed.

The pilot reported a loss of power on both engines during descent to land. Approximately 3 minutes prior, tower gave pilot option of 'straight-in' to runway 14 or regular pattern to runway 32. The pilot hesitated and said 'just a minute' and tower offered wind info as '210 at 13.' Pilot replied, 'kay.' Approximately 1 minute later pilot said '33W will make a left base for 14.' Tower cleared him and declared visual contact. Pilot acknowledged '3 whiskey.' One minute and 54 seconds later, pilot declared power loss and emergency. Tower rogered. Seven seconds later, pilot said 'gonna hit it' followed 2 seconds later with an unintelligible comment. Witnesses saw the aircraft gliding wings level toward runway when a loud 'rev' was heard, the aircraft pitched up and rolled left to an inverted position before ground contact and explosion. Post accident investigation did not disclose any engine or fuel system malfunction. This aircraft had experienced a power loss after descending from 15,500 to 12,000 feet msl on 2/2/85 with the same pilot as reported by the copilot on that flight. After approximately 1 1/2 minutes power was restored. All four occupants were killed.

After landing, the aircraft was parked on the ramp for approximately 39 minutes to load cargo. During that time, light freezing drizzle was falling, intermittently mixed with ice pellets and snow. The crew checked the aircraft surfaces from the cockpit and entry door, but observed no ice or snow adhering to the tops of the wings, nose section, windshield or above the door. The captain declined an offer to de-ice, two other aircraft were being de-iced. The takeoff was normal (18° nose up attitude) until just after lift-off, then the aircraft entered an uncommanded left roll and both engines compressor stalled. The captain corrected with left aileron and rudder, then began aborting the takeoff. The aircraft touched down left of the runway on the tail skid and right wing tip, approximately 5,600 feet from the threshold and on a 070° heading. It then traveled another 2,025 feet in a sweeping right arc, hitting 2 runway signs and came to rest heading west with the right pylon bent down. Investigations revealed a thin layer of ice (est 0.15 inch thick) would have been on the wings, raising the aircraft's stall speed. When DC-9-15 aircraft stall, engines are susceptible to compressor stalls.

During an engine start, prior to the flight, the left engine backfired 2 or 3 times. A witness described the 1st backfired as 'the loudest I have ever heard.' When the aircraft took off, two persons living near the departure end of the runway noted that the aircraft (believed to be the same) sounded different and had a 'cluttering sound'. While climbing, the pilot declared an emergency and reported a fire in the left engine. He was vectored toward Altus AFB while descending in IFR conditions. He descended into VFR conditions and saw the airport about 3 miles away. A witness saw smoke and fire trailing from the vicinity of the left engine. He stated that the aircraft's nose came up, the plane rolled to the left, then it entered a steep, nose down, inverted attitude just before it crashed and burned. An exam revealed the engine exhaust manifold header assy had failed and allowed hot exhaust gases to escape in the engine nacelle in the vicinity of fuel and oil lines. Corrosion had progressed thru the header assy. Ad 75-23-08 requested general inspection, but contained note 'do not remove clamps.' No record of replacement in 6,100 hours. Both occupants were killed.