United States of America

Region:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2950

Captain / Total hours on type:

364.00

Aircraft flight hours:

5484

Circumstances:

At 1027 the pilot received a weather briefing for Holbrook, AZ. The pilot was told of forecasts for "at least moderate icing in clouds or in precipitation above the freezing level" and the briefer stated "I guarantee you moderate to severe turbulence..." for a route into Holbrook. The pilot later got weather info for Amarillo, TX and filed an IFR flt plan to Amarillo. The aircraft departed at 1150. At 1204 the pilot reported he had an engine problem. Radar plots indicate the aircraft was maintaining a climb of about 500 fpm up to 11,200 ft. Thirty seconds later the aircraft had descended to 8,500 ft. Radio and contact was lost about 1207. Based on a weather study the probable meteorological conditions that existed about the time & in the area of the accident were moderate to severe turbulence below 12,000 ft msl & while in the clouds above freezing level the aircraft likely encountered moderate to severe rime icing. The aircraft was not certificated for flt into known icing conditions. The flight was transporting prisoners for various government agencies.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - rain
2. (f) weather condition - turbulence in clouds
3. (f) weather condition - icing conditions
4. (c) flight into known adverse weather - initiated - pilot in command
5. (c) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
6. (c) wing - ice
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Richmond: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1982 at 0912 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Atlas Plastics Corporation

Registration:

N33KC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Saint Louis – Richmond

MSN:

421A-0026

YOM:

1967

Location:

Richmond

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2250

Captain / Total hours on type:

400.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4231

Circumstances:

During a VOR approach to runway 05 when 3 miles away from the airport at minimums ground contact was not made. The pilot stated that she elected to perform a missed approach but before power was applied the copilot raised the flaps. She further stated that she then felt a sinking feeling and put in more power. The aircraft crashed in an open field approximately 2.3 miles southwest of the airport. A pilot was killed while two other occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR)
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - fog
2. (f) weather condition - below approach/landing minimums
3. (c) in-flight planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR)
Findings
4. Missed approach - attempted - pilot in command
5. (c) crew/group coordination - inadequate - pilot in command
6. (c) raising of flaps - improper
7. (c) remedial action - inadequate - pilot in command
8. (c) self-induced pressure - pilot in command

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340 near Burbank: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1982 at 2337 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 340

Operator:

Bacchus Aviation

Registration:

N98546

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Van Nuys – Las Vegas

MSN:

340-0026

YOM:

1972

Location:

Burbank

California

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

759

Captain / Total hours on type:

341.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1076

Circumstances:

After takeoff, the pilot was cleared to proceed on an IFR flight plan. After being cleared to 15,000 ft msl, he reported having trouble maintaining his airspeed and subsequently declared an emergency. Shortly after that, radar contact was lost. The aircraft impacted at night near the top of a mountain ridge at about 4,700 ft msl. The wreckage was demolished and scattered over a large area, but there was no evidence of an inflight breakup. Some parts of the wreckage (including the right engine) were not found on the snow covered terrain. The weather forecast called for: thunderstorms in lines, mountains obscured, moderate and occasionally severe turbulence below 20,000 ft, occasional moderate icing in clouds and in precipitation from the freezing level (3,000 ft) to 20,000 ft. The aircraft was not certified for flight in known icing conditions.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
1. (f) light condition - dark night
2. (f) weather condition - clouds
3. (f) weather condition - rain
4. (f) weather condition - icing conditions
5. (c) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted - pilot in command
6. (c) wing - ice
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
7. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
8. (f) terrain condition - high terrain
9. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor in McAllen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1982 at 2019 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9846Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McAllen - Veracruz

MSN:

AF-397

YOM:

1953

Location:

McAllen

Texas

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7992

Captain / Total hours on type:

614.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4544

Circumstances:

About 18 minutes after takeoff, the pilot radioed that the n°2 engine had lost power and that he was returning to land at Mcallen. While approaching to land, the aircraft crashed in an open field about 400 yards short of the runway and 115 feet right of the approach lights. During impact, the aircraft was in an inverted attitude, in about a 150 degree right roll and 15 degrees nose down. After impact, an intense fire erupted. An examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact malfunction or failure except that the right propeller blades were set at 65 degrees. The angle of the blades should have been 86 degrees when in the full feathered position. The aircraft was estimated to be 753 lbs over its maximum gross weight limit at the time of the accident. With the gear down and flaps up, the vmc was calculated to be 92 mph with the propeller windmilling and 87 mph with the propeller feathered.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Findings
2. (f) aircraft weight and balance - exceeded - pilot in command
3. (f) propeller system/accessories,feathering system - undetermined
4. (c) airspeed (VMC) - not maintained - pilot in command
5. Aircraft handling - not possible - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker near Luke AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1982 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

57-1489

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Phoenix - Luke AFB

MSN:

17560/169

YOM:

1958

Location:

Luke AFB

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3604

Captain / Total hours on type:

370.00

Aircraft flight hours:

10650

Circumstances:

The KC-135A aircraft departed Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport at 0755 MST for a scheduled 3-hour and 30-minute flight. After completing the navigation leg, the aircraft descended into the Phoenix area for transition at Luke AFB. After completing one TACAN approach at Luke AFB, the KC-135A aircraft was vectored to Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport for an ILS touch-and-go landing. The aircraft was then vectored back to the final approach course for a TACAN runway 03 left approach at Luke AFB. The KC-135A aircraft was cleared for the approach to Luke AFB, and after the final approach fix radio call, a midair collision occurred with a Grumman American Yankee civilian aircraft. The empennage of the KC-135A separated, rendering the aircraft incapable of flight and it was destroyed upon ground impact. The Grumman American Yankee aircraft was destroyed during the midair collision. The four crew members in the KC-135A and the two civilians in the Grumman American Yankee were fatalities.
Crew:
LT Col James N. Floor,
Lt Col Ted L. Beam,
Maj Truman R. Young Jr.,
T/Sgt Donald J. Plough.

Probable cause:

The USAF KC-135 was on an IFR flight plan and executing a TACAN 03L approach to Luke AFB. The AA-1 had departed Sky Harbour Airport and had been released by phoenix TRSA. The AA-1 was heading westerly in airspace designated as a special traffic area and was required to have been at or below 2,000 ft msl. A pilot of another aircraft who was trailing the AA-1 stated that a low broken cloud cover was encountered and he had to descend to about 2,000 ft to remain 500 ft below the bases. He stated the pilot of the AA-1 did not descend but appeared to be skimming along in and out of the bases of the clouds. He noticed the KC-135 descending through the cloud deck followed immediately by the collision. The collision occurred about 5 mi south of Luke AFB at an altitude of 2,500 ft msl. The logbook of the AA-1 pilot indicated this was his first trip to the phoenix area. Luke AFB was depicted on the north side of the sectional chart only. VOR airway #16 was split along an e-w line with the northern and southern halves being depicted on each side of the chart.

Occurrence #1: midair collision
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. En route charts - inadequate
2. (c) vfr procedures - improper - pilot in command AA-1
3. (f) lack of familiarity with geographic area - pilot in command AA-1

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Charlotte

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1982

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Federated Air Freight

Registration:

N700W

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

BA-54

YOM:

1955

Location:

Charlotte

Texas

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

12746

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed during takeoff from a clearing on a ranch and then was abandoned. The aircraft landing gear struck a concrete trough for watering cattle. Drugs were found on board the aircraft.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: takeoff
Findings
1. (f) stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performed - pilot in command
2. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near Providence: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1982 at 1533 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N127PM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Groton - Boston

MSN:

105

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

PM458

Location:

Providence

Rhode Island

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6500

Captain / Total hours on type:

2700.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2100

Copilot / Total hours on type:

400

Aircraft flight hours:

27015

Circumstances:

At 4,000 feet light icing on the windshield was noted, and the deicing system was activated. After two cycles of deicing, alcohol was smelled in the cockpit, and smoke was coming up from the control yoke. An emergency landing was attempted at Providence, RI, but smoke and flames forced the crew to land on 10-12 inch thick ice on a reservoir. By then, heavy black smoke poured in the cockpit and fire was seen. Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed and the right wing was sheared off. Eleven occupants escaped and were injured while a passenger was killed.

Probable cause:

The deficient design of the isopropyl alcohol windshield washer/deicer system and the inadequate maintenance of the system which resulted in an in-flight fire. The ignition source of the fire was not determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Cape Yakataga

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1982 at 1310 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Red Dodge

Registration:

N2845D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Anchorage - Hollywood

MSN:

B112

YOM:

1945

Location:

Cape Yakataga

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3628

Captain / Total hours on type:

40.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2941

Circumstances:

Aircraft departed Merrill Field at 1110 with 220 gallons of fuel. Two hours later both engines quit while flying at an altitude of 6,500 feet approximately 10 miles offshore. The crew was unable to restart the engines and the aircraft was ditched into 12 to 15 foot waves with a 40 knot surface wind. The right float was torn off and both engine mounts broke. The aircraft sank at 1745 and was not recovered. The aircraft had an annual inspection 4 days prior to the accident. The fueling facilities were checked and found free of water or other contaminants.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined
----------
Occurrence #2: ditching
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
2. (c) terrain condition - water,rough
3. (f) weather condition - high wind
4. (f) weather condition - unfavorable wind

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T-620 Cheyenne II in Lebanon-Springfield: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1982 at 2019 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31 Cheyenne

Operator:

GNC Energy Corporation

Registration:

N2517X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mobile - Lebanon-Springfield

MSN:

31-8166004

YOM:

1981

Location:

Lebanon-Springfield

Kentucky

Country:

Region: