United States of America

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

401-0246

YOM:

1969

Location:

Jesup-Wayne County

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Aircraft Maintenance Corporation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11104

Captain / Total hours on type:

222.00

Aircraft flight hours:

4800

Circumstances:

After reaching a cruise altitude of 9500 feet the pilot noticed smoke coming out of the left engine cowling. He then proceeded to reduce the left throttle but was unable to move the lever. According to the pilot the fire was extinguished when the left fuel selector was turned off but relit about 3 minutes later. During the emergency descent that followed all electrical power was lost and the copilot was instructed to crank down the landing gear. During landing roll the left gear collapsed as the wing continued to burn. Engine examination revealed that the fuel pressure return line located on the firewall was finger tight. The other fitting was secure and the maintenance manual call for 30-40 inch-pounds of torque on that fitting. The pilot did not follow approved emergency procedures for an inflight wing or engine fire.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: fire
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (c) fuel system,line fitting - loose
2. (c) maintenance - improper - other maintenance personnel
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
3. (f) emergency procedure - not followed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
4. (f) electrical system - failure,total
----------
Occurrence #4: gear collapsed
Phase of operation: landing - roll

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Fort Pierce

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1982 at 2115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N747CE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Montego Bay - Fort Lauderdale

MSN:

31-673

YOM:

1970

Location:

Fort Pierce

Florida

Country:

Region:

J. A. Baldwin Manufacturing Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5211

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed at night near a private strip in marginal weather conditions. The gear was found in the up position, the right engine was broken off, the nose section was crushed back to the windshield, and both propellers were bent and twisted. About 1,300 lbs of marijuana was found on board.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: unknown
Findings
1. (f) stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - performed - pilot in command
2. (f) light condition - dark night
3. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
4. (c) vfr flight into imc - continued - pilot in command
5. (c) altitude - misjudged - pilot in command
6. (f) visual/aural perception - pilot in command

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Marquise in Hayden

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1982 at 1715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Registration:

N149JA

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kearny - Hayden

MSN:

402

YOM:

1979

Location:

Hayden-Yampa Valley

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9700

Captain / Total hours on type:

1700.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1203

Circumstances:

The aircraft was 20 feet agl during landing when the crew heard a propeller go into beta mode and the aircraft yawed to the right. The pilot lost control of the aircraft and it collided with a snow bank which separated the wings from the fuselage. Impact damage made it impossible to tell why the propeller went into beta mode.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
1. (f) propeller system/accessories,pitch change mech - undetermined
2. (f) propeller system/accessories,reversing system - undetermined
3. (f) propeller system/accessories,prop control unit - undetermined
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - on ground/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
4. (c) directional control - not maintained - pilot in command
5. (c) remedial action - not used - pilot in command
6. (c) ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - roll
Findings
7. (f) terrain condition - snowbank

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 99 Airliner in Groton

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1982 at 0045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 99 Airliner

Operator:

Registration:

N451C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

New Haven - Groton

MSN:

U-66

YOM:

1969

Location:

Groton

Connecticut

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7108

Captain / Total hours on type:

400.00

Aircraft flight hours:

19188

Circumstances:

After crossing the mondi intersection inbound for an ILS runway 05 approach, the captain felt that a proper descent was not possible due to a strong tailwind and their present altitude. They turned and proceeded outbound to lose altitude. The crew then established themselves again on the inbound course at an airspeed of approximately 120 knots. The copilot reported that around 300 feet "the bottom dropped out." the aircraft crashed onto the surface of a frozen cove and slid onto marshy terrain and stopped about 500 feet short of the runway. An NTSB weather summary shows that the following wind regimes existed when the aircraft made its approach: 5,000 to 24,000 ft asl, wind 220/50; 2,400 to 450 feet asl, wind 180/30; 450 feet asl to surface, wind 100/5. Using the above wind regimes and assuming an approach airspeed of 123 knots, the following ground speeds were computed: 5,000 to 2,400 ft asl, 155 knots; 2,400 to 450 feet asl, 147 knots; 450 feet asl to surface, 118 knots.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
1. Light condition - dark night
2. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
3. (f) weather condition - fog
4. (f) weather condition - turbulence in clouds
5. (f) weather condition - downdraft
6. (c) weather condition - windshear
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
----------
Occurrence #3: undershoot
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
----------
Occurrence #4: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
7. Terrain condition - icy

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Laredo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1982 at 0953 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Vernon L. Meyer

Registration:

N4244Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dilley - Laredo

MSN:

402B-1026

YOM:

1975

Location:

Laredo

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5666

Captain / Total hours on type:

42.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1524

Circumstances:

The aircraft was observed to be extremely slow throughout the approach and that the pilot appeared to be having some difficulty with overcontrolling the aircraft. It then leveled out at 50-80 feet on final over the threshold, entered a nose-high attitude and then stalled into a right spin. The pilot had flown to Memphis, two days prior to the accident with the other pilot to pick up the stol equipped aircraft. The vendor's chief pilot checked out the pilot in the aircraft during the return flight to Houston. On the day prior to the accident the two pilots who were onboard at the time of the accident flew a local flight for about two hours and then flow to Dilley for an additional 1.3 hours. When the accident occurred the pilot who had been checked out by the vendor's chief pilot was sitting in the right seat.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight during final approach VFR pattern after the pilot failed to maintain airspeed. The following findings were reported:
- Inadequate transition/upgrade training on part of the copilot,
- Lack of total experience in type of aircraft on part of the copilot,
- Inadvertent stall spin,
- Inadequate supervision on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Lack of total experience in type of aircraft on part of the pilot-in-command.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30CF in Boston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1982 at 1936 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-10

Operator:

Registration:

N113WA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Oakland - Newark - Boston

MSN:

47821/320

YOM:

1980

Flight number:

WO30H

Location:

Boston-Logan

Massachusetts

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

200

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18091

Captain / Total hours on type:

1969.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8600

Aircraft flight hours:

6327

Circumstances:

Following a non-precision instrument approach to runway 15R at Boston-Logan International Airport, the airplane touched down about 2,800 feet beyond the displaced threshold of the 9,191-foot usable part of the runway. About 1936:40, the airplane veered to avoid the approach light pier at the departure end of the runway and slid into the shallow water of Boston Harbor. The nose section separated from the fuselage in the impact after the airplane dropped from the shore embankment. Of the 212 persons on board, 2 persons are missing and presumed dead. The other persons onboard evacuated the airplane safely, some with injuries.

Probable cause:

The minimal braking effectiveness on the ice-covered runway; the failure of the Boston-Logan International Airport management to exercise maximum efforts to assess the condition of the runway to assure continued safety of landing operations; the failure of air traffic control to transmit the most recent pilot reports of braking action to the pilot of Flight 30H; and the captain's decision to accept and maintain an excessive airspeed derived from the auto throttle speed control system during the landing approach which caused the aircraft to land about 2,800 feet beyond the runway's displaced threshold. Contributing to the accident were the inadequacy of the present system of reports to convey reliable braking effectiveness information and the absence of provisions in the Federal Aviation Regulations to require:
- Airport management to measure the slipperiness of the runways using standardized procedures and to use standardized criteria in evaluating and reporting braking effectiveness and in making decisions to close runways.
- Operators to provide flight crews and other personnel with information necessary to correlate braking effectiveness on contaminated runways with aircraft stopping distances, and
- Extended minimum runway lengths for landing on runways which adequately take into consideration the reduction of braking effectiveness due to ice and snow.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1982 at 1924 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Springdale Air Service

Registration:

N4553Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Springdale - Kansas City

MSN:

402-0053

YOM:

1979

Location:

Kansas City

Kansas

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5993

Captain / Total hours on type:

1200.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3746

Circumstances:

The pilot received two weather briefings. Most of the first briefing was spend finding an alternate. The forecast include IMC with low ceilings, low visibilities with light snow, fog and possible freezing drizzle. The aircraft was not certificated for flight in known icing conditions. During arrival, the plane entered an overcast at 3,500 feet MSL. Two minutes later, the pilot reported and encounter with freezing precipitation. The first approach was abandoned in the vicinity of the FAF/outer marker after the pilot flew through the localizer course line and was half mile to the right. He was vectored for another ILS approach. While inbound on the approach, he was informed that approach control had received a low altitude alert. He was reminded that his altitude should be 2,600 feet until reaching the FAF; however, he reached only 2,400 feet. His airspeed was much higher than normal while descending from the FAF. The plane struck a building and burned about 1/3 mile northeast of the end of runway 18. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

In flight encounter with weather during approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR), loss of control and subsequent collision with object. The following findings were reported:
- Dark night,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Rain,
- Icing conditions,
- Wing ice,
- The pilot initiated operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Overconfidence in aircraft's ability on part of the pilot,
- The pilot continued flight into known adverse weather,
- Overconfidence in personal ability on part of the pilot,
- Non residential building.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Port Graham

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1982 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Cook Inlet Aviation

Registration:

N1729U

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Homer - Port Graham

MSN:

207-0329

YOM:

1976

Location:

Port Graham

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4226

Captain / Total hours on type:

47.00

Aircraft flight hours:

5798

Circumstances:

The pilot reported that during a base to final turn, the aircraft was blown slightly off the center line of the runway. Also, he reported encountering a windshear effect from a nearby bluff. As the plane drifted to the right, it commenced a high sink rate and the pilot added power. However, the right main landing gear struck a snowberm at the edge of the runway. The plane continued in a relatively straight line for about 75 to 80 feet, then nosed over.

Probable cause:

In flight collision with terrain on landing - flare/touchdown due to improper compensation for wind conditions on part of the pilot. The following findings were reported:
- Unfavorable wind,
- Windshear,
- Snowbank.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Miami

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1982 at 0154 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Tursair

Registration:

N211TA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Opa Locka - Opa Locka

MSN:

6342

YOM:

1942

Location:

Miami-Opa Locka

Florida

Country:

Region: