United States of America

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Circumstances:

En route from Houston to Mineral Wells, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. While flying in adverse weather conditions, he suffered a spatial disorientation and lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field near Hammond, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent crash after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Fog,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility 2 miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 Marquise in Alpena: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1981 at 0247 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

J & S Leasing

Registration:

N9JS

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Alpena-County-Phelps-Collins

Schedule:

La Crosse - Alpena

MSN:

178

YOM:

1969

Location:

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16776

Circumstances:

While on a night ILS approach to Alpena-County-Phelps-Collins Airport, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low. On short final, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed 1,6 mile short of runway 36. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- Visibility 2 miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401A in State College: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1981 at 2000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Donald C. Meyer

Registration:

N6265Q

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

State College-University Park

Schedule:

State College - State College

MSN:

401A-0065

YOM:

1969

Location:

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6215

Circumstances:

After takeoff from State College-University Park, while in a local training flight, one of the engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise in Lajitas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1981 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Viking Aviation

Registration:

N500GL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Lajitas - Houston

MSN:

579

YOM:

1973

Location:

Lajitas

Texas

Country:

Region:

Handley Page H.P.137 Jetstream

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Captain / Total hours on type:

4400.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Lajitas Airfield, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables then crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot and one passenger were killed while eight other occupants were injured, five of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Collision with wires/poles during initial climb after the pilot selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot misused or failed to use flaps,
- The pilot failed to abort takeoff,
- Airport conditions,
- High density altitude, about 4,800 feet,
- Rough/uneven terrain,
- 1% upslope runway,
- Aircraft near max gross weight,
- Aircraft CofG at limit,
- Wind gusting 15 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.137 Jetstream III in Loveland: 13 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1981 at 1601 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Air US

Registration:

N11360

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Denver - Gillette

MSN:

238

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

US716

Location:

Loveland

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4784

Captain / Total hours on type:

1784.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2280

Copilot / Total hours on type:

210

Aircraft flight hours:

3795

Aircraft flight cycles:

3791

Circumstances:

Air US Flight 716 departed Denver-Stapleton, CO at 15:46 for a flight to Gillette, WY. At 15:59 Flight 716 contacted Denver Center to request to maintain FL130, which was approved. In the same area a Cessna TU206 (N4862F, operated by Sky's West Parachute Center) was climbing in a racetrack pattern over Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport to an altitude of FL155. The Cessna had departed this airport at 15:30 for the second parachute jump flight of the day. The Cessna was in a climbing left turn on a north-westerly heading when it was hit by the Air US Jetstream. The No. 1 propeller of the Jetstream cut through the aft fuselage section of the Cessna resulting in immediate loss of control to both aircraft. Two of the skydivers were killed inside the aircraft during the collision. The pilot and three parachutists fell free of the aircraft and parachuted to the ground. The remains of the Cessna descended out of control and crashed in an open field. The Jetstream impacted the ground in a nearly vertical pitch attitude in an open field about 4,000 feet northeast of the Cessna wreckage.

Probable cause:

The failure of the Cessna pilot to establish communications with the Denver Center and his climbing into controlled airspace above 12,500 feet without an authorised deviation from the altitude encoding transponder (Mode-C) requirement, the practice of the Denver Center of routinely condoning Sky's West parachute jump operations above 12,500 feet without a Mode-C transponder and the failure of the pilots of both aircraft to "see and avoid" each other. Contributing to the accident was the fact that existing regulations do not prohibit parachute jumping in, or immediately adjacent to, Federal airways.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Pine Knot: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1981 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Atlas Aviation

Registration:

N3768Z

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Pine Knot-McCreary County

MSN:

LD-300

YOM:

1966

Location:

Kentucky

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Pine Knot-McCreary County Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane drifted to the left then struck trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees during initial climb due to unqualified person operating the aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Approximately 417 lbs over max gross weight at takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 near LaBelle: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1981 at 0015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N777A

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

680-0477-147

YOM:

1957

Location:

LaBelle

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1200

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing an illegal flight and while attempting to land in dark night on a road located near LaBelle, the twin engine airplane crashed. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The aircraft stalled on final approach after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Dark night,
- CofG in front of forward limit,
- Approximately 1,100 lbs of quaalude pills found on board.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21D Ute at Fort Sill AFB

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1981 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft U-21 Ute

Operator:

Registration:

67-18106

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Fort Sill-Henry Post Field AFB

Schedule:

Fort Sill - Fort Sill

MSN:

LM-102

YOM:

1967

Location:

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at Fort Sill AFB while performing a local training flight. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Galena: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1981 at 1632 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N66856

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Hughes - Galena

MSN:

31-7405164

YOM:

1974

Location:

Galena

Alaska

Country:

Region: