Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Troxelville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1980 at 0153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N701CC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
New York-LaGuardia – Pittsburgh
MSN:
BA-740
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2100
Circumstances:
En route on a cargo flight from New York-LaGuardia Airport to Pittsburgh, while cruising by night in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on a mountain located near Troxelville, Pennsylvania. The wreckage was found three days later and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to foggy conditions and weather was poor with icing conditions.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with ground after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Ice-propeller,
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Deicing equipment and anti-icing system inoperative,
- Visibility two miles or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R off Bridgeport: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1980 at 2222 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N62987
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Worcester - Bridgeport
MSN:
31-7712007
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
6500
Circumstances:
At 2219LT, while approaching Bridgeport by night on a flight from Worcester, the pilot reported to ATC he was low on fuel. Three minutes later, after becoming lost, the airplane descended and crashed into the sea off Bridgeport. SAR operations were initiated and a dead body was found a day later. All three other occupants as well as the wreckage were never found.
Probable cause:
The pilot became lost and disoriented while approaching Bridgeport by night. Following a double engine failure due to a fuel exhaustion, he attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401A in Fort Pierce

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1980 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6233Q
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Columbus - Fort Pierce
MSN:
401A-0033
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
988
Captain / Total hours on type:
66.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Fort Pierce-St Lucie-County Airport, the pilot initiated an evasive maneuver to avoid collision with another aircraft turning in front of him. Due to insufficient speed, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed. All three occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Stall during go-around after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Naples

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1980 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9044Y
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
31-64
YOM:
1968
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Naples while engaged in a contraband flight. The pilot, sole on board, was not recovered. The airplane was destroyed in the accident.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Salley

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1980 at 0255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N8159Q
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Charleston - Charleston
MSN:
402B-0375
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1540
Captain / Total hours on type:
101.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on a regional flight out from Charleston, both engines failed. The pilot reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed onto a house in Salley. Both occupants were seriously injured while there were no casualties on the ground. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during normale cruise due to improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Instruments: fuel quantity gauge erratic,
- Faire of both engines,
- Low ceiling,
- Visibility 1/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan in Gowers Corner: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1980 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N37093
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Carata - Gowers Corner
MSN:
404-0103
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Gowers Corner while on an illegal flight from Carata, Colombia, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a pasture. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and subsequent stall and crash on approach for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Stolen aircraft,
- Rain falls,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Complete engine failure,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- 304 lbs over max landing weight,
- Documents in aircraft indicate pilot flew over 16 hours since takeoff at 0544.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed YMC-130H Hercules in Wagner Field

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
74-1683
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wagner Field - Wagner Field
MSN:
4658
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
This aircraft was delivered on 17 October to TAB1 at Wagner Field, a disused auxiliary airfield at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Between 19 October and 28 October, numerous flights were made testing various aspects, including the double-slotted flaps system, which enabled the C-130 to fly at 85 knots on final approach at a very steep eight-degree glide slope. All aspects worked flawlessly, and a full profile test was scheduled for 29 October. The test's takeoff phase was executed flawlessly, setting a number of short takeoff records. The Lockheed test crew then assessed that the computer used to command the firing of the rockets during the landing sequence needed further calibration, and elected to manually input commands. The reverse-mounted (forward-facing) eight ASROC rockets for decelerating the aircraft's forward speed were situated in pairs on the fuselage's upper curvature behind the cockpit, and at the midpoint of each side of the fuselage beneath the uppers. Testing had determined that the upper pairs, fired sequentially, could be ignited while still airborne (specifically, at 20 feet), but that the lower pairs could only be fired after the aircraft was on the ground, with the descent-braking rockets also firing during the sequence. The flight engineer, blinded by the firing of the upper deceleration rockets, thought the aircraft was on the runway and fired the lower set early. The descent-braking rockets did not fire at all. Later unofficial disclaimers allegedly made by some of the Lockheed test crew's members asserted that the lower rockets fired themselves through an undetermined computer or electrical malfunction, which at the same time failed to fire the descent-braking rockets. As a result, the aircraft's forward flight was immediately reduced to nearly zero, dropping it hard to the runway and breaking the starboard wing between the third and fourth engines. During rollout, the trailing wing ignited a fire, but a medical evacuation helicopter dispersed the flame and crash response teams extinguished the fire within eight seconds of the aircraft stopping, enabling the crew to exit the aircraft safely. 74-1683 was dismantled and buried on-site for security reasons, but most of its unique systems were salvaged.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18 in Gainesville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1980 at 0947 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N65V
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barstow - Lake City
MSN:
BA-144
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
8267
Circumstances:
En route from Barstow to Lake City, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and was cleared to divert to Gainesville Airport. On final, in a limited visibility due to fog, the twin engine airplane collided with electronic towers and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to see and avoid objects or obstructions,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection of aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Fuel system: filters, strainers, screens - missing,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Complete failure of the right engine,
- Visibility two miles or less,
- Right fuel filter filtering element missing,
- Left filter sub amt of debris,
- Main oil screens abnormally dirty.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601P) near Wilma: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1980 at 1043 LT
Registration:
N8250J
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Panama City – Fort Myers
MSN:
61-0719-8063348
YOM:
1980
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3454
Captain / Total hours on type:
54.00
Circumstances:
While in normal cruise on a flight from Panama City to Fort Myers, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent. Due to overload failure, it partially disintegrated in the air, losing its left wing and tail section before crashing in an uninhabited area located near Wilma. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and subsequent crash for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Left wing and tail section separated,
- Left engine not recovered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Buffalo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1980 at 2335 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6395U
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buffalo - §Huron
MSN:
500-1472-168
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1045
Captain / Total hours on type:
451.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Buffalo Airport in blowing snow, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to maintain a positive rate of climb. It collided with ground and subsequently crashed. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain a positive rate of climb,
- Low ceiling,
- High density altitude,
- Visibility one mile or less,
- Blowing snow,
- Mixtures found full rich,
- Airport elevation 4,951 feet.
Final Report: