United States of America

Crescent City-Del Norte County Regional (Jack McNamara)

Schedule:

Crescent City - Eureka

MSN:

402-0027

YOM:

1979

Location:

California

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9019

Captain / Total hours on type:

1300.00

Circumstances:

The crew (one instructor and one student pilot) was engaged in a training flight from Crescent City to Eureka. Following a night takeoff from Crescent City-Jack McNamara Airport, the twin engine airplane adopted a low rate of climb when it crashed in flames on the Castle Rock Island (238 feet ASL) located about a mile south of the departure end of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground during initial climb after the pilot-in-command misjudged altitude and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight on behalf of the check pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna T207 Skywagon in South Naknek

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1980 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1722U

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

King Salmon - South Naknek

MSN:

207-0322

YOM:

1976

Location:

South Naknek

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2318

Captain / Total hours on type:

271.00

Circumstances:

While approaching South Naknek, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and icing conditions. On final, the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Collision with dirt bank on approach after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Ice on windshield,
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- The pilot delayed in initiating a go-around,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Downwind,
- Visibility two miles or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader near Georgetown: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1980 at 1115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

University of Nevada

Registration:

N4204A

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

28919

YOM:

1944

Location:

Georgetown

California

Country:

Region:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9220

Captain / Total hours on type:

240.00

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Reno in the mid-morning. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with icing when control was lost. The airplane went into a spin and crashed, killing all four occupants.

Probable cause:

Stall and subsequent crash due to improper in-flight decisions and airframe ice. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Deficiency, company maintained equipment, services, regulation on part of the personnel,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Blowing snow,
- Aircraft near aft CofG limit,
- No longitudinal stability study.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-300 Navajo in Appomattox

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1980 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Amick Airways

Registration:

N77QC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Norfolk - Roanoke

MSN:

31-511

YOM:

1969

Location:

Appomattox

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3330

Captain / Total hours on type:

1027.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a taxi flight from Norfolk to Roanoke, the pilot informed ATC about a double engine failure and elected to divert to the nearest airport. Shortly later, he decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in an open field. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Douglas engine failure in flight due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Powerplant-instruments: fuel quantity gauge, improperly alignment/adjustment,
- Forces landing off airport on land,
- Fuel gauges read 1/8 full, tanks empty.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2-40 Solitaire off New Orleans: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1980 at 1118 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Proform

Registration:

N962MA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Chicago - New Orleans

MSN:

401

YOM:

1979

Location:

New Orleans-Lakefront

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

2500.00

Circumstances:

The approach to New Orleans-Lakefront Airport was completed in limited visibility due to low ceiling and foggy conditions. The twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed into Lake Pontchartrain. The wreckage was found about 400 yards to the left of the localizer and all seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with water on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility 1/4 mile or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft T-44A Pegasus in USA

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft T-44A Pegasus

Operator:

Registration:

161059

Flight Type:

Military

MSN:

LL-41

YOM:

1979

Location:

All United States of America

Country:

Region:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in West Dease: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1980 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Arctic Guide Air Taxi

Registration:

N3603R

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Dease - Koluktak Drill

MSN:

2005

YOM:

1966

Location:

West Dease

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2033

Captain / Total hours on type:

23.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from West Dease, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled then crashed in flames, killing all three occupants.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 175 Britannia 253F in Billerica: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1980 at 1416 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol Britannia

Operator:

Registration:

G-BRAC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Boston - Shannon - Luton

MSN:

13448

YOM:

1959

Flight number:

RY103

Location:

Billerica

Massachusetts

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 700 (Fuji FA-300)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11600

Captain / Total hours on type:

7400.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

7600

Copilot / Total hours on type:

4760

Aircraft flight hours:

21963

Aircraft flight cycles:

8310

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Boston-Logan Airport runway 33L at 1408LT on a cargo flight to Luton via Shannon, carrying eight occupants and a load of computers. Initial climb was completed in poor weather conditions with a visibility reduced to 800 meters due to snow showers, fog and also severe icing conditions. At an altitude of 1,700 feet, the airplane started an uncontrolled descent then contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Billerica, about 17 miles northwest of Boston-Logan Airport. A crew member was seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Degraded aerodynamic performance beyond the flight capabilities of the aircraft resulting from an accumulation of ice and snow on the airframe before take-off and a further accumulation of ice when the aircraft was flown into moderate to severe icing conditions following take-off. Contributing were encounters with windshear, downdraughts and turbulence during the climb. The failure of the flight crew to obtain an adequate preflight weather briefing and the failure of the National Weather Service to advise the crew of a SIGMET for severe icing conditions were also contributing factors.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 700 in Everett: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1980 at 1615 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Roberts Construction

Registration:

N9908S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Everett - Portland

MSN:

700-08

YOM:

1978

Location:

Everett-Paine Field

Washington

Country:

Region: