United States of America

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12500

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

On approach by night to Houston-Intercontinental Airport, the twin engine airplane was too low, struck trees and crashed. A passenger was seriously injured while all four other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Undershoot on final approach and subsequent collision with trees due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wind shear,
- Incorrect altimeter setting on part of the pilot,
- High obstructions,
- Visibility two miles or less,
- Fog,
- Crashed during an ILS approach approximately 5 miles behind a Boeing 727,
- Altimeter setting 0,5 below correct setting.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Sebring: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1980 at 1701 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Nilo Batista

Registration:

N662B

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

680-1347-28

YOM:

1963

Location:

Sebring

Florida

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Clewiston Airport in the mid afternoon. En route, control was lost and the airplane entered a dive. It suffered an overload failure, lost its both wings and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight and subsequent uncontrolled descent after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Wings: spars - overload failure and separation in flight,
- Last static system check 28MAR1974.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Escondido: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1980 at 0824 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Stephen H. Elmore

Registration:

N15SE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brawley - McCllelan-Palomar

MSN:

421C-0115

YOM:

1976

Location:

Escondido

California

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6500

Captain / Total hours on type:

109.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Brawley Airport at 0800LT on a ferry flight to McClellan-Palomar Airport where the aircraft was supposed to follow a maintenance check. En route, control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames in Lake Wohlford, northeast of Escondido. The burnt wreckage was found 31 hours later. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in San Jose: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1980 at 1034 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Air National

Registration:

N8078J

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Aerial photography

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Jose - San Jose

MSN:

61P-0565-7963245

YOM:

1979

Location:

San Jose

California

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 690

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2400

Captain / Total hours on type:

15.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed San Jose Municipal Airport on a local aerial photography mission, carrying one passenger and one pilot. En route, the airplane stall, entered a spin and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall and subsequent spin after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. During a radar vector to ILS, the pilot reported he would be taking pictures at a slow speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Newcastle: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1980 at 1603 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Bardhal de Mexico

Registration:

XB-AEA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Oklahoma City

MSN:

690-11199

YOM:

1974

Location:

Newcastle

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14700

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Oklahoma City-Will Rogers Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames in Newcastle, about 8 miles south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall on approach after the crew failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate/incorrect weather briefing,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Forecast of icing conditions not provided to pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 10 in Chicago: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1980 at 1548 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 10

Operator:

Registration:

N253K

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Chicago - Battle Creek

MSN:

YOM:

1974

Location:

Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3453

Captain / Total hours on type:

635.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8845

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1163

Aircraft flight hours:

3196

Circumstances:

The airplane was unable to takeoff from Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs Airport runway 18, overran and crashed into Lake Michigan. A pilot and a passenger were killed while four other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft came to rest in 25 feet of water about 300 feet past the runway end.

Probable cause:

The flightcrew's failure to release the parking brake before the takeoff roll was started, which resulted in significant wheel/brake drag and a nosedown pitching moment that inhibited the aircraft's capability to effect a normal acceleration and rotation for takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the lack of adequate company checklist procedures to insure the timely release of the parking brakes.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Magdalena: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1980 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N560E

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

560-0839

YOM:

1959

Location:

Magdalena

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6300

Captain / Total hours on type:

16.00

Circumstances:

Upon takeoff at Magdalena Airport, the twin engine airplane struck a fence and crashed in flames. A pilot was killed while three other occupants were injured, two seriously.

Probable cause:

Collision with during initial climb and subsequent crash due to inadequate supervision of flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The copilot misused or failed to use flaps,
- The copilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Wet runway,
- The crew failed to use all available runway,
- Improperly loaded aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Columbus: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1980 at 0241 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Volonteer Aviation

Registration:

N23RJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Columbus - Louisville

MSN:

411-0287

YOM:

1969

Location:

Columbus-John Glenn (Port Columbus)

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 690

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3300

Captain / Total hours on type:

20.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Columbus-Port Columbus Airport, while in initial climb, both engines suffered a partial loss of power. The airplane stalled, entered a spin and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb after fuel system: pumps sheared. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Partial loss of power on both engines,
- Left engine fuel pump sheared,
- Left and right auxiliary fuel pumps found in low position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Goldsboro

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1980 at 0118 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N182

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Hartford - Charlotte

MSN:

690-11048

YOM:

1972

Location:

Goldsboro

Maryland

Country:

Region: