United States of America

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11625

Captain / Total hours on type:

6900.00

Circumstances:

Following a night takeoff from Honolulu, while climbing at a height of 600 feet, the airplane collided with a 35 feet wooden utility pole and 50 feet tubular steel microwave antenna tower. It crashed in flames and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with wires/poles due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility 3 miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Palmyra Island

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1980 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Fred C. Sorenson

Registration:

N163R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

United States Minor Outlying Islands

Schedule:

Honolulu - Palmyra

MSN:

2492A

YOM:

1943

Location:

Palmyra Atoll

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was completing a flight from Honolulu to the Palmyra Atoll, carrying amateur radio operators. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with trees. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all nine occupants evacuated, some of them were injured. On approach, the pilot estimated cross wind gusting to 15 knots but the wind was calm below tree level on runway.

Probable cause:

Ground loop upon touchdown and subsequent collision with trees due to improper compensation for wind conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Windshear,
- Visibility 3 mils or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke in Hayden: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1979 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Vernon E. Faulconer

Registration:

N6030S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Denver - Hayden

MSN:

P-328

YOM:

1975

Location:

Hayden-Yampa Valley

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12800

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a corporate flight from Denver to Hayden-Yampa Valley Airfield, Colorado. On approach, he encountered poor weather conditions due to low ceiling and fog. At an altitude of 7,200 feet, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed in flames 3,3 nm from the runway 10 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Zero visibility.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Eagle County: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1979 at 1236 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Design for Living

Registration:

N100RV

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Eagle County - Sun Valley

MSN:

421B-0549

YOM:

1973

Location:

Eagle County-FlyVail

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3052

Captain / Total hours on type:

358.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Eagle County Airport, while climbing, the pilot reported problems with the nose door that open after rotation. While returning to the airport, he complete a turn when the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall during traffic pattern after the pilot diverted attention from operation of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to retract landing gear,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Right nose door lock in unlocked position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 near Santa Fe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1979 at 1319 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6194X

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Albuquerque - Denver

MSN:

500-1055-44

YOM:

1961

Location:

Santa Fe

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1340

Captain / Total hours on type:

71.00

Circumstances:

While flying in marginal weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a mountain shrouded in clouds. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash in normal cruise due to improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Traffic control personnel issued improper or conflicting instructions,
- Santa Fe weather observation reported mountain tops obscured,
- The controller was not familiar with high terrain in area or MVA.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air near Leeville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1979 at 0135 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N724N

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Houston - Tampa

MSN:

LJ-82

YOM:

1966

Location:

Leeville

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Intercontinental Association

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2404

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a night flight from Houston to Tampa, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with icing. After the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and partially disintegrated in the air before crashing in a lake located near Leeville. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent airframe failure in-flight after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exceeded designed stress limits of the aircraft,
- Incorrect weather briefing,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Flight control surfaces: horizontal stabilizer, attachments,
- Wing spars,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Aircraft came to rest in water.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Orlando: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1979 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Registration:

N198B

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Orlando-Executive (Herndon)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Orlando - Miami-Opa Locka

MSN:

BA-138

YOM:

1956

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a night takeoff from Orlando-Herndon Airport, while climbing in adverse weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during initial climb after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Low ceiling,
- Haze.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1979 at 1758 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Registration:

N200BR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Denver - Provo

MSN:

205

YOM:

1971

Location:

Provo

Utah

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12833

Captain / Total hours on type:

1785.00

Circumstances:

The pilot started the approach to Provo Municipal Airport by night. Due to limited visibility, he was unable to locate the runway as the lights were off. On final, the twin engine airplane crashed in a swamp located near the airport and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground in traffic pattern-circling due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- The pilot misjudged altitude,
- Rain,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- The runway lights were not activated by the pilot,
- The pilot circled east when the runway was not sited.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II near Locust Grove: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1979 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Sterling Stores Company

Registration:

N5428J

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Little Rock - Locust Grove

MSN:

421B-0887

YOM:

1974

Location:

Locust Grove

Arkansas

Country:

Region: