Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Windsor Locks: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1979 at 0404 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N705M
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Windsor Locks – Baltimore
MSN:
BA-353
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6425
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Windsor Locks-Bradley Airport, while on a cargo flight to Baltimore, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb following an inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Cargo shifted after rotation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Tie-down snaps, rings found disconnected,
- Aircraft 682 pounds over max gross weight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Castle AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0127
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
17872/342
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
8046
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Castle AFB, consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. Upon touchdown, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-20-LM Starlifter in Charleston

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0647
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charleston - Charleston
MSN:
300-6060
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
18547
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Charleston Airport. Upon landing, the crew noticed the lack of a 'brakes released' light. After touchdown, thrust reversers failed to deploy because they were locked out by the touchdown relay, still in the Flight Mode. However, due to a malfunction, the n°4 thrust reverser did deploy. Normal brakes were inoperative. The copilot selected emergency brakes and then continued to make multiple attempts to deploy the spoilers. This caused the n°3 hydraulic system to lose pressure due to which in turn the emergency brakes failed. Then an electrical malfunction within the gear handle caused the nose gear to retract. The airplane came to rest in flames on its belly. All six crew members escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Avalon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1979 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N22932
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Avalon - San Pedro
MSN:
B139
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
13300
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from the bay of Avalon, the twin engine seaplane lost height and crashed into the sea. A passenger was killed while three other occupants were injured, the pilot seriously.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure during initial climb after the elevator tab control system failed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Up elevator cable separated 3 to 4 feet forward of station 29.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Hastings: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1979 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N600NA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Baltimore - Grand Rapids
MSN:
AF-726
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4902
Captain / Total hours on type:
430.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Grand Rapids-Gerald R. Ford Airport on a ferry flight from Baltimore, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located in Hastings, about 18,5 miles southeast of the destination airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed, debris scattered on a wide area and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire or explosion on approach and subsequent uncontrolled descent after the air condition, heating and pressurization system failed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Fire in brakes, wheel assembly and wheel well,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Smoke in cockpit,
- Pilot fatigue,
- No log book entries for heater, Southwind model 853A, operation or required inspections/overhauls.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7 on Peak Surveyor: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1979 at 2047 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4SW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Redmond - Klamath Falls - Medford
MSN:
44287/538
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
Tanker 69
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
8200
Captain / Total hours on type:
475.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
250
Aircraft flight hours:
21025
Circumstances:
Using the call sign Tanker 69, the aircraft was on a company business flight from Redmond to Medford with an en route stop at Klamath Falls. At Redmond, about 600 gallons of 100/130-grade fuel were added to the 1,000 gallons on board, 8 employees were enplaned, and the aircraft departed Redmond for Klamath Falls about 1945. The purpose of the flight was to transport Butler employees to an end-of-season barbecue in Medford that had started between 1930 and 2000. Tanker 69 landed at Klamath Falls at 2029. Two additional Butler employees were enplaned, and the aircraft departed runway 14 at 2040. The flightcrew did not file a flight plan and the weather was such that none was required. Witnesses saw the aircraft begin a steep right turn about one mile south of the runway and momentarily disappear from their view behind hangars and airport buildings; it then proceeded on a westerly course. A few minutes later, a pilot located 11 miles west-southwest of the airport saw the aircraft pass overheard an altitude he estimated to be 750 feet above ground level. He said that the aircraft lights were on and that engine sounds were normal. About 2047, witnesses located 25 miles west-northwest of the airport heard sounds, which they first thought to be from a car or truck with loud mufflers. Subsequently, they determined that the sounds were an approaching aircraft. They heard engine sounds become 'choppy', resembling the noise made by a helicopter blade, and saw a fireball on Surveyor Peak, about 3,5 miles south of their location. Weyerhauser Company and Oregon State Forestry Department personnel located about 12 miles from Surveyor Peak also saw the fireball on the peak. After notifying authorities, they took firefighting equipment to the scene. The aircraft crashed at night during hours of darkness at an elevation of about 6,400 feet. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The flight crew’s decision to undertake a direct point-to-point high-cruise-speed flight at low altitude. The crew’s judgment in the selection of a low-altitude flight profile may have been influenced by their familiarity with the terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air in Laredo

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1979 at 1712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N332K
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Laredo - Laredo
MSN:
LJ-79
YOM:
1966
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Laredo Airport, while in a local test flight, one engine stopped. The crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in an open field located near the airport. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both pilots escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during climb due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer 1 in Pilot Point

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1979 at 1540 LT
Registration:
N9965F
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pilot Point - Naknek
MSN:
505
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2506
Captain / Total hours on type:
29.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a cargo flight from Pilot Point to Naknek and was carrying two pilots and a load of fish. During the takeoff roll from an unsuitable terrain with strong crosswinds, the airplane went out of control, ground looped and came to rest. Both occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Ground loop - swerve during an aborted takeoff after the crew selected an unsuitable terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper compensation for wind conditions,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Airport conditions: poor maintained runway surface,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- No weather briefing received,
- Wind gusting to 20 knots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Rexville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1979 at 0931 LT
Registration:
N5003E
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Albany - Lancaster
MSN:
680-1737-144
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
3100
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Albany on an air pollution monitoring program flight to Lancaster, carrying two passengers and one pilot. En route, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the pilot encountered severe turbulences when control was lost. The airplane crashed in Rexville, killing all three occupants.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during normal cruise due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulences,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Bluffton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1979 at 0038 LT
Registration:
N27715
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ypsilanti - Bluffton
MSN:
31-7852115
YOM:
1978
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3555
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a cargo flight from Ypsilanti (Detroit-Willow Run) to Bluffton. On approach by night and poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground on final approach after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility down to zero, below minimums.
Final Report: