Crash of a Douglas DC-3-313 near Belle Glade

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1979 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N21782
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint Louis - Boca Raton
MSN:
2170
YOM:
1939
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
525.00
Circumstances:
En route from Saint Louis to Boca Raton, both engines failed. The crew declared an emergency, reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing near Belle Glade. After touchdown, the airplane struck high vegetation then nosed down and crashed. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines in flight due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Micalculated fuel consumption,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Improper alignment/adjustment of the fuel quantity gauge,
- High vegetation,
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Anchorage: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1979 at 0932 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N402TH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Anchorage - Kenai
MSN:
402B-1034
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
7726
Captain / Total hours on type:
1715.00
Circumstances:
After departure from Anchorage Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered technical problems with his instruments. In zero visibility due to clouds and fog, the aircraft descended until it struck the ground and crashed few miles from Anchorage. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground following the failure of a fluxgate compass. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Flight and navigation instruments: fluxgate compass,
- Material failure,
- The pilot failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment,
- Chafed,
- Airways facilities personnel,
- Failure of ATC to properly identify the aircraft on radar,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Zero visibility,
- Aircraft observed with IFR arrival transponder code after departure,
- Flux detector wires chafed,
- Ground control cannot communicate directly with departure control.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Dayton

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1979 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N136C
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cleveland - Saint Louis
MSN:
BA-79
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1850
Captain / Total hours on type:
773.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a ferry flight from Cleveland to Saint Louis. While in normal cruise, he encountered engine problems, informed ATC and was vectored to Dayton-Wilbur Wright Field. On final approach, the airplane was too low, struck power cables and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot misused or failed to use flaps,
- Complete failure of one engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar near Casa Grande: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1979 at 2100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1040E
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chandler - Chandler
MSN:
11270
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Chandler-Stellar Airpark on a local flight. En route, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground after pilot attempted an emergency landing due to engine problems. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Engine structure: master and connecting rods,
- Engine structure: piston, piston rings,
- Material failure,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Complete failure of one engine,
- Forced landing off airport on land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B in Pueblo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1979 at 1102 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N40BC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Denver - Pueblo
MSN:
25-128
YOM:
1973
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9576
Captain / Total hours on type:
5456.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight from Denver to Pueblo-Memorial Airport. On final approach, during the last segment, the airplane banked to the left, causing the left wingtip to struck the ground. The crew increased power when control was lost. The airplane overturned and crashed. Two pilots were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled ground loop-swerve upon touchdown due to control interference. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Personnel - production, design: poor/inadequate design,
- Spontaneous and improper action on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Pilot's boot found jammed in rudder pedals,
- Left pedal bent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar off Big Creek

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1979
Operator:
Registration:
N90269
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Big Creek – King Salmon
MSN:
230
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the Bering Sea shortly after takeoff from a sand beach at Big Creek. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured.
Here is the testimony from Jim Larison who was on board to make a documentary for PBS at the time of the accident:
The C-119 aircraft was attempting to take off, but the aircraft could not make lift off speed in time to avoid having to turn right along the beach. As the pilot attempted to turn right we began sliding sideways. The farther right we turned the more the wind became a factor. The aircraft could not gain sufficient airspeed but the speed was great enough that we were light on our wheels so could not make the turn either. Centrifugal force drove us sideways toward the sea. The pilots straightened it up and tried to lift off but we did not have sufficient airspeed to make it into the air. We went out into the Bering Sea perhaps a quarter mile before stalling. The aircraft crashed into the sea and was torn to pieces. The cockpit ended up underneath the fuselage under about 10 feet of water. I was trapped in the wreckage under the fuselage. The pilot came back into the aircraft and freed me from the wreckage. There was no fire. There were five people on board. Luckily no fatalities but survivors were airlifted to Anchorage for medical care. Aircraft was eventually pulled out of the sea and now rests at the mouth of Big Creek in a sand dune.
Photos James 'Jim' Larson.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Cessna 340 near Ashdown: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1979 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N345B
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Little Rock – Dallas
MSN:
340-0361
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
5375
Captain / Total hours on type:
36.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on an executive flight from Little Rock to Dallas, the twin engine airplane collided with a Cessna 172 registered N73532. Operated by the Red River Army Depot, the single engine airplane departed Texarkana for a local flight with two passengers and one pilot on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All seven occupants were killed. The accident occurred in a non controlled area and both aircraft were not under radar contact. The pilot of the Cessna 340 was facing the sun when the accident occurred.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision after both crew failed to see and avoid other aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Sunglare,
- Not under radar contact,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- No control area.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin 404 in Miami

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1979 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N40408
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pampa - Pampa
MSN:
14108
YOM:
1951
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
15000
Captain / Total hours on type:
61.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed in the early morning the airport of Pampa-Perry Lefors Field to spray grasshoppers on pasture land in the region of Miami, north Texas. While flying at low height in restricted vision, the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Collision with dirt bank during swath run after the pilot misjudged altitude and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Windshield dirty, restriction vision,
- Sunglare,
- Goggles not used,
- Spray from another aircraft collected on windshield according to the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Slatington

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1979 at 0613 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N281M
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charleston - Allentown
MSN:
AF-644
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6042
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Allentown-Bethlehem Easton Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions and low ceiling. The twin engine aircraft descended below the glide, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Slatington, about 10,5 miles short of runway 13 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during initial approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility two miles or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF in Barstow: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1979 at 2012 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N357AL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
45229/904
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from Barstow-Daggett Airport, both engines n°3 and 4 lost power. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane lost height and crashed in flames in an open field. A pilot was killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Illegal smuggling flight.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper fuel grade,
- Improperly loaded aircraft, CofG,
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Partial loss of power on two engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- 2,981 lbs over maximum gross weight,
- N°3 & 4 engines showed severe detonation damages,
- Fueled with 100 octane,
- Smuggling flight.
Final Report: