United States of America

On February 12, 1979, Allegheny Airlines Flight 561 (N29824) had originally departed Benedum Airport, Clarksburg, West Virginia, for Morgantown, West Virginia, at 1116, but the pilot decided not to make an approach at Morgantown because the instrument landing system's (ILS) glide slope was out of service, and the visibility was 1/2 mi. Thereafter the flight returned to Benedum Airport and landed at 1146. The aircraft was on the ground for about 1 hr 14 min at Benedum Airport. During that time the aircraft was refueled to 3,000 lbs of Jet-A fuel (1,500 lbs in each wing tank), and all surfaces were deiced with a mixture of unheated ethylene glycol and water. Although the Safety Board could not determine the precise time of deicing, the persons involved stated that it was performed between 1220 and 1235. The persons involved stated that it was performed between 1220 and 1235. The persons who deiced the plane stated that there was no snow or ice on the aircraft when they finished decing it. Flight 561 was rescheduled as a passenger flight from Benedum Airport to National Airport, Washington, D.C. There were 22 passengers and a crew of 3 on board. Before the captain started the engines for taxiing, the station agent asked him if he wanted the aircraft deiced again, since it was still snowing. The captain declined the offer and about 1257 he taxied the aircraft from the parking ramp. According to the station agent, the aircraft had about 1/4 in. of wet snow on all its horizontal surfaces when it left the parking ramp. He said that some of the snow blew off as the aircraft moved toward the departure runway, but some of the snow appeared to stick to the aircraft's horizontal surfaces. Twelve of the passengers recalled that shortly after liftoff, the aircraft rolled to the right, back to the left, and back to the right. After the last roll, the right wingtip struck the ground and impact followed shortly thereafter. The aircraft crashed in an inverted position off the right side of the departure end of runway 21. According to other witnesses, the ground roll appeared normal. The Clarksburg Tower local controller said that he saw Flight 561 taxi to runway 21, and he cleared the flight for takeoff. He saw the aircraft during takeoff until it reached taxiway D, which is about 1,000 ft from the tower, but he did not see the aircraft after that point. He had spoken with the captain by telephone before the takeoff and had given him the 1215 special observation weather. He also radioed the same weather to Flight 561 when it was taxiing for takeoff. He stated that he saw no snow on the aircraft but that moderate snow was falling at the time. The Clarksburg approach controller said that he saw Flight 561 as it turned to line up for takeoff on runway 21. He watched the aircraft through binoculars and saw nothing abnormal as the takeoff roll began. He thought the aircraft was rotated about 1,900 ft down the runway and the liftoff appeared to him to be normal. He lost sight of the aircraft at 50 ft of altitude because of the poor visibility. He recalled that during Flight 561's takeoff, the runway lights were set at their highest intensity. He also stated that he saw no snow blow off the aircraft during its takeoff roll. Shortly after the aircraft disappeared from his view, he heard the sound of an emergency locator transmitter on 121.5 MHz. He asked the Cleveland Center controller if Flight 561 had established contact with him. Since his reply was negative, the approach controller closed the airport and activated the airport emergency plan. The control tower chief observed Flight 561 during takeoff. He lost sight of the aircraft when it was at an altitude of about 20 ft above the runway. At that time the aircraft's attitude appeared to be normal. A pilot in the terminal restaurant said that when the aircraft left the parking ramp, he saw about 1/2 to 1 in. of snow on the wing and tail surfaces of the aircraft. He said that the takeoff appeared normal; but, just before the aircraft disappeared into the overcast, it appeared to pitch up sharply. Another witness who had experience as a pilot was located on taxiway C about 75 ft from the runway. He thought the aircraft lifted off about 200 to 300 ft past taxiway C. Shortly after liftoff, he saw the right wing of the aircraft dip about 45°, then the left wing dipped about the same amount, and the right wing dipped again before the aircraft disappeared from his view about 100 ft above the runway. Shortly thereafter, he heard two separate and distinct sounds of impact. The witness heard no unusual engine noises from the aircraft. The aircraft crashed during daylight hours at an elevation of 1,203 ft ms1. A passenger and a crew member were killed while 23 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

The airplane was dispatched at Dade-Collier Airport for a local training flight, carrying one instructor and four pilots under supervision. During the takeoff roll on runway 09/27, the pilot-in-command started the rotation when the instructor shut down the left engine to simulate an engine failure. The airplane rolled to the left, causing the left wing to struck the ground then nosed down and struck the runway surface. The nose gear was torn off and the aircraft nose and cockpit section was almost destroyed. All five occupants were injured, two of them seriously.

The pilot, sole on board, departed Wichita Airport on a local test flight, accompanied by a second aircraft. Both aircraft were visually checking each others underside when they collided in flight. Out of control, they crashed in a field located in Arlington, Kansas. Both pilots were injured, the one on board the Chancellor critically.

After touchdown on runway 04 at Taos Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed on a snowbank. All 10 occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was completing a local training mission in the Ketchikan area. While flying at a relative low altitude, the student pilot initiated a steep 180 turn close to water when the airplane struck trees and crashed. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

During the last segment on approach to Searcy Municipal Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On a night approach to Pendleton Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

The airplane crashed while landing on runway 09 at Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County Airport. The airplane was returning executives of Massey-Ferguson, Inc., to South Bend, Indiana, Detroit, Michigan, and Toronto, Canada, following a meeting at the company's headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. During the descent, the aircraft flew in light to moderate, occasionally severe icing conditions. Shortly before the Learjet was to land, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 was cleared for takeoff. Witnesses saw the Learjet cross the threshold in a normal landing attitude and seconds later roll violently. The airplane was in a steep right bank when the wing tip tank struck the runway 2,440 feet from the threshold and the airplane burst into flames. The two pilots and four passengers were killed.

Few minutes after takeoff from Lansing Airport, while climbing in poor weather conditions, the pilot was cleared to divert to Grand Rapids-Kent County Airport. On approach, the airplane became uncontrollable and crashed. Two passengers were seriously injured while four other occupants were killed.

While approaching Tinker AFB by night, the crew encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions and initiated a go-around maneuver. The crew attempted four other approaches that were abandoned due to poor visibility. During the fifth approach, the crew declared an emergency due to low fuel then the airplane stalled and crashed. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.