United States of America

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mansfield - Cleveland

MSN:

14111

YOM:

1957

Location:

Cleveland-Hopkins

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3311

Captain / Total hours on type:

908.00

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Mansfield, the crew was cleared to land at Cleveland-Hopkins Airport. After touchdown, while decelerating on runway, the four engine airplane collided with an airport vehicle that was crossing the runway from a position on airport to terminal area. Following the collision, the crew stopped the airplane on runway and all 17 occupants were evacuated safely. The aircraft was however considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Ground collision with airport vehicle after ATC personnel issue improper or conflicting instructions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Driver of vehicle,
- Ground controller cleared airport vehicle from position on airport to terminal area.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Belle Glade

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Jose Rodriguez

Registration:

N4996E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

12141

YOM:

1943

Location:

Belle Glade

Florida

Country:

Region:

Aircraft Sales & Leasing - ASL

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crash landed in a sugar cane field in Belle Glade and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot, apparently sole on board, was not found. Illegal flight with a load of marijuana on board.

Probable cause:

Ground loop during landing roll after the pilot selected an unsuitable terrain. The following contributing factors were reported.
- Misjudged distance and speed,
- High vegetation,
- Rough terrain,
- Illegally transporting marijuana,
- Crew not apprehended.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Port Mayaca: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1978 at 0630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-49 (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

N133AC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

6260

YOM:

1942

Location:

Port Mayaca

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

467

Captain / Total hours on type:

30.00

Circumstances:

While circling to land on a remote area in Port Mayaca, the airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed. The airplane was carrying a load of 2,2 tons of marijuana.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash in traffic pattern-circling due to mismanagement of fuel. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fuel starvation,
- The pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Unqualified person operated aircraft,
- Complete engine failure - two engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Narcotics contraband flight,
- No fuel present in the right engine fuel system.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules at Fort Campbell AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

68-10951

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Little Rock - Fort Campbell

MSN:

4331

YOM:

1969

Location:

Fort Campbell AFB

Kentucky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Fort Campbell AFB, the airplane lost height and crashed short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by a broken throttle linkage.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Omaha: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1978 at 1725 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

TP-203

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Omaha – San Antonio – Mexico City

MSN:

43129/106

YOM:

1948

Location:

Omaha-Eppley

Nebraska

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Omaha-Eppley Airport, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine fire. It stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on a dyke located near the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed. The airplane was en route to Mexico following maintenance at Omaha facilities.

Probable cause:

Engine fire for unknown reasons. An oil leak was reported.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper in Sebring: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1978 at 0500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Caribe Air

Registration:

N25656

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4845

YOM:

1941

Location:

Sebring

Florida

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

280

Circumstances:

After a night takeoff from Sebring Airfield, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height. It struck ground obstacles and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Gust locks engaged,
- The pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Aircraft improperly loaded,
- Pilot sel certificated,
- Elevator gust lock found in early part of crash path before break up.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Steamboat Springs: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1978 at 1945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N25RM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Steamboat Springs-Bob Adams

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Steamboat Springs - Denver

MSN:

387

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

JC217

Location:

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7340

Captain / Total hours on type:

3904.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3816

Copilot / Total hours on type:

320

Aircraft flight hours:

15145

Circumstances:

The flight departed Steamboat Springs-Bob Adams Airport at 1855LT on a scheduled flight to Denver-Stapleton, carrying 20 passengers and a crew of two. After takeoff, while climbing, the crew encountered severe icing conditions and was cleared to return when the flight crashed into a mountain at the 10,530 feet level. Rescuers arrived on scene the following morning. A pilot and a passenger died while 20 other occupants were injured, most of them seriously. According to official observations, the weather at Steamboat Springs about 25 minutes before the accident consisted of an estimated 2,000 feet overcast ceiling and 6 miles visibility in freezing rain. According to surviving passengers, after the accident, snow was falling at the crash site and a strong wind was blowing and gusting from the west.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of the accident was severe icing and strong downdrafts associated with a mountain wave which combined to exceed the aircraft's capability to maintain flight. Contributing to the accident was the captain's decision to fly into probable icing conditions that exceeded the conditions authorised by company directive.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Anchorage: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1978 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Inlet Marine

Registration:

N77RS

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Anchorage-Ted Stevens Intl

Schedule:

Juneau - Anchorage

MSN:

25-094

YOM:

1973

Location:

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7000

Captain / Total hours on type:

650.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2635

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

1549

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Juneau, the crew completed the final approach and was attempting to land on runway 06R when the airplane rolled sharply and struck the ground. out of control, it crashed inverted in a snow covered area near the runway. Two passengers were seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the probable cause of the accident was an encounter with strong, gusting crosswinds during the landing attempt, which caused the aircraft to roll abruptly and unexpectedly. The ensuing loss of control resulted from inappropriate pilot techniques during the attempt to regain control of the aircraft. Suspected light ice accumulations on the aerodynamic surfaces may have contributed to a stall and loss of control.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Des Moines

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1978 at 1313 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N41447

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chicago - Des Moines

MSN:

12987

YOM:

1944

Location:

Des Moines

Iowa

Country:

Region: