United States of America

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11226

Circumstances:

Following a night takeoff from Lexington-Blue Grass Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash during climb following an engine failure caused by a crankshaft failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Visibility less than a mile,
- Both propeller blade angles found at 30° settings,
- Flaps found extended.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-200 in San Diego: 142 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1978 at 0902 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Registration:

N533PS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Sacramento - Los Angeles - San Diego

MSN:

19688/589

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

PS182

Location:

San Diego

California

Country:

Region:

Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

128

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

142

Captain / Total flying hours:

14382

Captain / Total hours on type:

10482.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

10049

Copilot / Total hours on type:

5800

Aircraft flight hours:

24088

Aircraft flight cycles:

36557

Circumstances:

The crew was completing flight PS182 from Sacramento to San Diego with an intermediate stop in Los Angeles. While descending to San Diego-Lindbergh Field runway 27, the crew was informed about the presence of a Cessna 172M registered N7711G and operated by the Gibbs Flight Center. The single engine airplane just departed San Diego Airport for a local training mission with one student pilot and one instructor on board. At 0901:47, at an altitude of 2,600 feet and 3 NM northeast of San Diego Airport, both airplane collided. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed into several houses and the 805 highway located between the districts of Altadena and City Heights. Both aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 137 occupants in both aircraft were killed as well as seven people on the ground. Nine other people on the ground were seriously injured as dozen houses were destroyed.

Probable cause:

The failure of the flight crew of Flight 182 to comply with the provisions of a maintain-visual-separation clearance, including the requirement to inform the controller when visual contact was lost; and the air traffic control procedures in effect which authorized the controllers to use visual separation procedures in a terminal area environment when the capability was available to provide either lateral or vertical separation to either aircraft. Contributing to the accident were:
- The failure of the controller to advise Flight 182 of the direction of movement of the Cessna;
- The failure of the pilot of the Cessna to maintain his assigned heading;
- The improper resolution by the controller of the conflict alert.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream GI in Houston

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1978 at 1447 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N91G

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Ponca City - Houston

MSN:

YOM:

1960

Location:

Houston-William P. Hobby

Texas

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10284

Captain / Total hours on type:

955.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, a low oil pressure in the right engine gearbox forced the crew to shut down the engine and to feather its propeller. For unknown reason, the propeller was not properly feathered and the airplane was approaching too low and too fast. After touchdown, as the airplane already rolled half of the landing distance (7,600 feet), the captain decided to initiate a go-around. After liftoff, fire was observed coming out from the tail exhaust pipe while the left engine lost power. The crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in an open field near the airport. All 20 occupants were rescued, among them a passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Wheels-up landing following a go-around after the crew failed to follow approved procedures. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Failure of both engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Right engine shut down in flight due to low oil pressure,
- Right propeller not fully feathered,
- Left engine not able full accelerate.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Laredo: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1978 at 2340 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Connie E. Bowman

Registration:

N6244B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Fort Worth - San Antonio - Laredo

MSN:

500-652-13

YOM:

1958

Location:

Laredo

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

310

Captain / Total hours on type:

142.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Laredo area by night, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with low ceiling and limited visibility. He completed several turns when the airplane entered a dive and crashed. The airplane was totally destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot became lost/disoriented,
- Spatial disorientation,
- Low ceiling,
- Haze,
- Dark night,
- VFR flight not recommended,
- During last 11 minutes of flight, heading changed thru 630°.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-75-LO Orion in Poland: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1978 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-3 Orion

Operator:

Registration:

152757

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brunswick - Trenton

MSN:

185-5199

YOM:

1966

Location:

Poland

Maine

Country:

Region:

Appalachian Flying Service

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Brunswick NAS, Maine, at 1205LT on a flight to Trenton, Ontario, where it was dispatched to an airshow. While climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with stormy weather when the engine n°1 went in whirl mode and detached. 11 feet of the left wing separated and struck the left horizontal stabilizer that was torn off as well. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and partially disintegrated before crashing near Poland. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Francis William Dupont Jr.,
Lt Jg Donald Edward Merz,
Lt Jg George D. Nuttelman,
Lt Jg Ernest A. Smith,
Aw2 James Allen Piepkorn,
Awan Paul G. Schulz,
Ad3 Robert Lewis Phillips Jr.,
Adc Larry Miller.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine went into a whirl mode which corresponds to a low frequency vibration in the engine mounts that can cause the separation of the engine in flight. It is believed that weather turbulences may affect the proper functioning of the engine.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Bristol

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1978 at 0907 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N7700L

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Johnson City - Bristol

MSN:

31-501

YOM:

1969

Location:

Bristol-Tri-Cities

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1826

Captain / Total hours on type:

158.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to runway 23 at Bristol-Tri-Cities Airport, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and the airplane belly landed in a field located 2,600 feet short of runway. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wheels-up landing on final approach following a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Forced landing off airport on land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Granville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1978 at 1042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Palmer Air Charter

Registration:

N63731

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Westfield - Pontiac

MSN:

31-7752054

YOM:

1977

Location:

Granville

Massachusetts

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6500

Circumstances:

While cruising in marginal weather conditions on a cargo flight from Westfield-Barnes to Pontiac, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in Granville, Massachusetts. The burnt wreckage was found 500 feet below the summit and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued VFR flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 off Kodiak: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Viking Air Services

Registration:

N1EC

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

King Salmon - Kodiak

MSN:

411-0094

YOM:

1965

Location:

Kodiak

Alaska

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Captain / Total hours on type:

90.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Kodiak on a taxi flight from King Salmon, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Shelikof Strait located off Kodiak. SAR operations were conducted and eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences as the aircraft was not recovered, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Whittier: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1978 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Alaska Travel

Registration:

N37741

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Anchorage - Whittier

MSN:

269

YOM:

1952

Location:

Whittier

Alaska

Country:

Region: