Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Hammondsport: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1978 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Shrike Commander 500
Operator:
Mercury Aircraft
Registration:
N40MA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Raleigh - Hammondsport
MSN:
500-3234
YOM:
1975
Location:
Hammondsport
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6300
Circumstances:
While on approach to Hammondsport-Taylor-Van Gelder Airstrip in excellent weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a mountain and crashed few miles from Hammondsport. Two passengers were rescued while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Stall on final approach after the pilot misjudged distance and altitude and failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Obstructions to vision,
- Sunglare,
- Haze,
- Aircraft was approaching toward rising terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Savoy: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1978 at 1826 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Air Taxi (USA)
Registration:
N26AN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Savoy - Cleveland
MSN:
31-57
YOM:
1968
Location:
Savoy-Willard
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
1502
Captain / Total hours on type:
49.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Savoy-Willard Airport, while climbing, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in an open field located near Champaign. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb due to master and connecting rods failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Connecting rod bolt or nut failure for undetermined reasons,
- Pilot FAA check not completed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Conway: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1978 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
64-0532
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Little Rock - Little Rock
MSN:
4021
YOM:
1964
Location:
Conway
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB for a training mission. While flying by night in poor weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Conway, about 20 miles northwest of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Hyder

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1978 at 1323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N7866Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Yuma - Phoenix
MSN:
402B-0116
YOM:
1971
Location:
Hyder
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8289
Captain / Total hours on type:
2622.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Yuma to Phoenix, the left engine caught fire after the exhaust pipe separated in flight. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a desert area located near Hyder, AZ. The airplane crash landed and came to rest in flames. It was destroyed while both occupants escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight due to improper maintenance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Powerplant failure: exhaust system,
- Excessive vibration and then separation of exhaust pipe due to fatigue fracture,
- Fire in engine,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Bolt connecting ball joint on left engine right side found missing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF near Farmerville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1978 at 0310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
Advance Aviation (USA)
Registration:
N244B
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Willemstad - Almyra
MSN:
44876/673
YOM:
1956
Location:
Farmerville
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While flying at low altitude in a limited visibility due to the night, the four engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area located 3 miles south of Farmerville, LA. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. Five occupants were injured while a passenger was killed. A load of about 10 tons of marijuana was found in the wreckage.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground after the pilot misjudged altitude and clearance. An inadequate preflight preparation was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Great Falls: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1978 at 0251 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N6112X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Helena - Great Falls
MSN:
500-963-18
YOM:
1960
Location:
Great Falls
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3166
Captain / Total hours on type:
650.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a night cargo flight from Helena to Great Falls. On approach, he encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were below minimums.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Failed to establish on approach certification specification,
- Excessive approach speed,
- Excessive descent rate,
- Descended below minimums.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-8 in Clewiston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1978 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Mission Air Lift
Registration:
N7177B
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Clewiston - St Petersburg
MSN:
38
YOM:
1949
Location:
Clewiston
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Clewiston Airport, on a positioning flight to St Petersburg, the crew reported engine problems and elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb due to engine failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Water in fuel,
- lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Poor judgment on part of the pilot-in-command,
- The pilot was not type rated in Convair 240.
- ELT not found.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A80 Queen Air in South Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Rancho San Gabriel
Registration:
N44SG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
LD-198
YOM:
1965
Location:
South Bay
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed under unknown circumstances in South Bay, Florida. The aircraft was discovered abandoned and burning in a sod field and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. The circumstances of the accident could not be determined.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Albany

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1978 at 2046 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Brennan Air
Registration:
N58H
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Albany – Windsor Locks
MSN:
BA-250
YOM:
1957
Location:
Albany
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4618
Captain / Total hours on type:
214.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Albany Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane lost height then struck the ground and crashed near the airport. The pilot, sole on board, was slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Failed engine not feathered.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1978 at 1643 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
N9173Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Charlotte - Charlotte
MSN:
31-230
YOM:
1968
Location:
Charlotte-Douglas
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3950
Captain / Total hours on type:
800.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission at Charlotte-Douglas Airport. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the instructor pilot cut the right engine mixture. The airplane encountered difficulties to gain height then stalled and crashed near the airport. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb after the crew exercised poor judgment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Aircraft flaps remained down,
- Pilots preoccupied with engine restart.
Final Report:
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