United States of America

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mena - Mena

MSN:

31-7552060

YOM:

1975

Location:

Mena

Arkansas

Country:

Region:

Southwest Aircraft Leasing

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3815

Captain / Total hours on type:

125.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was performing a local test flight at Mena Airport. During initial climb, one of the engine failed. He elected to return but misjudged his altitude and clearance when the airplane struck trees and crashed near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- High obstructions,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing of airport on land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Faribault: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1978 at 0758 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Registration:

N777HH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Olivia - Lafayette

MSN:

P-109

YOM:

1969

Location:

Faribault

Minnesota

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3209

Captain / Total hours on type:

338.00

Circumstances:

En route from Olivia to Lafayette, Indiana, while in normal cruise, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The airplane went out of control, entered an uncontrolled descent, suffered a general disintegration and crashed in an open field. All six occupants were killed. It was determined that the pilot departed Olivia with the aircraft's weather radar inoperative.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure and subsequent uncontrolled descent after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather radar inoperative.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Olga

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1978 at 0815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N91041

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Anacortes - Eastsound

MSN:

207-0028

YOM:

1969

Location:

Olga

Washington

Country:

Region:

Great Western Mineral Corporation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1094

Captain / Total hours on type:

93.00

Circumstances:

En route from Anacortes to Eastsound Airport (Orcas Island), weather conditions deteriorated. Flying at an insufficient height in low ceiling and fog, the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed. The pilot was injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with trees in normal cruise due to improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot who continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- High obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King Air in Aurora: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1978 at 1046 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N278DU

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Denver - Richfield

MSN:

LJ-243

YOM:

1967

Location:

Aurora

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2715

Captain / Total hours on type:

810.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Denver-Stapleton Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in flames in the Aurora district. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to engine failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the fuel pump system,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Left engine boost pump inoperative, switched off,
- Crossfeed off,
- Approximately 700 lbs over max gross weight.

Final Report:

Crash of a BAc 111-203AE in Rochester

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1978 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

BAc 111

Operator:

Registration:

N1550

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Boston - Rochester - Montreal

MSN:

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

AL453

Location:

Rochester

New York

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:

13461

Captain / Total hours on type:

7008.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8746

Copilot / Total hours on type:

4687

Aircraft flight hours:

33693

Aircraft flight cycles:

48215

Circumstances:

The pilot-in-command adopted a wrong approach configuration and passed over the runway 28 threshold at an excessive speed of 184 knots (61 knots above the Vref) in a nose down attitude. The nose gear landed first at a speed of 163 knots (40-45 knots above normal touchdown speed) 2,540 feet past the runway threshold (runway 28 is 5,500 feet long). Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, struck a drainage ditch, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 728 past the runway end. All 77 occupants were evacuated safely, one of them was slightly injured.

Probable cause:

The captain's lack of awareness of airspeed, vertical speed, and aircraft performance throughout an ILS approach and landing in visual meteorological conditions which resulted in his landing the aircraft at an excessively high speed and with insufficient runway remaining for stopping the aircraft, but with sufficient aircraft performance capability to reject the landing well after touchdown. Contributing to the accident was the first officer's failure to provide required callouts which might have alerted the captain to the airspeed and sink rate deviations. The Safety Board was unable to determine the reasons for the captain's lack of awareness or the first officer's failure to provide required callouts.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Richmond

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1978 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N45873

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Richmond - Richmond

MSN:

12458

YOM:

1944

Location:

Richmond

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1008

Captain / Total hours on type:

145.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from runway 23 at Richmond Municipal Airport, while climbing to a speed of 48 knots, the airplane nosed up then banked left and crashed in a corn field. All 42 occupants were rescued, among them three were injured. The aircrasft was written off.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to the failure of the elevator tab control system. It was determined that the elevator swage fitting was binding on bulkhead raceway station 63.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in McAllen

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1978 at 0500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft G18S

Operator:

PCD Corporation

Registration:

N807P

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McAllen - Tampico

MSN:

BA-557

YOM:

1960

Location:

McAllen

Texas

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:

16660

Captain / Total hours on type:

2060.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at McAllen-Miller Airport, one of the engine failed. The pilot abandoned the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, struck a drainage ditch and came to rest. Both occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Pelican

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1978 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Southeast Skyways

Registration:

N8690

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Elfin Cove - Herbert Graves Island

MSN:

811

YOM:

1955

Location:

Pelican

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5150

Captain / Total hours on type:

125.00

Circumstances:

While cruising under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions, the pilot entered a narrow channel at an altitude of 100 feet when he lost control of the aircraft that spiraled to the ground. The wreckage was found in the region of Pelican. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Stall during normal cruise due to improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Flew to blind canyon,
- Float equipped,
- Entered narrow channel at 100 feet AGL.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon near Omalik: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1978 at 1418 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aurora Air Services

Registration:

N1789U

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Omalik - Galena - Fairbanks

MSN:

207-0389

YOM:

1977

Location:

Omalik

Alaska

Country:

Region: