United States of America

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2517

YOM:

1943

Location:

Durbin

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Circumstances:

While flying by night at low altitude, the twin engine airplane struck obstacles and crashed in flames. All three occupants were killed. Illegal flight suspected. Customs agents were looking for the aircraft.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight with ground during low pass after the pilot-in-command misjudged altitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Ocala: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1978 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Southern Aero Traders

Registration:

N800WM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

A-90

YOM:

1946

Location:

Ocala

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

370

Captain / Total hours on type:

30.00

Circumstances:

While flying at low height, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by a post impact fire and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees after the pilot diverted attention from operation of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- Marijuana vegetation found on board.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7C in Miami

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-7

Operator:

Jim McGeorge

Registration:

N356AL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

45228

YOM:

1957

Location:

Miami-Intl

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Suffered a landing accident at Miami-Intl Airport. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sparrevohn: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1978 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

63-7766

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elmendorf - Sparrevohn

MSN:

3832

YOM:

1963

Location:

Sparrevohn

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Sparrevohn Airfield, the four engine airplane crashed few hundred yards short of runway. It was destroyed upon impact, killing all seven occupants.

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Fresno

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1978 at 1236 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Leslie L. Sexton

Registration:

N3236R

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Fresno - Sacramento

MSN:

411-0236

YOM:

1966

Location:

Fresno

California

Country:

Region:

Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3988

Captain / Total hours on type:

69.00

Circumstances:

After liftoff, the right engine lost power. The airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck tree tops and crashed near the runway end. All six occupants were injured, four of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fuel systems: pumps,
- Improper alignment/adjustment,
- Excessive pressure,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Failed to use all available runway,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Fuel filter 30% obstructed,
- High obstructions,
- Right pump over 60 PSI while specificities call for 33,
- Takeoff from midfield (9,281 feet runway),
- Engine not feathered.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander near Flatwoods: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1978 at 1548 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Universal Air Leasing

Registration:

N250UA

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lafayette - Tulsa

MSN:

1121-121

YOM:

1967

Location:

Flatwoods

Louisiana

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:

20000

Captain / Total hours on type:

20000.00

Circumstances:

En route from Lafayette to Tulsa, the crew was cleared to climb from FL230 to FL350 when the airplane disintegrated in the air. It entered an uncontrolled descent and eventually crashed in the region of Flatwoods. Debris were found on a wide area and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the in-flight disintegration was not determined. However, the following findings were reported:
- Flight control surfaces: elevator assembly, attachments,
- Flight control surfaces: horizontal stabilizer, attachments,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Loss of control occurred after leaving FL230 for FL350,
- General disintegration.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Arlington: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1978 at 2147 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Franklin Flying Field

Registration:

N49MC

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Trenton - Indianapolis

MSN:

31-7652084

YOM:

1976

Location:

Arlington

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

32784

Captain / Total hours on type:

1510.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude and approaching Indianapolis from the east, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions. He informed ATC about severe turbulences when control was lost. The twin engine airplane entered a spin and eventually crashed in a field located in Arlington. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants were killed, among them seven employees of the United States Auto Club.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground after the pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulences. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Thunderstorm activity.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560F in Holopaw

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Sanford Schwartz

Registration:

N36JH

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

560-1283-56

YOM:

1963

Location:

Holopaw

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed under unknown circumstances near Holopaw and collided with fence. The pilot, apparently sole on board, was not found.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident was not determined. The aircraft was under surveillance for drug trafficking.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Cordova: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1978 at 0752 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Chitna Air Service

Registration:

N4747S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cordova - Cordova Mile 13

MSN:

1142

YOM:

1958

Location:

Cordova

Alaska

Country:

Region: