United States of America

During the takeoff roll on a gravel runway, the nose baggage compartment door opened. After liftoff, the pilot encountered pitch control problems and elected to ditch the aircraft into Lake Minchumina. All six occupants were evacuated, the pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.

While cruising at an altitude of 21,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, spiraled to the ground and crashed in a field. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

En route from Kirtland AFB to Nellis AFB, the four engine airplane crashed less than three minutes after a night takeoff in a mountainous area located in the Manzano Mountain Range, about 5 miles east of Kirtland AFB. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed. After takeoff from runway 08, ATC informed the crew about an insufficient altitude and instructed the crew to turn to the right and gain height. Shortly later, at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane struck the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain, less than 30 feet below the summit.

Shortly after takeoff from Yakutat Airport, while climbing to a height of 50 feet, one of the engine caught fire. The captain elected to return for an emergency landing when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames in a wooded area located 2,5 miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

About 2020 EST, on September 8, 1977, Champion Home Builders Company, Gates Learjet 25B, N999HG, crashed shortly after takeoff at Sanford, North Carolina. All five persons aboard were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft departed Sanford Airport about 2018 EST, for a flight to Flint, Michigan. In accordance with departure instructions from Fayetteville departure control, the flight was about 3 mi west of the airport, climbing through 3,000 ft, on a heading of 270°, when it disappeared from radar. There were no distress calls, but several witnesses west of the airport saw the aircraft on fire below the 600 feet suddenly dove to the ground. People in the immediate vicinity reported that the overcast ceiling. The flight completed a right turn to a northeasterly heading and aircraft was on fire before it crashed.

Flight 302 departed Iliamna at 1419LT with 11 passengers and 2 crew members on board. It was cleared to Anchorage on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan via the low frequency airways--Red Airway 99 (Red 99) to the Kakon Intersection, and then Green Airway 8 (Green 8) to Anchorage. The flight was to maintain 7,000 ft. At 1425:20, the flight crew of Flight 302 established radio contact with Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center's (Anchorage Center) D2 nonradar sector controller. They reported that the flight was level at 7,000 ft and that they estimated arrival at Kakon Intersection at 1434. At 1428:35, Anchorage Center requested the flight's estimate for its arrival at Homer, Alaska. The flight crew responded that they estimated to be over Homer at 1515. The flight crew of Flight 302 did not make radio contact when they were over Kakon Intersection; however, at 1439:40 they requested of Anchorage Center, "302, we would like to file Green 8 and intercept the 192° bearing from Wildwood." Fifteen seconds later, Anchorage Center cleared the flight to proceed along the new route of flight and to remain at 7,000 ft. At 1440:50, the flight crew of Flight 302 advised, "302, we--we'll estimate Clams at 15 past the hour." Anchorage Center acknowledged the advisory. This was the last known radio transmission from Flight 302. At 1452:08, three abrupt, audible sounds were recorded on the Anchorage Center tape of incoming air-to-ground communications with Flight 302. These sounds were similar to those produced by a carrier frequency that was heard during the activation of Flight 302's radio transmitter during earlier radio communications with the Center. After several unsuccessful attempts to contact Flight 302 by several air traffic, control facilities between Iliamna and Anchorage and after the flight could not be detected on radar in the areas where radar coverage was available, Anchorage Center initiated the required actions to alert and notify appropriate authorities of a possible aircraft accident. U.S. Air Force search and rescue aircraft located the wreckage site at 1643 on September 7, 1977. The aircraft had struck a glacier face on the southwest side of Mt Iliamna at the 7,000 ft elevation. There were no survivors. Because of the rapidly changing environmental conditions on the glacier face of Mt Iliamna, recovery of bodies and wreckage was not possible.

On final approach by night to Detroit-Willow Run (Ypsilanti) Airport, the pilot encountered foggy conditions. He failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

The single engine airplane was engaged in a local flight, carrying one pilot and nine skydivers. After takeoff from New Salem Airstrip, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck trees then stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All 10 occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

En route from Juneau to Anchorage, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, the pilot reported engine problems when contact was lost. The airplane entered a spin and crashed into the ocean off Yakutat. Few debris and two dead bodies were found. The aircraft sank and was lost.

The crew departed Van Nuys for a local test flight. En route, a fire erupted in the left wheel well and spread to the left wing that detached in flight. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in flames. All three occupants were killed.