Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 10 in Denver: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1977 at 0452 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 10
Operator:
Mountain Bell
Registration:
N60MB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Denver - Cheyenne
MSN:
15
YOM:
1974
Location:
Denver
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
16122
Captain / Total hours on type:
800.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1425
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Denver-Stapleton Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 12,000 feet, the crew reported hydraulic problems and was cleared to return. Shortly later, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located 10 miles northeast of Stapleton Airport. A passenger was seriously injured while four other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Spring Valley Lake: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1977 at 1703 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
EA Miller Inc.
Registration:
N9100V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Santa Ana - Logan
MSN:
411-0289
YOM:
1969
Location:
Spring Valley Lake
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
3242
Captain / Total hours on type:
1058.00
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Santa Ana-John Wayne Airport, from climb to cruise, the twin engine airplane entered adverse weather conditions when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed near Spring Valley Lake. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed. The wreckage was found a day later.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during climb to cruise after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Below minimums.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2-30 Marquise in Augusta

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1977 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Swish Manufacturing Company
Registration:
N100SW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Atlanta - Augusta
MSN:
539
YOM:
1971
Location:
Augusta
Georgia
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:
15000
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a ferry flight from Atlanta to Augusta. On approach to Augusta Airport, both engines flamed out almost simultaneously. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed in rough terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Rough terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-150-BW Stratofortress at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1977 at 0001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
60-0039
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer - Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer
MSN:
464404
YOM:
1960
Location:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB
Michigan
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 was performing a local training mission at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB, Michigan. On a night approach completed in stormy weather, the pilot-in-command had the runway in sight when the airplane entered a cloudy area. It continued to descent until it struck the ground and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James B. Cosgrave, pilot,
1st Lt Gary Lee Hudson, copilot,
Cpt Lawrence Fitch Kraut, radio navigator,
Cpt Dennis Wilton Soerens, radio navigator,
Maj James F. Bartsch, EWO,
M/Sgt John William Moore, tail gunner,
Cpt Chris Morrill,
Cpt Pat Shortell.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Atlanta: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1977 at 0139 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
Modern Professional Aviation
Registration:
N91073
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Atlanta - Augusta
MSN:
207-0057
YOM:
1969
Location:
Atlanta-DeKalb-Peachtree
Georgia
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:
2750
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, the single engine airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height. It stalled and crashed in flames by the runway. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Deficiency, company maintained equipment, services, regulation,
- Aircraft 790 lbs over MTOW,
- CofG beyond aft limit.
Final Report:

Ground accident of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Chicago

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N57131
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19040
YOM:
1943
Location:
Chicago-O'Hare
Illinois
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
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Chicago-O'Hare Airport to reach the Emery Air Freight Terminal, the airplane was caught by strong crosswinds. It went out of the taxiway and collided with an electrical transformer before coming to rest in flames. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire. It was leased from Pinehurst Airlines.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise near Austin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1977 at 1602 LT
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Mitsubishi Air
Registration:
N777MA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Angelo - Houston
MSN:
559
YOM:
1972
Location:
Austin
Texas
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:
10800
Captain / Total hours on type:
3900.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled and crashed in flames in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control and the subsequent accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Milwaukee

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1977 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N9929Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kenosha - Milwaukee
MSN:
AF-868
YOM:
1954
Location:
Milwaukee-General Billy Mitchell
Wisconsin
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:
5454
Captain / Total hours on type:
1575.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Milwaukee-General Billy Mitchell Airport by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck approach lights. It lost height, struck a fence and came to rest near the runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undershoot and collision with approach lights on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Incorrect altimeter setting,
- Misjudged distance and altitude,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Altitude found at setting that would cause aircraft to be 180 feet lower than indicated.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402A in Madison

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1977 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Miller Air Travel
Registration:
N4530Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Memphis - Jackson
MSN:
402A-0030
YOM:
1969
Location:
Madison
Mississippi
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:
2700
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Jackson Airport, both engines failed. The pilot elected to make a forced landing when the aircraft struck trees and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-201A in LaBelle

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
N101MX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2102
YOM:
1939
Location:
LaBelle
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:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, apparently sole on board, was completing an illegal flight and elected to land on an unsuitable terrain located near LaBelle, Florida. Upon landing on soft ground, the airplane nosed down and came to rest. The pilot was not recovered but a load of 4,000 lbs of marijuana was found on board.
Probable cause:
Landing on an unsuitable terrain while completing an illegal flight.
Final Report:
Subscribe to United States of America