United States of America

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

353

Captain / Total hours on type:

43.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an area of turbulences. The airframe failed in flight, the airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a prairie. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight due to improper maintenance and inspection of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the flight controls surfaces: elevator assembly, attachments,
- Flutter,
- Incorrect weather forecast,
- Turbulence in flight, clear air,
- Separation in flight,
- Elevator not rebalanced after repainting,
- Rivet-nut improperly installed,
- Turbulences not forecasted.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Truckee

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1977 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

N100GP

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2571

YOM:

1943

Location:

Truckee

California

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7191

Captain / Total hours on type:

15.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stall, struck the ground and crashed in flames. Both occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Airframe ince,
- 12 inches spanwise ice strip on upper wing surface.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Savoonga

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1977 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N112NA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nome - Savoonga

MSN:

680-1750-145

YOM:

1968

Location:

Savoonga

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

19076

Captain / Total hours on type:

321.00

Circumstances:

While descending to Savoonga, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the ground few miles from the airstrip. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The accident occurred in whiteout conditions (IMC conditions) with a 500 feet ceiling.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain in traffic pattern-circling after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Ice propeller,
- Airframe ice,
- Whiteout conditions,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Low ceiling,
- Visibility below minimums.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in McAllen: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1977 at 1047 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Victor M. Bernavides

Registration:

N762D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McAllen - Laredo

MSN:

A-803

YOM:

1952

Location:

McAllen

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13258

Captain / Total hours on type:

2002.00

Circumstances:

Just after takeoff from McAllen-Miller Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The airplane rolled to the left then lost height and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb, stall and uncontrolled descente. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Water in fuel,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Aircraft last refueled on 21 October 1976 and parked outside,
- No witnesses observed preflight inspection.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Covington

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1977 at 2326 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Johnston Airways

Registration:

N321D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Covington - Columbus

MSN:

A-413

YOM:

1948

Location:

Covington

Kentucky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14136

Captain / Total hours on type:

6233.00

Circumstances:

On a slush covered runway, the pilot completed a premature liftoff. After rotation, the airplane stalled during initial climb and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb after the pilot completed a premature liftoff and failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Physical impairment,
- Ice/slush on runway,
- Cargo net found underneath mail,
- Pilot no feeling well.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo in Anthony: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1977 at 1656 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Catlin Aviation

Registration:

N59838

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Aspen - Tulsa

MSN:

31-7612047

YOM:

1976

Location:

Anthony

Kansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2880

Circumstances:

while in cruising altitude in IFR weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive. Both wings, engines and fuselage separated during the descent and the aircraft crashed in an open field. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent after exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wings: spars,
- Fuselage: Other,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Snow,
- Attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Control lost for undetermined reason,
- Pilot not multi-engine rated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute in the Cook Inlet: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft U-21 Ute

Operator:

Registration:

67-18081

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Elmendorf - King Salmon

MSN:

LM-81

YOM:

1967

Location:

Cook Inlet

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA226T Merlin III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB, while cruising in IMC conditions, the crew contacted ATC and requested the permission to obtain a higher level of flight. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Cook Inlet. Intensive SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the airplane nor the seven occupants was ever found.
Crew:
Cpt Donald W. Deeter, pilot,
CW3 Ralph G. Battle, pilot,
Passengers:
SP4 Paul E. Jones,
Ltc William I. Barrett Jr.,
Ltc John S. Edge,
Maj James W. Nelson,
Maj Melvin J. Swiney.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin IIIA in San Antonio: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1977 at 0054 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Swearingen Aviation

Registration:

N34SM

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Seattle – San Antonio

MSN:

T-263

YOM:

1976

Location:

San Antonio

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18812

Captain / Total hours on type:

283.00

Circumstances:

While approaching San Antonio Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. Too low, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames few miles short of runway 12R. It was destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on initial approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling (200 feet),
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Cleared for ILS approach runway 12R, navigation receiver turned to frequency for ILS approach to runway 03R.

Final Report:

Crash of a Chase YC-122C Avitruc in Anchorage: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1977 at 1416 LT

Type of aircraft:

Chase YC-122 Avitruc

Operator:

Registration:

N5904V

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Anchorage-Ted Stevens Intl

Schedule:

Anchorage - Nome

MSN:

CY-886

YOM:

1954

Location:

Alaska

Country:

Region: