Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-80 Queen Air in Lake Placid

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
N345X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LD-141
YOM:
1963
Location:
Lake Placid
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:
On approach to Lake Placid by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was injured. He was completing a contraband flight. At the time of the accident, the airport was unlit.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during a traffic pattern-circling approach by night. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged distance and altitude,
- Hauling contraband,
- Circling unlit airport at night.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26C Invader in Grand Junction: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Lynch Air Tankers
Registration:
N3427G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Grand Junction - Grand Junction
MSN:
28704
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Tanker 59
Location:
Grand Junction
Colorado
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:
4100
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
While completing a fire fighting mission, the pilot made a steep turn when the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Stall during a low pass following improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Flew into blind canyon,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- High obstructions,
- High density altitude at 9,700 feet,
- Wind gusting to 25 knots,
- Stall during steep bank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680T in Alapaha: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Aircraft Investors
Registration:
N601G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Houston - New Orleans
MSN:
680-1605-44
YOM:
1966
Location:
Alapaha
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:
2850
Captain / Total hours on type:
40.00
Circumstances:
After passing New Orleans (the destination Airport) by night, the airplane continued to the southeast for 375 miles when both engines stopped. The airplane entered a dive and crashed near Alapaha. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines in flight following a fuel exhaustion and uncontrolled descent. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Pilot incapacitation,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Pilot overflew destination by 375 miles,
- Blood alcohol level 1,5‰,
- Drops of fuel only in dividers.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American TB-25N Mitchell in Chicago: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
War Aero
Registration:
N9446Z
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago - Chicago
MSN:
108-34012
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chicago-Midway
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:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff at Midway Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane lost speed, stalled, struck three houses and crashed in flames 0,75 miles west of the airport. Both pilots were killed as well as one people on the ground.
Probable cause:
The left engine failed and caught fire shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress in Rochelle

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Dothan Aviation Corporation
Registration:
N4710C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Spraying (Agricultural)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cordele - Cordele
MSN:
8721
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rochelle
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:
8205
Captain / Total hours on type:
245.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cordele-Crisp County Airport on a local crop control mission consisting of spraying forests. En route, one of the engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed and came to rest in flames. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Fire in engine for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Suspected or known aircraft damage,
- Fire started at or near carburetor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in DeFuniak Springs: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II
Operator:
Ingram Leasing Company
Registration:
N41107
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Panama City - DeFuniak Springs
MSN:
421B-0455
YOM:
1973
Location:
DeFuniak Springs
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:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6507
Captain / Total hours on type:
806.00
Circumstances:
While descending to DeFuniak Springs Airport, the pilot descended very low and completed three low passes above his parent's house. He then continued to the airport when the airplane that crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into ground after the pilot misjudged speed and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Operated carelessly,
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Blood alcohol level 2,05‰,
- Collided with ground during a third pass over parent's house.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560F in Cody: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Registration:
N2244S
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Spokane - Cody
MSN:
560F-1043-15
YOM:
1961
Location:
Cody
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2464
Captain / Total hours on type:
900.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Cody Airport, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames on a mountain located few miles from the airfield. The wreckage was found a day later and all four occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees on approach after the pilot exercised poor judgment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged clearance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Elk City

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Thermo Dyne
Registration:
N3775C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Phoenix - Elk City
MSN:
402B-0624
YOM:
1974
Location:
Elk City
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3900
Captain / Total hours on type:
11.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Elk City Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing off airport on land. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in a field. All three occupants were injured, two of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Instructions misinterpreted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Volpar Turboliner II (G18S) in Dutch Harbor: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Volpar Turboliner 18
Operator:
Winship Air Services
Registration:
N600WA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cold Bay - Dutch Harbor
MSN:
BA-463
YOM:
1959
Location:
Dutch Harbor
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
15868
Captain / Total hours on type:
3605.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Dutch Harbor, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. On final, the twin engine airplane was too low and struck the ground few miles short of runway and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain on final approach following improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- CLGS below 1,000 feet,
- Areas of visibility below 3 miles in drizzle and fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26B Invader near Grand Junction: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Don Goodman
Registration:
N5426E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Grand Junction - Grand Junction
MSN:
27425
YOM:
1944
Location:
Grand Junction
Colorado
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:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Grand Junction Airport on a fire fighting mission. While turning to final approach for slurry drop, the twin engine airplane flew into a mountain slope and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot failed to follow approved procedures. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- Jettisoned load.
Final Report:
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