United States of America

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

680-1038-54

YOM:

1961

Location:

Fort Myers-Page Field

Florida

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5202

Circumstances:

On approach to Fort Myers-Page Field Airport, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height, hit power cables and crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction on approach following a fuel starvation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Collision with wires/poles,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel starvation,
- High obstructions,
- Fuel selectors on LH and RH outboard wing tanks, no fuel in these tanks.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Skaneateles: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

A. S. Wikstrom

Registration:

N2692B

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Skaneateles – Salisbury – Wilmington

MSN:

560-192

YOM:

1955

Location:

Skaneateles

New York

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11200

Captain / Total hours on type:

3300.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff at Skaneateles Airstrip, the twin engine airplane touched the runway and drifted to the left, causing the left main gear to struck a snowbank. The takeoff was continued when the airplane went out of control and rolled inverted. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Ground loop during takeoff run after the pilot diverted attention from operation of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain directional control,
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Airport conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in El Vado

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9907Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

AF-105

YOM:

1952

Location:

El Vado

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing on a snow covered runway, the twin engine airplane ground looped, hit a barrel and came to rest. The aircraft was set afire and destroyed and the pilot disappeared. Transport of contraband.

Probable cause:

Ground looped after the pilot failed to maintain directional control on a snow covered runway. Illegal flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24A in Anchorage: 6 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 24

Operator:

Winship Air Services

Registration:

N651LJ

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Anchorage-Ted Stevens Intl

Schedule:

Deadhorse - Anchorage

MSN:

24-125

YOM:

1966

Location:

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9832

Captain / Total hours on type:

321.00

Circumstances:

During a final approach completed in limited visibility due to low clouds and fog, the crew failed to realize that his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed 914 metres short of runway threshold. Both pilots and four passengers were killed while two other passengers were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility 1/4 mile or less,
- Pilot descended below published minimums,
- Low fuel state,
- Did not refuel before takeoff,
- Overflew suitable airports.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Owensville: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Gail L. Bazzano

Registration:

N108E

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Saint Louis - Vichy

MSN:

680-954-19

YOM:

1960

Location:

Owensville

Missouri

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1126

Captain / Total hours on type:

180.00

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions (fog and rain), the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a spin and crashed in a field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation in flight following a failure of the electrical system (inverter). The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rain,
- Fog,
- The two aircraft inverters were not rotating at impact,
- Instrument fragmentation precluded instrument investigations.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Pagosa Springs: 4 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Philip Bruce Davis

Registration:

N6221D

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Pagosa Springs-Stevens Field

Schedule:

Pagosa Springs - Burbank

MSN:

680-489-159

YOM:

1957

Location:

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1600

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from Pagosa Springs Airfield, while climbing, the right engine failed. The pilot was able to feather the propeller but the airplane lost height and crashed in flames in a canyon. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Airport conditions,
- High density altitude,
- Flew into blind canyon,
- Right engine quit, propeller feathered,
- Aircraft hit canyon wall,
- High obstructions at end of runway,
- Density altitude 7,400 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 near Rollinsville: 9 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Star Aviation

Registration:

N133MA

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Denver - Granby

MSN:

506

YOM:

1970

Location:

Rollinsville

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3885

Captain / Total hours on type:

307.00

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a charter flight from Denver to Granby on behalf of Conquest Aero Resources. While cruising in poor weather conditions (low clouds and snow falls), the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a mountain located near Rollinsville. The wreckage was found two days later, on December 28, and all nine occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Disregard of good operating practice,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- Fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Bloserville: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Balbo Air

Registration:

N91A

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Reading - Altoona

MSN:

A-113

YOM:

1946

Location:

Bloserville

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15314

Captain / Total hours on type:

6063.00

Circumstances:

While cruising by night at an insufficient altitude, the twin engine airplane crashed in a field near Bloserville. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was completing a cargo flight from Reading to Altoona.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot misjudged altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Blood alcohol 0,98‰ .

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Kansas City: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

SS Airways

Registration:

N7010

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lincoln - Kansas City

MSN:

BA-179

YOM:

1956

Location:

Kansas City

Missouri

Country:

Region: