Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Grumman TC-4C Gulfstream I at Cherry Point MCAS: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I
Operator:
Registration:
155723
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cherry Point - Cherry Point
MSN:
178
YOM:
1967
Location:
Cherry Point MCAS (Cunningham Field)
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after lift off, a low torque sensing switch failed precipitating an auto feather of an engine. The crew mis-handled the required feathering procedure, allowing the propeller to unfeather and windmill. Subsequently, the crew retracted the flaps. This disabled a spring tab on the rudder which was designed to give additional rudder authority for high power/low airspeed situations. The result of the windmilling propeller and the loss in rudder authority was that V(mca) increased from 101 kts to 138 kts. The airplane rolled inverted and crashed. Witness marks on the operating engine's propeller reportedly indicated that the airplane's speed when it crashed was less than 90 kts. All on board, four crew men, four students and one instructor, were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in Walnut Grove: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Charles D. Thompson
Registration:
N9394R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stockton – Sacramento – Klamath Falls
MSN:
500-913-21
YOM:
1960
Location:
Walnut Grove
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with rain, turbulences and thunderstorm activity. While flying under VFR mode, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive. It suffered an in-flight failure then crashed inverted in water near Walnut Grove. All six occupants were killed. VFR flight was not recommended by FSS.
Probable cause:
Loss of control and uncontrolled descent after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Overload failure,
- Rain,
- Turbulences and thunderstorm activity,
- Separation in flight,
- In-flight structural failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Charlotte: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Greenville Air
Registration:
N882L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Charlotte – Columbia
MSN:
BA-102
YOM:
1955
Location:
Charlotte-Douglas
North Carolina
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:
3323
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Charlotte-Douglas Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ground about an engine failure and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The pilot encountered other technical problems and was unable to lower the gear when control was lost. The airplane lost altitude and crashed in flames by the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Failed to extend landing gear.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 in Beloit: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Orion SA Mexico
Registration:
XB-LIJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Monterrey - Laredo - San Angelo
MSN:
259
YOM:
1973
Location:
Beloit-Moritz Memorial
Kansas
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:
3550
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude over Kansas, the twin engine airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field located in Beloit, Kansas. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent following improper in-flight decisions or planning. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Hypoxia,
- The aircraft crashed 500 NM beyond planned destination,
- Blood alcohol level 1,95‰.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair CL-44-6 in Miami: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-44
Operator:
Registration:
LV-JSY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Panama City – Lima – Santa Cruz – Asunción – Buenos Aires
MSN:
05
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
RS501/90
Location:
Miami-Intl
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
11601
Captain / Total hours on type:
2352.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1876
Copilot / Total hours on type:
486
Aircraft flight hours:
20108
Aircraft flight cycles:
5891
Circumstances:
At 0600LT, Aerotransportes Entre Rios Cargo Flight 501/90, crashed while attempting a night VMC takeoff from runway 27L at the Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida. The aircraft did not become airborne, and the pilot attempted unsuccessfully to reject the takeoff. The aircraft ran off the departure end of the runway and crashed on the west bank of a canal, about 960 feet from the departure end of the runway. Six of the ten persons aboard were killed. Two crewmembers and two passengers survived the accident. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. The aircraft struck and destroyed an automobile; one occupant of the car was injured.
Probable cause:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was an attempt to take off with an external makeshift flight control lock on the right elevator. The following findings were reported:
- An external elevator lock was carried on the aircraft. The use of this lock was not part of the certification of the aircraft.
- The external elevator control lock was installed on the right elevator after the aircraft landed at Miami and was still in place after the aircraft was loaded and taxied from the ramp for takeoff.
- The pilots could have detected the presence of this lock by referring to the flight control surface position indicators.
- The pilot was unable to rotate the aircraft to the takeoff attitude.
- By the time the pilot determined that he could not rotate the aircraft and initiated procedures to reject the takeoff, the aircraft had accelerated to a speed which prevented him from stopping on the runway.
- The aircraft struck a number of obstacles off the paved area of the airport; these impacts resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and fire.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair C-131F Samaritan in Galivan: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Convair C-131 Samaritan
Operator:
Registration:
141012
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
El Toro - El Toro
MSN:
295
YOM:
1955
Location:
Galivan
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight out from El Toro MCAS. After takeoff, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the garden of the Saddleback College located about 8 miles southeast of the airfield. Four crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in Springfield

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Red Eye Express
Registration:
N3486
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Reno – Denver – Atlanta
MSN:
1245
YOM:
1938
Location:
Springfield-Branson
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
16052
Captain / Total hours on type:
715.00
Circumstances:
En route from Denver to Atlanta, the crew reported technical problems to ATC and was cleared to divert to Springfield Airport. On approach in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to initiate a go-around when both engines failed. The airplane stalled, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. All eight occupants were injured, two of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engines during a go-around due to a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Localizer and glide slope unreliable,
- Fuel exhaustion during climb to top overcast.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Kijik Lake: 8 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
N64392
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Anchorage - Twin Lakes
MSN:
968
YOM:
1956
Location:
Kijik Lake
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
2096
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Circumstances:
While cruising in good weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed on the slope of a mountain located about 12 miles from Kijik Lake. The wreckage was found a day later and all eight occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Stall in flight after the pilot's attention diverted from operation of aircraft and he failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Loss of control at altitude too low to effect recovery,
- Heavily loaded aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Nemacolin: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N847CE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pontiac – Pittsburgh – Nemacolin
MSN:
690-11223
YOM:
1974
Location:
Nemacolin
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4891
Circumstances:
On the leg from Pittsburgh to Nemacolin, weather conditions deteriorated with rain falls and fog. The crew started the descent to Nemacolin in IMC conditions and cancelled the IFR flight plan to continue the approach under VFR mode. While descending below MEA, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway 23. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain while descending under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Cruise clearance,
- Descended below MEA in IMC,
- Attempted VFR approach,
- The airport did not have approved instrument approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Wakeman: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Stoney's Rainbow Lanes & Lounge
Registration:
N144A
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wakeman - Miami
MSN:
9723
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wakeman
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
18000
Captain / Total hours on type:
8000.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Wakeman Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane nosed down, collided with trees and crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Aircraft observed in shallow descent to ground impact,
- High power noted during descent,
- Pilots oxygen masks used,
- No oxygen in the system.
Final Report:
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