United States of America

While in cruising altitude over Virginia by night, the crew encountered icing conditions and requested a higher altitude but this was denied. Few minutes later, the twin engine airplane entered a dive and crashed in a near vertical attitude in a field located in Wise. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.

While approaching Langley AFB by night on a flight from Meridian, Massachusetts, the airplane collided with a Cavalier Flyers Cessna 150 registered N50430 and carrying two people. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the James River, about four miles west of Newport News. Both aircraft were destroyed and all nine people were killed.

Golden West Flight 261 departed Ontario, CA at 15:56PST for a VFR flight to Los Angeles. At 16:04 the crew contacted LAX arrival and reported over Rose Hills. The flight was then cleared for the Terminal Control Area (TCA) and no. 2 arrival to runway 24L. At 16:05 the crew were advised that they had traffic 5,5nm in front of them climbing from 1500 to 3000 feet which was a police helicopter on a VFR flight. The arrival controller transmitted another advisory about the helicopter at 16:06, but there was no response. It appeared the Twin Otter had collided in flight at 2200 feet with a Cessna 150 aircraft (N11421). The Twin Otter was flying on a 250deg heading descending 300 feet/min at 146 knots airspeed while the Cessna was flying at 94 kts; the closing speed was 174 kts. The Cessna, operated by CessnAir Aviation had departed from Long Beach on a local training flight at 15:46. Both aircraft crashed. Debris caused some damage to houses and lawns near the crash site.

While on a night approach to Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, the airplane banked sharply to the left then lost height and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the passenger was killed while both pilots were seriously injured.

After takeoff from Davis Monthan AFB, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck power cables, stalled and crashed in flames. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Shortly after liftoff from Mammoth Lakes-Yosemite Airport, while in initial climb, both propellers oversped. As the airspeed was insufficient, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from New Orleans-Alvin Callender Field NAS, while in initial climb, the engine n°1 failed. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near the airport. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

While approaching Fort Lauderdale, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. The right engine oversped while the left engine overheated. The crew decided to shut down the left engine and to feather the propeller but as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain elected to ditch the aircraft offshore. While all three occupants were rescued, the airplane sank and was not recovered.

On approach to Saint Augustine Airport, the passenger reported to ATC that pilot had no control over aircraft after controls frozen. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames, killing both occupants. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire, precluding determination of cause.

While on a night approach to Lancaster-Fairfield County Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.