Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Iron Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
Registration:
N73FA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lansing - Iron Mountain
MSN:
BA-649
YOM:
1963
Location:
Iron Mountain
Michigan
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:
6070
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Iron Mountain-Ford Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and very limited visibility. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot who continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Incorrect altimeter setting,
- Not aligned with runway,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Heavy fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer near Safford: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
SS&T Aerial Contractors
Registration:
N7237C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
59763
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
Tanker 50
Location:
Safford
Arizona
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:
12000
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tucson Airport in the early morning on a firefighting mission in the region of Safford. While flying at low height over the forest in fire, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a mountain slope. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the clearance with ground. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Gulfstream GII near Kline: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Gulfstream GII
Operator:
Registration:
N720Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Savannah - Savannah
MSN:
58
YOM:
1969
Location:
Kline
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
14500
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3224
Circumstances:
The crew departed Savannah-Intl Airport on a training flight. While in cruising altitude over South Carolina, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive. It completed a 360 turn then crashed in a marshy field. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent following the failure of the wing spoiler system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Unwanted extension of ground and flight spoilers, possibly due to short circuit in the extended control kit,
- Left ground spoiler actuator failed in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Petersburg: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Holladay Aero Sales
Registration:
N69379
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Richmond - Petersburg
MSN:
402B-0523
YOM:
1973
Location:
Petersburg
Virginia
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:
1600
Captain / Total hours on type:
29.00
Circumstances:
The crew (an instructor and a student pilot) departed Richmond, Virginia, on a training flight to Petersburg, Virginia. After several touch-and-go maneuvers, the twin engine airplane was landing when on touchdown, it struck the runway surface and the pilot elected to make a go-around. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft went out of control upon landing after the crew failed to extend the landing gear. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Examination of runway revealed prop slash marks right and left of runway centerline,
- Right propeller damaged, one blade broken, left propeller damaged.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith Aerostar 600) in Perkasie: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)
Operator:
Seiz Corp.
Registration:
N14ES
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Perkasie – Williamsport
MSN:
60-0036-79
YOM:
1970
Location:
Perkasie-Pennridge
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Perkasie-Pennbridge Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane entered a nose down attitude then plunged into the earth and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. The aircraft was observed pitch down into wooded area. Loss of pitch control for undetermined reasons. Cockpit area destroyed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon near Winslow: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Master Equipment Company
Registration:
N7263C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whiteriver - Whiteriver
MSN:
15-1247
YOM:
1944
Location:
Winslow
Arizona
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:
2200
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Whiteriver on a fire fighting mission. While flying at low height, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the crew failed to maintain flying speed .The following factors were reported:
- High density altitude, about 12,000 feet,
- High temperature,
- Lost control in steep bank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S off Maui Island

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Pleasant Financing Company
Registration:
N39A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Honolulu - Van Nuys
MSN:
BA-115
YOM:
1955
Location:
Kahului
Hawaii
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
16640
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was performing a ferry flight from Honolulu to Van Nuys, California. While cruising along the coast of the Maui Island, both engines failed simultaneously. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, he ditched the aircraft 22 miles offshore. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight following a fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Miscalculated fuel consumption,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Pilot became lost/disoriented,
- HF communication inoperative.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Santee: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 520
Operator:
Varbus Enterprises
Registration:
N719Z
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Santee - Calexico
MSN:
520-41
YOM:
1953
Location:
Santee-Gillespie Field
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Santee-Gillespie Field, while climbing, the twin engine airplane flew into clouds. The pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR into adverse weather conditions when he suffered a spatial disorientation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Logan

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Airstream West
Registration:
N69391
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Logan - Roosevelt
MSN:
402B-0529
YOM:
1973
Location:
Logan-Cache
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1485
Captain / Total hours on type:
32.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Logan-Cache Airport, while in initial climb, the front left cargo door opened, detached and struck the tail. The pilot was unable to maintain a safe control of the airplane that crash landed in a field past the runway end. All seven occupants were injured, one of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Inadvertent opening of the front left cargo door during initial climb for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Material failure and previous damage,
- High density altitude of 6,000 feet,
- Support bar broken.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-135-BW Stratofortress at Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
60-0006
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wright-Patterson - Wright-Patterson
MSN:
464372
YOM:
1960
Location:
Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Wright-Patterson AFB. On final approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field. All seven crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach after rudder and elevators failed.
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