United States of America

Schedule:

Beale - Beale

MSN:

464242

YOM:

1958

Location:

Beale AFB

California

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff at Beale AFB, while initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed inverted in a huge explosion. A crew member was seriously injured while all others were killed. Few days later, the only survivor died from his injuries. The airplane was engaged in a night training flight when the accident occurred.
Crew:
Cpt Paul L. Baldy, pilot,
Cpt Michael W. Forster, pilot,
Lt Neal D. Kaas, copilot,
Maj Toney V. Peter, navigator,
Cpt Lee F. Knudsen, EWO,
Cpt Thomas E. Cannon, navigator,
Sgt James M. Troutman, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during takeoff following a multiple engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FP in Cynthiana: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Court Insurance Company

Registration:

N46832

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cincinnati - Fort Lauderdale

MSN:

680-3177-142

YOM:

1964

Location:

Cynthiana

Kentucky

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1400

Circumstances:

While cruising by night at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a near vertical attitude in a field located in Cynthiana. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it was reported that control was lost shortly after the pilot informed ATC he was climbing from FL150 to FL170.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Willoughby: 6 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Kinzig Tool Company

Registration:

N7672L

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Canton - Detroit - Willoughby

MSN:

31-7300154

YOM:

1973

Location:

Willoughby

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4951

Captain / Total hours on type:

29.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Willoughby-Cuyahoga County Airport by night, one of the propeller oversped. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed onto a house located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed. Two people leaving in the house were also killed. Those killed in the plane were the pilot Elmer Holomok Jr. and the passengers Charles Kinzig and Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Kopperman. Those killed in the house were Mr. & Mrs. John Macek.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on final following a propeller failure. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft on part of the pilot/owner,
- Failure of propeller and accessories,
- RPM uncontrollable and overspeed,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Schrader valve cap and stem were missing,
- No aircharge in cylinder.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke near Hatch: 6 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 60 Duke

Operator:

Marc-Land

Registration:

N35D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Eagle - Las Vegas

MSN:

P-43

YOM:

1969

Location:

Hatch

Utah

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Eagle to Las Vegas by night, the pilot encountered strong headwinds and severe icing conditions. In low ceiling, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous terrain located near Hatch. The wreckage was found four days later, on January 24, and all six occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent following poor judgment and improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Icing conditions including sleet and/or freezing rain,
- Ice propeller,
- Airframe ice,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft and CofG,
- Miscalculated fuel consumption,
- Low ceiling,
- Adverse winds aloft,
- Strong headwinds,
- Low fuel,
- Severe icing conditions,
- Continued flight thru icing conditions until non maintained altitude,
- Wreckage found four days later.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Fort Worth

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 20

Operator:

Registration:

N7824M

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Montgomery - Fort Worth

MSN:

YOM:

1966

Location:

Fort Worth-Meacham

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7400

Captain / Total hours on type:

350.00

Circumstances:

The crew expected to make a straight-in approach but was cleared by ATC to make an ILS circling approach that was completed in rain showers with a tailwind of 8 knots. After touchdown on a wet runway, the crew encountered difficulties to decelerate properly as the airplane suffered hydroplaning. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest few dozen yards further. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Overran runway and collided with a dirt bank after the crew selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following factors were reported:
- Failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Airport conditions: wet runway,
- Rain falls,
- Tail wind from 158 to 202°,
- Cleared for ILS circling approach while the pilot requested a straight in approach,
- Landed normally in heavy rain but failed to deploy the drag chute.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-131B in Los Angeles

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

N757TW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

New York - Los Angeles

MSN:

18395/309

YOM:

1962

Flight number:

TW701

Location:

Los Angeles

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15800

Captain / Total hours on type:

6750.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4335

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2040

Aircraft flight hours:

38876

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from New York-JFK, the crew started the descent to Los Angeles Airport runway 06R over the sea. Weather was clear but on short final, the crew encountered local patches of fog and visual control with the ground was lost. The airplane continued the approach and landed nose wheel first with a vertical g load of 4.6. This caused the nose wheel to collapse rearward and a fire started in the nose wheel well area. The fire in the nose wheel well was initiated by the burning nose gear tires. The fire was fed by hydraulic fluid that escaped from broken nose wheel steering hydraulic lines. Evacuation of the aircraft resulted in minor or serious injuries to eight passengers. Firefighting personnel were unable to extinguish the fire in the nose wheel well before it spread to the fuselage and destroyed the cockpit and the passenger cabin.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the probable cause of the accident was the continuation of a visual approach after the flight crew lost outside visual reference because of a low cloud and fog encounter. The following factors were reported:
- While executing a night visual approach over water to runway 06R at the Los Angeles International Airport, the flight encountered ground fog when the crew prepared to flare the aircraft for landing,
- The weather in the Los Angeles area was clear; however, the existing visibility at the approach end of runway 6R was considerably less than predicted by the National Weather Service because of fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Oklahoma City: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 40

Operator:

Registration:

N5565

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Corpus Christi - Oklahoma City

MSN:

282-119

YOM:

1973

Location:

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

21500

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

The approach to Oklahoma City was started in limited visibility due to foggy conditions. On final, the crew descended below the MDA when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain following an improper IFR operation on final approach. The following factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Pilot fatigue,
- ILS approach below minimums,
- Descended below MDA,
- Crew had a little rest before flight,
- ATC did not monitor altitude on radar.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Pompano Beach: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

N2375

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2455

YOM:

1943

Location:

Pompano Beach

Florida

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Circumstances:

The crew was completing an illegal flight to the US with a load of more than 4,000 pounds of marijuana on board. While flying over Florida, the right engine failed and the crew decided to divert to Pompano Beach Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction on final approach caused by the failure of a cylinder assembly. The following factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Exercised poor judgment,
- Improperly loaded aircraft and CofG,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Low ceiling,
- Obstructions to vision,
- Complete engine failure,
- Failure of n°9 exhaust valve on right engine,
- Propeller not feathered,
- Stalled on turn to airport,
- Over gross weight,
- Illegal flight with about 4,000 pounds of marijuana on board.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F near Sells: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Al Harmon

Registration:

N2500T

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Tucson - Tucson

MSN:

680-1158-98

YOM:

1962

Location:

Sells

Arizona

Country:

Region: