United States of America

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Beaumont

MSN:

AF-876

YOM:

1954

Location:

Dallas-Love Field

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2050

Captain / Total hours on type:

165.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Dallas-Love Field Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about serious problems and elected to return for an emergency landing. He was cleared to do so and completed a turn to rejoin the airport when he lost control of the airplane that crashed onto several houses by the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed. There were no injuries on the ground.

Probable cause:

Stall and spin during traffic pattern circling after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft and CofG,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- CofG 8.9 inches after the rear limit.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Endicott

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Seventy Airways

Registration:

N424RF

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Endicott - Toronto

MSN:

411-0058

YOM:

1965

Location:

Endicott

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:

4828

Captain / Total hours on type:

268.00

Circumstances:

While taking off from a snow covered runway, the airplane became unstable and directional control was lost. The pilot reduced the power on the right engine to compensate but this was insufficient. The airplane overran and came to rest in a snow covered area. All four passengers were injured and the pilot was seriously wounded. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during takeoff after the pilot selected an unsuitable terrain. The following factors were reported:
- Snow on runway,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Snow,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Overload failure,
- Reduced power on right engine to correct skid,
- Unable to obtain takeoff speed and overran runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Waco

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Tricon Airlines

Registration:

N2122

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Waco - Dallas

MSN:

AF-480

YOM:

1953

Location:

Waco

Texas

Country:

Region:

Federal Land Bank of Columbia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3116

Captain / Total hours on type:

930.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Waco-Madison Cooper Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered technical problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Few seconds later, he lost control of the airplane that crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain flying speed during initial climb. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft and CofG,
- Pilot reported after takeoff he would have to return and land,
- CofG 3.38 inches after the rear limit.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Columbia: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N711FC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Edenton - Columbia

MSN:

LJ-516

YOM:

1971

Location:

Columbia

South Carolina

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6125

Circumstances:

On approach to Columbia Airport, the pilot encountered below minima weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and rain falls. On final, the pilot descended below MDA when the twin engine airplane collided with trees and crashed. The pilot and a passenger were killed while a second passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- Pilot fatigue,
- High obstructions,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Descended below MDA.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30 in Boston

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-10

Operator:

Registration:

EC-CBN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Madrid - Boston

MSN:

46925/87

YOM:

1973

Flight number:

IB933

Location:

Boston-Logan

Massachusetts

Country:

Region:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

154

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

21705

Captain / Total hours on type:

426.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

34189

Copilot / Total hours on type:

403

Aircraft flight hours:

2016

Circumstances:

On approach to runway 33L at Boston-Logan Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with rain falls and a limited visibility to 3/4 mile in fog. While passing from IFR to VFR mode on short final, the captain failed to realize that the airplane lost height when the right main gear struck a dyke and was torn off. The airplane struck the runway surface, veered off runway to the right then lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All 168 occupants were evacuated, six of them were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The captain did not recognize, and may have been unable to recognize, an increased rate of descent in time to arrest it before the aircraft struck the approach light piers. The increased rate of descent was induced by an encounter with a low-level wind shear at a critical point in the landing approach where he was transitioning from automatic flight control under instrument flight conditions to manual flight control with visual references. The captain's ability to detect and arrest the increased rate of descent was adversely affected by a lack of information as to the existence of the wind shear and the marginal visual cues available. The minimal DC-10 wheel clearance above the approach lights and the runway threshold afforded by the ILS glide slope made the response time critical and, under the circumstances, produced a situation wherein a pilot's ability to make a safe landing was greatly diminished.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Miami: 9 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aircraft Pool Leasing Corporation

Registration:

N6917C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Miami - Caracas

MSN:

4815

YOM:

1957

Location:

Miami-Intl

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11550

Captain / Total hours on type:

1087.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2500

Copilot / Total hours on type:

650

Aircraft flight hours:

28905

Circumstances:

A Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation, N6917C, was destroyed when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Miami International Airport, FL (MIA). All three crew members were killed. The airplane struck several houses as it came down, killing six people on the ground. The airplane was carrying a cargo of Christmas trees to Venezuela. The main cabin was completely filled with trees. Bundles of trees were also loaded into the forward and aft belly compartments. Departure time was planned at 14:15 but the flight engineer noted that the aircraft's batteries were missing. After replacement batteries were purchased, charged , and installed in the aircraft, the three-member crew began preparing for departure. At 22:56, after overcoming some difficulty starting the engines, the flight contacted Miami Ground Control (GC) and requested taxi clearance. N6917C was cleared to taxi to runway 09L and an en route clearance was given to the crew at 23:07. The airplane proceeded to the ramp adjacent to runway 09L and remained there until 23:22. The crew then advise the tower that they would like to return to the ramp. The crew requested some assistance because they couldn't properly close the crew compartment door. At 23:41, the crew re-established radio contact with Miami GC, and the flight was cleared to taxi back to runway 09L. At 23:51, upon clearance, a rolling takeoff was started. According to tower controllers, the aircraft became airborne abruptly 4,800 feet from the start of the takeoff, and it assumed an unusually nose-high attitude of 20-30 degrees nose up. It reached an altitude of 100-120 feet before it began to lose altitude. After striking high tension wires and a tree, the aircraft crashed into a parking lot, after which it collided with several homes and other property before stopping.

Probable cause:

Over rotation of the aircraft at lift-off resulting in flight in the aerodynamic region of reversed command, near the stall regime, and at too low an altitude to effect recovery. The reasons for the aircraft's entering this adverse flight condition could not be determined. Factors which may have contributed to the accident include: (a) improper cargo loading; (b) a rearward movement of unsecured cargo resulting in a shift of the center of gravity aft of the allowable limit and (c) deficient crew coordination.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Lansing

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Registration:

N1056R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lansing - Columbus

MSN:

411-0245

YOM:

1967

Location:

Lansing

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4000

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed onto the runway and came to rest. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb caused the aircraft to stall and to crash. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation or powerplant,
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Fuel system: ram air assembly,
- The pilot attention diverted from operation of aircraft,
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Partial loss of power on both engines,
- Engine air intake openings restricted by snow,
- Pilot did not use alternate air,
- Pilot elected to land cartwheeled.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R6D-1 on Great Sitkin Island: 10 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

131615

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Whidbey Island - Elmendorf - Adak

MSN:

43718/371

YOM:

1953

Location:

Great Sitkin Island

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane was on its way from Whidbey Island NAS to Adak with an intermediate stop at Elmendorf AFB. The goal of the flight was to repatriate Navy personnel back to Whidbey Island for the Christmas period. Following an uneventful flight from Anchorage, while cruising at an altitude of 4,700 feet in limited visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a volcano located on the Great Sitkin Island, about 25 miles northeast of Adak Airfield. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Pittsburgh: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Wyman Pilot Services

Registration:

N387B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pittsburgh - Pontiac

MSN:

BA-410

YOM:

1959

Location:

Pittsburgh-Intl

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region: