United States of America

Schedule:

Albuquerque - Santa Fe

MSN:

LD-346

YOM:

1967

Location:

Albuquerque-Sunport

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6769

Captain / Total hours on type:

411.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Albuquerque Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to return when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure or malfunction during initial climb and uncontrolled descent. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Deficiency of company maintained equipment, services and regulation by operational supervisory personnel,
- Left front cargo door improperly secured,
- Blades failure due to foreign object damage,
- Suspected or known aircraft damage,
- Forward cargo door not secured, opened in flight and damaged left prop, causing additional drag,
- Door unsafe system inoperative.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 in Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

N8961E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood

Schedule:

Miami – Fort Lauderdale – Cleveland

MSN:

45870/332

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

EA346

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16500

Captain / Total hours on type:

960.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1500

Aircraft flight hours:

10928

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing flight EA346 from Miami to Cleveland with an intermediate stop in Fort Lauderdale. On approach to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and limited visibility due to rain showers. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed hard on runway 09L with a rate of descent of 2,000 feet per minute. On impact, the undercarriage and the tail were torn off and the airplane slid on the wet runway before coming to rest in flames. Three occupants were injured while seven others escaped unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed by a ground fire.

Probable cause:

The decision of the pilot to initiate and continue an instrument approach under weather conditions which precluded adequate visual reference and the faulty techniques used by the pilot during the landing phase of that approach. The Safety Board also finds that the flight crew's non-adherence to prescribed operational practices and procedures compromised the safe operation of the flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Merritt Island: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

P. J. Goodwin

Registration:

N8137Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Miami - Merritt Island

MSN:

414-0037

YOM:

1969

Location:

Merritt Island

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1248

Captain / Total hours on type:

91.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Merritt Island Airport, while completing a steep turn, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a river. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed while completing a steep turn to final approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 18 Expeditor 3TM in Van Nuys: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 18

Operator:

Kenneth L. Compton

Registration:

N6674

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Van Nuys - Van Nuys

MSN:

A-762

YOM:

1952

Location:

Van Nuys

California

Country:

Region:

Carolina Aircraft Corporation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

875

Captain / Total hours on type:

37.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Van Nuys Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames onto a hangar. The aircraft was destroyed as well as two other airplanes, a Beechcraft 35 registered N5312E and a Beechcraft 23 registered N2380L. All three occupants were killed. No one on the ground was injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain directional control and failed to abort takeoff. The following factors were reported:
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- No weather briefing received (no record),
- The pilot reported to have about an hour dual in type.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Okeechobee: 8 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

N211L

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Fort Lauderdale - Raleigh

MSN:

2626

YOM:

1943

Location:

Okeechobee

Country:

Region:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2300

Circumstances:

En route from Fort Lauderdale to Raleigh, North Carolina, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. Control was lost and the airplane entered a dive during which both wings separated as well as the stabs and tail. The airplane crashed near Okeechobee and disintegrated on impact. All eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Overload failure,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Separation in flight,
- Flight and navigation instruments failure (corroded),
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Gyro instrument had rust and corrosion,
- Both wings, horizontal stabs and vertical stab separated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus AU-23A Peacemaker at Eglin AFB

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

72-1309

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Eglin - Eglin

MSN:

2055

YOM:

1972

Location:

Eglin AFB (Valparaiso)

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 520

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a series of test flights on this brand new aircraft that should be delivered to the Royal Thai Air Force. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 near Burnsville: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Merry Company

Registration:

N9051R

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Augusta - Bristol

MSN:

520-22

YOM:

1952

Location:

Burnsville

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3390

Captain / Total hours on type:

27.00

Circumstances:

While cruising in level altitude in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck a mountain and crashed in flames near Burnsville, North Carolina. The wreckage was found two days later near the mountain top and both occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Visibility down to zero,
- Clouds obscured site.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-110-BW Stratofortress at Griffiss AFB

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

59-2574

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Griffiss - Griffiss

MSN:

464337

YOM:

1959

Location:

Griffiss AFB (Rome)

New York

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While in a low level rout one of the engines on the left side of the aircraft malfunctioned and became uncontrollable and was shut down. Hours later on final approach to Griffiss, in a driving rainstorm at night, the copilot, following the checklist turned on the starter switches for all the engines including the one that had been shut down. The shutdown engine that was now wind milling somewhere in the descent reignited and started to increase to max power. The pilots were unaware of this. As the aircraft flared out over the runway with the engine heading toward max power and the landing gear barely touching the ground the aircraft was unable to slow down to engage the brakes. The drag shut was released but failed to deploy. Unable to stop the pilot elected to go-around and increased power…but then made the decision there was not enough runways remaining and cut back the power and announced to the crew that they were going of off the end of the runway. The impact resulted in the aircraft breaking in half just behind the crew compartment and skidding down the embankment with the outboard run-away engine still running as the gear, and AGM 28 Missiles were sheared off. The Boeing reprehensive stated that most likely the only reason the aircraft did not explode on impact was due to the mud caused by the heavy rain. All crew members survived.
Source: ASN

Probable cause:

The official cause of the accident was listed as hydroplaning.

Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air off Racine: 5 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N295X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Toledo - Racine

MSN:

LJ-244

YOM:

1967

Location:

Racine

Wisconsin

Country:

Region: