United States of America

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sidney - Nashville

MSN:

T26-126

YOM:

1969

Location:

Nashville

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12486

Captain / Total hours on type:

438.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Nashville Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and bad visibility due to low ceiling and fog. The crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Descended below published MDA,
- The crew did not request nor was given current approach zone weather.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Marco Island

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft H18

Operator:

Niles Machine

Registration:

N24K

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Marco Island - Marco Island

MSN:

BA-648

YOM:

1963

Location:

Marco Island

Florida

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4000

Captain / Total hours on type:

496.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Marco Island Airport, the pilot decided to abort for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the twin engine airplane overran and collided with a small concrete wall before coming to rest. While both occupants were slightly injured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain directional control after a delayed action in aborting takeoff. The following factors were reported:
- Airport conditions: soft shoulders,
- Collided with a 60 feet wide canal,
- Wind gusting to 10 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Lake Charles: 4 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

44-77228

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lake Charles - Lake Charles

MSN:

16812/33560

YOM:

1945

Location:

Lake Charles

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Lake Charles Airport. After completing several touch-and-go maneuvers, the airplane approached the airport when it landed very hard. Out of control, it veered off runway to the left then crashed into a covered concourse, the roof of which was about the same height of the windshield of the aircraft. All four crew members were killed. They were based at England AFB.

Probable cause:

The investigation was thorough, with extensive interviews, and it was determined that the accident was the consequence of a pilot error.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188CF Electra at Ogden-Hill AFB

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

N851U

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tucson - Ogen-Hill

MSN:

2001

YOM:

1959

Location:

Ogden-Hill AFB

Utah

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15000

Captain / Total hours on type:

2500.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a ferry flight from Tucson to Ogden-Hill AFB. On approach, while descending to a height of 7,000 feet, the crew got a n°2 prop low oil warning. The engine was shut down but the crew was unable to feather the propeller for unknown reason. Despite the situation, the pilot-in-command was able to continue the approach and landed safely on runway 32. After touchdown, the n°2 prop separated from its mount and debris punctured the n°1 fuel tank. The airplane caught fire and came to rest in flames after a course of 4,000 feet. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Failure of a powerplant and propeller system on approach. The following factors were reported:
- Pressure too low,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Improper use of equipment,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Fire in engine,
- Low oil level light illuminated and prop oversped during feathering,
- Insufficient oil for unknown reason and engine oil not restored.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Jefferson: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3390Q

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wheeling - Jefferson

MSN:

421A-0120

YOM:

1968

Location:

Jefferson

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Jefferson-Ashtabula County Airport, the pilot completed a steep left turn to join the approach path when the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, fog and icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice windshield,
- Stalled during steep left turn on final on a VOR circling approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Carswell AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

58-0048

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Carswell AFB (Fort Worth)

Schedule:

Carswell - Carswell

MSN:

17793/263

YOM:

1959

Location:

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Carswell AFB. During the last segment, while trying to land, the right wing dropped and struck the runway surface. The airplane went out of control, cartwheeled and crashed in flames, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove off Honolulu

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

N4967N

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Honolulu - Honolulu

MSN:

04340

Location:

Honolulu

Hawaii

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2493

Captain / Total hours on type:

7.00

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Honolulu Airport, while flying along the coast, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft few dozen yards offshore. While the aircraft sank and was lost, both occupants were rescued.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure during normal cruise. As the aircraft was not recovered, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in Albany: 17 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild-Hiller FH-227

Operator:

Registration:

N7818M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

New York-LaGuardia - Albany

MSN:

541

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

MO405

Location:

Albany

New York

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12248

Captain / Total hours on type:

2202.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

9969

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2723

Aircraft flight hours:

10068

Aircraft flight cycles:

15714

Circumstances:

On final approach to Albany by night and marginal weather conditions, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine propeller cruise lock system. The propeller could not be feathered and the airplane lost height and eventually crashed onto two houses located 3,8 miles short of runway 01 threshold. Two crew members and 14 passengers as well as one people on the ground were killed. The aircraft and two houses were destroyed.

Probable cause:

The inability of the crew to feather the left propeller, in combination with the descent of the aircraft below the prescribed minimum altitudes for the approach. The Board is unable to determine why the left propeller could not be feathered. Contributing causal factors for the nonstandard approach were the captain's preoccupation with a cruise pitch lock malfunction, the first officer's failure to adhere to company altitude awareness procedures, and the captain's failure to delegate any meaningful responsibilities to the copilot which resulted in a lack of effective task sharing during the emergency. Also, the Board was unable to determine why the propeller pitch lock malfunctioned during the descent.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Rochester: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6298X

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rochester - Batavvia

MSN:

500B-1388-141

YOM:

1964

Location:

Rochester

New York

Country:

Region: