United States of America

Site:

Schedule:

Sky Bryce - Richmond

MSN:

1247

YOM:

1938

Location:

Sky Bryce

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18272

Captain / Total hours on type:

262.00

Circumstances:

At liftoff, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed. The pilot was slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who failed to deice the airplane that was contaminated by frost on wings.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed EC-130G Hercules at Patuxent River NAS

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

151890

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Patuxent - Patuxent

MSN:

3871

YOM:

1963

Location:

Patuxent River NAS

Maryland

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Navy Hercules 151890 had flown for over three months with a maintenance discrepancy on the number one fuel tank quantity indicator. Before the mishap flight, another attempt was made to repair the solder connections in the cannon plug. Maintenance personnel were unable to satisfactorily complete the repair in the time available before that days flight. They hurriedly reassembled the cannon plug and verbally warned the oncoming flight engineer to leave the number one fuel tank quantity indicator system circuit breaker out to prevent the indicator motor from running and ruining the internal clutch. The aircraft then flew four flights prior to the accident. The verbal warning was passed between flight engineers, except on the fourth flight. While conducting preflight procedures the fourth flight engineer noticed the circuit breaker to be out and reset it. The circuit breaker popped within seconds and was then left out for the flight back to home field. The circuit breaker was reset by an unknown person between the time the aircraft landed and the preflight the next day by the mishap crew. Shortly after takeoff from Patuxent River-NAS, MD (NHK), while climbing through 7500 feet, an explosion occurred in the outboard part of the left wing. A fire erupted. The no. 1 engine was shut down and the extinguisher bottles fired. The crew was unable to control the fire. Control difficulties forced the pilot to carry out a forced landing. An emergency descent was flown at a speed of 270 kts IAS and a forced landing was made in a corn field. After the aircraft came to rest, the fire burned for 36 minutes. The fire continued burning aft and inboard before it was extinguished by a local volunteer fire department.

Probable cause:

The aircraft suffered an inflight explosion in the left wing 5 minutes after takeoff. The explosion occurred in the n°1 main fuel tank in the forward center area beneath the outboard access plate in the immediate vicinity of the n°10 fuel quantity probe. The explosion tore open the upper forward surface of the wing from OWS 369 to OWS 576. The surface of the fuel instantly ignited into a continuous fire forcing the flight crew to complete an emergency landing in an open field 5 minutes after the explosion. The aircraft's left wing continued to burn on the ground for an additional 36 minutes. Fifteen feet of the outer left wing was consumed by the fire. The explosion was caused by the introduction of 115 volt single phase 400 Hz power into the fuel quantity indicating system for the n°1 main fuel tank. An arc occured in the fuel tank airspace from either one of two sources:
- From the n°10 fuel quantity probe to an unknown ground,
- From the coax cable in the immediate vicinity of the n°10 fuel quantity probe to an unknown ground.

Crash of a Cessna 411 near Stockton: 5 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Robert Montana

Registration:

N411Q

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Phoenix - Salt Lake City

MSN:

411-0146

YOM:

1965

Location:

Stockton

Utah

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6900

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 9,100 pieds by night and in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Stockton, Utah. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the five occupants was found. On 13 May 1972, walkers found the wreckage in an isolated area. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and the accident was not survivable.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- The pilot continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions,
- Low ceiling and snow showers,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm activity,
- High obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Lansing

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Operator:

Richard E. Ross

Registration:

N588K

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

La Porte - Lansing

MSN:

3261

YOM:

1942

Location:

Lansing

Illinois

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an improper level off, the twin engine airplane crash landed at Lansing Airport, south Chicago, Illinois. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following factors were reported:
- Improper level off,
- Failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Failure of the landing gear: normal retraction/extension assembly,
- Failure of the flaps assemblies,
- Disregard of good operating practice,
- The aircraft was not airworthy,
- The pilot ferried the aircraft without ferry permit,
- The gear and flaps were inoperable,
- Two flight control surfaces were missing.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou off Farallon Islands

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

62-4173

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

112

YOM:

1963

Location:

Farallon Islands

California

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Shrike Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to McClellan AFB near Sacramento, the crew encountered unknown technical problems. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft near the Farallon Islands, some 30 miles west of San Francisco. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical problems.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Morristown

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Morris Air Transport

Registration:

N9128N

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Islip – Morristown

MSN:

500-3093

YOM:

1971

Location:

Morristown

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2811

Captain / Total hours on type:

28.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Morristown Airport by night, the pilot encountered limited visibility. While completing the landing checklist, the airplane lost height and struck tree tops. The pilot increased engine power to make a go-around when the airplane lost height and crashed. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by the diverted attention of the pilot from operation. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to see and avoid objects or obstructions,
- High obstructions,
- Fog,
- Diverted attention while completing the landing checklist, lost contact with runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Oklahoma City: 7 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Monarch Tile Company

Registration:

N252Q

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Oklahoma City-Will Rogers

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Shreveport

MSN:

LD-150

YOM:

1963

Location:

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Oklahoma City-Will Rogers Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. He feathered the left propeller then initiated a left turn when control was lost. The airplane nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all seven occupants.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb due to a master and connecting rods failure. The following factors were reported:
- Under torqued,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of ground personnel,
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Over max gross weight about 550 lbs,
- Left engine n°5 conrod cap failed,
- The pilot turned to the dead engine.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680T off New Orleans: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Air Lease

Registration:

N78D

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Knoxville - New Orleans

MSN:

680-1580-33

YOM:

1966

Location:

New Orleans-Lakefront

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5812

Circumstances:

On a night approach to New Orleans-Lakefront Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling. Unable to locate the runway, he abandoned the approach and initiated a go-around. Few minutes later, during a second attempt to land, he decided to descend below MDA when the twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed into Lake Pontchartrain few miles short of runway. All three occupants were killed but only two bodies were recovered.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Pilot fatigue,
- The pilot descended below minimums and below MDA on localizer approach,
- Crashed into lake on second attempt to land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) in Victoria

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Overhead Door Company

Registration:

N7497S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Muskogee - Victoria

MSN:

60-0048-109

YOM:

1970

Location:

Victoria

Texas

Country:

Region: