Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Plain Dealing

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Registration:
N944SP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dallas - Haleyville
Location:
Plain Dealing
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9000
Circumstances:
While flying over Louisiana on a flight from Dallas to Haleyville, the right engine failed. Unable to maintain the prescribed altitude, the pilot attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a rough terrain and came to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight. The following factors were reported:
- Engine structure, valve assemblies, material failure,
- The pilot was unable to maintain flying speed,
- Overload failure,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- N° 1 cylinder exhaust valve, right engine failed,
- Pilot unable to maintain single engine flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in Tucson

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
N9324Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
32183
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tucson
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3020
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Tucson, Arizona. While flying at low height, the crew noticed a loss of power on all four engines and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an uninhabited area and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the fuel system and ram air assembly. The following factors were reported:
- Partial loss of power on four engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Baffle in air intake scoop separated from n°4 engine, restering airflow to carburettor 1, 2 and 3 propellers that moved to high pitch.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Toledo: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Buckeye Air Services
Registration:
N74D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paducah – Toledo – Detroit
MSN:
A-944
YOM:
1953
Location:
Toledo-Express
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Paducah to Detroit with an intermediate stop at Toledo-Express Airport. During the last segment completed by night, due to an improper level off, the crew decided to perform a go-around. While climbing, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames near the airport. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper level off and inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Improperly loaded aircraft, weight and CofG,
- Observers saw the aircraft pitch up to an excessive angle on go-around,
- CofG beyond aft limits approximately 5,47 inches.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Boca Raton

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Dassault Falcon 20
Operator:
General Transportation Company
Registration:
N805F
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
White Plains - Boca Raton
MSN:
60
YOM:
1966
Location:
Boca Raton
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12486
Captain / Total hours on type:
1560.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Boca Raton Airport, the captain attempted to retard the throttles but inadvertently shut down both engines. The airplane lost speed, stalled and struck the ground 900 feet short of runway 04 threshold. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off, the airplane slid for several yards and came to rest in a construction area. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Improper operation of powerplant controls on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Landed in construction area,
- Failure of both engines,
- Retarded thrust levers aft, inadvertently shut down both engines.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in Woodruff: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
Operator:
Registration:
N566Y
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Woodruff – Manitowish Waters
MSN:
61-0017
YOM:
1968
Location:
Woodruff-Lakeland
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Woodruff-Lakeland Airport, while in initial climb, both engines lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed in a field past the runway end. The pilot and a passenger were killed while four other passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures and the ground crew improperly serviced the aircraft. The following factors were reported:
- Improper fuel grade,
- Partial loss of power on both engines,
- The aircraft was refueled with jet fuel,
- The pilot also performed as copilot on the company Learjet and completed his conversion last June 6.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Shelter Cove: 17 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Lake Riverside Estates
Registration:
N90627
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Shelter Cove – San Jose
MSN:
4642
YOM:
1942
Location:
Shelter Cove
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
After liftoff at Shelter Cove Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. The undercarriage struck an electric transformer and the left engine struck the roof of a sewage disposal building. Shortly later, the airplane entered a left bank and crashed into the sea about 150 yards offshore. Both pilots and 15 passengers were killed while seven other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flying crew who failed to remove the rudder and elevator control locks prior to takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
West End International
Registration:
N355D
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale – West End
MSN:
AF-233
YOM:
1952
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1657
Captain / Total hours on type:
1454.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height, struck trees and power cables then crashed in flames. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure during initial climb for undetermined reasons. Engine lost power at a critical altitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Birmingham: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Hankins Airways
Registration:
N5605D
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mobile – Birmingham – Nashville
MSN:
BA-311
YOM:
1957
Location:
Birmingham
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5831
Captain / Total hours on type:
2557.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Birmingham Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane stalled from the tail and adopter a high nose-up attitude. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames near the airport. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. It was determined that the cargo was improperly tied down and shifted to the rear after takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-580 in New Haven: 28 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-580
Operator:
Registration:
N5832
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Washington DC – Groton – New London – New Haven – Philadelphie – Newport News
MSN:
384
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
AL485
Location:
New Haven
Connecticut
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Captain / Total flying hours:
12107
Captain / Total hours on type:
3600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4150
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2400
Aircraft flight hours:
33058
Circumstances:
During a non precision approach to New Haven-Tweed Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls. On final, the pilot-in-command passed below the glide slope and continued the approach until the airplane struck cottages and crashed in flames 4,890 feet short of runway 02. Three occupants survived while 28 others were killed.
Probable cause:
The captain's intentional descent below the prescribed minimum descent altitude under adverse weather conditions without adequate forward visibility or the crew's sighting of the runway environment. The captain disregarded advisories from his first officer that minimum descent altitude had been reached and that the airplane was continuing to descend at a normal descent rate and airspeed. The Board was unable to determine what motivated the captain to disregard prescribed operating procedures and altitude restrictions and finds it difficult to reconcile the actions he exhibited during the conduct of this flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 near Duarte: 49 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
N9345
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Salt Lake City – Boise – Lewiston – Pasco – Yakima – Seattle
MSN:
47441/503
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
RW706
Location:
Duarte
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
49
Captain / Total flying hours:
15490
Captain / Total hours on type:
2562.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
17128
Copilot / Total hours on type:
272
Aircraft flight hours:
5542
Circumstances:
Airwest flight 706, a DC-9, was to fly from Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to Seattle, WA (SEA) with intermediate stops at Salt Lake City (SLC), Boise (BOI), Lewiston (LWS), Pasco (PSC) and Yakima (YKM). The aircraft departed Los Angeles at 18:02. At 18:09 the crew reported leaving FL120 and Los Angeles ARTCC cleared them direct to Daggett. At 17:16 h a US Marine Corps McDonnell F-4B Phantom 151458 departed Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Fallon for a flight to MCAS El Toro at low altitude. The aircraft had several technical difficulties, including an inoperative transponder and a leak in the oxygen system. Due to deteriorating visibility northwest of Palmdale, the crew climbed to 15,500 feet . Shortly after level-off, aircraft was 50 miles from MCAS El Toro. The pilot executed a 360° aileron roll at this time, which took approximately 3 seconds to complete. The Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) estimated that the true airspeed in the climb and after level-off was 420 knots. The F-4B collided with the Airwest DC-9 about 1 minute and 20 sec after the roll, at 15150 feet. After the collision, the F-4 began to tumble violently about the lateral axis. The RIO waited about 5 seconds, and, after seeing numerous warning lights in the cockpit, he ejected from the aircraft . The ejection was successful, and he parachuted to the ground without injury. The other F-4 crewmember did not survive the accident.
Probable cause:
The failure of both crews to see and avoid each other but it is recognized that they had only marginal capability to detect, assess, and avoid the collision. Other causal factors include a very high closure rate, comingling of IFR and VFR traffic in an area where the limitation of the ATC system precludes effective separation of such traffic, and failure of the crew of 151458 to request radar advisory service, particularly considering the fact that they had an inoperable transponder.
Final Report:
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