United States of America

En route from Atlanta to Martinsville, while cruising under VFR mode, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. In reduced visibility, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a hilly terrain located in the Catawba mountain range, some 11,8 miles northwest of Roanoke. The wreckage was found three days later. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them the American Actor Audie Murphy aged 45.

En route from Chicago to International Falls, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered poor weather with icing conditions. The pilot-in-command was cleared to divert to the nearest airport and started to descend. On approach to Hibbing-Chisholm Airport, the crew did not land but initiated a go-around. After passing over the runway end, control was lost and the airplane crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured.

Shortly after takeoff from Twin Falls-City County Airport, while climbing, the right engine lost power. As he was unable to feather the right propeller, the captain decided to reduce his altitude and completed a belly landing in a field located in Buhl, some 16 miles northwest of Twin Falls Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three crew members were unhurt. They were completing a local flight on behalf of the United States Department of the Interior.

While approaching Bettles Airport, the pilot initiated a steep left turn from low pass at strip located between close-in mountains when the aircraft lost height and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Apache Airlines Flight 33 of May 6, 1971, was a regularly scheduled air taxi flight from Tucson to Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft was a De Havilland Dove Model 104-7AXC (Carstedt CJ600A Conversion), N4922V. The flight departed Tucson International Airport, under visual conditions, at 1253 m.s.t. with 10 passengers and a crew of two, and with 140 gallons of fuel on board. At about 1315, ground witnesses near Coolidge, Arizona, observed the aircraft flying in a northwesterly direction. Some of these witnesses reported that they first heard loud engine noises emanating from the aircraft, and that the engine sound then ceased. According to two of the witnesses, the aircraft initially descended at a “slight angle” which steepened to a 45-to-50 degree dive angle. None of the witnesses saw smoke or fire while the aircraft was in the air, and none saw parts separate from the aircraft. According to the witnesses, there were high scattered cumulus clouds in the area. A pilot, who flew a light aircraft through that general area after the accident, reported that he encountered severe turbulence at about 4,200 feet in the Phoenix area. The 1258 surface weather observation at Phoenix was reported as, measured ceiling of 4,800 feet broken clouds, 25,000 feet overcast, visibility 40 miles, wind from 250’ at 8 knots, and an altimeter setting of 29.78 inches. The crew was current in the aircraft and qualified for the operation involved. The wreckage site, a flat plowed field, revealed two distinct craters with no impact marks between them. One crater was oriented north/south. Most of the fuselage and left wing wreckage was found north of that crater and within 200 feet of it. The other crater, which contained remains of the right wing and the right engine, was located approximately 35 feet southeast of the fuselage crater. Scattered parts of the right wing were located northeast of the crater formed by that wing. Only one piece of wreckage was found outside the immediate area of the craters. This piece, a fairing from the lower aft wing root, was located 1,160 feet northwest (downwind) of the fuselage crater. Although the entire airframe of N4922V was fragmented, the degree of fragmentation was greater on the right side of the fuselage. Both engines were recovered, still attached to portions of their wing attach structure. No evidence of any pre-existing damage was noted on the engine mounts. The engines revealed no evidence of malfunction or failure prior to impact. Neither engine was producing power at impact. Both propellers were found in the feathering range: Disassembly and examination of both fuel controls, the fuel pumps, and the propeller governors revealed no discrepancies except for impact damage. All 12 occupants were killed.

The pilot, sole on board, was performing a fire fighting mission in the region of Springerville, Arizona. Approaching the drop zone, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames. The pilot was killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Donaldson Center Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It banked left then stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

On touchdown at Alief-Andrau Airpark, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On final approach to Cheyenne Municipal Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (snow falls) when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames and exploded few dozen yards from the airfield and was totally destroyed by fire. All five crew members were killed. The aircraft had just carried 15 young cadets to the Air Force Academy.
Crew:
Lt Col Frank L. Trochak,
Maj Fabian Dauzvardis,
Maj James C. Beach,
S/Sgt Paul Huston +1.

En route from Fremont (Nebraska) to Torrington, Wyoming, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with several cloud layers down to low altitude. In flight, control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was found six days later and both pilots were killed.