United States of America

Survivors:

Site:

Grand Canyon-National Park

Schedule:

Grand Canyon – Los Angeles

MSN:

BA-545

YOM:

1960

Location:

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2300

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from runway 21 at Grand Canyon-National Park Airport, while in initial climb by night, the crew initiated a right turn when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames. The airplane was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flying crew who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Improperly loaded aircraft and/or CofG.,
- High density altitude,
- Turned right into rising terrain,
- Over max gross weight about 257 pounds,
- Density altitude about 7,200 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 720-047B in Ontario: 5 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 720

Operator:

Registration:

N3166

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Los Angeles - Ontario

MSN:

19439/621

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

WA366

Location:

Ontario

California

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:

19714

Captain / Total hours on type:

3780.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

15767

Copilot / Total hours on type:

3840

Aircraft flight hours:

11521

Aircraft flight cycles:

7011

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training flight from Los Angeles to Ontario. The pilot under supervision was supposed to complete an ILS approach with one engine inoperative, to make a missed approach and a go-around procedure. On final to runway 25R, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field. The airplane was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The failure of the aircraft rudder hydraulic actuator support fitting. The failure of the fitting resulted in the inapparent loss of left rudder control which, under the conditions of the flight, precluded the pilots’ ability to maintain directional control during a simulated engine-out missed-approach. The existing weather conditions degraded external visual cues, thereby hampering rapid assessment of aircraft performance by the flight check captain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Red Devil

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Vanderpool Flying Service

Registration:

N49319

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bethel – Red Devil

MSN:

15231/26676

YOM:

1944

Location:

Red Devil

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7500

Captain / Total hours on type:

4000.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Red Devil Airfield, the airplane hit a 3-foot high unmarked snowberm and came to rest. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The airport supervisory personnel failed to notify of unsafe conditions and failed to mark the obstruction. The following factors were reported:
- Unmarked obstructions at airport,
- Airport conditions, snow on runway,
- Overload failure,
- Unmarked snowberm on runway 3 feet high and 40 feet from the edge of the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Helendale: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

World West Aviation

Registration:

N2727B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Van Nuys – Helendale

MSN:

560-227

YOM:

1955

Location:

Helendale

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

400

Captain / Total hours on type:

4.00

Circumstances:

While on approach to Helendale Airport, the twin engine aircraft speed was too low. The left wing dropped and the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed. They were completing an electrical chute device drop test from Van Nuys Airport.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Lubbock

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

N25

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Calibration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lubbock - Lubbock

MSN:

10243

YOM:

1943

Location:

Lubbock

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7774

Captain / Total hours on type:

3364.00

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a check of the Lubbock Airport facilities. During the takeoff roll, the airplane became uncontrollable, veered off runway and came to rest with its undercarriage raised. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to maintain directional control and failed to obtain/maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Improper level off,
- The aircraft veered with different engine power,
- The tailwheel was not locked.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Milwaukee: 1 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Peck Meat Packing

Registration:

N3283R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kearney - Milwaukee

MSN:

411-0283

YOM:

1968

Location:

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7216

Captain / Total hours on type:

230.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Milwaukee Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog. He continued the descent and passed below the MDA when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 5,7 miles short of runway. A passenger was killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- Descended below MDA.

Crash of a Volpar E18S in Columbia: 8 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Volpar Turboliner 18

Operator:

Registration:

N47A

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cleveland – Columbia – Fort Myers

MSN:

BA-153

YOM:

1956

Location:

Columbia

South Carolina

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:

1504

Captain / Total hours on type:

35.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a flight from Cleveland to Fort Myers with an intermediate stop at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, South Carolina. On approach, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions and obtained a special VFR clearance. On final, as he was unable to locate the airport, he decided to make a go-around when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames one mile short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation. The following factors were reported:
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- Special VFR clearance.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Houston

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

E. W. Brown

Registration:

N99H

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houston - Houston

MSN:

15840/32588

YOM:

1945

Location:

Houston-C.R.C. Crose

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

19000

Captain / Total hours on type:

3550.00

Circumstances:

Both crew members were involved in a local test flight. During the takeoff roll, right main gear brake dragged. To avoid a collision with trees located past the runway end, the pilot made a ground loop. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Aborted takeoff due to landing gear problems. The following factors were reported:
- Landing gear, braking system,
- Improper clearance/tolerance,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Intentional ground loop,
- Right brake dragged on takeoff,
- Assembly changed and adjusted 2 days prior to the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Iowa City

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N8000Y

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit – Iowa City

Location:

Iowa City

Iowa

Country:

Region: