Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Boeing B-52C-45-BO Stratofortress off Charlevoix: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
54-2666
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Westover - Westover
MSN:
17161
YOM:
1954
Location:
Charlevoix
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While conducting a low-level route at night (training mission from Westover AFB), the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Michigan off Charlevoix, Michigan. Few debris were found but not the wreckage. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Gerald W. Black, pilot,
1st Lt Dennis Ferguson, copilot,
Lt Col John M. Somonfy Jr., navigator,
Lt Col William Lemmon, navigator,
Cpt John E. Weaver, navigator,
Cpt Joel G. Hirsh, navigator,
Maj Donald F. Rosseau, EWO,
1st Lt Douglas Bachman, EWO,
T/Sgt Jerry M. Achey, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in New York-LaGuardia

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N7
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Calibration
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Johnstown - New York
MSN:
20426
YOM:
1944
Location:
New York-LaGuardia
New York
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:
9711
Captain / Total hours on type:
112.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9169
Copilot / Total hours on type:
470
Circumstances:
A Federal Aviation Administration Douglas C-47, N7, crashed approximately 2,000 feet short of the approach threshold of runway 06 at LaGuardia Airport, New York. The crew was attempting to fly an Instrument Landing System approach in instrument meteorological conditions at night. The LaGuardia weather reported 3 minutes after the accident was: '200 feet scattered, measured 300 broken, 600 overcast, visibility 1 1/2 mile, light rain, fog, wind 060° at 11 knots, altimeter 29.63 inches, runway 04, visibility variable to 3 miles.
Probable cause:
The board determines that the probable cause of this accident was: the failure of the pilot to recognize the windshear conditions and compensate for it; the lack of crew coordination in that the copilot did not monitory the approach due to a self-induces communications problem and failed to warn the pilot that the aircraft was too low; and the diversion of tho pilot's attention from his primary task of completing the approach and landing. These conditions resulted in a mismanaged ILS and landing approach and the continuation of the descent into ground obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401A in Fort Lauderdale: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
N6235Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Augusta – Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
401A-0035
YOM:
1969
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2575
Captain / Total hours on type:
418.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, the pilot was too close to a preceding Boeing 727 and was cautioned by ATC about wake turbulences. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach because the pilot failed to follow the approved procedures. The airplane encountered turbulences approximately 95 seconds behind and below a landing Boeing 727 flight path. The pilot was cautioned by tower about wake turbulences.
Final Report:

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.125-1A in Boise: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Registration:
N36MK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Billings - Boise
MSN:
25073
YOM:
1966
Location:
Boise
Idaho
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:
16871
Captain / Total hours on type:
2183.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Boise International Airport by night and marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a mountain located 10 miles northeast of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who failed to follow the approved procedures. The following factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Aircraft northeast circling, ILS approach to runway 10L,
- Leveling at 10,000 feet then descended below the minimum safe altitude of 8,600 feet until striking the ground at an altitude of 5'690 feet MSL.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18S in Lansing

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
Registration:
N2345Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iron Mountain - Lansing
MSN:
BA-626
YOM:
1962
Location:
Lansing
Michigan
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:
6267
Captain / Total hours on type:
2535.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Lansing Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a reduced visibility due to freezing rain and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. Both pilots were seriously wounded and the aircraft was destroyed. It was completing a cargo flight from Iron Mountain.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to maintain flying speed while completing an approach in icing conditions including freezing rain and fog. The following factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Low ceiling, fog and freezing rain,
- Stalled on ILS approach due to airframe icing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Waukesha: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Ben K. Odell
Registration:
N4045Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Milwaukee – Waukesha
MSN:
402-0145
YOM:
1967
Location:
Waukesha
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2647
Captain / Total hours on type:
89.00
Circumstances:
While descending into the traffic pattern to Waukesha Airport, at an altitude of 800 feet, the Cessna 402 collided with a Cessna 150 registered N6175G with two people on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Both pilot failed to see and avoid each other while descending to Waukesha, an uncontrolled airport. Both aircraft were not under radar contact at the time of the collision that occurred in a 45° horizontal angle.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FP near Henryville: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Results
Registration:
N188HC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cincinnati – Liberal
MSN:
680-1220-115
YOM:
1963
Location:
Henryville
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2400
Circumstances:
En route from Cincinnati to Liberal, the twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in the region of Henryville. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight for undetermined reason. Investigations reported an overload failure and a separation in flight of the elevator assembly (attachments) for unknown reason. The flight phase when the airframe failure occurred remains unknown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in McAlpin: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
William J. Whitehurst II
Registration:
N6170X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Gainesville – Tallahassee
MSN:
500-1032-42
YOM:
1961
Location:
McAlpin
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:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1235
Captain / Total hours on type:
1023.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude over North Florida, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. The airplane went through a large area of adverse weather with thunderstorm activity when control was lost. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions consisting of turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm activity. Due to turbulences and severe weather, both wings and tail separated in flight, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable. The pilot flew into an area of known thunderstorms.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Youngstown: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Great Lakes Aviation
Registration:
N3604B
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chicago - Youngstown
MSN:
BA-22
YOM:
1954
Location:
Youngstown-Warren
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1411
Captain / Total hours on type:
382.00
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Youngstown Airport while on a cargo flight from Chicago, both engines stopped simultaneously. The airplane lost height, struck trees then crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on approach caused by a mismanagement of fuel on part of the pilot-in-command. The following factors were reported:
- Fuel starvation,
- The fuel selector was positioned between tanks,
- Failure of both engines,
- Both fuel selectors not fully open.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland TU-6A Beaver in Burlington: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
51-16489
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Burlington - Laconia - Bedford - Warwick
MSN:
253
YOM:
1952
Location:
Burlington
Vermont
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
LTC Mendes of the U.S. 1st Army borrowed the plane, designated as a TU-6A from the Rhode Island Army National Guard on the previous day (Saturday) under the pretence of obtaining additional flight time for his certification. Officially, Mendes’ mission was to deliver a helicopter part to the Vermont Army National Guard. He took off from the Theodore Francis Green airport in Warwick, RI., and flew to Burlington, VT., with two stops en route – contrary to his official flight plan. At Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA., he picked up three persons – all unauthorized civilians. In Laconia, NH., they were joined by another unauthorized civilian. On arrival in Burlington, they stopped overnight. Sunday afternoon, the TU-6A Beaver took off from Burlington in a serious snow squall and shortly after lift-off LTC Mendes radioed that he was experiencing trouble with an aileron. The aircraft subsequently spun into the ground. It appears that no pre flight check was completed and the accident was caused by a build up of ice on the wings. The aircraft is reported as destroyed and the pilot and the four passengers received fatal injuries.
Source: www.dhc-2.com
Probable cause:
The aircraft stalled after takeoff due to an excessive accumulation of ice on wings and fuselage. Poor flight preparation as the aircraft was not deiced prior to departure.
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