Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Diamond Lake

Date & Time:
Registration:
N3191G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Medford - Medford
MSN:
59754
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12707
Captain / Total hours on type:
14.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a firefighting mission and departed Medford Airport around noon. En route, three engines stopped and/or lost power and the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed into Diamond Lake. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Jettisoned load,
- Failure of two or more engine,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Complete power loss on three engines,
- No fuel gauges on aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S off Manitou Beach: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N332R
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rockford - Detroit
MSN:
A-8
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3050
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
The pilot and his passenger departed Rockford in the early morning and completed several flights in the region all along the day. While cruising by night over Lake Michigan, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the lake off Manitou Beach. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight after the pilot became lost/disoriented. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Physical impairment,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Departed Rockford approximately 18 hours prior to the accident,
- Flew 10 hours during the day,
- Attended copilot picnic observed with can beer,
- Toxicologic not decisive.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18 in Delavan

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3333C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Delavan - Glenview
MSN:
BA-36
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4470
Captain / Total hours on type:
445.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from Delavan-Lake Lawn Airport, the left engine lost power. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing but people on the ground forced him to retard this procedure. He attempted to land further but the airplane lost height and crashed in flames in a field. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were injured, the pilot seriously.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following factors were reported:
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision with persons on ground,
- Partial loss of power on one engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401B near Yakima: 1 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7917Q
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Omak – Troutdale
MSN:
401B-0017
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
7029
Captain / Total hours on type:
513.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night under IFR mode with the autopilot system ON, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Yakima. The wreckage was found a day later. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot has been killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was 10 miles of the intended course for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-222 in Philadelphia

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9005U
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Philadelphia - Rochester
MSN:
19043/18
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
UA611
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11236
Captain / Total hours on type:
517.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2319
Copilot / Total hours on type:
736
Aircraft flight hours:
3956
Circumstances:
At 18:50 Boeing 737 "City of Bristol" taxied to runway 09 for departure. At 19:05 the first officer, who was pilot flying, initiated the takeoff roll. Shortly after rotation, at a speed above V2, a loud bang was heard and the aircraft veered to the right. The captain moved both throttles forward but there seemed to be no response. The captain then made the instantaneous decision to set the aircraft back on the runway. The aircraft touched down 1075 feet short of the runway end. The 737 continued of the end of the runway and across the blast pad. It crossed a field, passed through a 6-foot high aluminum chain link fence into an area covered with high grass, weeds and brush. The aircraft came to rest 1634 feet past the end of the runway.
Probable cause:
The termination of the take-off, after the No.1 engine failed, at a speed above V2 at a height of approximately 50 feet, with insufficient runway remaining to effect a safe landing. The captain's decision and his action to terminate the take-off were based on the erroneous judgment that both engines had failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Columbia: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6459C
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Columbia - Columbia
MSN:
2017
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13532
Captain / Total hours on type:
1202.00
Circumstances:
Following a firefighting mission, the crew was returning to Columbia Airport when, on final approach, the airplane was too low and struck a rocky wall located about 252 feet short of runway threshold. The airplane crashed and was destroyed. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the distance, speed and altitude on final approach, causing the aircraft to struck the ground and to crash. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Downwind,
- High temperature,
- Terrain,
- The crew made a 360 turn at low altitude,
- Hit granite boulders 252 feet short of runway, five feet below the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680FL in Butler: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Registration:
N6501V
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Butler - Butler
MSN:
680-1592-112
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2532
Captain / Total hours on type:
208.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Butler-Graham Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
After takeoff, the pilot lost control of the airplane as he failed to maintain flying speed due to the fact that he was intoxicated. The following findings were reported:
- Physical impairment of the pilot,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Aircraft stalled from steep low altitude turn,
- The pilot blood alcohol level was 1,58 ‰.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in McGrath: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
N154R
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
McGrath - Galena
MSN:
6156
YOM:
1942
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
11700
Captain / Total hours on type:
390.00
Circumstances:
At liftoff at McGrath Airport, the airplane went out of control, collided with trees and crashed in flames. A crew member and four passengers were killed while several others were seriously injured. The aircraft was engaged in a fire control activity between McGrath and Galena when the accident occurred.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a diverted attention from operation of aircraft. Collision with high obstructions and fire after impact. It was reported that the pilote rotated at V2 speed and then reduced power when the copilot raised the landing gear. It was observed that the right main gear was still on the ground when retracted, causing the propeller to struck the runway surface.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 200 in Washington DC: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N21CK
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New York-JFK - Washington DC
MSN:
1858
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
JTC106
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10272
Captain / Total hours on type:
108.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
860
Copilot / Total hours on type:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
701
Circumstances:
At approximately 10:48 a.m. eastern daylight time on July 2, 1970, Short Brothers & Harland, Ltd., Skyvan Series 3, N21CK, operated by Jetco Aviation, Inc., Washington, D. C., as air taxi cargo flight, Flight 106, crashed during an approach to Washington National Airport. The aircraft was demolished but did not burn. Both cremnembers received fatal injuries. There were no passengers. According to witnesses, the aircraft was first visible to them, through fog and haze, when it was 700 to 800 feet above and about one-half mile out from the threshold of Runway 15. Shortly after the aircraft came into view of the witnesses, it nosed down and rolled left until the wings were nearly vertical. The nose-down angle steepened progressively until it reached 45° or more. The aircraft struck the water of Roaches Run in this attitude, cartwheeled onto the right wingtip and sank in water 12 to 15 feet deep about 1,800 feet north of the threshold of Runway 15. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of effective elevator control due to the forward shift of improperly secured cargo when the aircraft was placed in a steep nose-down attitude during a landing approach in reduced visibility conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Dublin

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N447S
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dublin – Winston-Salem
MSN:
LC-8
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10598
Captain / Total hours on type:
130.00
Circumstances:
When the pilot proceeded to the engine start-up at Dublin-New River Valley Airport, the left engine could not start for unknown reason. The pilot decided to takeoff with the right engine only. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck power cables and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot exercised poor judgement,
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- The pilot failed to obtain flying speed,
- The pilot failed to maintain directional control,
- Un start left engine on ground,
- Takeoff with right engine only.
Final Report: