United States of America

The crew was engaged in a local test flight and departed Oklahoma-Wiley Post Airport in the early afternoon to test the aircraft that has a new tail design. While cruising at a speed of 243 knots in the vicinity of the airport, the rudder detached. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Bethany, by the airport. All three crew members were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Upon landing on water at False Pass, the seaplane probably hit a submerged object, nosed down and came to rest in water. All four occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane sank by 110 feet deep.

During the takeoff roll at Clanton-Ware Island Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The pilot retracted the gear to maintain directional control and the airplane came to rest in flames. The pilot was uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

On final approach to Bethany Airport by night, the pilot completed a last turn to join the approach path when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames few miles from the airfield. A passenger was seriously injured while four other occupants were killed.

Lehigh Acres Development, Inc., Flight 701, a Martin 404, N40412, departed from Runway 02R at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Chamblee, Georgia, at 0916 e.d.t. on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan to Fort Myers, Florida. Two pilots, two cabin attendants and 29 passengers were on board. The aircraft had been fueled to approximately 800 gallons prior to departure. The weather at the time of takeoff was: Measured 400 feet overcast, visibility 1 mile with very light rain and fog. Atlanta Departure Control established radar and radio contact with the flight one minute after takeoff. .During the climb, there was a loss of power from the No. 2 engine. This loss rapidly deteriorated to the extent that little useful power was being developed. While the crew was working to correct the discrepancy with the No. 2 engine, the No. 1 engine lost power. The crew declared an emergency and reported that they were going down. Departure Control attempted to vector the aircraft to the Atlanta International Airport for an emergency landing. When the aircraft descended below the overcast, the pilot observed Interstate Highway 285 just below and decided to make an emergency landing on the median strip, heading west. Touchdown on the highway occurred at approximately 0930. The aircraft skidded along the highway for approximately one-half mile, struck the side of the Moreland Avenue bridge, and came to rest on top of the bridge. As the aircraft proceeded along the highway, it struck an automobile that was traveling east and inflicted fatal injuries to the five occupants. One passenger in the aircraft received fatal injuries. The two pilots and one flight attendant received serious injuries. Twenty-seven passengers received injuries requiring medical treatment or hospitalization. The aircraft was destroyed by impact; no fire developed.

En route, the left engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck a tree and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot was killed.

While taxiing at Palmdale AFB, the airplane caught fire. The crew immediately stopped then airplane on the taxiway and was able to evacuated the cabin. The aircraft was totally destroyed after 45 minutes of an intense fire. The cause remains unknown.

En route to Fairbanks, while in cruising altitude, the crew encountered engine problems and was unable to maintain de prescribed altitude. He decided to perform an emergency landing in a snow covered ground when the airplane crash landed, slid for dozen yards and came to rest, broken in two. All three occupants were uninjured.

Few minutes after takeoff from North Sioux City-Graham Field, South Dakota, while climbing, the crew encountered technical difficulties and feathered the left propeller. Shortly later, control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames in an open field located near Sioux City. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

While approaching Baker on a flight from San jose, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled, struck trees and crashed few miles from Baker. The wreckage was found four days later, on May 19. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants have been killed.