Crash of a Cessna 401 in Piketon: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8167F
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cincinnati - Parkersburg
MSN:
401-0236
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
8477
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine caught fire that spread to the right wing. An aileron detached, causing the airplane to be uncontrollable. The pilot informed ATC and elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in an open field located in Piketon. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent following the failure of the right engine turbocharger in flight. Escaping heat ignited fuel and oil lines caused the aileron to burn and detach. The following factors were reported:
- Powerplant, engine accessories failure,
- Material failure, fire in engine and wing,
- Separation in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell 1121B Jet Commander in Salt Lake City: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
N403M
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Salt Lake City - Seattle
MSN:
1121-132
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9423
Captain / Total hours on type:
1195.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Salt Lake City Airport, the crew completed the rotation too early. The aircraft stalled then crashed in flames near the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Premature liftoff on part of the flying crew. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- The pilot-in-command failed to obtain flying speed,
- Physical impairment,
- Crew fatigue,
- Improperly loaded aircraft-weight and/or CofG,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Obstructions to vision.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar in Albuquerque: 11 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N410M
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Dalhart
MSN:
2203
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
8030
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
En route from Las Vegas to Dalhart, Texas, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with icing and turbulences. The VFR rated pilot preferred to continue in such conditions when few minutes later, a structural failure occurred on the left wing that detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- The pilot-in-command continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- The pilot-in-command exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Overload failure of airframe, wings spars,
- Separation in flight,
- Icing conditions, including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- The left wing failed and separated in flight,
- The pilot type rated for VFR flight only,
- The aircraft was not fitted with de-icing equipment.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King Air off Galveston: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N500X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Galveston - Galveston
MSN:
LJ-199
YOM:
1967
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
11367
Captain / Total hours on type:
253.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Galveston-Scholes Airport, Texas. Following several approached, the twin engine aircraft was again approaching the airport when it stalled and crashed into the Galveston Bay, about a mile from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on approach as the pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Houston

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N812JR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alief - Alief
MSN:
P-44
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1762
Captain / Total hours on type:
439.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Houston Airport, the pilot started the braking procedure when he inadvertently raised the landing gear. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. The pilot escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot inadvertently retracted the landing gear after touchdown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B near Glenn Falls: 14 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7811M
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Albany – Glenn Falls
MSN:
531
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
MO411
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
5167
Captain / Total hours on type:
343.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3910
Copilot / Total hours on type:
67
Aircraft flight hours:
7553
Circumstances:
Mohawk Airlines flight 411, while en route to Glenn Falls from Albany, New York, crashed about 2020LT in mountainous terrain approximately 9 nautical miles north of the Warren County Airport, Glenn Falls. The flight had been cleared for a VOR approach to runway 19, since the surface wind was from 150° at 12 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The ceiling at Glenn Falls was given as 2,100 feet overcast, and the visibility was 7 miles in light rain. The flight overflew Glenn Falls at 3,000 feet and proceeded north for about 1 minute and 15 seconds at which time a left turn was initiated preparatory to return to the airport to land on runway 19. During the last portion of this turn, the aircraft contacted trees and the northwest slope of the Pilot Knob Mountain on a heading of about 180°, approximately one nautical mile east of Katsskill Bay, New York. It then impacted the face of a rock cliff, after which it dropped approximately 38 feet, became lodged between trees and the side of the mountain, and burned. The elevation of the initial impact with the rock face of Pilot Knob Mountain was approximately 1,960 feet. The three crew members and 11 passengers received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was that the captain, while conducting an approach, exceeded his clearance limits and, thereafter, flew the aircraft into a severe 'lee of the mountain downdraft' at an altitude insufficient for recovery. No evidence was found to explain why this particular approach was attempted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Kerhonkson

Date & Time:
Registration:
N1529U
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Kingston - Erie
MSN:
207-0129
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9633
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode by night, the crew requested an IFR clearance to ATC. Awaiting for it, the crew became lost and disoriented when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Kerhonkson. Both pilots were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain caused by improper in-flight decisions or planning. The crew became lost and disoriented and the aircraft struck an unlighted mountain ridge 7 miles right of the intended course while awaiting IFR clearance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Albany

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9818Z
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Detroit - Valdosta
MSN:
AF-76
YOM:
1952
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1840
Captain / Total hours on type:
800.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight from Detroit to Valdosta. While descending, he realize the fuel reserve was insufficient and decided to divert to Albany when one engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. In poor weather conditions due to fog, the airplane struck trees and crashed few miles from the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during a missed approach due to fuel exhaustion. The following factors were contributing:
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Complete power loss on one engine,
- Fuel exhausted during missed approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell T-39A-1-NA Sabreliner off Eglin AFB

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2871
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eglin - Eglin
MSN:
265-4
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Eglin AFB on a local test flight on board this aircraft that was fitted with radiological test equipment for Project "Have Doughnut". Following an uneventful mission, the crew was approaching the airbase when he encountered foggy conditions. On final, the airplane crashed into the Choctawhatchee, about 2,5 miles short of runway threshold. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank.

Crash of a Learjet 23 off Racine: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1021B
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Benton Harbor - Racine
MSN:
23-086
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
7076
Captain / Total hours on type:
625.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Racine-Batten Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into Lake Michigan, few miles offshore. The floating wreckage was recovered but all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determined the exact cause of the accident and the reason why the crew was approaching the airport below the minimum safe altitude.
Final Report: