United States of America

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8340

Captain / Total hours on type:

40.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Anchorage on a survey flight to Kantishna, taking part to a SAR mission after a helicopter was missing. On approach to Mt McKinley, the airplane went out of control and crashed onto a slope of the the mountain. The wreckage was found a day later and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The aircraft stalled in flight because de pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following findings were reported:
- Downdrafts,
- Flaps found extended to 30°,
- Wind gusting up to 20 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-40-DL Invader in Los Angeles: 6 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

N9405Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Los Angeles - Los Angeles

MSN:

7266

YOM:

1941

Location:

Los Angeles

California

Country:

Region:

Lockheed 12 Electra Junior

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11131

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames onto a house located in the district of El Segundo, by the airport. The aircraft and the house were totally destroyed and all four crew members were killed as well as two people in the house.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb caused by the following factors:
- Master and connecting rods failure,
- Piston rings failure,
- Material failure,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Complete power loss on left engine,
- Front bank left engine failed,
- Single pilot configuration,
- Left prop not feathered.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 12A Electra Junior in Casper

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Seeley Flying Service

Registration:

N399X

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1223

YOM:

1938

Location:

Casper

Wyoming

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2619

Captain / Total hours on type:

87.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Casper-Hartford Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames near the runway end. All eight occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who took off with the elevator secured by locking batten. Uncontrolled descent until impact.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-65-BW Stratofortress at Castle AFB

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

57-0149

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Castle - Castle

MSN:

464138

YOM:

1957

Location:

Castle AFB

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Castle AFB. All seven crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Medford: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Flying West Airways

Registration:

N1243N

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Medford – Allentown

MSN:

22456

YOM:

1945

Location:

Medford

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 690

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3137

Circumstances:

Following a premature liftoff, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Ground swerve during takeoff run,
- Collision with trees during initial climb,
- Improper operations of brakes and/or flight controls,
- Premature liftoff,
- Failure to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Premature takeoff to avoid aircraft tiedown area after loss of directional control,
- Tailwheel was in unlocked position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Rosedale: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9001N

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Norman - Norman

MSN:

690-11000

YOM:

1969

Location:

Rosedale

Oklahoma

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1454

Captain / Total hours on type:

11.00

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from Norman Airport, consisting of various tests (stalls) in specific conditions. In flight, the pilot-in-command engaged the aircraft in a stall when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a wooded area located in Rosedale, about 28 miles southeast of Norman Airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all threes occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed, causing the aircraft to stall. The lack of familiarity with aircraft was considered as a contributing factor.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-2V Harpoon near Sebring

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Harpoon

Operator:

Master Equipment Company

Registration:

N7260C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sebring - Sebring

MSN:

15-1420

YOM:

1944

Location:

Sebring

Florida

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5053

Captain / Total hours on type:

1051.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed Sebring Airport for a local spraying mission. En route, the left engine failed and the crew delayed the feathering the prop. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed near Sebring. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of a controlled collision with ground while the crew was trying to return to his departure point. Failure of the engine structure caused by a master and connecting rods failure. The following findings were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions on part of the crew,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Complete engine failure due to rear master rod bearing failure,
- Pilot delayed feathering the left prop.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-2H Neptune at Los Alamitos AAF

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

140962

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Los Alamitos - Los Alamitos

MSN:

726-7064

Location:

Los Alamitos AAF

California

Country:

Region:

Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Los Alamitos AAF, following a local training mission, the aircraft crashed short of runway threshold and came to rest. All five crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760A Paris II in Evadale: 4 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

C. L. Hall

Registration:

N760M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Evadale - Slidell

MSN:

YOM:

1959

Location:

Evadale

Texas

Country:

Region: