Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Oakland

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1993 at 0302 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N494
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
AF-466
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2400
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
25
Aircraft flight hours:
5480
Circumstances:
The non-certificated foreign military pilot (first pilot) and a U.S. Certificated airline transport pilot (second pilot) planned to ferry an airplane to Australia with an intermediate stop in Hawaii. Auxiliary fuel and engine oil tanks were installed in the airplane. The airplane had been authorized a special airworthiness certificate for over gross weight operations for the ferry flight. The first pilot had accrued 50 hours and the second pilot accrued 25 hours in the accident airplane prior to the overweight departure. During the takeoff, the airplane became airborne at 100 knots of airspeed. The airplane pitched up and began to dutch roll. At about 50 feet above the ground, the airplane stalled and descended to the runway. A fire erupted in the cabin area.
Probable cause:
A premature lift off and inadvertent stall by the pilot-in-command. Contributing to the accident was insufficient available aircraft performance data after a ferry tank installation and both pilots lack of total experience in the airplane.
Final Report:

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante near Narsarsuaq

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1991
Operator:
Registration:
N731A
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Springfield - Goose Bay - Narsarsuaq - Southend
MSN:
110-275
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Icing conditions forced the crew to descend from 9,000 feet to get below the clouds. The twin engine aircraft struck an ice sheet at a speed of 180 knots at a height of 5,125 feet. Cloud base was reported to be 3,000 feet with a wind at 7 knots from 7° and 10 km visibility in moderate rain. All three crew members survived the accident and were picked up by the Danish Navy in a Lynx helicopter. The departure airport of the ferry flight was Springfield Airport, MO (SGF) and the final destination was going to be Southend Municipal Airport (SEN), UK.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Ottawa

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1991
Operator:
Registration:
N285L
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
565
YOM:
1964
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
13463
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Ottawa Airport. The pilot, sole on board, was injured. The aircraft was on a delivery flight.

Crash of a Boeing 727-247 in the Atlantic Ocean: 16 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1990 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1303
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Valetta – London – Reykjavik – Gander – Miami – Lima
MSN:
20266
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
After being leased to Air Malta for few months, the aircraft was repatriated to Peru via London, Reykjavik, Gander and Miami. On the leg from Reykjavik to Gander, while at cruising altitude, the crew declared an emergency and elected to ditch the aircraft when contact was lost. Apparently, the aircraft crashed in the Atlantic Ocean about 290 km southeast from the Newfoundland coast. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the crew reported a low fuel warning.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in the Grenville Channel

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1989
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5323G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Phoenix – Port Hardy – Prince Rupert – Gustavus
MSN:
91
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Phoenix to Gustavus, AK, to be delivered to its new operator Glacier Bay Airways. On the leg from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the engine exploded and oil spread on the windscreen. The crew ditched the aircraft in the Grenville Channel and was quickly rescued. The aircraft sank and was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Engine explosion for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise in the Pacific Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1988 at 0721 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N296MA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tulsa – Oakland – Honolulu – Majuro – Cairns
MSN:
592
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During a flight at night from Majuro, Marshall Islands to Cairns, Australia, the pilot requested a descent from FL190 to 12,000 feet to remove ice from the airframe. Later, he requested a climb to FL200. After starting the climb, he made a mayday call to Sydney flight service and reported the aircraft was in an uncontrolled descent. No further transmission was received from the aircraft. The aircraft was presumed to have crashed at sea, about 370 miles east-northeast of Cairns. Neither the aircraft nor the pilot was found. Thunderstorms were reported in the area and the pilot reported being in the clouds during an earlier descent to 12,000 feet. An investigation revealed the aircraft was being ferried from Tulsa, OK. A previous pilot, who flew it to Oakland, refused to continue the flight due to a cabin pressurization problem. A 2nd pilot, who was going to continue the flight, returned to Oakland and landed the aircraft in an overweight condition, which resulted in structural damage. A 3rd pilot continued the flight, making stops in Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: missing aircraft
Phase of operation: unknown
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined
2. Operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed - pilot in command
3. Light condition - dark night
4. Weather condition - thunderstorm
5. Weather condition - icing conditions
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 at March AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1988 at 1140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N745F
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wichita – Tucson – Chino
MSN:
23-077
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6800
Circumstances:
After landing at the aircraft's manufacturer facility with an asymmetric fuel condition and an inoperative yaw damper the crew elected to continue the flight to their destination without correcting the deficiencies. Enroute the captain informed air traffic controllers that he had fuel coming from one tank and that he doubted that had fuel available to reach his destination. The controller cleared the aircraft to land at a March AFB, the nearby airport. As the aircraft turned onto the final approach it rolled inverted and impacted the ground inverted short of runway 32. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot decided to conduct his flight with known aircraft deficiencies. Induced company pressure to deliver the aircraft to its destination is considered to have been a factor in the accident.
Findings:
Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
1. (f) autopilot/flight director - inoperative
2. (c) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted - pilot in command
3. (f) fuel system, transfer pump - inoperative
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340 in Georgetown: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1988 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7828Q
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
340-0241
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1005
Aircraft flight hours:
1175
Circumstances:
The pilot in the right seat had hired the pilot in the left seat to ferry the airplane to Germany, then to Turkey. A four tank ferry fuel system was installed but a weight and balance check was not made. During the tkof, the aircraft would not climb. Afterward the airplane was computed to have been overweight and the cg was aft of the rear limit. The left wing hit trees and the right wing hit two fences. After colliding with the terrain, the airplane burned. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Findings
1. (c) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
2. (c) aircraft weight and balance - exceeded - pilot in command
3. (c) lift-off - premature - pilot in command
4. (c) airspeed - inadequate - pilot in command
5. (f) object - tree(s)
6. (f) object - fence
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: takeoff - initial climb
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander near Desert Center: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1987 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N25MR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
El Paso - Santa Paula
MSN:
881
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1119
Circumstances:
The pilot was hired to ferry an Islander from El Paso, TX to Santa Paula, CA. He represented himself to the ferry company as being an experienced Islander pilot. No previous Islander flight time was found in the pilot's logbook. It was the pilot's 40th birthday and he was anxious to complete the flight. He neither filed flight plans nor had current charts. Approaching the Chiriaco summit area along I-10 the terrain rose and a ground-based witness reported clouds were low. The pilot continued the westbound flight. Evidence indicated an overstressed aircraft and an in-flight breakup. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: maneuvering
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
2. Terrain condition - rising
3. (f) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
4. (f) self-induced pressure - pilot in command
5. Lack of total experience in type of aircraft - pilot in command
6. (c) design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded - pilot in command
7. Wing - separation
8. Flight control surfaces/attachments - separation
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20D off Keflavik

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1987 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-EFI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Palm Beach – Bedford – Goose Bay – Keflavik
MSN:
189
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Recently purchased by the Spanish operator Drenair, the aircraft departed West Palm Beach, Florida, on a delivery flight to Spain, carrying four passengers and two pilots. After a fuel stop in Bedford, Massachusetts, and Goose Bay, Newfoundland, the aircraft continued to Keflavik, Iceland. While approaching Keflavik, the crew declared an emergency due to fuel exhaustion, informed ATC about his position and ditched the aircraft approximately 70 km southwest of Keflavik. All six occupants were quickly rescued by the crew of a helicopter while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew encountered strong and unexpected headwinds, causing a higher fuel consumption than calculated. Due to fuel exhaustion, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft. It is unclear if both engines failed or not prior to ditching.