Crash of a Lockheed C-121S Super Constellation off Levittown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1990 at 1745 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HI-515CT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Santo Domingo
MSN:
4192
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
16822
Circumstances:
The captain of the airplane elected to take off on a three engine ferry flight without authorization. During the three engine climb out with the n°3 propeller feathered, the n°2 engine caught fire and he could not extinguish the fire. He attempted to return and during the descent the n°1 engine failed. He then intentionally ditched the airplane in the ocean, and received fatal injuries. The airplane was not recovered from the ocean and no determination of cause could be ascertained.
Probable cause:
Fire of an undetermined origin that resulted in a loss of power in two engines during a three engine ferry flight. Factors related to the accident were: failure of the pilot to obtain the required authorization for the three engine ferry flight, and his operation of the aircraft with known deficiencies.
Final Report:

Crash of a GAF Nomad N.22B in Leongatha

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1990 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-DNM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leongatha - Leongatha
MSN:
25
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On completion of temporary repairs following a forced landing accident in a paddock, a permit to fly was issued authorising a ferry flight from the accident site to a nearby strip. During the take off roll the pilot was unable to maintain directional control and the aircraft crossed a drain before striking a fence and overturning. An inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any defect which could have contributed to the loss of directional control. Following the landing accident the property owner had rotary-hoed the paddock to a depth of 10 centimetres. Using a motor vehicle, the pilot compacted a 2.5 metre wide strip along the centreline of the paddock, which sloped approximately 3 degrees down to the north. At the time of the takeoff to the north the wind was from the north-east at 5 knots. The pilot selected a takeoff power setting of 53 percent of the maximum power available which effectively increased the take off ground roll required by approximately 170 metres.
Probable cause:
The investigation revealed that after a 50 metre ground roll the left main wheel entered the rotary-hoed area. The aircraft then veered further to the left before striking the fence and overturning.
The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:
- The strip width was inadequate for the safe operation of the aircraft.
- The pilot did not maintain directional control during the take-off.
- The pilot delayed abandoning the take-off.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Boca Raton

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1990 at 0009 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N335GP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Wilmington - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
404-0009
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1487
Captain / Total hours on type:
35.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3286
Circumstances:
While level after descending, the right engine quit. Pilot feathered the propeller, advised ATC, and was diverting to alternate when left engine quit. He positioned the left engine boost pump to high and low with negative results, but did not feather the propeller. Position of boost pumps, when engines quit, was not determined. Aircraft landed on overpass that was under construction. There was fuel leakage after accident due to aircraft damage. Fuel quantity was sufficient. Examination of aircraft revealed right engine flexible duct from turbocharger to plenum chamber separated due to loose clamp. Hose was installed and club prop installed for each engine run. Both engines operated normally. Induction air hose was pulled during right engine run. Engine ran rough due to excessive rich mixture. No determination could be made for the reason of the left engine power loss.
Probable cause:
Loss of power in the right engine due to a disconnected duct between the turbocharger and the plenum chamber. The reason for the loss of power in the left engine was not determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar II in Miami: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1990 at 1142 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N96GS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Dallas
MSN:
5068
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
12500
Captain / Total hours on type:
900.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8791
Circumstances:
Flight was a 3-engine ferry with the #4 engine shut down. During takeoff roll at V1 the #2 engine overheat light came on. According to the copilot the pilot reduced throttle slightly and continued the takeoff. After lift-off the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane could not be stopped on the remaining runway and collided with antennas, approach lights and a construction site 1,180 feet from the departure end of the runway. Postcrash exam of the 3 operating engines did not reveal any evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. A failed resistor was found in the #2 engine electronic engine control (eec). This would cause the unit to over-schedule fuel to the engine resulting in hotter engine operating temperatures. Retarding the throttle would reduce fuel flow to within normal ranges for engine operation. Under conditions that existed at the time of the accident, the airplane would have a 3-engine rate-of-climb of 1,398 fpm, and a 2-engome rate-of-climb of 350 fpm. The captain was killed while the copilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper decision to reject the takeoff after the airplane had passed V1 speed and lifted off the runway. A factor was a malfunctioning #2 engine electronic engine control which caused the unit to over-schedule fuel to the engine resulting in hotter operating temperatures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off Petersburg

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1989 at 1105 LT
Registration:
N8042X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Petersburg - Ketchikan
MSN:
19041
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9500
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10762
Circumstances:
Immediately after takeoff at 200-300 feet agl, a portion of fabric separated from the right aileron. While maneuvering the aircraft the pilot's control wheel became free, and he elected to ditch using full rudder and differential power. Examination of the pilot's control wheel aileron control chain revealed that the chain failed due to overload. The right seat was occupied by a mechanic employed by the operator and held a private pilot certificate with single and multi engine rating. He stated that he suggested to the pilot that his controls were functioning normally, but the pilot disagreed and proceeded to ditch the aircraft. Examination of the right control yoke revealed aileron movement in the correct direction.
Probable cause:
The pilot's improper decision to ditch the aircraft when it could have been flown back to the airport using the right seat controls. Contributing factor(s) was: the failure and separation of a portion of the right aileron fabric, and the pilot's excessive force applied to the control wheel which resulted in overstressing the aileron control chain.
Final Report:

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-300F in West Lafayette: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1989 at 0726 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N128MP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Terre Haute - West Lafayette
MSN:
2139
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7294
Captain / Total hours on type:
2097.00
Aircraft flight hours:
24088
Circumstances:
An IFR flight was terminated with a visual approach. Conditions were conducive to airframe icing. The aircraft was being positioned empty, with a cg at 22.1% mac. On short final, at approximately 400 feet agl, 35° of landing flap was selected. The aircraft was observed to pitch downward to an unusual attitude and to enter a steep descent. A partial recovery was observed before the aircraft impacted a dirt hill 500 feet short of runway 28. Examination of the airframe after the accident revealed 1/2 to 3/4 inch of rime ice adhering to the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. No ice was found on any other portion of the airframe. Evidence in the cockpit indicated that engine, pitot, and windshield anti-ice systems were on, but wing/empennage deice was off. No evidence of a powerplant or systems malfunction was found. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
A loss of control due to the improper inflight decisions by the crew and the undetected accumulation of ice on the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer, during flight in a forward center of gravity condition and exacerbated by the extension of full landing flaps.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 10 in Rio de Janeiro

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1989 at 1149 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-ASJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
095
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, the aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in the Guanabara Bay. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1989 at 1200 LT
Registration:
N41169
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Norfolk Island
MSN:
31-8452009
YOM:
1984
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9000
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
During cruise flight, the right engine suddenly lost oil pressure. The pilot could see that oil was coming out of the engine area. The pilot shut the engine down. Due to high gross weight, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude on the remaining engine. The airplane was ditched in the ocean and not recovered. The pilot was rescued a day later.
Probable cause:
Loss of oil pressure due to unknown circumstances. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the overweight condition of the airplane necessitated by overwater fuel requirements.
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - mech failure/malf
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (c) fluid, oil - no pressure
2. 1 engine
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
3. (c) aircraft performance, engine out capability - exceeded
----------
Occurrence #3: ditching
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
4. Terrain condition - water, rough
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 501 Citation I/SP in Salzburg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1988 at 1604 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FFK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Salzburg – Innsbruck
MSN:
501-0124
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Salzburg-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Airport runway 16/34, while climbing to a height of 3,300 feet, the crew initiated a right turn when the aircraft collided with a private Cessna 172 registered OE-DLC and carrying four people. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed few km west of the airport. All six people in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Reykjavik: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1988 at 1742 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GILU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ottawa – Goose Bay – Narsarsuaq – Reykjavik – Nantes
MSN:
245
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
4049
Circumstances:
The CASA 212 was bought by Geoterrex in 1983 and registered in Canada in 1985. The plane had been extensively modified for aerial survey work. These modifications consisted of two probes mounted on the fuselage above the cockpit and extending 10 feet in front of the aircraft nose, a l6-foot tail boom, and two wing tip pylons. The probes, pylons, and tail boom served to support a wire loop antenna which ran around the aircraft. In July 1988 the plane was prepared for a ferry flight across the Atlantic to Nantes, France. For the purposes of this ferry trip, the survey loop antenna and the wing tip pylons had been removed and stowed in the main cabin area. For this configuration a special ferry permit was necessary, but the company did not apply for one. On July 31, 1988 the aircraft departed Ottawa and arrived at Goose Bay later that day. On 2 August 1988, the aircraft departed Goose Bay at 09:05 UTC and arrived at Narsarsuaq, Greenland at 12:50 UTC. The aircraft was refuelled and departed one hour later at 13:50 UTC for Reykjavik, Iceland, at a planned altitude of FL130. Although the pilot’s instrument rating had expired and the co-pilot did not possess one, the crew filed an IFR flight plan to Reykjavik. The weight of the aircraft was about 3,000 pounds above the maximum authorized takeoff weight on takeoff from Narsarsuaq. At Reykjavik, the crew flew an ILS approach to runway 20. During the approach, the flaps were set at approximately 25 degrees, 15 degrees above the approved maximum of 10 degrees. Approximately one-half mile from the runway threshold, the aircraft entered a steep turn to the right, and the nose of the aircraft dropped sharply. The aircraft continued to turn to the right through 270 degrees and descended rapidly until it struck the ground approximately 900 feet short of the runway threshold. The aircraft burst into flames shortly after impact.
Probable cause:
The crew lost control of the aircraft most probably because of large fluctuations in the power output of the right engine caused by the shift of an incorrectly installed speeder spring in the right propeller governor.