Crash of a Cessna 401 in Albuquerque: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1981 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N441RS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Albuquerque - Santa Rosa - Chesapeake
MSN:
401-0027
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6650
Captain / Total hours on type:
1020.00
Circumstances:
Immediately after takeoff from Albuquerque Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb after the pilot misunderstood orders or instructions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- High density altitude, about 9,000 feet,
- The pilot thought ferry permit prohibited use of longer runway due to populated area,
- Uphill gradient.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Columbus: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1981 at 2156 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7007R
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ozark - Augusta
MSN:
411-0047
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
25
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on a flight from Ozark, Alabama, to Augusta, Georgia, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a residential area, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. There were no casualties on ground.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after unqualified person operated the aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the electrical system,
- The pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- The pilot diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- The pilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Battery weak,
- Alternators off during GPU start,
- Emergency gear handle extended, observed without light,
- Dark night.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-209A in West Deering

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1981 at 0850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N18949
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Deering – Melbourne
MSN:
2013
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
85591
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from West Deering-Hawthorne-Feather Airpark, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and rolled left and right. It struck trees, stalled and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both crew members were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb after the crew failed to obtain flying speed. Witnesses stated that the aircraft lifted off approximately 1,700 feet from start in a three point attitude.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair C-131E Samaritan in Dillingham

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1981 at 1617 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N121CA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dillingham - Anchorage
MSN:
342
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9500
Captain / Total hours on type:
630.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Dillingham Airport, while on a company ferry flight to Anchorage, the right engine surged at meto power and the crew was forced to shut it down. The decision to return was taken and the crew followed a circuit pattern then started the descent. On final approach, the airplane descended into trees and crashed in a wooded area located few hundred yards short of runway 01. The aircraft was destroyed while all three occupants escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction during initial climb after exhaust stacks failed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Leak,
- Power indicators failure,
- Governors malfunction,
- Overheated, erratic,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow approved procedures,
- Right engine fire warning light during takeoff,
- Engine surged at meto power,
- Exhaust stack broken,
- Bmep conduit overheated.
Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Libau

Date & Time: May 14, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-GJN
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Libau - Selkirk
MSN:
797
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was being flown on a ferry permit to Selkirk, Manitoba for CofA renewal. The engine failed shortly after takeoff near Libau and the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a fallow field. Floats struck an elevated road on approach and the float brackets failed. The aircraft came to rest on it’s right wing and left float. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine failure was the consequence of a fuel starvation due to a blockage caused by corrosion in the fuel selector valve. Inspection revealed numerous discrepancies which rendered the aircraft unfit for flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in the Mediterranean Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1981
Registration:
F-BJBY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oran - Toulouse
MSN:
7390
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Radar and radio contacts were lost while the aircraft was flying over the Mediterranean Sea on a flight from Oran to Toulouse. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned six days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found. It is believed that the aircraft crashed into the sea south of Balearic Islands.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Cessna 402A in the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GDTW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goose Bay - Keflavik
MSN:
402A-0037
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a ferry flight from Goose Bay to Keflavik, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the North Atlantic Ocean. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DK in the Mediterranean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1980
Registration:
ECT-025
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Madrid - Perpignan - Frankfurt
MSN:
13375
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The DC-3 aircraft had been decommissioned by Spanish Air Force and stored at Madrid-Cuatro Vientos Airport. It was auctioned in July 1979 and bought by Kurfiss Aviation of Germany to become part of an aviation museum. The aircraft was then repaired by mechanics contracted by the new owner. A provisional, restricted Certificate of Airworthiness was issued to allow the airplane to be ferried to Frankfurt via Perpignan Airport (PGF). On the day of the ferry flight a VHF radio was installed but two-way communication could not be established. The departure was delayed until finally took off at 15:29 hours, without authorization, using a runway which was not rated for the weight of the DC-3 aircraft. There was no communication with the flight due to the radio problems. The aircraft presumably reached the zone of Barcelona in very low visibility conditions, due to both the hazy conditions and the diminishing daylight hours. The airplane did not arrive at Perpignan. A search operation was started but no sign of the plane was found. It is presumed to have crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Saint-Agrève: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1980
Registration:
G-CTHS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Saint-Tropez-La Môle - Helfpenny Green
MSN:
31-7952100
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Saint Tropez-La Môle Airport on a ferry flight to Halfpenny Green, Staffordshire. While cruising over the region of Valence, Drôme, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a pasture located near Saint-Agrève. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Münster: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1980 at 1617 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-IBUD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Münster-Telgte - Münster-Osnabrück
MSN:
500-0656-16
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft and its crew took part to an airshow that day at Münster-Telgte Airport. At the end of the afternoon, the crew departed Telgte Airport to return to his base at Münster-Osnabrück Airport. About two minutes after takeoff, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed onto a farm located about 3,5 km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that during initial climb, the crew shut down one engine and feathered its propeller for unknown reasons. Investigations did not reveal any technical issues on the engine. The fact that one engine was cut caused the aircraft to lose speed and height.