Ferry

Flight Type:

Northland Regional Council

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Kaitaia – Whangarei

MSN:

125

YOM:

1966

Location:

Kaikohe

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

16.00

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Kaitaia at 1134LT being ferried to Whangarei. En route, the pilot made a low pass over his parent's house located in the Mataraua Valley then completed a 360° probably to gain height when the airplane crashed in the bush about 8 miles southwest of Kaikohe. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of this accident was the inability of the pilot to recover from a stall incurred while manoeuvering an aircraft with unfamiliar performance characteristics at a low level in hilly terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation in Columbus: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1980 at 1359 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Operator:

Air Traders International

Registration:

N74CA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Columbus-Municipal (Bakalar)

Schedule:

Columbus - Seattle

MSN:

4850

YOM:

1959

Location:

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

17250

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

8000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

100

Aircraft flight hours:

20000

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Columbus-Municipal (Bakalar) Airport on a cargo flight to Seattle, carrying a load of aircraft spare parts. After takeoff, during initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck power cables, stalled and crashed in flames in a soybean field. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The flight crew's inadequate and uncoordinated response to the No 2 engine fire warning. The flight engineer failed to correct a gradual power decay on the other engines which occurred while he was retarding the No 2 engine throttle, and the power decay went uncorrected by the pilot and co-pilot. The lack of co-ordination and the lack of corrective action may have been caused by the lack of recent flight crew experience in the L-1049 aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the aircraft's over maximum take-off weight, the crew's use of less than full power for take-off, and the use of less than take-off cowl flaps which precluded adequate engine cooling.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 in Port Orange: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1980 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-240

Operator:

Charles Clay

Registration:

N300GR

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Port Orange - Santo Domingo

MSN:

115

YOM:

1948

Location:

Port Orange-Spruce Creek

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:

7300

Captain / Total hours on type:

25.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Port Orange-Spruce Creek Airport, the right engine caught fire and exploded. The crew failed to abort the takeoff and continued. During initial climb, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft descended, crashed in a field and burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground during initial climb after the crew attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to abort takeoff,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Fire in engine,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- The crew was aware that oil lines were 15 years old,
- The aircraft was approximately 7,353 lbs over gross weight for takeoff conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-10 Marquise in Henderson: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1980 at 2042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Interflight

Registration:

N307MA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Las Vegas-Henderson Executive (Sky Harbour)

Schedule:

San Angelo – Albuquerque – Henderson

MSN:

0007

YOM:

1967

Location:

Nevada

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

808

Circumstances:

On approach to Henderson-Sky Harbor Airport, the pilot encountered technical problems with the fuel supply system. On final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in a rocky area located one mile short of runway. The aircraft burst into flames and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Stall on traffic pattern-circling after the pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Fuel system: other,
- Material failure,
- ATC failed to advise the pilot of unsafe airport conditions,
- Airport facilities: other,
- Precautionary landing on airport,
- Low on fuel,
- Wingtip tank sniffer valve o-ring seal failed before flight,
- Diverted to unlighted runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25B near Conlon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1980 at 1719 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Thunderbird Airways

Registration:

N25TA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Vernal - Houston

MSN:

25-196

YOM:

1975

Location:

Conlon

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7800

Captain / Total hours on type:

1000.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 41,200 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent following an airframe failure in flight. The airplane crashed in an open field and was totally destroyed. Both pilots who were completing a ferry flight from Vernal to Houston were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight, separation in flight and subsequent uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Ecuador: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Ecuavia

Registration:

HC-AQC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

31-397

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane crashed in a mountainous area located in Ecuador. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Escondido: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1980 at 0824 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Stephen H. Elmore

Registration:

N15SE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brawley - McCllelan-Palomar

MSN:

421C-0115

YOM:

1976

Location:

Escondido

California

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6500

Captain / Total hours on type:

109.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Brawley Airport at 0800LT on a ferry flight to McClellan-Palomar Airport where the aircraft was supposed to follow a maintenance check. En route, control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames in Lake Wohlford, northeast of Escondido. The burnt wreckage was found 31 hours later. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Leeds-Bradford

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 404 Titan

Operator:

Registration:

G-WING

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

MSN:

404-0442

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a ferry flight to Leeds-Bradford Airport so the airplane could be taken by Northair Aviation for a 50 hour maintenance check. On approach, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions with strong winds and heavy rain falls. The airplane was unstable and landed too far down the runway. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, struck a fence and eventually came to rest on a road. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Due to poor weather, all other flights were diverted to other airport.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 near Santa Fe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1979 at 1319 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6194X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Albuquerque - Denver

MSN:

500-1055-44

YOM:

1961

Location:

Santa Fe

New Mexico

Country:

Region: