Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Culpeper: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1980 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6702L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Culpeper – Chantilly – Baltimore
MSN:
31-592
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4601
Captain / Total hours on type:
223.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Culpeper Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane baked right then lost height, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure during initial climb for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Still dark at the time of the accident,
- Right engine found shut down and its propeller feathered at impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Earl Stonham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1980 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-LCCO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stapleford - Hethel
MSN:
31-7812082
YOM:
1978
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
822
Captain / Total hours on type:
230.00
Aircraft flight hours:
497
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning from Stapleford Tawney aerodrome, where it had just been serviced, to its base at Hethel aerodrome, near Norwich. When under the surveillance of Honington Radar, the pilot requested and was granted permission to manoeuvre between flight level (FL)75 and FL60. A few minutes later the aircraft was observed on radar to be flying in a south-easterly direction and shortly thereafter to disappear from the radar picture. At about this time the aircraft was heard to be in a high speed descent and was seen to break up at about 2,500 feet. The main portion of the wreckage burst into flames shortly after impact and the pilot, who was the only occupant, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is concluded that the accident was caused by the pilot attempting to recover from a dive whilst flying at a speed considerably in excess of the aircraft's permitted maximum. The excessive speed resulted from his loss of control of the aircraft, most probably following an attempt to perform a prohibited aerobatic manoeuvre.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25D into the Gulf of Mexico: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1980 at 1205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N125NE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
West Palm Beach - New Orleans
MSN:
25-271
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
15740
Captain / Total hours on type:
6062.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4116
Copilot / Total hours on type:
65
Aircraft flight hours:
1200
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico while en route to New Orleans, Louisiana, from West Palm Beach, Florida. Only the pilot and copilot were on board the aircraft. About 2 1/2 minutes after the aircraft was reported at Flight Level 430 in the vicinity of the Covia Intersection on Airway J58, the Jacksonville, Florida, Air Route Traffic Control Center received an unusual staccato sound transmission over the frequency, followed 18 seconds later by a report from the copilot, "Can't get it up...it's in a spin..." About 33 seconds after the first staccato sounds, radio and radar contact with N125NE was lost about 104 miles west of Sarasota, Florida. Floating debris were located by a search aircraft and later recovered; the flightcrew was not found. There were no known witnesses to the crash.
Probable cause:
An unexpected encounter with moderate to severe clear air turbulence, the flightcrew's improper response to the encounter, and the aircraft's marginal controllability characteristics when flown at and beyond the boundary of its high altitude speed envelope, all of which resulted in the aircraft exceeding its Mach limits and a progressive loss of control from which recovery was not possible. Contributing to the accident was the disconnection of the Mach overspeed warning horn with an unauthorized cut-out switch which resulted in the absence of an overspeed warning that probably delayed the crew's response to the turbulence encounter, and the insonsistencies in aircraft flight manuals and flightcrew training programs regarding the use of spoilers to regain control.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Podkamennaya Tunguska: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1980 at 1119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-01170
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norilsk-Valyok - Podkamennaya Tunguska - Yeniseysk - Abakan
MSN:
1 79 473 07
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
17306
Circumstances:
The departure from Podkamennaya Tunguska was precipitated (less than 4 minutes between the clearance and the takeoff). After liftoff, while climbing at a height of 8-10 meters, the airplane reached a super critical angle of attack, stalled, banked to the left and crashed 525 meters past the runway end and 77 meters to the left of the extended centerline. The passenger, a company mechanic, was killed while both pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff configuration on part of the crew who forgot to put the trim tab of the horizontal stabilizer into neutral position prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Dysart: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1980
Registration:
VH-EGT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
421B-0933
YOM:
1975
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was engaged in a positioning flight.

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon in Kaipara Harbour: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-BGQ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Auckland - Kaipara Harbour
MSN:
1391
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Kaipara Harbour while on a flight from Mechanics Bay. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a BAe 125-600B at Baldonnel AFB

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
236
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Baldonnel - Baldonnel
MSN:
25256
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was supposed to fly to UK for scheduled maintenance. During the takeoff roll at Baldonnel-Casement Airbase, the airplane collided with a flock of birds. The takeoff procedure was abandoned and the pilot initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Bird strike on takeoff.

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Campinas-Viracopos

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-DZU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
24-244
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at Campinas-Viracopos Airport, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen meters further. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Fort Lauderdale: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1979 at 0723 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N427W
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
43073
YOM:
1946
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Fort Lauderdale-Executive Airport, the airplane failed to gain height, stalled and crashed near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb following a premature liftoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to obtain flying speed,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Pilot did not have DC-3 type rating,
- Airworthiness certificate not issued since the aircraft was imported in the US.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-88 Queen Air near Seminole

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1979 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N707ED
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
El Paso – Lubbock
MSN:
LP-16
YOM:
1966
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
20175
Captain / Total hours on type:
620.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a single engine positioning flight from El Paso to Lubbock. En route, the remaining engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a desert area located in the region of Seminole. Both occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
In-flight engine malfunction and subsequent wheels-up landing caused by a cylinder assembly failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Fire in engine,
- Fire warning system: powerplant,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Single engine ferry flight to repair the other engine.
Final Report: