Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Algiers - Basel

MSN:

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route on a positioning flight from Algiers to Basel, the crew encountered technical problems with the right engine that failed following a loss of hydraulic pressure. The decision to divert to Valence-Chabeuil Airport for an emergency landing was taken. Eventually, the crew was forced to make a belly landing in an open field located few km from the airfield. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure following a loss of hydraulic pressure.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-3 Islander in Richards Bay

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-IZZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

MSN:

317

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After liftoff from Richards Bay Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck a building then crashed onto the ground. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Oulu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aviatik

Registration:

OH-ACK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

500-1134-76

YOM:

1962

Location:

Oulu

Northern Ostrobothnia

Country:

Finland

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Oulu Airport by night, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances few hundred meters short of runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-14 LodeStar in Asunción

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

N850M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Asunción-Silvio Pettirossi

MSN:

2214

YOM:

1942

Location:

Central

Country:

Paraguay

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash under unknown circumstances while on approach to Asunción-Silvio Pettirossi Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were slightly injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40 in Midland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1974 at 1924 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 40

Operator:

Midwest Oil Corporation

Registration:

N34W

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Midland - Denver

MSN:

282-47

YOM:

1965

Location:

Midland

Texas

Country:

Region:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15367

Captain / Total hours on type:

2770.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Midland Airport, while in initial climb by night, the airplane entered a nose-down attitude then crashed in a huge explosion few miles from the airfield. The airplane disintegrated on impact and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent during initial climb for undetermined reason. Entered a high speed dive and crashed. Near total destruction limited the scope and decisiveness of investigations.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation in Tamarac

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1973 at 1925 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Happy Hours Air Travel Club

Registration:

N6202C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Freeport - Saint Petersburg

MSN:

4002

YOM:

1952

Location:

Tamarac

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

17000

Captain / Total hours on type:

3000.00

Circumstances:

On a positioning flight from Freeport to St Petersburg, the crew was trying to transfer fuel when all four engines stopped simultaneously. The captain reduced his altitude and attempt an emergency belly landing in a open field located in Tamarac. The airplane slid on its belly for few dozen yards before coming to rest. While all eight occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight caused by inadequate supervision of flight and improper use of equipment. The following factors were reported:
- Fuel starvation,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Failure of the fuel system: pumps as the protective devices were corroded,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper transfer of fuel,
- Circuit breaker corroded.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Osinovka: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1973 at 0815 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-35577

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Osinovka – Almaty

MSN:

1G115-28

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1870

Circumstances:

While on a positioning flight from Osinovka-Andreyevka to Almaty for crop-spraying operations for the sovkhoz (state farm) 'Andreyevski' with 2 mechanics and 2 local guides on board, the captain decided not to circumvent the Chubundy (Shybyndy) mountain ridge but to make a straight-in flight. Few minutes later, he encountered below-minima weather conditions and decided to return to Andreyevka but this was too late. Shortly later, while completing a turn in clouds at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the single engine airplane collided with the summit of a ridge located about 15 km northeast of Andreyevka Airport and crashed. Injured, the copilot walked down the mountain to find help. The captain was killed while all five other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain caused by wrong in-flight decisions on part of the captain.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 60 in Montrose: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1973 at 1635 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 60

Operator:

Registration:

N743R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Los Angeles - Montrose - Denver

MSN:

306-11

YOM:

1968

Location:

Montrose

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

84.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2372

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Montrose Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,000 feet, the airplane banked left to an angle of 55° then stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during initial climb after the left engine thrust reverser deployed. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operations of powerplant,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Unwanted thrust reversal,
- Continued operations of left engine at climb power after unwanted in-flight deployment of the left engine thrust reverser.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Blaine: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1973 at 0659 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 40

Operator:

Registration:

N9503Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Anoka County-Blaine (Janes Field)

Schedule:

Blaine - Hibbing

MSN:

282-10

YOM:

1964

Location:

Minnesota

Country:

Region: