Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R off Ventura: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1967 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Sabreliner 40
Operator:
Registration:
N739R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
282-078
YOM:
1966
Location:
Ventura
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7224
Captain / Total hours on type:
950.00
Circumstances:
While flying at a cruising altitude along the California coast, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed into the sea some six miles off Ventura. Both crew members were killed and only few debris were found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V in Moscow: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1967 at 0328 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75563
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
184 0078 02
YOM:
1964
Location:
Moscow-Domodedovo
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
2264
Aircraft flight cycles:
929
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Krasnoyarsk to Moscow-Domodedovo, the crew was supposed to complete a positioning flight to Moscow-Vnukovo Airport on behalf of the 235th Separate Aviation Detachment for the Soviet Government. Less than two minutes after takeoff from Domodedovo Airport, while climbing by night, the pilot-in-command started a turn to the left according to published procedures when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field located about 3 km past the runway end. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and debris scattered on a distance of 650 meters long by 180 meters wide. All eight crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determined the exact cause of the accident. All four engines were functioning properly at impact and some vibrations may have occur on both wings, maybe following ailerons issues.

Crash of a Piaggio P.166AL-1 on Piz Cavardiras: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Piaggio P.166 Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
D-IHAK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
363
YOM:
1960
Location:
Piz Cavardiras
Graubünden
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was apparently performing a positioning flight from Germany to Nice via Milan when the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Piz Cavardiras (2,959 meters high) located in Graubünden, Switzerland. The wreckage was found few hours later and both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin 404 in New Bern: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1966 at 0606 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin 404
Operator:
Registration:
N40406
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wilmington - New Bern
MSN:
14170
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
PI101
Location:
New Bern
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
12779
Captain / Total hours on type:
2807.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Wilmington Airport, North Carolina, at 0540LT on a positioning flight to New Bern under call sign PI101. The approach to New Bern-Simmons Nott Airport was started in limited visibility due to the night when the airplane, too low, struck tree tops and crashed in the Croatan National Forest, about 3 miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Joe Helsabeck, pilot,
E. O. Adams, copilot,
Pamela Rumble, stewardess.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command descended below obstructing terrain for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Nagpur

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DDR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
12070
YOM:
1943
Location:
Nagpur
Maharashtra
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight to Nagpur when he encountered poor weather conditions upon arrival. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, struck obstacles and came to rest. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident is attributable to a sudden and strong cross wind gust in heavy rain experienced during the landing.

Crash of a Learjet 23 off Chicago

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1966 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 23
Operator:
Registration:
N316M
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
23-061
YOM:
1965
Location:
Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14720
Captain / Total hours on type:
233.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight to Chicago-Merrill C. Meigs Airport. On approach, both engines failed simultaneously. The airplane stalled and eventually crashed into Lake Michigan, few miles short of runway. Both pilots were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engine failed due to icing. The crew failed to use the engine/nacelle deicing systems and improperly followed the emergency procedures. Then engine heaters were activated after the engine failure, and restart was attempted with both engine heaters on.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Pouso Alegre

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1965 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Webair
Registration:
N75296
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
32699
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pouso Alegre
Minas Gerais
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Pouso Alegre Airport, the airplane was too low and struck a dirt bank located short of runway threshold. The aircraft crash landed, veered off runway and collided with several vehicles before coming to rest in flames. While both pilots were slightly injured, the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-2V into Keret Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1965 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-98320
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1103 473 13
YOM:
1958
Location:
Keret Lake
Republic of Karelia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
5657
Circumstances:
On a positioning flight from an unnamed lake located 60 km south of Loukhi to Loukhi when the intoxicated captain descended steeply over lake Keret (30 km south of Loukhi). The second pilot tried to prevent this but the aircraft crashed into the lake, nosed over and sank to a depth of 4 metres. The captain drowned while the copilot was rescued by the crew of a boat. Analysis of the captain's body revealed a concentration of 1,04 ‰ of alcohol in blood.
Probable cause:
Hazardous manoeuvres on part of the captain who was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Vickers 804 Viscount in Jeuk: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1965 at 1508 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
SP-LVA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lille – Wrocław
MSN:
249
YOM:
1957
Location:
Jeuk
Limburg
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
9816
Captain / Total hours on type:
1564.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
11623
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1815
Aircraft flight hours:
14087
Circumstances:
The flight was a non-scheduled international IFR flight from Lille, France to Wroclaw, Poland. The aircraft took off from Lille at 1240 hours GMT and was cleared to climb to FL 160 on a heading to "Silly". At 1242 hours the pilot contacted Brussels ACC and reported he was at 3 000 ft still climbing and estimating "Silly" at 1249 hours. At 1253 hours he reported over "Silly" at FL 120, and was cleared to climb and maintain FL 130. At 1254 hours the pilot called Brussels and reported he was at FL 130 and estimating "Gatta" at 1300 hours. Five minutes later he reported over "Silly" at FL 130 and estimating "Olno" at 1310 hours. As this was the second time the pilot mentioned "Silly" the radar controller checked his position and confirmed that the aircraft was in fact over "Gatta". At 1300 hours the radar controller directed his attention to Caravelle F-BJTQ which, after passing "Gatta" at 1256 hours on airway "Green One", was cleared to make a right turn on Luxembourg but requested permission to make a detour to avoid an area of intense storm activity. At 1311 hours Brussels ACC has no news of the Viscount which by then should have reported reaching "Olno". Attempts to make radio contact with the aircraft were unsuccessful, and no echo appeared on the radar scope in the vicinity of "Olno". No distress signal was recorded. While in cruising flight the aircraft had entered an area of bad weather, lost altitude and disintegrated in flight before crashing to the ground at 1308 hours GMT. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
No evidence was found to explain why the aircraft left its cruising level. The overall atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of Jeuk and the circumstances of the accident were such that it was assumed that the pilot lost control of the aircraft when entering a cumulonimbus. It is possible - and even highly probable - that turbulence was a determining factor in the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in Cambridge

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1965 at 1154 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N159L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AF-64
YOM:
1952
Location:
Cambridge-Dorchester
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cambridge Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The pilot contacted ground and expected to return for an emergency landing but the airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed in flames. While the pilot was uninjured, the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reason.
Final Report:
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