Postal (mail)

Operator:

Registration:

N311D

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dodge City - Hays

MSN:

BA-456

YOM:

1959

Location:

Dodge City

Kansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3034

Captain / Total hours on type:

1262.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Dodge City Airport, while climbing by night, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a field. The airplane disintegrated on impact and was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reason. The following findings were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Ground fire and general disintegration of aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Rockford: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975 at 2229 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

BJ Aero Freight

Registration:

N7581

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Rockford-Greater Rockford

Schedule:

Ottumwa - Moline - Rockford

MSN:

BA-425

YOM:

1959

Location:

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2295

Captain / Total hours on type:

383.00

Circumstances:

While on a night approach to Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, the airplane banked sharply to the left then lost height and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the passenger was killed while both pilots were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Failed to maintain flying speed and failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Moderate rime ice during descent.

Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Baturino: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1974 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-15890

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tomsk - Baturino

MSN:

1146 473 19

YOM:

1960

Flight number:

SU107

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

15055

Aircraft flight cycles:

15453

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a mail flight from Tomsk to Baturino, carrying 757 kg of mail, 120 kg of various goods, two pilot and a passenger in charge of the fret. Six minutes before the estimated time of arrival in Baturino, while cruising at an altitude of 200 meters, the engine failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed inverted in a wooded area located 13 km from Baturino. The captain was killed while both other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the engine failure could not be determined. However, it is believed it may be caused by an excessive accumulation of calamine on the intake valves.

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Iron Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1974 at 0151 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft H18

Operator:

Registration:

N72FA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lansing - Iron Mountain

MSN:

BA-631

YOM:

1962

Location:

Iron Mountain

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12345

Captain / Total hours on type:

4000.00

Circumstances:

During a night approach to Iron Mountain Airport, the pilot descended below the MDA when the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on a night approach following improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- High obstructions,
- Descended below clearance limit of 3,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 500 in Nantes: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1974 at 2145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

F-BPUI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Nantes-Atlantique (Château Bougon)

Schedule:

Rennes - Nantes - Poitiers - Clermont-Ferrand

MSN:

10389

YOM:

1969

Location:

Loire-Atlantique

Country:

France

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

14208

Aircraft flight cycles:

17677

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a mail flight from Rennes to Clermont-Ferrand with intermediate stops in Nantes and Poitiers on behalf of the French Postal Service (La Poste). On final approach to Nantes-Château Bougon Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck power cables and crashed in flames in a field located about 12 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- Poor crew coordination,
- The crew failed to follow the published approach procedures,
- Lack of visibility,
- High obstructions.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Newark: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1972 at 0018 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Tobey Inc.

Registration:

N107T

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Newark - Providence

MSN:

BA-122

YOM:

1956

Location:

Newark

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4850

Captain / Total hours on type:

62.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing by night, one of the engine lost power. The twin engine airplane lost height and crashed in flames on a railroad track located near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after takeoff due to a loss of power on one engine. The following factors were reported:
- Failure of the exhaust system: external supercharger,
- Material failure,
- The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed,
- The crew failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Broken pieces of ball bearings from impeller shaft found in inertia coupling.

Final Report:

Crash of a Nord 262A-25 in Lannion: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Nord 262

Operator:

Registration:

F-BNMO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Paris – Dinard – Lannion

MSN:

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a mail flight from Paris to Lannion with an intermediate stop at Dinard Airport. On final approach, the crew encountered foggy conditions and was unable to locate the runway. The captain decided to initiate a go-around after it passed over the runway threshold at a height of 200 feet. The airplane flew over the entire runway when the left wing struck the tops of pine trees and was partially torn off (2 meters). Control was lost and the airplane crashed 3,3 km west of the airport, between the villages of Pleumeur-Bodou and Trébeurden. The wreckage was found the next morning. A crew member was seriously injured while two other occupants were killed. It is believed that the accident occurred after the pilot-in-command suffered a spatial disorientation.

Crash of a Volpar Turboliner 18 in Cleveland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1971 at 0344 LT

Type of aircraft:

Volpar Turboliner 18

Operator:

Registration:

N351V

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Cleveland - Detroit

MSN:

AF-295

YOM:

1953

Location:

Cleveland-Hopkins

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6473

Captain / Total hours on type:

174.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after a night takeoff from Cleveland-Hopkins Airport, the left engine lost power. The airplane lost speed and height, struck trees and the roof of a house and crashed. A pilot was killed while the second occupants was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft, weight and CofG.,
- Left engine lost power for unknown reason,
- Exceeded forward CofG limit by 6,36 inches.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Milford

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1971 at 2215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Gilley Airways

Registration:

N417R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Syracuse – New York

MSN:

BA-264

YOM:

1957

Location:

Milford

New York

Country:

Region: