Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Birmingham: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1971 at 2150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Hankins Airways
Registration:
N5605D
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mobile – Birmingham – Nashville
MSN:
BA-311
YOM:
1957
Location:
Birmingham
Alabama
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:
5831
Captain / Total hours on type:
2557.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Birmingham Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane stalled from the tail and adopter a high nose-up attitude. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames near the airport. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. It was determined that the cargo was improperly tied down and shifted to the rear after takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18S in Lansing

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1970 at 0059 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
Registration:
N2345Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iron Mountain - Lansing
MSN:
BA-626
YOM:
1962
Location:
Lansing
Michigan
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:
6267
Captain / Total hours on type:
2535.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Lansing Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a reduced visibility due to freezing rain and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. Both pilots were seriously wounded and the aircraft was destroyed. It was completing a cargo flight from Iron Mountain.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to maintain flying speed while completing an approach in icing conditions including freezing rain and fog. The following factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Low ceiling, fog and freezing rain,
- Stalled on ILS approach due to airframe icing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Kansas City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1970 at 0108 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Registration:
N5659D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Little Rock – Kansas City
MSN:
BA-392
YOM:
1958
Location:
Kansas City
Missouri
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2014
Captain / Total hours on type:
1133.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kansas City Airport, while completing a night mail flight, the pilot encountered engine problems. Control was lost and the airplane crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial approach caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Powerplant problems caused by vacuum pumps failure,
- The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice on windshield,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Weather conditions slightly worse than forecast,
- The pilot was aware of the icing conditions,
- The left vacuum pump failed at an undetermined time, limiting the de-icing capabilities.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Brentwood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1969 at 0034 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Queen City Flying Service
Registration:
N311U
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cincinnati - Nashville
MSN:
AF-321
YOM:
1953
Location:
Brentwood
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2235
Captain / Total hours on type:
150.00
Circumstances:
While on a night mail flight from Cincinnati to Nashville, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions upon arrival. On approach, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Brentwood, about 7 miles southwest of Nashville Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent into the ground on approach after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Weather slightly worse than forecast.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Bull Harbour: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1969
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Air West BC
Registration:
CF-JOP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Hardy - Millbrook Cove
MSN:
1058
YOM:
1957
Location:
Bull Harbour
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Port Hardy at 0925LT on this float equipped Beaver on a mail flight to Millbrook Cove and other remote areas. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found. A partly burnt fuel gauge was found in the region of Bull Harbour on 16 June 1970 and it is believed it was part of the missing airplane.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster in Paris-Orly

Date & Time: May 28, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFCP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris- Poitiers – Bordeaux – Toulouse – Pau
MSN:
10346
YOM:
1944
Location:
Paris-Orly
Val-de-Marne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
35777
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 26, at an IAS of 61 knots, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that swerved. It veered off runway to the left, hit several obstacles, went down an embankment, broke into several parts and came to rest in flames by the Route Nationale 7. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
The loss of control was the consequence of an engine malfunction due to an error on part of the flight engineer who placed the main fuel selectors in a 'half-on' position which corresponded with the 'On' position in five of the DC-4 aircraft of the company.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Kansas City

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1969 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Orion Airways
Registration:
N44634
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kansas City – Little Rock
MSN:
A-41
YOM:
1946
Location:
Kansas City
Missouri
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:
1188
Captain / Total hours on type:
991.00
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff from Kansas City Airport, while on a mail flight, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height when it stalled and crashed near the runway end. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb caused by an inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flying crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Improperly loaded aircraft-weight and CofG,
- Frost on wings,
- Aircraft overt gross takeoff weight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B near Imnaha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1968 at 0254 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N5080
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
500-1537
YOM:
1965
Location:
Imnaha
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5000
Captain / Total hours on type:
120.00
Circumstances:
While on a night mail flight, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when control was lost and the airplane crashed on a 40° slope mountain. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found. Mountaineers found the wreckage on March 21, 1969 near Imnaha.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the combination of the following factors:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Fuel system; vents, drains, tank caps improperly secured,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Complete failure of both engines in flight,
- Fuel siphoned from loose cap.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 5BA in Charlotte: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1968 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Air Time
Registration:
N357G
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04309
YOM:
1951
Location:
Charlotte-Douglas
North Carolina
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:
1784
Captain / Total hours on type:
29.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night mail flight to Charlotte-Douglas Airport. On short final, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed few miles short of runway and was destroyed upon impact. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Engine failure resulting in a spin during final approach,
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the crew,
- Fuel exhaustion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Paducah

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1968 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N3259Q
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Paducah
Kentucky
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1684
Captain / Total hours on type:
210.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It nosed down and struck the runway surface with its propellers. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest in flames. The passenger was slightly injured while both pilots were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was an improper operation of flight controls on part of the pilot who failed to obtain/maintain flying speed during takeoff. An improper angle of climb allowed the props to contact the runway surface.
Final Report:
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