Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter in Lake Minchumina: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1969 at 1552 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N4901
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fairbanks – Lake Minchumina – Bethel
MSN:
3
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
10104
Captain / Total hours on type:
796.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lake Minchumina Airport, the pilot encountered whiteout conditions and lost control of the airplane that crashed few dozen yards short of runway. A passenger that was killed while four other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation on final approach in whiteout conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron in the Sierra de Luquillo: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1969 at 1738 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N563PR
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – San Juan
MSN:
14125
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
PQ277
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
26800
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1524
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1200
Aircraft flight hours:
4167
Circumstances:
Prinair flight PQ277 departed Charlotte Amalie Airport (Saint Thomas Island) at 1715LT for an IFR flight to San Juan. At 17:32, the flight contacted San Juan Approach Control and advised that the flight was maintaining 4,000 feet. The trainee approach controller replied: "Prinair two seven seven San Juan Approach Control radar contact three miles east of Isla Verde fly a heading of two five zero for a vector to ILS final maintain four thousand." Actually the flight was 3 miles east of the Fajardo intersection instead of the Isla Verde intersection which is located about 10 miles west of the Fajardo intersection. One minute later the Heron was cleared to descend to 3,000 feet. At 17:38, after being vectored for a runway 07 approach, the airplane contacted trees and crashed, coming to rest near the top of a knoll in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains at an elevation of about 2400 feet (731 m). The wreckage was found about 24 km southeast of San Juan-Isla Verde Airport and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The vectoring of the aircraft into mountainous terrain, under IFR conditions, without adequate obstruction clearance altitude by a controller who, for reasons beyond his control, was performing beyond the safe limits of his performance capability and without adequate supervision.
Final Report:

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 201 near Tainan: 36 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1969 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
B-2009
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kaohsiung - Taipei
MSN:
157
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
FE104
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kaohsiung Airport, while climbing, the crew encountered technical problems with the right engine. The captain informed ground about his situation and was cleared to return for a safe landing. He quickly realized he could not make it so he reduced his altitude and attempted and emergency landing. While flying a low height over a dense wooded area, the airplane went out of control and eventually crashed in flames in an open field located near Tainan. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 36 occupants were killed. The aircraft crashed 12 minutes after its takeoff from Kaohsiung Airport, bound for Taipei-Songshan Airport.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the right engine failed in flight. For undetermined reason, the crew was unable to feather the propeller that was windmilling, causing high drag and the loss of control.

Crash of a Vickers 736 Viscount in East Midlands

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AODG
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Glasgow – East Midlands
MSN:
77
YOM:
1955
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to East Midlands Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (snow falls) and the captain decided to go-around. During a second attempt to land on runway 10, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his exact position when the airplane struck the ground 1,000 feet prior to the touchdown zone. Upon impact, the nose gear was torn off and the aircraft came to rest in a snow covered field, broken in two. All 53 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration in poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Jaipur

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CJH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12477
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Jaipur-Sanganeer Airport, the airplane was continuously deviating from the centerline to the left. The captain decided to expedite the rotation. At liftoff, the airplane banked left, causing the left wing to struck the ground. The aircraft then crashed and came to rest in the grassy area. While all 30 occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the aircraft was overloaded. The total weight of the aircraft was above the MTOW and the CofG was out of enveloppe.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Kaohsiung

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
B-241
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16936/34195
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Port Angeles: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1969 at 0653 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8181H
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Port Angeles – Seattle
MSN:
52-10637
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
PGT601
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
8358
Captain / Total hours on type:
577.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from Port Angeles-Callam County Airport, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height then stalled and crashed in flames. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the following findings were reported:
- Premature liftoff for unknown reason,
- Elevator trim full nose down for unknown reason,
- Weight and balance within the prescribed limits,
- It was not possible to know which pilot was at controls at the time of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Titograd

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
YU-ADL
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
112
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Titograd Airport for undetermined reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Beechcraft 18 in Tepic: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-TED
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tepic Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed, killing all nine occupants.

Crash of a Vickers 794D Viscount in Ankara

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-SET
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
432
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ankara-Esenboğa Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low. On final, the four engine airplane struck a concrete pole, stalled and crashed in a snow covered field. On impact, the airplane lost its undercarriage, broke in two and came to rest few hundred meters short of runway. All 26 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.