Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon on Sanak Island

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1968 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-44 Widgeon
Operator:
Registration:
N148M
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1220
YOM:
1942
Location:
Sanak Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11500
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from a lagoon off Sanak Island, the airplane failed to get airborne, struck the shore and crashed. All four occupants were injured, two of them seriously. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Sudden windshift,
- Quartering tailwind up to 30 knots,
- The pilot attempted to takeoff from a lagoon at low tide.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-321B off Caracas: 51 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1968 at 2202 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 707
Operator:
Registration:
N494PA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
New York - Caracas
MSN:
19696
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
PA217
Location:
Caracas
Caracas Federal District
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
51
Captain / Total flying hours:
24000
Captain / Total hours on type:
6737.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from New York-JFK, the crew started a night approach to Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport in Caracas. On final, the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea 18,4 km north offshore. Few debris were found floating on water and all 51 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew suffered an optical illusion, confounding the lights of the city of Maiquetía with the airport lights. This probably engaged the crew in a premature descent, causing the aircraft to crash into the sea. The lack of visibility was a probable contributing factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in The Pas

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1968
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
CF-XJM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
29
YOM:
1953
Location:
The Pas
Manitoba
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, a fire erupted on board and the pilot reduced his altitude to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near The Pas and was destroyed by a post crash fire. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Charlotte Amalie: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1968 at 1820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Conquest Airways
Registration:
N433AC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – San Juan
MSN:
BA-284
YOM:
1957
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
5579
Captain / Total hours on type:
399.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. After passing over the end of the runway, the airplane struck a house and crashed. The pilot, two passengers as well as four people on the ground were killed. Eight passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The aircraft computed to be loaded to aircraft CofG limits,
- No W&B prepared by the pilot,
- Possible misuse of flaps.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild F27B in Pedro Bay: 39 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1968 at 0936 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
N4905
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Anchorage – Iliamna – Big Mountain – King Salmon – Dillingham
MSN:
49
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
WC055
Location:
Pedro Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Captain / Total flying hours:
10557
Captain / Total hours on type:
5357.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
12087
Aircraft flight hours:
17194
Circumstances:
A Wien Consolidated Airlines Fairchild F-27B, N4905, crashed at Pedro Bay, Alaska. The 36 passengers and three crew members were killed in the accident and the aircraft was destroyed by in-flight breakup and ground impact. The aircraft was being operated as Flight 55 in scheduled domestic passenger service between Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC) and Dillingham Municipal Airport, AK (DLG) with en route stops at Iliamna Airport, AK (ILI), Big Mountain Airport, AK (BMX), and King Salmon Airport, AK (AKN). Flight 55 departed from Anchorage at 08:46 on an instrument flight plan for Iliamna. The flight was cleared to cruise at 16,000 feet. The weather at Iliamna was reported to be clear, and the visibility was 15 miles at the time of the flight's departure from Anchorage. The flight proceeded toward Iliamna without reported difficulty, and at 09:25, the first officer requested a clearance for an approach to Iliamna. This request was approved. No further communication was received from the crew. Ground witnesses in and around the Pedro Bay area reported that they saw a fireball and a large cloud of black smoke which appeared to be behind the wing of the aircraft. The aircraft appeared to continue on course for a short period of time, then pieces of the aircraft were seen falling, and the aircraft entered a spinning descent. The major portion of the wreckage was located on the southern shore of Foxies Lake at an elevation of approximately 220 feet.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was an in-flight structural failure caused by an encounter with severe to extreme turbulence. This turbulence was not forecast and its presence was not known to the flight crew. The failure occurred in an area of the right wing (WS 197) which had been weakened to an indeterminate degree by pre-existing fatigue cracks.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover 3B in Longana

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1968
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover
Operator:
Registration:
VP-PAG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Luganville – Longana
MSN:
5004
YOM:
1950
Location:
Longana
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Longaga Airstrip (runway is 700 meters long), the pilot encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. The aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All nine occupants were slightly injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair and abandoned.
Probable cause:
Failure of the brake systems for undermined reason.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Santa Ana: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1968 at 1959 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N7666
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Santa Ana
MSN:
148
YOM:
1968
Location:
Santa Ana-John Wayne
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
12276
Captain / Total hours on type:
234.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Los Angeles, the crew started the descent to Santa Ana Airport when he encountered poor visibility due low clouds and fog. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a 30 feet steel light pole located along the Costa Mesa Freeway. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames 1,8 mile short of runway 20R threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and none of the nine occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Improper IFR operation,
- The pilot-in-command misjudged altitude,
- Low ceiling and foggy conditions,
- Visibility limited to 3/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near San Lorenzo: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1968 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
HK-248
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Popayán – Pasto
MSN:
978
YOM:
1956
Location:
San Lorenzo
Nariño
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route from Popayán to Pasto, the single engine struck the slope of Mt El Calvario located about 3 km northeast of San Lorenzo. A passenger was seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman near Dryden

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Drydenair
Registration:
CF-CRU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8
YOM:
1937
Location:
Dryden
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered icing conditions when the engine failed. He reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in the bush and was damaged beyond repair. All occupants escaped without injuries.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight caused by the carburetor icing while flying in freezing rain.
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