Skydiving / Paratroopers

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Hsinchu - Hsinchu

Location:

Mt Guanyin

New Taipei City (新北市)

Country:

Taiwan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Two Fairchild C-119 of the Republic of China Air Force departed Hsinchu Airport, taking part to the exercise called 'Qinghe 7', with a total of 70 people including paratroopers. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising over Linkou, both aircraft separated when 3117 crashed in unknown circumstances on Mt Guanyin, New Taipei District. The aircraft was destroyed and all 39 occupants were killed, most of them members of the special forces.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130K Hercules off Pisa: 52 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1971 at 0540 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

XV216

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Landing (descent or approach)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Pisa - Pisa

MSN:

4243

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

Chalk 4

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The Hercules was involved in a combined exercise called 'Cold Stream' between British and Italian Army under call sign 'Chalk 4', and was carrying 46 Italian paratroopers and six British crew members to the Villacidro dropzone located in Sardinia. Shortly after takeoff from Pisa-San Giusto Airport, while climbing by night, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 7 km offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and none of 52 occupants survived the crash. The assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of an in-flight structural failure was not ruled out.

Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Pau: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1971 at 1454 LT

Type of aircraft:

Nord 2501 Noratlas

Operator:

Registration:

49/F-RABB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Schedule:

Pau - Pau

MSN:

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Pau-Uzein Airport on a local training flight with nine crew members and 25 paratroopers, on behalf of the Escadron de Transport 2/63 Bigorre. Few minutes after takeoff, the captain informed ground about an engine fire and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the airplane nosed down then crashed in a huge explosion few km short of runway. Two passengers were injured while 32 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Mallet,
Cpt Remy,
Adj Abdi,
Adj Sion,
Mdlc Carlu,
Mdlc Gruselle,
Sgt Piccerelle,
Sgt Tondeur,
Mdl Perron.
Passengers:
S/Lt Berthe,
S/Lt Boju,
S/Lt Cartal,
S/Lt Coullerez,
S/Lt Delarche,
S/Lt Del Toso,
S/Lt Dhome,
S/Lt Ducatillon,
S/Lt Erba,
S/Lt Flori,
S/Lt Guillamet,
S/Lt Kerleguer,
S/Lt Labriet,
S/Lt Lanterme,
S/Lt Lafitte,
S/Lt Megevand,
S/Lt Peters,
S/Lt Pina,
S/Lt Py,
S/Lt Rousseau,
S/Lt Sensfelder,
S/Lt Tachet,
S/Lt Zangarelli.

Probable cause:

Engine fire for unknown reason.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Lakeside

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1971 at 1405 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aerospace Products

Registration:

N4709C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lakeside - Lakeside

MSN:

AF-819

YOM:

1954

Location:

Lakeside

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2075

Captain / Total hours on type:

251.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a local skydiving mission, carrying 10 skydivers and one pilot. Following a roll of about 900 feet, the pilot started the rotation. At a speed of 75 mph, the airplane lifted off then stalled and struck the ground. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 11 occupants were rescued, one passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Premature lift-off on part of the pilot who failed to obtain/maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman in Lakewood

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1970 at 1144 LT

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

N1207

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lakewood - Lakewood

MSN:

841

YOM:

1945

Location:

Lakewood

New Jersey

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1520

Captain / Total hours on type:

30.00

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane was engaged in a local skydiving exercice. While taking off from Lakewood, the engine stopped. The airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured while seven other occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel starvation,
- High obstructions,
- Fuel selector positioned between tanks,
- The left fuel tank was empty while approx 12 galons of fuel remained in the right fuel tank.

Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Perris Valley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1970 at 1404 LT

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SR-10 Reliant

Operator:

Lyle Cameron

Registration:

N69440

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Perris Valley - Perris Valley

MSN:

77-107

YOM:

1943

Location:

Perris Valley

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

800

Captain / Total hours on type:

252.00

Circumstances:

While completing a skydiving flight, the aircraft suffered an airframe failure. Control was lost and it crashed near the Perris Valley Airport. Five occupants were rescued while a passenger was killed.

Probable cause:

Probable cause(s):
- pilot in command - inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- pilot in command - exercised poor judgment,
- pilot in command - failed to follow approved procedures, directives,etc.,
- personnel - maintenance, servicing, inspection: inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- airframe - wings: skin and attachments,
- miscellaneous acts,conditions - improperly loaded aircraft-weight-and/or c.g.
Factor(s):
- miscellaneous acts,conditions - overload failure.
Remarks- metal skin coverage top left wing loose, skin working, separation occurred. Pilot exceeded aircraft operations limits before occurrence.

Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman off Sydney

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Skyservice Aviation

Registration:

VH-GSF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

270

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The engine failed and burst into flames during a skydiving display off Manly Beach, northeast of Sydney. Eight parachutists baled out, followed by pilot Ken Andrews (owner of Skyservice Aviation) at 5,000 feet who was wearing a parachute. As he floated down under his parachute the circling Norseman came very close to hitting him. All were rescued by boats. The Norseman struck the sea 6 miles off the beach, 5 miles southeast off Sydney Heads.
Souce: Geoff Goodall

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Vilia: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1970 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a training mission, carrying a crew of 5 and 22 paratroopers. While cruising in foggy conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kithairon located near Vilia, some 47 km northwest of Athens. Three paratroopers and a crew member were rescued while 23 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Antananarivo

Date & Time: May 18, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Para Club de Tananarive

Registration:

5R-MAN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: