Crash of a Rockwell T-39D Sabreliner near San Diego: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
150545
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
277-4
YOM:
1963
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 30 miles east of San Diego while completing a reconnaissance mission. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Bela-Bela: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZS-DRG
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1239
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bela-Bela, Limpopo. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Defender in Malawi

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
7Q-YAZ
Flight Phase:
MSN:
492
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Malawi. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Gomez Nunatak

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
VP-FAP
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
333
YOM:
1971
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While trying to land on a level landing strip at Gomez Nunatak, Adelaide Island, Antarctica, the pilot made an error of judgment and landed on a hilly terrain. The aircraft collided with snow slope and came to rest. All five occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site. Both engines and avionics were salvaged.
Probable cause:
Crew mistook snow slope for a flat landing site.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16A Albatross off Puerto Cortés NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1977 at 2245 LT
Operator:
Registration:
MP-301
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Puerto Cortés NAS, while climbing, the seaplane aircraft lost height and crashed into the sea. Five crew members were rescued while three others were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Defender near Bir Moghreïn: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
5T-MAR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
787
YOM:
1976
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a survey flight when the twin engine airplane was shot down by rebels of the Front Polisario. The wreckage was found 72 km north of Bir Moghreïn, north Mauritania (exact position 25°52'13.5" N 11°27'25.5" W). The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Sidi Mohamed Ould Heyine, pilot,
Sgt Ely Ould Nafaa, navigator,
Sgt Mohamed Elhafedh Ould Zegrar Ould Khyar, mechanic.
Source: Mohamed Ould Heyine, Mauritania.
First photo: Defender at Atar Airport few weeks prior to the accident.
Probable cause:
Shot down by rebels of the Front Polisario.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14RR near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1976 at 1656 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-61752
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
MSN:
1470 012 47
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
6627
Aircraft flight cycles:
4927
Circumstances:
While approaching Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport by night on a survey flight from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the crew encountered limited visibility and marginal weather conditions. At an altitude of 850 metres, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Ostraya (910 metres high) located 12,5 km from the airport. The wreckage was found three days later. Two passengers (two hydrologists) were found alive while nine other occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
A succession of errors on part of the crew led the aircraft following a wrong track on approach to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Airport. The lack of visibility and poor weather conditions were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S into the Atlantic Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1976 at 1255 LT
Registration:
N57278
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lomé - Lomé
MSN:
500-3203
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
18549
Captain / Total hours on type:
1524.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Lomé Airport in the morning on a patrol flight over the gulf of Guinea. En route, both engines' temperature increased and shortly later, they failed quite simultaneously. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean (international waters) about 320 km west of Annobón Island. A pilot was rescued while the second occupant died. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Excessive temperature,
- Pilot noted zero oil pressure,
- High temperature.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Ile-à-la-Crosse

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FMPW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prince Albert – Buffalo Narrows
MSN:
271
YOM:
1958
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
13435
Circumstances:
The Otter had taken off that day from Prince Albert on a flight to Buffalo Narrows. Six miles north of Ile-à-la-Crosse, following an engine failure, the pilot made a forced landed in the bush and the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. The flight had proceeded for one hour forty minutes without incident when there was a loud bang from the engine, followed by a complete power loss. Smoke was emitted into the cockpit and the pilot commenced a forced landing. Attempts to regain power were to no avail and the pilot transmitted a mayday, which was acknowledged by another aircraft. The Otter touched down in a semi-clear area in bush country in a nose high, full flap configuration. The pilot and passenger evacuated the Otter fearing a post crash fire, however none followed. They were located by a rescue party a short time after the crash.
Source: http://www.dhc-3archive.com & Karl E. Hayes.
Probable cause:
The power loss was the result of a failure of the master rod and link rods.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Defender off the Khuriya Muriya Islands: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
304
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
413
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While conducting a maritime patrol flight, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off the Khuriya Muriya Islands. All five occupants were killed.