Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The single engine airplane was completing a public service from Topeka to Larned with an intermediate stop in Hutchinson. While cruising at low height, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field. All five occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. At the time of the accident, the airplane's speed was 75 mph (65 knots).

Probable cause:

Stall and spin after the crew failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Disregard of good operating practice,
- Windshear.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Palmer: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1976 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

N5141G

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Palmer - Palmer

MSN:

468

YOM:

1953

Location:

Palmer

Alaska

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:

1670

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Palmer, the pilot elected to gain height when the single engine airplane struck a mountain ridge and crashed. A passenger was killed while both other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the aircraft was unable to outclimb mountain ridge. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Exercised poor judgment,
- Misjudged distance, speed and altitude,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- High obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near San Miguel Totolapan: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1976 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Operator:

Registration:

N3010F

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mexico City - Mexico City

MSN:

679

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Captain / Total hours on type:

62.00

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Mexico City on an official mission on behalf of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). While flying at low height under VFR mode, visibility decreased and while completing a left turn, the airplane struck trees and obstacles and crashed in flames in a canyon. All three occupants were killed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piaggio P.166A Albatross off Dassen Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1976 at 1439 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piaggio P.166 Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

894

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Ysterplaat - Ysterplaat

MSN:

456

YOM:

1973

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Ysterplaat AFB with a crew of two on a maritime patrol flight. At 1435LT, the crew informed ground that all was ok on board. Four minutes later, he sent a mayday message and reported "we are 40 miles from" before all contacts were lost. SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found.
Crew:
Maj R. C. Carter,
Cpt G. M. Rossouw.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Davis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1976 at 1146 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Operator:

Registration:

N91NR

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Berkley Springs - Charleston

MSN:

560-234

YOM:

1955

Location:

Davis

West Virginia

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:

3096

Captain / Total hours on type:

457.00

Circumstances:

En route from Berckley Springs to Charleston, while in normal cruise, both engines failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crashed and was destroyed upon impact, killing both occupants.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent following a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Failure to provide adequate directives, manual, equipment,
- Fuel gauge read approximately 10 gallons high,
- Did not use positive method for checking fuel.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in the Dinder National Park: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1975

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

ST-ADB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Dinder National Park while completing a territory inspection mission. A passenger survived while five other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Umphang

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

1602

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2031

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Umphang Airstrip. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 near La Angostura: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1975

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

AE-259

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

San Miguel de Tucumán - San Miguel de Tucumán

MSN:

140

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane flew from Córdoba to San Miguel de Tucumán and was later engaged in a reconnaissance mission over the west region of San Miguel de Tucumán to localize rebels. While cruising at a relative low level, the airplane was struck by ground fire (automatic weapon) and the tail and rudder went hit. Out of control, the airplane lost height and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near La Angostura. The wreckage was found a day later and all 13 occupants were killed, among them high ranking officers.
Occupants:
Gen Enrique Eugenio Salgado,
Br Gen Francisco Ricardo Agustín Muñoz,
Col Eduardo Wilfredo Cano,
Lt Col Oscar Rubén Bevione,
Lt Col Pompilio Schilardi,
Lt Col Pedro Santiago Petrecca,
Maj Roberto Dante David Biscardi,
Maj Pedro Antonio Zelaya,
Maj Héctor Abel Sánchez,
Maj Aldo Emilio Pepa,
Cpt Roberto Carlos Aguilera,
1st Lt Carlos Eduardo Correa,
Sgt Aldo Ramón Linares.
Source: https://aerospotter.blogspot.com

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Grumman G-73 Mallard into the Pacific Ocean: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-73 Mallard

Operator:

Registration:

N2965

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Anchorage - Kodiak

MSN:

J-24

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15134

Captain / Total hours on type:

5.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Anchorage on a seabird survey flight to Kodiak. While cruising over the north Pacific Ocean, the airplane crashed into the sea and was lost without trace. The pilot was unable to send any distress call. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found.

Probable cause:

As the aircraft was not recovered, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross into the Gulf of Mexico: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Grumman HU-16 (SA-16) Albatross

Operator:

Registration:

2123

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi

MSN:

G-350

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

This crew was dropping parachute flares to illuminate a search area when one of the flares accidentally ignited in the aircraft. Intense smoke incapacitated the pilots and crew and the aircraft became uncontrolled and crashed into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
LCDR Francis W. Miller,
LTJG Jerald M. Mack,
AD1 Harold D. Brown Jr.,
AM2 Benjamin R. Gaskins Jr.,
AT2 John F. Harrison,
AT2 John P. Pledger.

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