Test

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tucson - Tucson

MSN:

421B-0249

YOM:

1972

Location:

Tucson-Ryan

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9590

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Tucson-Ryan Airport on a local post maintenance flight, carrying one pilot and one mechanic. During initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in a field. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure during climb due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airframe - flight control surfaces: elevator assembly, attachments, missing, flutter,
- Overload failure,
- Bolts missing from elevators,
- Elevator push-pull tube rivets failed,
- Overload elevator/stabilizers twisted.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A in Bogotá: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

HK-2214

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MRP - Ministerstvo Radioelektronnoi Promyshlennosti

Schedule:

Bogotá - Bogotá

MSN:

11627

YOM:

1943

Location:

Bogotá-El Dorado

Bogotá Capital District

Country:

Colombia

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a local test flight at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport, carrying four crew members, two pilots and two engineers. After passing over runway 12 at an altitude of about 200 feet, the pilot was able to send a brief mayday message when the airplane banked left and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. At impact, the left propeller was feathered while no technical anomalies was detected on the left engine. Nevertheless, it was determined that the forward bearing and connecting rod were seized on the right engine. It was also reported that the pilot-in-command was not qualified on such aircraft type.

Crash of an Antonov AN-26 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-26

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

PAC Cresco 08-600 (08-750)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a flight where the crew was supposed to test various equipments, probably military ones. According to officials, in poor weather conditions, the airplane deviated from the departure climb course, collided with trees and crashed on a hilly terrain. The wreckage was found in snow about a week later. All nine occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Due to the extreme secret character of the mission, no information were published about the circumstances and the causes of the accident. All information related to this tragedy were immediately classified by the Soviet Authorities.

Crash of a PAC Cresco 08-600 in Maramarua

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZK-LTP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

001

YOM:

1979

Location:

Maramarua

Waikato Regional Council

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a test flight on this first PAC Cresco 08-600 prototype. En route, the pilot lost control of the airplane after the tail detached. The single engine airplane entered a dive and while the pilot was able to parachute to safety, the airplane crashed and was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Structural failure of the tail in flight.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air in Laredo

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1979 at 1712 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

A. M. Leyendecker

Registration:

N332K

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Laredo - Laredo

MSN:

LJ-79

YOM:

1966

Location:

Laredo

Texas

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA226T Merlin III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Captain / Total hours on type:

400.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Laredo Airport, while in a local test flight, one engine stopped. The crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in an open field located near the airport. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both pilots escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during climb due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin III in San Marcos

Date & Time: May 31, 1979 at 1042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5654M

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

San Marcos - San Marcos

MSN:

T-303

YOM:

1979

Location:

San Marcos

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5300

Captain / Total hours on type:

6.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was engaged in a local experimentation flight at San Marcos Airport on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During the last segment, at level off, the airplane landed hard and struck the runway surface. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane came on its belly. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Hard landing following improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper level off,
- Overload failure,
- FAA flight test pilot at controls.

Final Report:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Ufa: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1979 at 1626 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-35595

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Republic of Bashkortostan

Schedule:

Ufa - Ufa

MSN:

1G115-46

YOM:

1970

Location:

Ufa

Country:

Russia

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6282

Aircraft flight cycles:

17563

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local test flight before completing a crop spraying mission. Following a running distance of 250-280 meters on takeoff, the pilot-in-command started the rotation. Unable to maintain a positive rate of climb, the airplane struck tree tops, stalled and crashed upside down 78 meters further in a field, about 1,037 meters after the start of the take off run. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft at takeoff was 779 kilos above the MTOW. Following a too short takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command rotated prematurely. Due to an insufficient speed, the airplane was unable to maintain a positive rate of climb and a correct climb path.

Crash of a Douglas C-54S Skymaster in Mesa

Date & Time: May 15, 1979 at 1455 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

N44905

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Mesa - Chandler

MSN:

22159

YOM:

1945

Location:

Mesa-Falcon Field

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12127

Captain / Total hours on type:

4399.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Mesa-Falcon Field Airport, the crew started the rotation but the aircraft did not liftoff. It overran, struck a 10 feet high dirt bank, crossed a road where it hit a truck and eventually came to rest in flames in an orange grove. Both pilots, en route to Chandler-Stellar Airpark on a test flight, were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Collision with dirt bank on takeoff due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Failed to use the checklist,
- Gust locks engaged.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Arlington

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1979 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Registration:

N141WB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wichita - Wichita

Location:

Arlington

Kansas

Country:

Region: