Crash of an Antonov AN-22A near Seshcha AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-22
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09318
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Seshcha - Seshcha
MSN:
03340501
YOM:
1973
Location:
Seshcha AFB
Bryansk oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a test flight out from Seshcha AFB, Bryansk oblast. While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 metres, the crew initiated a turn with max rudder deflection when the airplane adopted a high angle of attack and control was lost. The airplane entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a field located about 20 km from the airbase. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by an inadequate rudder positioning in flight on part of the crew.

Crash of a GAF Nomad N24 in Avalon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1976 at 1103 LT
Type of aircraft:
GAF Nomad N.24
Operator:
Government Aircraft Factories - GAF
Registration:
VH-SUZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Avalon - Avalon
MSN:
10
YOM:
1975
Location:
Avalon
Victoria
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4483
Captain / Total hours on type:
73.00
Aircraft flight hours:
139
Circumstances:
At approximately 1103 hours Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 6 August 1976 the pilot of Nomad N24 aircraft Serial Number 10 encountered control difficulty at a height of about 950 feet immediately after taking off at Avalon Aerodrome. The aircraft entered a descending turn to the left through about 175 degrees and struck the ground. The pilot was killed; the occupant of the other pilot seat, an observer, sustained injuries which resulted in his death two days later; and the third occupant, the flight test engineer, was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was that the simplified design criterion which was used to justify freedom from flutter during the flight testing of various tail plane modifications was not valid for a design which included tab trailing edge T strips.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in McAllen: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1976 at 1453 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
William R. Draper
Registration:
N5302U
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McAllen - McAllen
MSN:
A-401
YOM:
1947
Location:
McAllen
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
20000
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a local post maintenance test flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. A technician was killed while four other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Fear retracted during takeoff run after being improperly installed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Landing gear: switches, levers, cranking mechanism,
- Improper maintenance,
- Test hop due previous gear malfunction,
- Gear control switch improperly wired.
Final Report:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600) in Morganfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1976 at 1326 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)
Operator:
Bill Hames Shows
Registration:
N7549S
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Morganfield - Morganfield
MSN:
60-0180-079
Location:
Morganfield
Kentucky
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
17000
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Morganfield, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants have been killed. The crew was completing a local test flight after a paraplegic rudder control device was installed on the left rudder pedal.
Probable cause:
Stall after the pilot failed to follow approved procedures. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Simulated conditions,
- Unapproved modification,
- Interference with flight controls,
- Right engine magneto switch in OFF position.
Final Report:

Crash of an Alekseev A-90 Orlyonok off Kaspiisk

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Alekseev A-90 Orlyonok
Operator:
TsKB po SPK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
S-23
YOM:
1973
Location:
Kaspiisk
Republic of Dagestan
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Caspian Sea off Kaspiisk. The crew fate remains unknown as well as the exact date of the mishap, somewhere during 1975.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-4 off Singapore

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1975 at 1202 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-240
Operator:
Asiatic International Airways
Registration:
N8329C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Singapore - Singapore
MSN:
110
YOM:
1948
Location:
Singapore-Seletar
Singapore
Country:
Singapore
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
27000
Circumstances:
The crew departed Singapore-Seletar on a local test flight. En route, the left engine failed and its propeller was feathered. The crew was cleared to return to Seletar Airport when the right engine suffered power loss and dysfunctioned intermittently. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft into the Strait of Johore, about 400 meters short of runway 20. Both pilots were rescued and the aircraft sank by 8 meters of water.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reason. It was reported that no maintenance has been conducted on the aircraft since its delivery last May 15.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Harlingen: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1975 at 1310 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
N15KL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Harlingen - Harlingen
MSN:
2070
YOM:
1944
Location:
Harlingen-Valley Intl
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2200
Circumstances:
Following several technical modifications, among them the replacement of the right engine carburetor, the crew was in charge to conduct a post maintenance test flight. After takeoff, the right engine failed. The right propeller was not feathered and the aircraft stalled and crashed. Three crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after takeoff for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew failed to follow the approved procedures,
- The crew failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Propeller unfeathered, gear down.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell T-39A-1-NA Sabreliner near Richmond: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner
Operator:
Registration:
61-0646
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Andrews - Andrews
MSN:
265-49
YOM:
1962
Location:
Richmond
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Andrews AFB on a test flight. While cruising over Virginia and while completing various manoeuvres, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames in an open field located in the region of Richmond. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S off Andros Town

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1973 at 0755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Shrike Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N69NP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Nassau - Nassau
MSN:
500-3100
YOM:
1971
Location:
Andros Town
North Andros
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2040
Captain / Total hours on type:
80.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Nassau on a local test flight. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, he simulated the failure of both engines with fuel boost on. He descended to 2,500 feet and as he was unable to restart both engines, he decided to ditch the aircraft into the sea. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Forced landing off airport on water following a complete failure of both engines. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot exercised poor judgment,
- The pilot failed to follow the approved procedures,
- The pilot failed to use miscellaneous equipment,
- Engine loaded up.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C99 in Auvers-sur-Oise

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 99 Airliner
Operator:
Avia-Taxi
Registration:
F-BSRZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Paris
MSN:
U-19
YOM:
1968
Location:
Auvers-sur-Oise
Val-d'Oise
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Paris-Le Bourget on a local post maintenance test flight. En route, technical problems forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a field and came to rest. While both occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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