Topographic | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was engaged in a mapping/photo mission from Walla Walla (Washington) to Libby, Montana. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in the region of Noxon. The wreckage was found June 16, 1972. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent caused by improper in-flight decisions or planning on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Ice-carburetor,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Flew into icing conditions beyond capability of aircraft deicing systems.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-414-08 Hudson IVA in Tennant Creek: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1966 at 0915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

VH-AGE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Topographic

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tennant Creek - Tennant Creek

MSN:

414-6039

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft had been carrying out magnetometer survey flights from the airport for several weeks. It departed at 06:30 hours local time, reaching the survey area an hour later. At 07:50 the Doppler equipment became unserviceable and a little later light rain was encountered. The survey work was abandoned and the flight returned to Tennant Creek. At 09:14 the crew radioed that they were in the circuit area. Wind was reported to be from 070° at 14 knots. The acknowledgement of this information was the last contact with the flight. A minute later, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a prairie located 2 miles west of the runway 07 threshold.The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six on board were killed, among them a child aged 11. An examination of wreckage showed that one of the duplicated aileron control chains in the pilot's control column was broken in the region of the control wheel sprocket. A link pin had failed and this pin might have subsequently jammed the assembly as the control wheel was being rotated. Control could not be taken over by the copilot, as there was no copilot on the flight. The right hand cockpit seat and rudder pedals were removed so a crew member was able to gain access to the nose area of the aircraft for the survey work.

Probable cause:

The cause of this accident was a loss of control of the aircraft, and although the evidence available does not permit the reason for the loss of control to be determined, the possibility can not be eliminated that the pilot suffered an impairment of ability and, coincidentally, was deprived temporarily of aileron control.

Crash of a Lockheed RC-121D Super Constellation at McClellan AFB

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1958 at 1118 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation

Operator:

Registration:

54-2308

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Topographic

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

McClellan - McClellan

MSN:

4390

YOM:

1956

Location:

Sacramento-McClellan

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:

5613

Captain / Total hours on type:

3583.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1664

Copilot / Total hours on type:

372

Circumstances:

The crew departed McClellan AFB on a topographic and geographical mission off the Californian coast. Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, while climbing to an altitude of 500 feet, the engine number two caught fire. The crew obtained the authorization to return for an emergency landing and the captain completed a 180 turn to intercept the glide. Doing so, the airplane lost 200 feet while flying over a populated area and the speed dropped to 120 knots. On final, the captain told his colleagues he was unable to reach the airport so he attempted an emergency landing in an open field located 1,5 mile short of runway 16. On touchdown, the airplane slid for several yards, lost its right wing and came to rest in flames. All 18 occupants were injured, five of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The cause of the fire on engine number two could not be determined. At the time of the accident, ceiling was broken at 2,000 feet and overcast at 4,000 feet with light rain and a wind from the southeast at 10 knots, gusting 22 knots.

Crash of a Percival P.54 Prince in La Punt-Chamues: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1957 at 1220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Percival P.50 Prince

Operator:

Registration:

HB-HOF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Topographic

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bern - Samedan

MSN:

P54/042

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was performing a flight from Bern-Belpmoos Airport to Samedan on behalf of the 'Service Technique du Département Militaire Fédéral - Mensuration Cadastrale Suisse'. On final approach to Samedan Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located five km short of runway 21. One occupant was killed while two others were rescued.
Crew:
Carl Wipfli,
Fritz Frischknecht.

Probable cause:

It is reported that the loss of control was caused by an engine failure on final.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Tanyurer

Date & Time: May 5, 1957

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3807

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Topographic

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tanyurer - Bolshaya Osinovaya

MSN:

1 55 473 15

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was carrying five scientists and three crew members who were involved in a geological mission of the Bolshaya Osinovaya River. Shortly after takeoff from Tanyurer, at an altitude of 80 meters, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed. All eight occupants were rescued and slightly injured while the airplane was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Poor piloting techniques on part of the captain who made too sharp turn to the left at low height (80 meters).

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in Itabira

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Operator:

Registration:

PP-CCF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro - Caravelas

MSN:

3070

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a topographic mission between Rio de Janeiro and Caravelas on behalf of the Photogrammetry Services. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in Itabira. All six occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Gizhiga: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1956 at 2115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3488

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Gizhiga - Gizhiga

MSN:

1 35 473 17

YOM:

1953

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1475

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Gizhiga Airport following a geophysical survey flight. En route, the pilot entered a narrow valley and while the visibility was decreasing due to clouds, the pilot decided to make a 180 turn. At an altitude of 460 meters, he started a turn to the right when the airplane collided with the mountain and crashed in flames. The radio navigator was slightly injured while all three other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The pilot was inexperienced on such geophysical survey flight and accumulated 50 flying hours on this type of aircraft prior to the accident. Also, the crew was on duty since 11 hours while the max duty time allowed for this kind of mission is six hours. If the time of the accident is confirmed at 2115LT, this means it was dark as the sunset is at 2007LT at Gizhiga on August 20.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Zalamea la Real

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.65 Consul

Operator:

Registration:

EC-AJX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3362

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was conducting an aerial photo mission when an engine caught fire in-flight. The pilot decided to attempt an emergency landing and the aircraft eventually crash landed in a field located in Zalamea la Real and came to rest in flames. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in-flight.