Country
United States of America
Operator Image

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-80 Queen Air in Lake Placid

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1976 at 2120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
N345X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LD-141
YOM:
1963
Location:
Lake Placid
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Lake Placid by night, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was injured. He was completing a contraband flight. At the time of the accident, the airport was unlit.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during a traffic pattern-circling approach by night. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged distance and altitude,
- Hauling contraband,
- Circling unlit airport at night.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Twentynine Palms

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1976 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SR-10 Reliant
Operator:
Registration:
N69747
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Lake Havasu – Chino
MSN:
77-490
Location:
Twentynine Palms
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3600
Captain / Total hours on type:
110.00
Circumstances:
En route, oil temperature got high and the oil pressure got low. Oil spread on windshield. The engine lost power and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft struck a cabin and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Henderson

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1976 at 1322 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Registration:
N2713B
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Monroeville – Mansfield – Ennis
MSN:
560-213
YOM:
1955
Location:
Henderson
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11252
Captain / Total hours on type:
59.00
Circumstances:
While in normal cruise, both engines stopped. The pilot reduced his altitude and completed a belly landing in an open field located near Henderson. Two passengers were seriously injured while four other occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Intentional wheels-up,
- Fuel quantity gauge erratic,
- Rough terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 off Puerto Rico

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1976 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Registration:
N7334U
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - San Juan
MSN:
411-0034
YOM:
1964
Location:
San Juan-Isla Grande (Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2118
Captain / Total hours on type:
107.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to San Juan-Isla Grande Airport, the twin engine airplane was too low when it struck the water surface and crashed into the San Juan Bay, few hundred yards short of runway 09. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight with water on approach after the pilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Rain,
- Visibility two miles or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 340 in Ruidoso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1976 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 340
Operator:
Registration:
N4098L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ruidoso – Albuquerque
MSN:
340-0084
YOM:
1972
Location:
Ruidoso-Sierra Blanca
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1056
Captain / Total hours on type:
336.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Ruidoso-Sierra Blanca Regional Airport in nil visibility, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. The wreckage was found a day later and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during initial climb after the pilot initiated flight in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Zero visibility,
- Fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Giddings: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1976 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N69314
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Austin - Houston
MSN:
402B-0431
YOM:
1973
Location:
Giddings
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5495
Circumstances:
En route by night from Austin to Houston, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and decided to continue. Later, the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed near Giddings. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees in normal cruise due to improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Flew into known poor weather conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in El Vado

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N9907Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AF-105
YOM:
1952
Location:
El Vado
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on a snow covered runway, the twin engine airplane ground looped, hit a barrel and came to rest. The aircraft was set afire and destroyed and the pilot disappeared. Transport of contraband.
Probable cause:
Ground looped after the pilot failed to maintain directional control on a snow covered runway. Illegal flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25H Mitchell in Dawsonville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1975 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N96GC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
100-21337
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dawsonville
Georgia
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:
6700
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight on this aircraft that was carrying 49 bales of marijuana. While flying at low height by night, the crew misjudged the distance with ground when the airplane hit the side of a high bluff and crashed about half a mile from an open field. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew misjudged altitude and clearance with ground. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Unwarranted low flying.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S near Lamesa: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1975 at 2045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Registration:
N177V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
A-133
YOM:
1946
Location:
Lamesa
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
150.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a flight from Rockyford, Colorado. En route, the failure of the right engine forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a sandy area located near Lamesa. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after the master and connecting rods failed in flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Failed to maintain directional control,
- Right engine failed internally.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Wikieup: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1975 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
N5588W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Las Vegas - El Paso
MSN:
920
YOM:
1941
Location:
Wikieup
Arizona
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:
En route from Las Vegas to El Paso, while in cruising altitude, both engines lost power. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crashed in flames near Wikieup and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure or malfunction during normal cruise for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Collision with dirt bank,
- The crew failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Rough terrain,
- Disregard of good operating practice,
- The pilot declared that both engines lost power,
- Attempted a landing beside a highway in desert,
- No records for other crew personnel.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Private American