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Crash of a Grumman G-44A Widgeon off Lafitte: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1968 at 1806 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-44 Widgeon
Operator:
Registration:
N41982
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1413
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lafitte
Louisiana
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:
6468
Captain / Total hours on type:
533.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lafitte, south Louisiana, the amphibian aircraft went through a thunderstorm area and encountered severe turbulences. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the bayou of Rigolettes. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. The aircraft was owned by J. Ray McDermot.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. He encountered turbulences associated with clouds and/or thunderstorm activity.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 65 in Beaumont: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1968 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 65 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
N968Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LC-120
YOM:
1962
Location:
Beaumont-Jack Brooks
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
4900
Captain / Total hours on type:
40.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Beaumont-Jack Brooks Airport, the twin engine aircraft struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Waco UIC in San Luis Obispo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1968 at 1314 LT
Type of aircraft:
Waco UIC
Operator:
Registration:
N13066
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Luis Obispo - San Luis Obispo
MSN:
3716
YOM:
1933
Location:
San Luis Obispo
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
After completing touch-and-go, the pilot increased engine power and elected to takeoff. While climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing all four occupants.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed and the aircraft entered an abnormally steep climb after touch-and-go and crashed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 in Dilley

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1968 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Registration:
N855LB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
560-176
YOM:
1954
Location:
Dilley
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2100
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Dilley Airpark, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled, struck trees and crashed in Hilltop, northeast of the airport. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Complete failure of both engines due to fuel exhaustion. Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who was inattentive to fuel supply.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Riley Dove off Chicago: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1968 at 2020 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.104 Dove
Operator:
Registration:
N999NJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
04456
YOM:
1955
Location:
Chicago
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
8600
Circumstances:
While flying off Chicago, the twin engine aircraft owned by E. H. Litchfield went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Michigan. Five bodies were found while one was missing. The wreckage was not found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determined the exact cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Sitka

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1968 at 1859 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
N7707C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
108-33965
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sitka
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3734
Captain / Total hours on type:
58.00
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the crew completed the landing procedure on a snow covered runway at Sitka Airport. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a rock pile. While all three occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The aircraft was owned by Fred Lewis and Fred Zax.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to maintain directional control after landing due to snow on runway. The crew decided to attempt the flight with known deficiencies in equipment as the aircraft was poorly equipped with unreliable radios and the cockpit light failed in flight. At the time of the accident, the runway was covered with one inch of snow.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 off Madison: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1967 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
Registration:
N390R
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cleveland - Madison
MSN:
BA-623
YOM:
1962
Location:
Madison
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
1290
Captain / Total hours on type:
118.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane owned by the American Singer Otis Redding was flying from Cleveland to Madison, carrying Otis Redding's band 'Bar-Kays'. While approaching Madison-Blackhawk Airport, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed into Lake Monoma. The wreckage was found three miles short of runway and a passenger was rescued while seven other occupants were killed, among them Otis Redding aged 26. The only survivor was Ben Cauley.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. The left engine and the left propeller were never recovered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 80 in Salt Lake City

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1967 at 1515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
N814B
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LD-18
YOM:
1962
Location:
Salt Lake City
Utah
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4356
Captain / Total hours on type:
109.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, both engines failed simultaneously. The captain raised the undercarriage and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field and came to rest near the airport. All five occupants were injured, one of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. Failure of both engines due to lack of lubrication caused by a thick and cold oil that was not pre-heated before flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680FL in North Platte

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1967 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N747NT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
North Platte
Nebraska
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
1940
Captain / Total hours on type:
10.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from North Platte-Lee Bird Airport, while in initial climb, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot informed ground about his situation and decided to return to the airport for an emergency landing. Few second later, he realized he could not make it so he ditched the airplane into lake Maloney located 7 miles southwest of the airport. While the aircraft was destroyed, the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Poor preflight preparation on part of the pilot who failed to secure the fuel cap after he proceed to the aircraft refueling prior to takeoff. This caused the fuel to leak between the parking and takeoff and during initial climb, both engines failed simultaneously due to fuel starvation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air A80 in Concan

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1967 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Registration:
N899Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LD-46
YOM:
1962
Location:
Concan
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3050
Captain / Total hours on type:
380.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Concan-Angermiller Airport, the twin engine aircraft struck power cables, stalled and crashed in flames in an open field short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to see and avoid unmarked TV cable.
Final Report:
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