Private American

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Fort Pierce-St Lucie County

MSN:

LC-200

YOM:

1966

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

656

Circumstances:

While cruising by night over Florida, the pilot contacted ATC and reported a loss of engine power. He was cleared to divert to Fort Pierce-St Lucie County Airport. On final approach, the airplane stalled, entered a dive and crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure, stall on final approach and subsequent crash caused by an inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel on part of the pilot,
- The pilot was inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Partial loss of power on both engines.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Vineland: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1980 at 1453 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Registration:

N4973T

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bridgeport – Washington DC – Atlantic City

MSN:

411-0193

YOM:

1966

Location:

Vineland

New Jersey

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

652

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, one of the engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and entered a spin. It crashed in a field located near Vineland and exploded on ground. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Complete failure on one engine,
- Emergency circumstances unknown/not reported.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan in Dade-Collier

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1980 at 0430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 404 Titan

Operator:

Registration:

N3994C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

404-0021

YOM:

1976

Location:

Dade-Collier

Florida

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was engaged in an illegal flight, carrying a load of marijuana. While flying at low height by night in the vicinity of Dade-Collier Airport, the airplane struck trees and crashed. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot disappeared and was not found.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees by night for unknown reasons. Illegal flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Magdalena: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1980 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N560E

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

560-0839

YOM:

1959

Location:

Magdalena

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6300

Captain / Total hours on type:

16.00

Circumstances:

Upon takeoff at Magdalena Airport, the twin engine airplane struck a fence and crashed in flames. A pilot was killed while three other occupants were injured, two seriously.

Probable cause:

Collision with during initial climb and subsequent crash due to inadequate supervision of flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The copilot misused or failed to use flaps,
- The copilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Wet runway,
- The crew failed to use all available runway,
- Improperly loaded aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Indianapolis: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1979 at 1750 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N6040M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Concordia - Indianapolis

MSN:

LJ-840

YOM:

1979

Location:

Indianapolis

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12463

Captain / Total hours on type:

30.00

Aircraft flight hours:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Indianapolis Airport, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot lost control of the airplane that struck trees and crashed. A passenger was killed while both other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach and subsequent collision with trees due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Powerplant- instruments: fuel quantity gauge, erratic,
- Complete engine failure both engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Power schedule pilot used exceeded max structural cruising speed, increasing fuel consumption rate by 100 lbs per hour.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Pavilion: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1979 at 0905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N2748B

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pavilion - Pavilion

MSN:

560-0248

YOM:

1955

Location:

Pavilion

New York

Country:

Region:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4405

Captain / Total hours on type:

217.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was taking part to a local air show when, flying at low height, the airplane banked right and crashed following the failure of the right engine. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure and subsequent stall after the left engine failed due to valve assemblies failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- High vegetation,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Exhaust valve, second cylinder on right engine failed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild C-119L Flying Boxcar near Casa Grande: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1979 at 2100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1040E

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Chandler - Chandler

MSN:

11270

YOM:

1953

Location:

Casa Grande

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Chandler-Stellar Airpark on a local flight. En route, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground after pilot attempted an emergency landing due to engine problems. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Engine structure: master and connecting rods,
- Engine structure: piston, piston rings,
- Material failure,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Complete failure of one engine,
- Forced landing off airport on land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-80 Queen Air in Palwaukee: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1979 at 1745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 80 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N723Q

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Chicago-Executive (Palwaukee)

Schedule:

Wheeling - Chicago

MSN:

LD-112

YOM:

1963

Location:

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Wheeling-Palwaukee Airport, while climbing, the pilot declared an emergency after an explosion on the left engine. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing and continued the approach when, upon touchdown, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during climb due to master and connecting rods failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fire and explosion in flight,
- Material failure,
- Leak,
- Fire in engine,
- Complete engine failure,
- N°5 connecting rod,
- Hole in oil sump,
- Left wing and left main gear failed on landing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Arcadia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1979 at 0423 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N70GC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

LC-237

YOM:

1966

Location:

Arcadia

Florida

Country:

Region: