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Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne I in Baltimore: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1979 at 1958 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
N6123A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lynchburg - Baltimore
MSN:
31-7804008
YOM:
1978
Location:
Baltimore-Washington-Thurgood Marshall
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6522
Captain / Total hours on type:
136.00
Circumstances:
While on approach to Baltimore-Martin State Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The visibility was reduced to 1/4 of a mile due to low ceiling and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane struck power cables. The captain increased engine power and initiated a go-around before diverting to Baltimore-Washington-Thurgood Marshall International Airport. On approach, while trailing about 1,500 feet of wire, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames few hundred yards from the runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with wires on final approach and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility about 1/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 at Tinker AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1979 at 0306 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Registration:
N2684B
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hot Springs - Tinker
MSN:
560-184
YOM:
1954
Location:
Tinker AFB
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
392
Circumstances:
While approaching Tinker AFB by night, the crew encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions and initiated a go-around maneuver. The crew attempted four other approaches that were abandoned due to poor visibility. During the fifth approach, the crew declared an emergency due to low fuel then the airplane stalled and crashed. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Stall during a missed approach due to improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Zero visibility,
- Low on fuel,
- Adverse/unfavorable weather,
- Flight path erratic during 5th attempted approach,
- Emergency declared due low fuel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 near Valledupar: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Valledupar
Cesar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Carrying a load of marijuana, the four engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Valledupar. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 401A in Aspen

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1978 at 1526 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
N555SH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wichita - Aspen
MSN:
401A-0081
YOM:
1969
Location:
Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field
Colorado
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:
3800
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Circumstances:
The approach to Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field was completed in excellent weather conditions. On final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed short of runway. All five occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Stall on final approach after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High density altitude,
- Downwind.
Final Report:

Crash of a Percival P.66 Pembroke in Sylvester

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Percival P.66 Pembroke
Operator:
Registration:
N51951
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20
YOM:
1955
Location:
Sylvester
Georgia
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:
Sole on board, the pilot was completing a drug smuggling flight from Colombia, originally to Valdosta, Georgia. The aircraft was carrying a load of 2,000 lbs of marijuana and supposed to land at Valdosta Airport. For unknown reasons, the runway lights could not be activated so the pilot diverted to Sylvester Airport where the visibility was about half a mile in fog. After landing, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. The pilot deliberately burnt the aircraft after accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Percival P.66 Pembroke in Ciénaga

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Percival P.66 Pembroke
Operator:
Registration:
N51963
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
66
YOM:
1956
Location:
Ciénaga
Magdalena
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in a banana plantation near Ciéanaga while involved in an illegal flight. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Richmond

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1978 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N45873
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Skydiving / Paratroopers
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
12458
YOM:
1944
Location:
Richmond
Indiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1008
Captain / Total hours on type:
145.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 23 at Richmond Municipal Airport, while climbing to a speed of 48 knots, the airplane nosed up then banked left and crashed in a corn field. All 42 occupants were rescued, among them three were injured. The aircrasft was written off.
Probable cause:
Stall during initial climb due to the failure of the elevator tab control system. It was determined that the elevator swage fitting was binding on bulkhead raceway station 63.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Del Rio: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1978 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N5370G
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Del Rio - Alamogordo
MSN:
343
YOM:
1960
Location:
Del Rio
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1670
Captain / Total hours on type:
250.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Del Rio Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All three occupants were killed. They were completing a search and rescue mission to Alamogordo.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb due to elevator failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Flight control surfaces: elevator assembly, attachments,
- Previous damage,
- Elevator push-pull tube broken,
- Aircraft parked in winds 30 gusting 58 knots,
- Controls not locked.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) into the Gulf of Mexico: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
Operator:
Registration:
N555BU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pompano Beach – Panama City
MSN:
61-0001
YOM:
1968
Location:
Gulf of Mexico
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
950
Captain / Total hours on type:
36.00
Circumstances:
En route from Pompano Beach to Panama City, Florida, the airplane crashed under unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Mexico. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it was reported that the pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment as the altimeters seemed to be defective since a certain time.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2J Marquise in the Gulf of Mexico: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Registration:
N297MA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
593
YOM:
1973
Location:
Gulf of Mexico
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Gulf of Mexico while performing a flight from Mexico to the US. All five occupants were killed.
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