Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Faribault: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 12, 1978 at 0758 LT
Registration:
N777HH
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Olivia - Lafayette
MSN:
P-109
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total hours on type:
338.00
Circumstances:
En route from Olivia to Lafayette, Indiana, while in normal cruise, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The airplane went out of control, entered an uncontrolled descent, suffered a general disintegration and crashed in an open field. All six occupants were killed. It was determined that the pilot departed Olivia with the aircraft's weather radar inoperative.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure and subsequent uncontrolled descent after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather radar inoperative.
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather radar inoperative.
Final Report:
