City | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The supersonic airplane was engaged in a demonstration flight during the 'Paris Air Show'. Following a low pass over runway 03 at an altitude of 190 meters for about one km, the crew increased engine power and initiated a steep climb till the altitude of 1,200 meters. Then the airplane started to descent and four second after it reached the altitude of 750 meters on descent, the airplane rolled to the left at an angle of 40° with positive g loads of 4 to 4,5 g. At an altitude of 280 meters and a speed of 780 km/h, the front left wing detached, struck the left main wing and punctured the fuel tank. Out of control, the airplane disintegrated in the air and crashed in flames in Goussainville. All six occupants were killed as well as eight people on the ground. 28 other people were injured, some of them seriously. Several houses were destroyed.

Probable cause:

On 28 July 1974, French and Soviet experts confirmed in the final report that no anomaly could be found in the construction or operation of the aircraft and that the intervention of a human was therefore the greatest probability to explain the accident. Nearly 25 years later, members of the commission of inquiry revealed some elements about the crash after archives have been open to public. In the morning of the accident, a Mirage III fighter aircraft of the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) took off from Strasbourg and the crew was asked to perform some aerial photos of the Tupolev during its low pass over Le Bourget Airport. By the time the Tupolev crew was at an altitude of about 500 meters, the Mirage was positioned about 200 meters above him and slightly ahead of him. According to investigations, the presence of this fighter likely distracted the crew of the Tupolev who felt that the distance of separation between both aircraft was insufficient. After a few seconds, the crew of the Mirage III was instructed to evacuate the zone (the procedure at that time was that each aircraft performing a demonstration at the Bourget Air Show must respect a minimum of 8 km of 'free' area). When the Mirage pilots made a turn to the left, the Mirage naturally seemed bigger to the Tupolev crew. As a result, the pilot-in-command of the supersonic positioned the aircraft in a slight pitch attitude during which a negative aerodynamic force of one g was recorded. As a result, a structural failure occurred on the left wing, which caused the aircraft to roll on its back, to brake in two parts and to explode in the air. It was later confirmed that the Tupolev TU-144 was designed to support a positive force of five to seven g but a negative force of one g only. In the present case, the negative force having been reached, a structural failure occurred. It was also confirmed that the Soviet pilots made this maneuver to avoid the collision with the Mirage. However, given the position of each aircraft at that time, a collision was impossible.

Crash of a Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748-2-224 in Hyderabad: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1973 at 1650 LT

Type of aircraft:

Hindustan Aeronautics HAL-748

Operator:

Registration:

VT-EAU

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Hyderabad - Hyderabad

MSN:

541

YOM:

1972

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Hyderabad-Begumpet Airport. On final, the pilot-in-command made a last turn at low height to join the approach path when the right wing struck power cables and a tree. Out of control, the airplane stalled and crashed onto a house locate few hundred meters short of runway threshold. All three crew members as well as one people on the ground were killed.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was attributed to several errors committed by the instructor and the trainee pilots during the flight due to the consumption of alcohol by them before the flight which affected their concentration and impaired their judgement and skill.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Brookfield: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1973 at 0751 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Operator:

Registration:

N1536T

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Milwaukee - Dayton

MSN:

421B-0306

YOM:

1973

Location:

Brookfield

Wisconsin

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8389

Captain / Total hours on type:

27.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Milwaukee-Lawrence J. Timmerman Airport, while climbing, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems with the left engine and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. While trying to join the approach path, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames on a road located in Brookfield, about five miles southwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure or malfunction during climb to cruise. The following factors were reported:
- Powerplant failure due to fuel injection system obstructed,
- Foreign material affected normal operations,
- The pilot's attention diverted from operation of aircraft,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Low ceiling,
- N°1 cylinder nozzle core on left engine was partially blocked,
- Fuel flow 18 pounds per hour observed spinning.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress in Trùng Quán: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

56-0605

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

17288

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, carrying six crew members from Andersen AFB, Guam. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was hit by a SA-2 surface-to-air missile. Out of control, it crashed in Trùng Quán, a district located northeast of Hanoi. Two crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Frank Lewis, pilot,
Cpt Samuel Cusimano, copilot,
1st Lt Bennie Fryer, navigator, †
Maj James Condon, radio navigator,
Maj Allen Johnson, EWO, †
M/Sgt James Gough, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-35-BW Stratofortress in Hanoi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1972 at 2148 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

56-0674

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

U-Tapao - U-Tapao

MSN:

464045

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in the Linebacker II mission over North Vietnam, carrying six crew members from U-Tapao NAS. While overflying the Hanoi area, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a North Vietnam MiG-21 fighter and crashed in the district of Giáp Nhị in Hanoi. Two crew members were killed four others were rescued and taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Robert John Morris Jr., pilot, †
1st Lt Robert Markham Hudson, copilot,
1st Lt Duane Paul Vavroch, navigator,
Col Michael Harold La Beau, radio navigator,
Cpt Nutter Jerome Wimbrow III, EWO, †
M/Sgt James Raymond Cook, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-1-BW Stratofortress in Bạch Mai

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

55-0050

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

U-Tapao - U-Tapao

MSN:

464002

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The plane went out of control and crashed in Bạch Mai, a district of Hanoi. All six crew members were taken PoW.
Crew:
Lt Col John Harr Yuill, pilot,
Cpt David Ian Drummond, copilot,
1st Lt William Thomas Mayall, navigator,
Lt Col William Walter Conlee, EWO,
Lt Col Louis Henry Bernasconi, radio navigator,
M/Sgt Gary Lee Morgan, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-15-BW Stratofortress in Bạch Mai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

55-0061

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

U-Tapao - U-Tapao

MSN:

464013

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The plane went out of control and crashed in Bạch Mai, a district of Hanoi. Three crew members were killed while three others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Peter James Giroux, pilot,
Cpt Thomas Waring Bennett, copilot, †
1st Lt Joseph Bernard Copack Jr., navigator, †
Cpt Peter Paul Camerota, EWO,
Lt Col Gerald William Alley, †
M/Sgt Louis Edward LeBlanc Jr., air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-BO Stratofortress into Huu Tiep Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Operator:

Registration:

56-0608

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

U-Tapao - U-Tapao

MSN:

17291

YOM:

1956

Flight number:

Rose 01

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed U-Tapao NAS in Thailand under call sign Rose 01 with six crew members on board, taking part to the Linebacker II mission over Vietnam. While flying over Hanoi, the airplane was hit by enemy fire (SA-2 surface to air missile). The airplane lost height and crashed into the Huu Tiep Lake located in the center of Hanoi. Two crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Hal K. Wilson, pilot,
Cpt Charles Arthur Brown, copilot,
Cpt Richard Waller Cooper, navigator, †
Maj Fernando Alexander, radio navigator,
Cpt Henry Charles Barrows, EWO,
T/Sgt Charlie Sherman Poole, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Buffalo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1972 at 1033 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Operator:

Registration:

N121X

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Buffalo - Allentown

MSN:

421B-0166

YOM:

1971

Location:

Buffalo

New York

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2600

Captain / Total hours on type:

80.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Buffalo Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine lost power. The aircraft banked left, lost height then crashed onto several houses located in the residential area of Cheektowaga, about two miles south of the airport. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed as well as three people on the ground.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The pilot failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls,
- Fuel system: selector valves,
- Exhaust system: other,
- Ignition system: spark plug,
- Carbon deposit,
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Snow showers,
- Power loss on left engine,
- Spark plug fouled,
- Possible slow waste gate open,
- Fuel shut off,
- Propeller not feathered.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-222 in Chicago: 45 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1972 at 1428 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

N9031U

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Washington DC - Chicago - Omaha

MSN:

19069/75

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

UA553

Location:

Chicago-Midway

Illinois

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18000

Captain / Total hours on type:

2435.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

10638

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1676

Aircraft flight hours:

7247

Circumstances:

Flight UA553 departed Washington-National Airport at 1250LT for Omaha with an intermediate stop at Chicago-Midway Airport. Chicago ARTCC cleared the crew to descend to 4000 feet and the flight was given vectors for a Midway Airport runway 31L localizer course. At 14:19 the flight was transferred to Chicago Approach Control which later requested UA553 to slow down to 180 knots and later down to 160 knots. After issuing a descent clearance down to 2000 feet at 14:23 the controller requested the flight to slow down to approach speed because of separation between UA553 and a preceding Aero Commander. At 14:24 the Aero Commander passed the Outer Marker and was cleared to land on runway 31L. Two minutes later UA553 passed the Outer Marker inbound. Then, at 14:27:04 the air traffic controller decided to issue a missed approach clearance: "United 553 execute a missed approach make a left turn to a heading of 180 climb to 2000". At the same time, having just reached 1000 feet, the stick shaker suddenly activated. Full power was applied and the gear was retracted in an attempt to execute a missed approach. The Boeing continued to descend however, attaining a high nose up attitude (of at least 30deg, according to some survivors). The aircraft then clipped a tree and impacted trees, houses, utility pole cables and garages before coming to rest. Post crash fire destroyed part of the fuselage.

Probable cause:

The captain's failure to exercise positive flight management during the execution of a non-precision approach, which culminated in a critical deterioration of airspeed into the stall regime where level flight could no longer be maintained.

Final Report:

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