Alabama

Schedule:

Birmingham - Birmingham

MSN:

680-775-48

YOM:

1959

Location:

Birmingham

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1500

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local flight in Birmingham. On approach, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Misjudged distances, speed and altitude,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Observed nose high,
- Slow flight conditions,
- Aircraft last flown 8 September 1973.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura near Union Springs: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1973 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Clark Aerial Service

Registration:

N45CK

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Montgomery - Montgomery

MSN:

5333

YOM:

1943

Location:

Union Springs

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5100

Captain / Total hours on type:

67.00

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a crop spraying mission in the region of Union Springs and departed Montgomery-Franklin Airport in the early morning. While flying at low height above a wooded area, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees after the pilot-in-command misjudged speed and altitude. The following factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Jettisoned load,
- Aircraft descended and hit ground in near level flight attitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Midway

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1973 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Bernard L. Morgan

Registration:

N2668B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tulsa - Jacksonville

MSN:

560A-382

YOM:

1956

Location:

Midway

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 520

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4740

Captain / Total hours on type:

85.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Tulsa to Jacksonville, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot informed ATC about the situation and he reduced his altitude to attempt an emergency landing. The twin engine airplane struck trees then crashed near Midway. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Fuel on board 156 gallons,
- In flight for 3 hours and 30 minutes,
- Cause of fuel exhaustion could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Central Mills

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1973 at 1331 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Joe T. Poston

Registration:

N7324

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Greenville - Montgomery

MSN:

520-94

YOM:

1953

Location:

Central Mills

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3000

Captain / Total hours on type:

360.00

Circumstances:

En route from Greenville, Mississippi, to Montgomery, Alabama, both engines failed almost simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Central Mills. While both passengers were slightly injured, the pilot was seriously wounded.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines in flight caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Fuel system: vents, drains, tank caps,
- Fuel siphoning,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- High obstructions,
- One side of locking arm of the right fuel cap broken off, rust in break,
- Red fuel stains on wing and fuselage.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Birmingham: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1971 at 2150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Hankins Airways

Registration:

N5605D

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mobile – Birmingham – Nashville

MSN:

BA-311

YOM:

1957

Location:

Birmingham

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5831

Captain / Total hours on type:

2557.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Birmingham Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane stalled from the tail and adopter a high nose-up attitude. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames near the airport. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. It was determined that the cargo was improperly tied down and shifted to the rear after takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Clanton

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1970 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

J. H. Upton

Registration:

N4517E

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Clanton - Birmingham

MSN:

500-1393

YOM:

1964

Location:

Clanton

Country:

Region:

A. Murphy Construction Company

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

645

Captain / Total hours on type:

383.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Clanton-Ware Island Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The pilot retracted the gear to maintain directional control and the airplane came to rest in flames. The pilot was uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

The right main gear collapsed for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 65 in Mobile: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1969 at 0053 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N3333M

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Albany - Mobile

MSN:

LC-065

YOM:

1961

Location:

Mobile

Country:

Region:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Captain / Total hours on type:

587.00

Circumstances:

The pilot started a night approach to Mobile Airport when he encountered severe turbulences. He lost control of the airplane that crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. A passenger was injured while three other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the airport was closed (closing times are 0000LT till 0600LT) and there was no ATC employee at tower.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on final approach due to wake turbulences caused by a DC-9 preceding the Queen Air. It was reported that the crew of the DC-9 was practicing landings and ILS low approaches.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Heflin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1966 at 0906 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Gastonia Aviation

Registration:

N411Z

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

A-832

YOM:

1952

Location:

Heflin

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

700

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the pilot encountered severe icing conditions and contacted ATC to obtain the permission to climb to 10,000 feet. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and eventually crashed in a field located in Heflin. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in icing conditions for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Huntsville

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1965 at 1605 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

N37519

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

43008

YOM:

1947

Flight number:

UA624

Location:

Huntsville

Country:

Region: