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Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Mt Baldy

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1974 at 1042 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Intermountain Aviation
Registration:
N351FH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mt Baldy - Mt Baldy
MSN:
2012
YOM:
1967
Location:
Mt Baldy
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9199
Captain / Total hours on type:
4950.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from a short airstrip at Mt Baldy, the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The crew was engaged in a survey flight against forest fire.
Probable cause:
Failed to maintain flying speed at takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High density altitude, about 12,000 feet,
- Airport conditions,
- High altitude short runway takeoff,
- Wind 12-15 then died, causing the aircraft to settle down slope into trees.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer near Safford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1974 at 0726 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
SS&T Aerial Contractors
Registration:
N7237C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
59763
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
Tanker 50
Location:
Safford
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tucson Airport in the early morning on a firefighting mission in the region of Safford. While flying at low height over the forest in fire, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a mountain slope. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the clearance with ground. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon near Winslow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1974 at 1357 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Master Equipment Company
Registration:
N7263C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whiteriver - Whiteriver
MSN:
15-1247
YOM:
1944
Location:
Winslow
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2200
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Whiteriver on a fire fighting mission. While flying at low height, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the crew failed to maintain flying speed .The following factors were reported:
- High density altitude, about 12,000 feet,
- High temperature,
- Lost control in steep bank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F near Sells: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1974 at 1754 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Al Harmon
Registration:
N2500T
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
680-1158-98
YOM:
1962
Location:
Sells
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2498
Captain / Total hours on type:
98.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Sells, Arizona, the twin engine airplane was flying at a very low altitude (30 feet above the ground) when it struck a cactus and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to see and avoid objects or obstructions. The following factors were reported :
- Unwarranted low flying,
- High obstructions,
- Hit cactus at 30 feet AGL,
- $ 5,270 cash found at accident site.
Final Report:

Crash of a MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet in Phoenix

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1973 at 2024 LT
Type of aircraft:
MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet
Operator:
Registration:
N320MC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco - San Diego - Phoenix - Santa Fe
MSN:
1034
YOM:
1968
Location:
Phoenix-Sky Harbor
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11672
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from San Francisco to Santa Fe with intermediate stops in San Diego and Phoenix. At Sky Harbor Airport, the airplane landed on its belly, slid for several dozen yards and came to rest in flames. While all seven occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
On approach, the crew failed to use the checklist and forgot to extend the landing gear.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in White Mountain Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1972 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Miami Aircraft Ventures
Registration:
N5299C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
A-538
YOM:
1950
Location:
White Mountain Lake
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Circumstances:
While completing a last turn in an attempt to land on a road, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was involved in an illegal smuggling flight, carrying a load of narcotics.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to maintain flying speed during the last turn, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash. The following factors were reported:
- Poorly planned approach,
- Low altitude turn to land on road,
- Narcotics on board.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A near Safford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1972 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Alpine Aviation
Registration:
N140X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Safford - Safford
MSN:
500-1268-91
Location:
Safford
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
7589
Captain / Total hours on type:
48.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local fire control mission. En route, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Safford, killing both occupants.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in mountainous terrain for undetermined reason. No witnesses to steep nose down impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 near Peach Springs: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1971 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N3250Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Grand Canyon
MSN:
402-0050
YOM:
1967
Location:
Peach Springs
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
2441
Captain / Total hours on type:
415.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Las Vegas Airport on a charter flight to Grand Canyon, carrying nine passengers, tourists from the US, France and Germany. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and elected to turning around when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed about 39 miles north of Peach Springs. The wreckage was found a day later in the Shivwits Plateau near Parashant Canyon. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Wayne Leeth.
Passengers:
James Allen Jr,
Florence Allen,
Mr. R. Lynch,
Mrs. R. Lynch,
Mr. P. Dosmond, France,
Mrs. P. Dosmond, France,
Paul Haack, West Germany,
Renate Haack, West Germany,
Walter Pilgram, West Germany.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and snow.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45g eXPEDITOR in Prescott: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1971 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Harry Noe
Registration:
N74Q
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Las Vegas – Houston
MSN:
AF-290
YOM:
1953
Location:
Prescott
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
2472
Captain / Total hours on type:
189.00
Circumstances:
En route from Las Vegas to Houston, the left engine failed. The pilot was able to feather the propeller but unable to maintain a safe altitude. He informed ATC about his situation and was cleared to divert to the nearest airport for an emergency landing. While trying to land at a ranch airstrip, the airplane hit a wood pile and crashed in flamers. The pilot and a passenger were seriously injured while four other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight due to cylinder assembly failure. The following factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Left engine lost power due to cracked n°9 cylinder.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in Tucson

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1971 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
N9324Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
32183
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tucson
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3020
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Tucson, Arizona. While flying at low height, the crew noticed a loss of power on all four engines and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an uninhabited area and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the fuel system and ram air assembly. The following factors were reported:
- Partial loss of power on four engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Baffle in air intake scoop separated from n°4 engine, restering airflow to carburettor 1, 2 and 3 propellers that moved to high pitch.
Final Report:
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