Arkansas

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Little Rock – Dallas

MSN:

340-0361

YOM:

1974

Location:

Ashdown

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5375

Captain / Total hours on type:

36.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude on an executive flight from Little Rock to Dallas, the twin engine airplane collided with a Cessna 172 registered N73532. Operated by the Red River Army Depot, the single engine airplane departed Texarkana for a local flight with two passengers and one pilot on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All seven occupants were killed. The accident occurred in a non controlled area and both aircraft were not under radar contact. The pilot of the Cessna 340 was facing the sun when the accident occurred.

Probable cause:

In-flight collision after both crew failed to see and avoid other aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Sunglare,
- Not under radar contact,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- No control area.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise in Searcy

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1979 at 0855 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

WMD Inc.

Registration:

N5NW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Oklahoma City – Searcy

MSN:

597

YOM:

1973

Location:

Searcy

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3300

Captain / Total hours on type:

1031.00

Circumstances:

During the last segment on approach to Searcy Municipal Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Stall on level off/touchdown after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to initiate go-around,
- Not aligned with runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Conway: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1978 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

64-0532

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Little Rock - Little Rock

MSN:

4021

YOM:

1964

Location:

Conway

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB for a training mission. While flying by night in poor weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Conway, about 20 miles northwest of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Mena

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1978 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Grady O'Hara Associates

Registration:

N404RC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Mena - Mena

MSN:

31-7552060

YOM:

1975

Location:

Mena

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3815

Captain / Total hours on type:

125.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was performing a local test flight at Mena Airport. During initial climb, one of the engine failed. He elected to return but misjudged his altitude and clearance when the airplane struck trees and crashed near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Misjudged altitude and clearance,
- High obstructions,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing of airport on land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Searcy: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1978 at 1705 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Harding College

Registration:

N6751L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Searcy - Searcy

MSN:

31-653

YOM:

1970

Location:

Searcy

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6025

Captain / Total hours on type:

2579.00

Circumstances:

The crew (two instructors and two student pilots) were completing a local training flight at Searcy Airport. On a single engine approach, the pilot under supervision lost control of the airplane while initiating a go-around. The twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed. Two occupants were injured while two others were killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees during a go-around due to inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain directional control,
- Exercised poor judgment,
- Attempted single engine go-around during training,
- Pilot trainee zero time in type.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Springdale: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1977 at 1705 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

B-Z Leasing

Registration:

N9145Y

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fort Worth - Saint Louis

MSN:

31-194

YOM:

1968

Location:

Springdale

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

353

Captain / Total hours on type:

43.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane entered an area of turbulences. The airframe failed in flight, the airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a prairie. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight due to improper maintenance and inspection of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the flight controls surfaces: elevator assembly, attachments,
- Flutter,
- Incorrect weather forecast,
- Turbulence in flight, clear air,
- Separation in flight,
- Elevator not rebalanced after repainting,
- Rivet-nut improperly installed,
- Turbulences not forecasted.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Ashdown: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1976 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Owens Company

Registration:

N29RX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Atlanta - Abilene

MSN:

421B-0556

YOM:

1973

Location:

Ashdown

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10079

Captain / Total hours on type:

533.00

Circumstances:

While cruising under VFR mode, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with clouds, turbulences and thunderstorm activity. The airplane suffered overload failure, disintegrated in the air and crashed in Ashdown. The wreckage was found a day later. All three occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight after the crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Separation in flight,
- Sky obscured,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Aircraft disintegrated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Berryville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1975 at 1328 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Escalante Coal

Registration:

N100QU

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Arapahoe – Paducah

MSN:

421B-0471

YOM:

1973

Location:

Berryville

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6700

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Circumstances:

En route from Arapahoe (Colorado) to Paducah, while in normal cruise, the pilot encountered very bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences and hail. Control was lost and the airplane disintegrated in the air before it crashed in Berryville. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and airframe failure in flight after the pilot continued flight into known areas of severe turbulences. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft,
- Overload failure,
- Hail,
- Turbulences,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Separation in flight,
- Flew into known thunderstorm conditions,
- Aircraft disintegrated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Pine Bluff: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1974 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Ragsdale Aviation

Registration:

N44JG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

New Orleans - Pine Bluff

MSN:

414-0019

YOM:

1969

Location:

Pine Bluff-Grider Field

Country:

Region: