California

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rialto - Truckee

MSN:

421C-0209

YOM:

1976

Location:

Shaver Lake

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3060

Captain / Total hours on type:

15.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2575

Circumstances:

The pilot bought the aircraft about a month prior to the accident. He had limited experience in the aircraft, and limited experience with high altitude flight and its weather phenomenon. The pilot obtained two weather briefings for the flight. During both, he was advised of the forecast and pilot reported conditions of moderate to severe mixed icing and turbulence associated with a mountain wave on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Instead of flying along his intended route on the western side of the mountains, he chose a direct route, which placed the aircraft on the eastern side of the mountains. The track of the aircraft was established by recorded radar data. The data showed the aircraft in cruise at 16,500 feet until about 1 minute prior to the accident. The aircraft was shown to climb to 17,200 feet before it disappeared. The last radar target was observed about 2 miles from the impact location. The aircraft impacted in a steep nose down descent. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Inflight encounter with forecasted severe icing and turbulence beyond the capability of either the aircraft or the pilot, which led to an inflight loss of control. Factors in the accident were the pilots lack of understanding of high altitude flight aspects and meteorological phenomenon.
Findings:
Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - icing conditions
2. (f) weather condition - mountain wave
3. (f) weather condition - turbulence
4. Preflight briefing service - issued - nws personnel
5. (f) lack of total experience in type operation - pilot in command
6. (c) weather evaluation - not understood - pilot in command
7. (c) flight into known adverse weather - attempted - pilot in command
8. (f) in-flight planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
9. (c) aircraft performance - exceeded
10. (c) aircraft control - inadequate - pilot in command
11. (c) stall/spin - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1988 at 0014 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Helicopters Unlimited

Registration:

N3588Y

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Upland - Hayward

MSN:

31-8052129

YOM:

1980

Location:

Hayward

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5557

Captain / Total hours on type:

30.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3355

Circumstances:

Upon arriving at his destination the pilot began a visual, night descent to his destination airport. As the aircraft descended the pilot reduced the airspeed and deployed flaps. As the aircraft neared the airport the pilot increased the flap angle and adjusted the propellers to the landing rpm and the airspeed decreased. The pilot stated that at this time he heard a noise that sounded like a flutter which he thought was emanating from the right engine. Full throttle was applied, but the airspeed continued to decrease and the pilot elected to land on a freeway. The aircraft collided with a motor vehicle on touchdown and slid to a stop. Post crash exam revealed the rpm control levers and bellranks to be in the high rpm settings. The left prop was found in the feathered position.

Probable cause:

Pilot's failure to detect an uncommanded propeller feathering procedures established in the pilot's operating handbook.
Findings:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (partial) - mech failure/malf
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
1. (c) propeller system/accessories, feathering system - failure, partial
2. (c) emergency procedure - not followed - pilot in command
3. (f) visual/aural perception - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - final approach
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
4. (f) object - vehicle
5. (f) light condition - dark night
6. (f) terrain condition - roadway/highway

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Orinda: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1988 at 1906 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Tanner Construction

Registration:

N6ET

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Redding - San Jose

MSN:

31-7612012

YOM:

1976

Location:

Orinda

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6500

Circumstances:

Before the accident, witnesses observed the aircraft circling in a valley beneath a low cloud layer and below the surrounding hilltops. They estimated the ceiling was 400 feet obscured. Two witnesses said the aircraft entered clouds before it crashed. A 3rd witness, who was a pilot, said the aircraft was at a very low altitude when it approached rising/mountainous terrain; he said the aircraft then entered a steep climbing turn and stalled after making two complete turns. Impact occurred in a nose low, left wing down attitude. No preimpact mechanical problem was found. The FAA had issued the pilot a special 3rd class medical certificate after he had quintuple heart bypass surgery. He was reported to have gotten 'quite angry' before the flight, when 2 passengers were late. A pathologist believed the pilot's death may have been due to arteriosclerotic heart disease; however, this was not verified. The pilot did not have an instrument rating and no record of a preflight weather briefing was found. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
1. (f) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
2. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
3. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
4. (f) weather condition - fog
5. (f) vfr flight into imc - continued - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: maneuvering
Findings
6. Maneuver - initiated
7. (c) airspeed - not maintained - pilot in command
8. (c) stall - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-105-BW Stratofortress at Castle AFB

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

58-0219

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Castle - Castle

MSN:

464287

YOM:

1958

Location:

Castle AFB

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a training flight out of Castle AFB. During the takeoff roll, the decision to abort was taken for unknown reasons. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest. All crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a BAe 146-200 near San Luis Obispo: 43 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1987 at 1616 LT

Type of aircraft:

BAe 146

Operator:

Registration:

N350PS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Los Angeles – San Francisco

MSN:

E2027

YOM:

1984

Flight number:

PS1771

Location:

San Luis Obispo

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11600

Captain / Total hours on type:

1600.00

Aircraft flight hours:

8571

Circumstances:

A recently discharged USAir employee boarded PSA flight 1771 after having left a goodbye message with friends. He bypassed security and carried aboard a borrowed 44 caliber pistol. A note written by this passenger, found in the wreckage, threatened his former supervisor at USAir, who was aboard the flight. At 1613, the pilot reported to Oakland ARTCC that he had an emergency and that gunshots had been fired in the airplane. Within 25 seconds, Oakland control controllers observed that PSA 1771 had begun a rapid descent from which it did not recover. Witnesses on the ground said the airplane was intact and there was no evidence of fire before the airplane struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. The cover tape revealed the sounds of a scuffle and several shots which were apparently fired in or near the cockpit. The pistol was found in the wreckage with 6 expended rounds. FAA rules permitted airline employees to bypass security checkpoints. All 43 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) security - inadequate - company/operator management
2. (f) procedure inadequate - company/operator management
3. (f) insuff standards/requirements, operation/operator - faa (organization)
4. (c) control interference - intentional - passenger
5. (c) sabotage - intentional - passenger
6. (c) emotional reaction - passenger
7. Incapacitation - pilot in command
8. Incapacitation - copilot/second pilot
9. Suicide - intentional - passenger
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu in Long Beach: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1987 at 1843 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N4369V

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Carslbad - Long Beach

MSN:

46-8408076

YOM:

1984

Location:

Long Beach

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4782

Captain / Total hours on type:

237.00

Circumstances:

During the return flight to San Jose and subsequent descent and approach to the Long Beach Airport, the two pilots experienced, in succession, a failure of the turbocharger system, loss of an alternator, loss of engine oil pressure, an unsafe landing gear indication, and an in-flight fire followed by the loss of engine power during a night time circling approach to an unfamiliar airport in visual meteorological conditions. The aircraft crashed onto the southbound lanes of the San Diego freeway at Long Beach after making a flyby of the tower to confirm the landing gear position. The investigation revealed an improperly installed turbocharger, a cracked manifold exhaust, a burned main power lead, a separated cylinder, and a low fluid level in the hydraulic reservoir. Two years prior to this accident, the instructor pilot made an unintentional gear up landing in another aircraft. One year prior to this accident the FAA revoked the mechanic's inspection authorization.

Probable cause:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
Pilot's failure to land the aircraft after experiencing the pilot's Faulty decision was his previous experience with a gear up landing a Couple of years before.
Findings
Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. Exhaust system, turbocharger - failure, partial
2. (f) exhaust system, turbocharger - disengaged
3. (f) engine installation, mounting bolt - separation
4. (c) maintenance, installation - improper - company maintenance personnel
5. (f) maintenance, inspection - poor - company maintenance personnel
----------
Occurrence #2: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
6. (f) electrical system, electric wiring - burned
7. Electrical system, alternator - disabled
8. (c) hydraulic system, accumulator - low level
9. Landing gear, gear indicating system - false indication
10. (c) low pass - intentional - pilot in command (cfi)
11. (f) anxiety/apprehension - pilot in command (cfi)
----------
Occurrence #3: fire
Phase of operation: go-around (vfr)
Findings
12. (c) engine assembly, cylinder - fatigue
13. Engine assembly, cylinder - separation
14. Go-around - performed - pilot in command (cfi)
15. (f) judgment - poor - pilot in command (cfi)
----------
Occurrence #4: loss of engine power (total) - mech failure/malf
Phase of operation: approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
Findings
16. (f) fluid, oil - starvation
----------
Occurrence #5: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
17. Light condition - night
18. (c) stall/mush - encountered - pilot in command (cfi)

Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander near Desert Center: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1987 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Southern Cross Aviation

Registration:

N25MR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

El Paso - Santa Paula

MSN:

881

YOM:

1980

Location:

Desert Center

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:

3.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1119

Circumstances:

The pilot was hired to ferry an Islander from El Paso, TX to Santa Paula, CA. He represented himself to the ferry company as being an experienced Islander pilot. No previous Islander flight time was found in the pilot's logbook. It was the pilot's 40th birthday and he was anxious to complete the flight. He neither filed flight plans nor had current charts. Approaching the Chiriaco summit area along I-10 the terrain rose and a ground-based witness reported clouds were low. The pilot continued the westbound flight. Evidence indicated an overstressed aircraft and an in-flight breakup. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: maneuvering
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
2. Terrain condition - rising
3. (f) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
4. (f) self-induced pressure - pilot in command
5. Lack of total experience in type of aircraft - pilot in command
6. (c) design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded - pilot in command
7. Wing - separation
8. Flight control surfaces/attachments - separation
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I near Travis AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1987 at 0423 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208A Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

N828FE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Oakland - Reno

MSN:

208-0073

YOM:

1985

Location:

Travis AFB

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10495

Captain / Total hours on type:

642.00

Aircraft flight hours:

1721

Circumstances:

While cruising on a scheduled cargo flight in IMC the pilot encountered moderate to severe turbulence near an area where weather cells could have been observed on the aircraft's radar. The pilot reversed course, declared an emergency and lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, collided with terrain and was destroyed. The recently hired pilot had completed the FAA approved ground and flight training program in the aircraft. During the pilot's recent training, neither the FAA nor the operator required the pilot to demonstrate proficiency in unusual attitude recoveries or have knowledge in the operation of the aircraft's weather radar. Company employees, which included the pilot's husband, stated that the pilot had no previous experience with weather radar and did not understand the weather radar installed in this aircraft. They further stated that the pilot appeared to be tired. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
Pilot's encounter with severe turbulence which precipitated a loss of Aircraft control.
Findings
Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. Light condition - dark night
2. (f) weather condition - turbulence in clouds
3. (f) weather radar - not understood - pilot in command
4. (f) inadequate initial training - company/operator management
5. (f) inadequate initial training - faa (principal operations inspector)
6. (c) flight into known adverse weather - continued - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
Findings
7. (c) spiral - uncontrolled - pilot in command
8. (f) spatial disorientation - pilot in command
9. (f) fatigue (lack of sleep) - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled

Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 10 in Rancho Murieta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1987 at 1528 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 10

Operator:

Falcon Jet Corporation

Registration:

N121FJ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Rancho Murieta - San José

MSN:

192

YOM:

1981

Location:

Rancho Murieta

Country:

Region: