Country
United States of America
code

CA

Crash of a Cessna 402C in Crescent City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1980 at 2008 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
N5718C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Crescent City - Eureka
MSN:
402-0027
YOM:
1979
Location:
Crescent City-Del Norte County Regional (Jack McNamara)
California
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:
9019
Captain / Total hours on type:
1300.00
Circumstances:
The crew (one instructor and one student pilot) was engaged in a training flight from Crescent City to Eureka. Following a night takeoff from Crescent City-Jack McNamara Airport, the twin engine airplane adopted a low rate of climb when it crashed in flames on the Castle Rock Island (238 feet ASL) located about a mile south of the departure end of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground during initial climb after the pilot-in-command misjudged altitude and clearance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight on behalf of the check pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader near Georgetown: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1980 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
University of Nevada
Registration:
N4204A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
28919
YOM:
1944
Location:
Georgetown
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
9220
Captain / Total hours on type:
240.00
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Reno in the mid-morning. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with icing when control was lost. The airplane went into a spin and crashed, killing all four occupants.
Probable cause:
Stall and subsequent crash due to improper in-flight decisions and airframe ice. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Deficiency, company maintained equipment, services, regulation on part of the personnel,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Blowing snow,
- Aircraft near aft CofG limit,
- No longitudinal stability study.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III near Escondido: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1980 at 0824 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III
Operator:
Stephen H. Elmore
Registration:
N15SE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brawley - McCllelan-Palomar
MSN:
421C-0115
YOM:
1976
Location:
Escondido
California
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:
6500
Captain / Total hours on type:
109.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Brawley Airport at 0800LT on a ferry flight to McClellan-Palomar Airport where the aircraft was supposed to follow a maintenance check. En route, control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames in Lake Wohlford, northeast of Escondido. The burnt wreckage was found 31 hours later. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601) in San Jose: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1980 at 1034 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
Operator:
Air National
Registration:
N8078J
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Jose - San Jose
MSN:
61P-0565-7963245
YOM:
1979
Location:
San Jose
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2400
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed San Jose Municipal Airport on a local aerial photography mission, carrying one passenger and one pilot. En route, the airplane stall, entered a spin and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Stall and subsequent spin after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. During a radar vector to ILS, the pilot reported he would be taking pictures at a slow speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon off Santa Barbara: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1980 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
J. P. D. Partnership
Registration:
N73173
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Visalia - Santa Barbara
MSN:
207-0566
YOM:
1980
Location:
Santa Barbara
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
7600
Circumstances:
While approaching Santa Barbara, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with low ceiling. The single engine airplane went out of control and crashed in the Pacific Ocean about 13 miles off Santa Barbara. SAR operations were initiated but the wreckage was never found.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with water after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment and suffered a spatial disorientation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure or delay in initiating emergency procedures,
- Flight and navigation instruments: attitude gyro - erratic,
- Low ceiling,
- Visibility 4 miles or less,
- Artificial horizon malfunction prior to departure,
- Sprayed with wd-40,
- Adzd ATC enroute no gyro.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61P Aerostar (Ted Smith 601P) in Bishop: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1979 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)
Operator:
Big Pine Trucking Company
Registration:
N600WW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bishop - Bishop
MSN:
61P-0269-056
YOM:
1976
Location:
Bishop
California
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:
1765
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a solo practice flight in the vicinity of Bishop Airport. While flying at low height, he lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Stall during a low pass after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Corona

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1979 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Dale Rodenbeek
Registration:
N8611A
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Corona - Corona
MSN:
A-518
YOM:
1949
Location:
Corona
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
893
Captain / Total hours on type:
29.00
Circumstances:
After liftoff, during initial climb, the airplane was difficult to control when it crashed in flames. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. The pilot stated that he encountered control difficulties after takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in San Ysidro: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 27, 1979 at 2346 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 200 Super King Air
Operator:
Registration:
XC-PGR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Monterrey - Tijuana
MSN:
BB-317
YOM:
1978
Location:
San Ysidro
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
6425
Captain / Total hours on type:
90.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing a special flight from Monterrey to Tijuana on behalf of the General Attorney of the Republic of Mexico. On final approach to Tijuana-General Abelardo L. Rodriguez Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a power pole (14 feet high) and crashed in flames about two miles short of runway threshold, on US territory. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited to a half of mile due to low ceiling and fog.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Airport facilities: Instrument Landing System inoperative,
- Limited visibility to half a mile,
- Localizer inop, using VOR/DME.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26AT Merlin IIA in Palo Alto: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1979 at 2316 LT
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA26T Merlin II
Operator:
Valley Equity Management Group
Registration:
N65103
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bakersfield - Palo Alto
MSN:
T26-140E
YOM:
1969
Location:
Palo Alto
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3331
Captain / Total hours on type:
197.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Palo Alto Airport by night, during the last segment, the twin engine airplane collided with a flock of seagulls, causing the left engine to fail. The airplane lost height and struck the runway surface. It bounced then went out of control, veered off runway and eventually crashed inverted in the airport parking, damaging seven other aircrafts. The pilot was seriously injured and both passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Hard landing following a bird strike on short final. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Improper recovery from bounced landing,
- Spontaneous-improper actions on part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Castle AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
58-0127
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
17872/342
YOM:
1959
Location:
Castle AFB
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
8046
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Castle AFB, consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. Upon touchdown, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Subscribe to California