Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Hesperia

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1975 at 1710 LT
Registration:
N91101
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hesperia - Big Bear
MSN:
207-0074
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
231
Captain / Total hours on type:
21.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Hesperia, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing on a hill side when the airplane crashed. The pilot and a passenger were seriously injured while four other occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure or malfunction due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Fuel contamination - exclusive of water in fuel,
- Fuel systems: filters, strainers, screens obstructed,
- The pilot failed to abort takeoff,
- Overload failure,
- Observers said the engine power not full on takeoff,
- Screen partially clogged by debris.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S near Kelso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1975 at 1325 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N711LZ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Apple Valley - Amarillo - Oklahoma City
MSN:
500-1846-35
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9000
Captain / Total hours on type:
150.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude between Apple Valley and Amarillo, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. He failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Kelso. The wreckage was found four days later and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- High obstructions,
- Advised VFR flight not recommended.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2A near Carpinteria: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1975 at 0423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N424SF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Paso Robles - Los Angeles
MSN:
04335
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night in marginal weather conditions (low clouds), the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Carpinteria. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. The wreckage was found two days later.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Electrical failure,
- Low ceiling,
- High obstructions,
- Ceiling at 3,000 feet,
- Both generators and batteries failed in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a BAc 111-401AK in South Lake Tahoe

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1975 at 0956 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N711ST
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
South Lake Tahoe - Denver
MSN:
58
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6191
Captain / Total hours on type:
1014.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a charter flight from South Lake Tahoe to Denver, carrying customers of the Sahara Tahoe Hotel. The takeoff was initiated in bad weather conditions with low clouds, visibility limited to 200 meters, heavy snow falls and an obscured sky. During the takeoff roll, after a course of 1,610 meters, the left main gear struck a snow berm. Directional control was lost and the airplane veered off runway to the left. The nose gear collapsed and the right wing was partially torn off before the airplane came to rest 66 meters to the left of the runway. All 44 occupants were evacuated, two passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial takeoff after the pilot-in-command initiated flight in adverse weather conditions and failed to maintain directional control. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Inadequate snow removal from airport personnel,
- Snow on runway,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow falls,
- Blowing snow,
- Attempted takeoff from partially cleared runway in low visibility due to heavy snow,
- Hit snow berm and lost control.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 in Whittier: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1975 at 1607 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6383
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ontario - Los Angeles
MSN:
83
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
GW261
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
9366
Captain / Total hours on type:
2774.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2555
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2065
Aircraft flight hours:
10092
Circumstances:
Golden West Flight 261 departed Ontario, CA at 15:56PST for a VFR flight to Los Angeles. At 16:04 the crew contacted LAX arrival and reported over Rose Hills. The flight was then cleared for the Terminal Control Area (TCA) and no. 2 arrival to runway 24L. At 16:05 the crew were advised that they had traffic 5,5nm in front of them climbing from 1500 to 3000 feet which was a police helicopter on a VFR flight. The arrival controller transmitted another advisory about the helicopter at 16:06, but there was no response. It appeared the Twin Otter had collided in flight at 2200 feet with a Cessna 150 aircraft (N11421). The Twin Otter was flying on a 250deg heading descending 300 feet/min at 146 knots airspeed while the Cessna was flying at 94 kts; the closing speed was 174 kts. The Cessna, operated by CessnAir Aviation had departed from Long Beach on a local training flight at 15:46. Both aircraft crashed. Debris caused some damage to houses and lawns near the crash site.
Probable cause:
The failure of both flight crews to see the other aircraft in sufficient time to initiate evasive action. The Board is unable to determine why each crew failed to see an avoid the other aircraft; however, the Board believes that the ability of both crews to detect the other aircraft in time to avoid a collision was reduced because of the position of the sun, the closure angle of the aircraft, and the necessity for the Twin Otter's fight crew to acquire visual contact with radar-reported traffic directly in front of them.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft A60 Duke in Mammoth Lakes: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2855W
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mammoth Lakes – Santa Ana
MSN:
P-229
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2400
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from Mammoth Lakes-Yosemite Airport, while in initial climb, both propellers oversped. As the airspeed was insufficient, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Propeller and accessories: hydraulic pitch control mechanism,
- Lack of action on part of the pilot,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Propeller oversped due to congealed oil,
- The pilot failed to exercise props checks before takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor near Chester: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1974 at 1507 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N414ZM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Eureka - Winnemucca
MSN:
414-0494
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
2773
Captain / Total hours on type:
385.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 19,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a wooded area located about nine miles northwest of Chester, California. The wreckage was found few hours later. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Spatial disorientation,
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Empennage separated,
- Entered overcast about 19,000 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Santa Ana: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1974 at 0204 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2085D
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Phoenix - Santa Ana
MSN:
A-958
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1098
Captain / Total hours on type:
28.00
Circumstances:
The pilot initiated the descent to Santa Ana-John Wayne Airport by night and poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to rain showers. On final, the airplane was too low, struck the ground and crashed in flames in Tustin, few miles from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper operation on part of the pilot who descended below the published minimum altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- High obstructions,
- The glide slope receiver was reported inoperative since one week prior to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Santee: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1974 at 1118 LT
Registration:
N719Z
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santee - Calexico
MSN:
520-41
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Santee-Gillespie Field, while climbing, the twin engine airplane flew into clouds. The pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in flames. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR into adverse weather conditions when he suffered a spatial disorientation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Bishop: 36 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1974 at 2028 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N4819C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bishop - Burbank
MSN:
138
YOM:
1953
Flight number:
SZ802
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Captain / Total flying hours:
9902
Captain / Total hours on type:
1742.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2845
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2500
Aircraft flight hours:
41112
Circumstances:
The aircraft was chartered by Wolper Productions Inc. to fly a movie production crew from Bishop (BIH) to Burbank (BUR). The cast and crew of the television series 'Primal Man' was returning from shooting a prehistoric hunting sequence in the snow-covered Sierra. Amongst the crew were director-writer Dennis Azzarella and actor Janos Prohaska. Flight 802 departed Hollywood-Burbank Airport at 18:14 to pick up the passengers at Bishop. The flight from Burbank to Bishop was conducted under VFR conditions and at 19:10 the crew contacted the Tonopah Flight Service Station (FSS) and cancelled their VFR flight plan. The crew then "air filed" an IFR flight plan for the return trip from Bishop to Burbank. The aircraft landed at Bishop at 19:20. Baggage and equipment were loaded and 32 passengers boarded the flight. The Convair CV-440 departed the gate at about 20:20. The crew then contacted the Tonopah FSS and advised that they were taxiing for departure and requested that their IFR clearance be activated. After takeoff from runway 12 the flight made a climbing right turn, circled back over, or near, the BIH VOR and then proceeded outbound in an east-southeasterly direction. At 20:24 Flight 802 again contacted the Tonopah FSS and reported that they were off Bishop at 20:20 and were, "climbing VFR over Bishop, awaiting clearance." About four minutes later the aircraft struck a foothill in the White Mountain range at an elevation of 6,100 feet. The aircraft was on a heading of about 175° magnetic and in an approximate 25° bank to the right at impact. All 36 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was not possible to determine the probable cause of this accident. The reason why the flight crew did not maintain a safe distance from hazardous terrain during night visual flight conditions could not be established.
Final Report: