California

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Point Mugu - Burbank

MSN:

6317

YOM:

1942

Location:

Point Mugu NAS

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16280

Captain / Total hours on type:

8370.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Point Mugu NAS, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power and caught fire. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when control was lost and the airplane crash landed by the runway and came to rest. All three occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. For unknown reason, the fire extinguishing system was inoperative.

Probable cause:

Partial loss of power on one engine during initial climb due to material failure. The following factors were reported:
- Failure of the fuel system,
- Failure of the fire extinguishing system,
- Engine fire,
- Component failure of right engine fuel feed system,
- Failure of hydraulic line.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 18 Expeditor 3TM in Van Nuys: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1972 at 1650 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 18

Operator:

Kenneth L. Compton

Registration:

N6674

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Van Nuys - Van Nuys

MSN:

A-762

YOM:

1952

Location:

Van Nuys

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

875

Captain / Total hours on type:

37.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Van Nuys Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames onto a hangar. The aircraft was destroyed as well as two other airplanes, a Beechcraft 35 registered N5312E and a Beechcraft 23 registered N2380L. All three occupants were killed. No one on the ground was injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain directional control and failed to abort takeoff. The following factors were reported:
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- No weather briefing received (no record),
- The pilot reported to have about an hour dual in type.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in San Diego: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1972 at 2227 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Navco International

Registration:

N6815L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

San Diego-Lindbergh Field

Schedule:

San Diego - Santa Ana

MSN:

31-17

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Circumstances:

After takeoff from San Diego-Lindbergh Field, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane banked left then lost height and crashed in flames. All four passengers were injured and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The left engine stopped after liftoff following a crew error. The following factors were reported:
- Spontaneous and improper action on part of the crew (pilot and copilot),
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- One of the pilot inadvertently shut off the left engine magneto switches, causing a loss of control.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland U-6A Beaver at Camp San Luis Obispo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1972 at 1620 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

51-16469

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Camp San Luis Obispo (Cuesta College)

Schedule:

Fort Irwin - Camp San Luis Obispo

MSN:

221

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Camp San Luis Obispo (Cuesta College), the single engine aircraft struck a warehouse located at the end of the runway. On impact, the left wing was torn off and the airplane veered toward the creek, crashed upside down and caught fire. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
CW2 Richard F. Race, pilot.
Passenger:
Lt Col Michael A. Nolan.

Crash of a De Havilland C-7A Caribou off Farallon Islands

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1971

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

62-4173

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

112

YOM:

1963

Location:

Farallon Islands

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to McClellan AFB near Sacramento, the crew encountered unknown technical problems. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft near the Farallon Islands, some 30 miles west of San Francisco. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical problems.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in San Diego: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1971 at 1757 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N11MK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

San Diego-Montgomery-Gibbs

Schedule:

San Diego - San Diego

MSN:

500-894-3

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from San Diego-Montgomery Field, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It flew into a 136 feet electrical tower located about 4,200 feet from the runway end. Then it hit power lines, trees and crashed into a house. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot misjudged altitude and clearance after takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Shelter Cove: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1971 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Lake Riverside Estates

Registration:

N90627

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Shelter Cove – San Jose

MSN:

4642

YOM:

1942

Location:

Shelter Cove

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12000

Circumstances:

After liftoff at Shelter Cove Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. The undercarriage struck an electric transformer and the left engine struck the roof of a sewage disposal building. Shortly later, the airplane entered a left bank and crashed into the sea about 150 yards offshore. Both pilots and 15 passengers were killed while seven other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the flying crew who failed to remove the rudder and elevator control locks prior to takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 near Duarte: 49 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1971 at 1711 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

N9345

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Los Angeles – Salt Lake City – Boise – Lewiston – Pasco – Yakima – Seattle

MSN:

47441/503

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

RW706

Location:

Duarte

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15490

Captain / Total hours on type:

2562.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

17128

Copilot / Total hours on type:

272

Aircraft flight hours:

5542

Circumstances:

Airwest flight 706, a DC-9, was to fly from Los Angeles, CA (LAX) to Seattle, WA (SEA) with intermediate stops at Salt Lake City (SLC), Boise (BOI), Lewiston (LWS), Pasco (PSC) and Yakima (YKM). The aircraft departed Los Angeles at 18:02. At 18:09 the crew reported leaving FL120 and Los Angeles ARTCC cleared them direct to Daggett. At 17:16 h a US Marine Corps McDonnell F-4B Phantom 151458 departed Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Fallon for a flight to MCAS El Toro at low altitude. The aircraft had several technical difficulties, including an inoperative transponder and a leak in the oxygen system. Due to deteriorating visibility northwest of Palmdale, the crew climbed to 15,500 feet . Shortly after level-off, aircraft was 50 miles from MCAS El Toro. The pilot executed a 360° aileron roll at this time, which took approximately 3 seconds to complete. The Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) estimated that the true airspeed in the climb and after level-off was 420 knots. The F-4B collided with the Airwest DC-9 about 1 minute and 20 sec after the roll, at 15150 feet. After the collision, the F-4 began to tumble violently about the lateral axis. The RIO waited about 5 seconds, and, after seeing numerous warning lights in the cockpit, he ejected from the aircraft . The ejection was successful, and he parachuted to the ground without injury. The other F-4 crewmember did not survive the accident.

Probable cause:

The failure of both crews to see and avoid each other but it is recognized that they had only marginal capability to detect, assess, and avoid the collision. Other causal factors include a very high closure rate, comingling of IFR and VFR traffic in an area where the limitation of the ATC system precludes effective separation of such traffic, and failure of the crew of 151458 to request radar advisory service, particularly considering the fact that they had an inoperable transponder.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 720-047B in Ontario: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1971 at 0633 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 720

Operator:

Registration:

N3166

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Los Angeles - Ontario

MSN:

19439/621

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

WA366

Location:

Ontario

Country:

Region: