Idaho

The aircraft was observed flying over the strip in what appeared to be a normal downwind pattern. It crashed about 300 ft below windy ridge on the northwest face. The autopsy report indicated the pilot had a "patchy healed myocardial infarct" prior to the accident. Microscopic examination supported occlusive coronary arteriosclerosis, left coronary artery. The pilot had been under a stress program & taking medication for high blood pressure.

Before takeoff, the pilot filed a company flight plan for a VFR flight from Boise to Salmon, ID. He reported that during initial climb, the engine surged, then seemed to return to normal operation. He reduced the power to 33 inches of manifold pressure and set the propeller to 2,550 rpm. Shortly thereafter, the engine began losing power again, there was a second surge, then the propeller stopped. During an emergency landing, the pilot elected to cross over a road and land in an open field. He saw a power line along the road at the edge of the field and elected to cross under it to land. However, he did not see a single telephone pole on the opposite side of the road. The left wing struck the pole and the plane cartwheeled and crashed. Three occupants escaped with minor injuries and four others were uninjured. An investigation revealed that the crankshaft had failed from fatigue.

The pilot took off with 4 passengers after waiting 4 hours for the air temperature to cool. The takeoff seemed normal, but over the river at about 50 feet agl, the aircraft began to sink. It impacted rough terrain on the far side of the river. The airport elevation was 2,045 feet msl and the temperature was 90 degrees. All five occupants were seriously injured.

While cruising by night from Salt Lake City to Hailey, the pilot failed to see and avoid mountainous terrain. The twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain and crashed near Shoshone, killing all three occupants.

The twin engine airplane departed Novato Airport, California, at 1830LT on November 26 with five passengers and one pilot on board. A fuel stop was completed at Reno Airport then the airplane proceeded to the northeast. While descending to Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport by night and foggy conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed.

On a cargo flight from Salmon to Indian Creek, the pilot made a detour to fly over a large game as the passenger was an avid hunter. While cruising at low altitude and low speed, the single engine airplane stalled, crashed and burst into flames. Both occupants were killed.

The pilot and the passenger were engaged in a survey flight from Salmon to McCall. While flying at low height, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a dense wooded area. While the passenger was seriously injured, the pilot was killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Athol-Silverwood, while in initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled and crashed in flames in a prairie located past the runway end. All three passengers were seriously injured while all three crew members were killed.

A Forest Service owned and operated Douglas C-47, N148Z, was dispatched from Grangeville, ID to transport personnel and gear to the Moose Creek Ranger Station up the Selway River, a distance of about 60 miles. On board the aircraft were 11 Forest Service employees (which included the pilot and copilot), one volunteer, 3,100 pounds of cargo, and two canines. The aircraft had been configured for smokejumper missions and consequently all of the passengers were sitting on the port side of the aircraft facing the cargo on the other side. The cargo was held in place with retaining straps. The flight took off at 09:28 hours. The pilots began to fly the normal route, over the river, and to the Ranger Station. It was determined that the left engine failed (or was shut down) in flight, about 20 minutes after takeoff from the airport. Presumably this was the result of rising temperature of nose case components and lubricating oil and low oil pressure. The left propeller was apparently feathered immediately after the engine failed (or was shut down) in flight. The right engine "blew a jug" on cylinder number eight and burst into flame within perhaps 10 to 30 seconds from the time the left engine stopped. The right engine separated from the wing with an explosive sound within perhaps 10 to 30 seconds from the time it burst into flame. The aircraft continued approximately three and one half miles upstream in a narrow canyon in powerless glide after the right engine fell off. The pilots evidently attempted to land in the river. During this maneuver, the aircraft hit a tree and nosed into the river. Upon impact, the aircraft broke up approximately ten miles downriver from the Ranger Station. The location was a steep, timbered, rocky-river canyon at an elevation of 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). Three passengers survived the mishap; however, one of these survivors succumbed to his injuries before he could be transported to the hospital.
Source: ASN

The pilot, sole on board, was preparing for a local fire fighting mission. While taxiing on the apron, the Invader collided with a private Beechcraft M24R registered N2529W with one pilot on board. Following the collision, both aircraft caught fire and were destroyed. The pilot on board the Beechcraft was killed instantly while the pilot on board the Invader was seriously injured. He died three days later from his injuries.