Crash of a Convair CV-340-38 in Evansville

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1968 at 2007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4820C
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
152
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
39
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Circumstances:
En route, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to divert to Evansville-Dress Airport for an emergency landing. On short final, the captain decided to make a go-around when the airplane stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. All 42 occupants were evacuated among them 10 were injured. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight following the rupture of an exhaust valve in number 15 cylinder. The pilot lost control of the airplane when he started a single engine go-around and aborted.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Goshen

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1967 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N35X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
A-160
YOM:
1946
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1395
Captain / Total hours on type:
75.00
Circumstances:
The approach speed was too low and the airplane bounced on landing. The pilot decided to initiate a go around but the aircraft entered a steep climb with a high angle of attack. It stalled and crashed onto the runway and was destroyed. Both occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Improper level off on part of the pilot-in-command who failed to obtain/maintain flying speed upon landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680F in Elkhart

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1966 at 1636 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N342WS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
680-1236-121
YOM:
1962
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7336
Captain / Total hours on type:
1670.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Elkhart Airport, after passing the VOR, the pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan and continued under VFR mode despite poor weather conditions (low ceiling and snow falls). While circling to land, he failed to locate the runway that was covered with snow and the aircraft was not properly aligned with runway. The airplane overshot and then collided with a building before crashing on the ground. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged distance, speed and altitude and failed to align the aircraft on the intended landing area. Poorly planned approach. Poor weather conditions and local conditions were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Gary

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1966 at 1545 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1914
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gary - Gary
MSN:
520-122
YOM:
1953
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Gary, Indiana, simulating engine failure. En route, one of the pilot voluntarily cut one of the engine to simulate a failure. After few seconds, he was unable to restart the engine nor to raise the gear and due to an insufficient speed, the airplane stalled and crashed in a gravel pit. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow the approved procedures. Improper emergency procedures.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-44 Widgeon in Kendallville

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1966 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N132X
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kendallville - Kendallville
MSN:
1210
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
862
Captain / Total hours on type:
101.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local pleasure flight in the region of Kendallville. Following an uneventful flight, the pilot returned to Kendallville when, on touchdown, the airplane bounced, stalled and crashed. All five occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Improper level off and improper recovery from bounced landing on part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Columbia City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1966 at 0848 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N10415
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Detroit – Kansas City
MSN:
341
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
14067
Captain / Total hours on type:
6732.00
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Detroit to Kansas City, the C-46 collided with a private Piper Aztec registered N5628Y. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Columbia City. Both pilots on board the C-46 and the pilot of the Aztec were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision caused by an inadequate visual contact to avoid collision on part of the crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra near Tell City: 63 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1960 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N121US
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Chicago – Miami
MSN:
1057
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
NW710
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
63
Captain / Total flying hours:
27523
Captain / Total hours on type:
254.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2974
Copilot / Total hours on type:
200
Aircraft flight hours:
1786
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Chicago-Midway at 1438LT bound for Miami, carrying 57 passengers and a crew of six. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet over the south of Indiana State, the aircraft entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a snow covered field located east of Tell City. Some debris were also found in a wooded area. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 63 occupants were killed. The crew was unable to send any distress call prior to the accident.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the separation of the right wing in flight due to flutter induced by oscillations of the outboard nacelles. Contributing factors were a reduced stiffness of the structure and the entry of the aircraft into an area of severe clear air turbulence.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Jeffersonville: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1956 at 1038 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N64001
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chicago – Louisville
MSN:
5326
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
17600
Captain / Total hours on type:
9.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2297
Copilot / Total hours on type:
29
Aircraft flight hours:
3109
Circumstances:
The flight was for the purpose of transporting six Crane officials from Chicago, Illinois, to Louisville, Kentucky, to attend a business convention. Departure was from O'Hare-Chicago International Airport on a VFR flight plan (changed en route to IFR) with the Crane Company's Chief Pilot Randolph A. Mulherin in command, and Robert H. Robinette, also a Crane pilot, as copilot. Gross weight upon departure was estimated to be 27,360 pounds; the maximum permissible takeoff weight was 31,000 pounds. Shortly after takeoff the pilot gave a routine report to Chicago radio of his time off as 0908 and his estimated elapsed flight time as one hour and 20 minutes. He did not request weather information at that time. Other radio contacts followed as the flight progressed, the final one being at 1034 over the Jeffersonville intersection. An approach was then started from that point to the Standiford Airport, 6-9/10 miles distant. During this approach the aircraft struck trees and crashed at a point one-half mile north of the Jeffersonville intersection. The airplane was destroyed and all eight occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a critical loss of altitude, due to a complete power loss from the left engine and the drag of its windmilling propeller. The following findings were reported:
- Pilot Mulherin was relatively inexperienced with the subject model aircraft,
- The left engine suddenly lost all power because of a disconnected carburetor control,
- The left propeller was found not feathered,
- Examination of the right engine revealed no significant defect,
- Altitude could not be maintained and the aircraft struck high trees and then plunged steeply to the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Evansville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87341
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8600
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a lake located about nine miles northwest of Evansville, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar near Lafayette: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1951 at 0110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5545N
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2364
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching West Lafayette-Purdue University Airport by night, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and low clouds. He decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the airplane clip two trees and crashed in flames in a rain-soaked field located about eight miles southwest of Lafayette. Two passengers and the pilot were killed while four other passengers were injured. They were flying back to Lafayette after a hunting camp in Canada. Deer, ducks and fish were found in the wreckage.