Kansas

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Aspen - Tulsa

MSN:

31-7612047

YOM:

1976

Location:

Anthony

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Grand Commander 690

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2880

Circumstances:

while in cruising altitude in IFR weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive. Both wings, engines and fuselage separated during the descent and the aircraft crashed in an open field. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent after exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wings: spars,
- Fuselage: Other,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Snow,
- Attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Control lost for undetermined reason,
- Pilot not multi-engine rated.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690A near Independence: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1976 at 1950 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

M I C Corporation

Registration:

N57186

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kansas City - Oklahoma City

MSN:

690-11186

YOM:

1974

Location:

Independence

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:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

980.00

Circumstances:

En route from Kansas City to Oklahoma City, the twin engine airplane was in normal cruise when control was lost. It entered a dive, suffered an overload failure then crashed in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Airframe failure and fire or explosion in flight for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Fire in wing,
- Separation in flight,
- Altitude varied between 14,500 and 15,300 feet during last 4 minutes of flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Carbondale

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1976 at 1020 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Topeka Shawnee County Civil Defense

Registration:

N90785

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Topeka - Hutchinson - Larned

MSN:

830

YOM:

1955

Location:

Carbondale

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2498

Captain / Total hours on type:

134.00

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane was completing a public service from Topeka to Larned with an intermediate stop in Hutchinson. While cruising at low height, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field. All five occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. At the time of the accident, the airplane's speed was 75 mph (65 knots).

Probable cause:

Stall and spin after the crew failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Disregard of good operating practice,
- Windshear.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 in Beloit: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1975 at 1710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Orion SA Mexico

Registration:

XB-LIJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Monterrey - Laredo - San Angelo

MSN:

259

YOM:

1973

Location:

Beloit-Moritz Memorial

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3550

Captain / Total hours on type:

450.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude over Kansas, the twin engine airplane entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in an open field located in Beloit, Kansas. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent following improper in-flight decisions or planning. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Hypoxia,
- The aircraft crashed 500 NM beyond planned destination,
- Blood alcohol level 1,95‰.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Dodge City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1975 at 2147 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Registration:

N311D

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dodge City - Hays

MSN:

BA-456

YOM:

1959

Location:

Dodge City

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3034

Captain / Total hours on type:

1262.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Dodge City Airport, while climbing by night, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a field. The airplane disintegrated on impact and was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent for undetermined reason. The following findings were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Ground fire and general disintegration of aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680V in Olathe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1975 at 1336 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N399T

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Olathe

MSN:

680-1532-2

YOM:

1965

Location:

Olathe

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18843

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

The approach to Olathe-Johnson County Airport was completed in poor weather conditions due to fog and low clouds. When the pilot passed below the clouds, the airplane was at an altitude of 400 feet just over the runway end. control was lost and the airplane crashed by the runway and was destroyed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to maintain flying speed on final approach. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Low ceiling,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Fog,
- Moderate airframe icing in area,
- Aircraft observed to break out of overcast about 400 feet over end of runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Dodge City

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1975 at 0911 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

N1415G

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Wichita - Garden City - Dodge City - Denver

Location:

Dodge City

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2600

Captain / Total hours on type:

320.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Dodge City Airport in marginal weather conditions, the the crew decided to initiate a go-around when the airplane struck power cables, stalled and crashed in an open field. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to follow the approved procedures while on an IFR approach. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Ice on windshield,
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Disregard of good operating practice,
- Fog,
- Visibility reference established windshield deicer turned off,
- Windshield iced over,
- Unable to continue the flight due to ice accumulation.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Woodbine: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1974 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

Harold S. Johnston

Registration:

N911BS

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wichita - Alexandria

MSN:

414-0008

YOM:

1969

Location:

Woodbine

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

49.00

Circumstances:

En route from Wichita to Alexandria, Minnesota, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. While in cruising altitude in dense clouds, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Spatial disorientation,
- Exceeded design stress limits of aircraft,
- Separation in flight,
- Low ceiling,
- Proposed cruising altitude 13,500 feet, ceiling in area of accident estimated at 600 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at McConnell AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

57-1500

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Refuelling

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

17571

YOM:

1958

Location:

McConnell AFB (Wichita)

Country:

Region: