Maine

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Brunswick NAS, Maine, at 1205LT on a flight to Trenton, Ontario, where it was dispatched to an airshow. While climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with stormy weather when the engine n°1 went in whirl mode and detached. 11 feet of the left wing separated and struck the left horizontal stabilizer that was torn off as well. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and partially disintegrated before crashing near Poland. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Francis William Dupont Jr.,
Lt Jg Donald Edward Merz,
Lt Jg George D. Nuttelman,
Lt Jg Ernest A. Smith,
Aw2 James Allen Piepkorn,
Awan Paul G. Schulz,
Ad3 Robert Lewis Phillips Jr.,
Adc Larry Miller.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine went into a whirl mode which corresponds to a low frequency vibration in the engine mounts that can cause the separation of the engine in flight. It is believed that weather turbulences may affect the proper functioning of the engine.

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Trenton: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1978 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

N98720

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bangor - Trenton

MSN:

402B-1065

YOM:

1976

Location:

Trenton

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7866

Captain / Total hours on type:

2365.00

Circumstances:

While on a night approach to Trenton Airport, one of the engine failed. The crew decided to initiate a go-around when the airplane stalled and crashed in flames few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure on final approach for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Failed to retract landing gear,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- PIC not determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 99 Airliner in Bar Harbor

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1976 at 0632 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 99 Airliner

Operator:

Registration:

N200WP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Bar Harbor-Hancock County

Schedule:

Bangor - Bar Harbor

MSN:

U-3

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9797

Captain / Total hours on type:

2501.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Bar Harbor-Hancock County Airport, the pilot encountered bad weather conditions with low ceiling, rain falls and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane struck a 220 feet high hill located about 3 miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain on final approach after the pilot failed to follow approved procedures. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Visibility two miles or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Altimeter tested ok after crash.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Greenville: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1973 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Charter Flight

Registration:

N2985Q

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Concord - Greenville

MSN:

402B-0242

YOM:

1972

Location:

Greenville

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4471

Captain / Total hours on type:

290.00

Circumstances:

The crew started the descent to Greenville Airport in poor weather conditions with fog and limited visibility. On final approach, the pilot-in-command passed below the glide and below the MDA fixed at 2,200 feet, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground. While descending to an altitude of 1,400 feet, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling, fog,
- Descended below MDA at 2,200 feet,
- Hit trees at 1,400 feet,
- Witnesses reported hillside was in fog about halfway up.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-70-LO Orion off Brunswick: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1973 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-3 Orion

Operator:

Registration:

152749

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Brunswick - Brunswick

MSN:

185-5189

YOM:

1966

Location:

Brunswick

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a training flight out of Brunswick NAS when it crash in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean about 40 miles offshore. The wreckage sank by a depth of 300-600 feet. All five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air in Portland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1973 at 1138 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

N791K

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Portland - Portland

MSN:

LJ-253

YOM:

1967

Location:

Portland

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2896

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

The crew (two pilots under supervision and one instructor) was engaged in a local training mission at Portland Airport. On short final, at a height of 10-15 feet in a gear down and flaps 80% down configuration, the pilot-in-command initiated a go-around and added full power when the right engine lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed in flames onto the runway. The instructor was seriously injured and both pilots were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during the last segment after the right engine failed for undetermined reasons. The following factors were reported:
- ATR flight check,
- Go-around initiated about 10-15 feet about ground,
- Flaps 80% down, gear down.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Augusta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1971 at 2140 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N595DE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Boston - Augusta

MSN:

31-422

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

DE88

Location:

Augusta

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3100

Captain / Total hours on type:

625.00

Aircraft flight hours:

2468

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Boston-Logan at 2028LT bound to Augusta with seven passengers and a pilot on board. At the origin, the flight was scheduled to Rockland but it was not possible to land there due to foggy conditions. The flight was cleared for a VOR approach at 2114LT. At 2127LT, flight 88 reported a missed approach and was cleared for another VOR approach at that time. At 2140LT, the flight reported 'four miles out'. This was the last known transmission made by the flight. The wreckage was located in a heavily wooded area on Allen Hill at approximately the 520 foot level. Allen Hill is a prominent terrain feature which is 640 feet high, located approximately 4 nautical miles from the threshold of runway 17 and eight-tenth of a mile west of the approach radial. The pilot and two passengers were killed, two passengers received serious injuries and three passengers received minor injuries.

Probable cause:

The NTSB determines that the probable cause of this accident was the improper action of the pilot in discontinuing the execution of a non-precision instrument approach and attempting to maintain visual flight while operating in instrument flight conditions at an altitude below the level of obstructing terrain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose in Greenville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1971 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

N101LH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Greenville - Greenville

MSN:

1136

YOM:

1942

Location:

Greenville

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1759

Captain / Total hours on type:

6.00

Circumstances:

45 minutes after takeoff from Greenville Airport, while conducting local practice, both engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft lost height and crashed in an uninhabited area. The passenger was killed and the pilot was seriously injured. The pilot recently purchased the aircraft and was not familiar with.

Probable cause:

Both engines stopped in flight due to fuel starvation. The following factors were reported:
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel starvation,
- Failure of both engines,
- The aircraft was not refueled since purchase,
- Both engines operated from the right main tank.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-105-BW Stratofortress at Loring AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

58-0215

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

464283

YOM:

1958

Location:

Loring AFB

Country:

Region: