Michigan

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lansing - Iron Mountain

MSN:

BA-649

YOM:

1963

Location:

Iron Mountain

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6070

Circumstances:

On a night approach to Iron Mountain-Ford Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and very limited visibility. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot who continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Incorrect altimeter setting,
- Not aligned with runway,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Heavy fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Ann Arbor

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1973 at 1336 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft G18S

Operator:

Registration:

N118W

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ann Arbor - Allentown

MSN:

BA-470

YOM:

1959

Location:

Ann Arbor

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2700

Captain / Total hours on type:

700.00

Circumstances:

While taking off from Ann Arbor in poor weather conditions with snow falls and low ceiling, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field. All five occupants were evacuated and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The aircraft was not deiced prior to departure.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who failed to maintain flying speed after takeoff. The following factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Low ceiling and snow,
- Encrusted snow approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick on top of wing and tail surfaces.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Lansing

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1973 at 1106 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Registration:

N1056R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lansing - Columbus

MSN:

411-0245

YOM:

1967

Location:

Lansing

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4000

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed onto the runway and came to rest. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb caused the aircraft to stall and to crash. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation or powerplant,
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Fuel system: ram air assembly,
- The pilot attention diverted from operation of aircraft,
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Partial loss of power on both engines,
- Engine air intake openings restricted by snow,
- Pilot did not use alternate air,
- Pilot elected to land cartwheeled.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Canton

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1973 at 0008 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Karns International Airlines

Registration:

N9909Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Saint Louis

MSN:

AF-628

YOM:

1954

Location:

Canton-Plymouth-Mettetal

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5013

Captain / Total hours on type:

3169.00

Circumstances:

En route from Detroit to Saint Louis on a night cargo flight, the pilot informed ATC that both engines failed and was vectored to Canton-Plymouth-Mettetal Airport for an emergency landing. Approaching by night and without any terrain in sight, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed few miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight caused by fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Improper level off,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport,
- Vectored to alternate airport due to low fuel,
- Both engines failed before field in sight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Niles: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1973 at 2053 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Midwest Tankers

Registration:

N300X

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Owensboro - Niles

MSN:

31-412

YOM:

1968

Location:

Niles-Jerry Tyler

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16770

Captain / Total hours on type:

376.00

Circumstances:

The pilot started the approach to Niles-Jerry Tyler by night and in poor weather conditions. On final, due a visibility limited to a half of mile, he decided to descend below the minimal descent altitude when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain, fog and thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility limites to half a mile,
- Descended below MDA in known thunderstorm conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Detroit: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1973 at 0956 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 24

Operator:

Air Taxi Services

Registration:

N100SQ

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Detroit-Willow Run (Ypsilanti)

Schedule:

Saint Joseph - Detroit

MSN:

24-113

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4998

Captain / Total hours on type:

473.00

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Saint Joseph, Missouri, the crew started the descent to Detroit-Willow Run Airport. After a wrong approach configuration, the crew misjudged distance and speed during the last segment, causing the aircraft to land too far down the runway. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance and the captain decided to initiate a go-around manoeuvre but this was too late. The airplane overran, struck the localizer antenna then crashed on the ILS building. Both pilots were killed while the passenger was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

Improper operation of flight controls on part of the crew who misjudged distance and speed and delayed in initiating a go-around manoeuvre. The following factors were reported:
- The crew failed to stow spoilers on go-around.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Detroit: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1972 at 1146 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 23

Operator:

Registration:

N20M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County

Schedule:

Detroit - Lexington

MSN:

23-094

YOM:

1966

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4302

Captain / Total hours on type:

1072.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from runway 03R at Detroit-Wayne County Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane crashed on a fuel storage tank and exploded. Both pilots, en route to Lexington on a ferry flight, were killed, as well as one people on the ground.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor in Sturgis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1972 at 1110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

ADM Industries

Registration:

N8168Q

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Sturgis - Sturgis

MSN:

414-0068

YOM:

1970

Location:

Sturgis-Kirsch

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2067

Captain / Total hours on type:

1727.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Sturgis-Kirsch Airport, Michigan. On final approach, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed, causing the aircraft to stall.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Jackson: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1972 at 0255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Hankins Airways

Registration:

N80398

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chicago - Jackson - Detroit

MSN:

A-369

YOM:

1947

Location:

Jackson-Reynolds Field

Country:

Region: