Michigan

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While conducting a low-level route at night (training mission from Westover AFB), the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Michigan off Charlevoix, Michigan. Few debris were found but not the wreckage. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Gerald W. Black, pilot,
1st Lt Dennis Ferguson, copilot,
Lt Col John M. Somonfy Jr., navigator,
Lt Col William Lemmon, navigator,
Cpt John E. Weaver, navigator,
Cpt Joel G. Hirsh, navigator,
Maj Donald F. Rosseau, EWO,
1st Lt Douglas Bachman, EWO,
T/Sgt Jerry M. Achey, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Beechcraft H18S in Lansing

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1970 at 0059 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft H18

Operator:

Registration:

N2345Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Iron Mountain - Lansing

MSN:

BA-626

YOM:

1962

Location:

Lansing

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6267

Captain / Total hours on type:

2535.00

Circumstances:

While on a night approach to Lansing Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a reduced visibility due to freezing rain and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. Both pilots were seriously wounded and the aircraft was destroyed. It was completing a cargo flight from Iron Mountain.

Probable cause:

Failure of the crew to maintain flying speed while completing an approach in icing conditions including freezing rain and fog. The following factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Low ceiling, fog and freezing rain,
- Stalled on ILS approach due to airframe icing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Plymouth

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1970 at 0928 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

American Aviation (1970)

Registration:

N8999E

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Plymouth - Pelée Island

MSN:

A-585

YOM:

1951

Location:

Plymouth

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4700

Captain / Total hours on type:

610.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the tail stalled. The airplane lost height and crashed near the runway end. Five occupants were slightly injured while three other, among them the pilot, were seriously wounded. The aircraft was destroyed. It was on its way to the Pelée Island in Ontario.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The aircraft was improperly loaded and over gross weight about 300 lbs. The CofG was about 5 inches aft limits.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S off Manitou Beach: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1970 at 0045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Aero Taxi - USA

Registration:

N332R

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rockford - Detroit

MSN:

A-8

YOM:

1945

Location:

Manitou Beach

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3050

Captain / Total hours on type:

1200.00

Circumstances:

The pilot and his passenger departed Rockford in the early morning and completed several flights in the region all along the day. While cruising by night over Lake Michigan, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the lake off Manitou Beach. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight after the pilot became lost/disoriented. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Physical impairment,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Departed Rockford approximately 18 hours prior to the accident,
- Flew 10 hours during the day,
- Attended copilot picnic observed with can beer,
- Toxicologic not decisive.

Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 23 in Pellston: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1970 at 2128 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 23

Operator:

Registration:

N434EJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Pellston

MSN:

23-046

YOM:

1965

Location:

Pellston-Emmet County

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7760

Captain / Total hours on type:

2142.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3530

Circumstances:

The approach to Pellston-Emmet County was initiated in limited visibility due to clouds. On final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them Walter Reuther, President of the American Union of Workers in the Automotive Industry.

Probable cause:

Illusions produced by the lack of visual cues during a circling approach over unlighted terrain at night to a runway not equipped with approach lights or other visual approach aids . These illusions, which made the pilot think that he was higher than his true position, were made more acceptable to him because of a strong possibility of an erroneously high indication on his altimeter.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45J Expeditor in Portage: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1970 at 0353 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Buckeye Air Services

Registration:

N3766

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Chicago

MSN:

6633

YOM:

1944

Location:

Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13410

Captain / Total hours on type:

41.00

Circumstances:

On a night cargo flight from Detroit to Chicago, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine that failed. The crew feathered its propeller and was cleared to divert to Kalamazoo Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach, the crew was unable to lower the gear so the captain decided to make a go-around and increased full power on the right engine when the airplane lost height and crashed in Portage, about 2,5 miles southwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight for undetermined reason. Loss of control during a go-around manoeuvre after the crew failed to obtain flying speed as the flaps were fully deployed. The following findings were reported:
- Powerplant failure for undetermined reason,
- The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- The pilot-in-command misused or failed to use flaps,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Left engine propeller feathered in flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-4G5 in Jackson

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1969 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

American Aviation (1970)

Registration:

N9800H

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Jackson - Jackson

MSN:

AF-432

YOM:

1953

Location:

Jackson-Reynolds Field

Country:

Region:

Howard Super Ventura (Howard 500)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1928

Captain / Total hours on type:

230.00

Circumstances:

The pilot departed Jackson-Reynolds Airport on a local test flight to check the radio systems. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the right engine caught fire. The pilot completed a wheels-up landing in a swamp near the airport. He was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The right engine caught fire on takeoff for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard 500 in Gaylord

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1969 at 1707 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3403

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

5249

YOM:

1943

Location:

Gaylord

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

4000.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Gaylord-Otsego County Airport, the twin engine aircraft swerved on runway then struck a five foot snow bank located on the side of the runway before coming to rest. All seven occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The crew failed to maintain directional control and the airplane ground looped due to sunglare and airport conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Inkster

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1968 at 1855 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

N629B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Detroit-Metropolitan-Wayne County

MSN:

A-461

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region: