Country
code
MN
Crash of a Learjet 35A in Rochester: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 8, 1985 at 1339 LT
Registration:
N15TW
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Rochester
MSN:
35-106
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft had just successfully completed a series of practice approaches to a full stop. The training flight was being conducted to give refresher training to the pilot who had not flown a Lear Jet in over a year and had never flown a lear model 35. The flight instructor requested a practice approach with a missed approach and was cleared for the option. Witnesses stated that the aircraft rolled right and then rolled left to an inverted position. Colliding with the ground shortly thereafter. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: go-around (vfr)
Findings
1. (c) directional control - not corrected - pilot in command (cfi)
2. (f) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command (cfi)
3. (c) remedial action - not performed - pilot in command (cfi)
4. (f) lack of recent experience in type of aircraft - dual student
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Phase of operation: go-around (vfr)
Findings
1. (c) directional control - not corrected - pilot in command (cfi)
2. (f) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command (cfi)
3. (c) remedial action - not performed - pilot in command (cfi)
4. (f) lack of recent experience in type of aircraft - dual student
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:
Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S in Cloquet: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 16, 1985 at 2205 LT
Registration:
N8139P
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brainerd - Cloquet
MSN:
500-3265
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4317
Circumstances:
The pilot expected the weather to be below minimums but flew the approach anyway. He did not have a second pilot on board per company rules. The aircraft collided with trees about 3 miles from the approach end of runway 17. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: undershoot
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
1. (c) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
2. (c) minimum descent altitude - below - pilot in command
3. (c) ifr procedure - improper - pilot in command
4. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
5. (c) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command
6. (f) light condition - dark night
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
7. Object - tree(s)
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
1. (c) in-flight planning/decision - improper - pilot in command
2. (c) minimum descent altitude - below - pilot in command
3. (c) ifr procedure - improper - pilot in command
4. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
5. (c) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command
6. (f) light condition - dark night
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
7. Object - tree(s)
Final Report:
Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Golden Valley
Date & Time:
May 18, 1985 at 0656 LT
Registration:
N91043
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Crystal
MSN:
207-0030
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
607.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4002
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, on the last leg on it's flight, the engine of the air cargo aircraft started to sputter. The pilot turned the fuel selector handler from the left tank to another position and turned on the boost pump. The engine stopped running and the pilot elected to land in a public park. The left wing was torn off the aircraft during the emergency landing. Investigation revealed that the fuel selector had been turned to the 'off' position, a check of the fuel quantity in each tank showed less than five gallons in the left tank and about twelve gallons in the right tank. Sole on board, the pilot was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) fluid, fuel - starvation
2. (f) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
3. (c) fuel tank selector position - improper - pilot in command
4. (c) in-flight planning/decision - inadequate - pilot in command
5. (f) procedures/directives - misjudged - pilot in command
6. (f) diverted attention - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
7. (f) object - tree(s)
8. Wing - separation
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) fluid, fuel - starvation
2. (f) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
3. (c) fuel tank selector position - improper - pilot in command
4. (c) in-flight planning/decision - inadequate - pilot in command
5. (f) procedures/directives - misjudged - pilot in command
6. (f) diverted attention - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
7. (f) object - tree(s)
8. Wing - separation
Final Report:
Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 Solitaire in Ramsey: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 6, 1980 at 1617 LT
Registration:
N969MA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fargo - Minneapolis
MSN:
408
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total hours on type:
875.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Anoka County-Blaine (Janes Field) on a flight from Fargo, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Ramsey, about 13 miles northwest of Anoka Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and subsequent crash during initial approach after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Visibility 4 miles or less,
- Fog,
- Icing reported by another pilot.
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Visibility 4 miles or less,
- Fog,
- Icing reported by another pilot.
Final Report:
Crash of a Cessna 340 in Crystal: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 8, 1980 at 1924 LT
Registration:
N98547
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Crystal - Fargo
MSN:
340-0027
YOM:
1972
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
During a night takeoff from a snow covered runway at Crystal Airport, the twin engine airplane drifted off, collided with trees and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured while both passengers were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums due to fog and snow falls.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during initial climb after the pilot failed to abort takeoff and failed to maintain a positive rate of climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Snow on runway,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Drifted off, back on runway,
- Take off at end.
- Fog,
- Snow,
- Snow on runway,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Drifted off, back on runway,
- Take off at end.
Final Report:
Crash of a Learjet 25 in Minneapolis
Date & Time:
Dec 20, 1978 at 0802 LT
Registration:
N40SN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Evansville
MSN:
25-021
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
262.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, the airplane suffered an uncontrolled collision with ground, skidded on runway and came to rest. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot-in-command. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Airframe ice,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Snow,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Snow/ice on wings,
- Flaps 28°,
- Full nose-up trim.
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Airframe ice,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Snow,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Snow/ice on wings,
- Flaps 28°,
- Full nose-up trim.
Final Report:
![](/sites/default/files/import/Photos-70/N40SN.jpg)
Crash of a Beechcraft 60 Duke in Faribault: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 12, 1978 at 0758 LT
Registration:
N777HH
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Olivia - Lafayette
MSN:
P-109
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total hours on type:
338.00
Circumstances:
En route from Olivia to Lafayette, Indiana, while in normal cruise, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The airplane went out of control, entered an uncontrolled descent, suffered a general disintegration and crashed in an open field. All six occupants were killed. It was determined that the pilot departed Olivia with the aircraft's weather radar inoperative.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure and subsequent uncontrolled descent after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather radar inoperative.
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm,
- Separation in flight,
- Weather radar inoperative.
Final Report:
Crash of a Cessna 402B in Alexandria: 1 killed
Date & Time:
May 19, 1978 at 2250 LT
Registration:
N87143
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint Louis - Alexandria - Grand Forks
MSN:
402B-1001
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Alexandria-Municipal Airport in foggy conditions, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed. The pilot was killed and the passenger was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during a missed approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fog,
- Low ceiling,
- Visibility 3 miles or less.
- Fog,
- Low ceiling,
- Visibility 3 miles or less.
Final Report:
Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-10 Marquise in Rochester: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 7, 1977 at 1918 LT
Registration:
N854Q
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rochester - Lincoln
MSN:
107
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Circumstances:
After a night takeoff from Rochester Airport in poor weather conditions, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames past the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons and stall spin during initial climb. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow and blowing snow,
- Visibility 1/2 mile or less,
- Flaps full down.
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow and blowing snow,
- Visibility 1/2 mile or less,
- Flaps full down.
Final Report: