Crash of a Cessna 411 in Endicott

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1973 at 0750 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N424RF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Endicott - Toronto
MSN:
411-0058
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4828
Captain / Total hours on type:
268.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from a snow covered runway, the airplane became unstable and directional control was lost. The pilot reduced the power on the right engine to compensate but this was insufficient. The airplane overran and came to rest in a snow covered area. All four passengers were injured and the pilot was seriously wounded. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during takeoff after the pilot selected an unsuitable terrain. The following factors were reported:
- Snow on runway,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Snow,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Overload failure,
- Reduced power on right engine to correct skid,
- Unable to obtain takeoff speed and overran runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar in Hamburg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1973 at 2113 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N711ED
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buffalo - Pittsburgh
MSN:
61-0009
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1195
Captain / Total hours on type:
217.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Buffalo Airport on a cargo flight to Pittsburgh. Few minutes after takeoff, the right engine caught fire and the crew declared an emergency. The fire spread to the engine nacelle and the right wing that detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames in an open field located in Hamburg, about 15,5 miles south of Buffalo Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Fire of undetermined source in the right engine resulted in an in-flight separation of the right wing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1329 JetStar 6 in Saranac Lake: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1972 at 2202 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N400M
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grand Island - Saranac Lake
MSN:
5008
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
20128
Captain / Total hours on type:
1800.00
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Saranac Lake-Adirondack Airport by night and encountered poor visibility due to fog and snow showers. Unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to abandon the approach and initiated a go-around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was also abandoned for similar reasons. During a third attempt, the airplane passed below the MDA and once at an altitude of 2,140 feet, it struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located about 2 miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, fog and snow showers,
- Weather conditions considerably worse than forecast,
- Obscuration.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Buffalo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1972 at 1033 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N121X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Buffalo - Allentown
MSN:
421B-0166
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
2600
Captain / Total hours on type:
80.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Buffalo Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine lost power. The aircraft banked left, lost height then crashed onto several houses located in the residential area of Cheektowaga, about two miles south of the airport. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed as well as three people on the ground.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The pilot failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls,
- Fuel system: selector valves,
- Exhaust system: other,
- Ignition system: spark plug,
- Carbon deposit,
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Snow showers,
- Power loss on left engine,
- Spark plug fouled,
- Possible slow waste gate open,
- Fuel shut off,
- Propeller not feathered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-110-BW Stratofortress at Griffiss AFB

Date & Time: May 8, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2574
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Griffiss - Griffiss
MSN:
464337
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in a low level rout one of the engines on the left side of the aircraft malfunctioned and became uncontrollable and was shut down. Hours later on final approach to Griffiss, in a driving rainstorm at night, the copilot, following the checklist turned on the starter switches for all the engines including the one that had been shut down. The shutdown engine that was now wind milling somewhere in the descent reignited and started to increase to max power. The pilots were unaware of this. As the aircraft flared out over the runway with the engine heading toward max power and the landing gear barely touching the ground the aircraft was unable to slow down to engage the brakes. The drag shut was released but failed to deploy. Unable to stop the pilot elected to go-around and increased power…but then made the decision there was not enough runways remaining and cut back the power and announced to the crew that they were going of off the end of the runway. The impact resulted in the aircraft breaking in half just behind the crew compartment and skidding down the embankment with the outboard run-away engine still running as the gear, and AGM 28 Missiles were sheared off. The Boeing reprehensive stated that most likely the only reason the aircraft did not explode on impact was due to the mud caused by the heavy rain. All crew members survived.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was listed as hydroplaning.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Skaneateles: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1972 at 1341 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N50W
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Skaneateles - Harrisburg
MSN:
BA-86
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6200
Captain / Total hours on type:
54.00
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from Skaneateles Airfield runway 10, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into Lake Skaneateles. The pilot and two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent after takeoff following a partial loss of power on the right engine. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls,
- Improper operation or failed to use the anti-icing/deicing equipment,
- Ice carburetor,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Airport conditions,
- Low ceiling and snow,
- Took off from a strip too short to obtain VMC speed,
- Near gross weight, after CofG.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in Albany: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1972 at 2048 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7818M
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
New York-LaGuardia - Albany
MSN:
541
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
MO405
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
44
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
12248
Captain / Total hours on type:
2202.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
9969
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2723
Aircraft flight hours:
10068
Aircraft flight cycles:
15714
Circumstances:
On final approach to Albany by night and marginal weather conditions, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine propeller cruise lock system. The propeller could not be feathered and the airplane lost height and eventually crashed onto two houses located 3,8 miles short of runway 01 threshold. Two crew members and 14 passengers as well as one people on the ground were killed. The aircraft and two houses were destroyed.
Probable cause:
The inability of the crew to feather the left propeller, in combination with the descent of the aircraft below the prescribed minimum altitudes for the approach. The Board is unable to determine why the left propeller could not be feathered. Contributing causal factors for the nonstandard approach were the captain's preoccupation with a cruise pitch lock malfunction, the first officer's failure to adhere to company altitude awareness procedures, and the captain's failure to delegate any meaningful responsibilities to the copilot which resulted in a lack of effective task sharing during the emergency. Also, the Board was unable to determine why the propeller pitch lock malfunctioned during the descent.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Rochester: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1972 at 0310 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6298X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rochester - Batavvia
MSN:
500B-1388-141
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3100
Captain / Total hours on type:
520.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rochester-Greater Rochester Airport, while climbing by night, the pilot made a low level turn immediately after liftoff. Control was lost and the airplane crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight decisions or planning. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Pilot had flown 8 hours in last 24.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Milford

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1971 at 2215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N417R
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Syracuse – New York
MSN:
BA-264
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3180
Captain / Total hours on type:
247.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night on a mail flight from Syracuse to New York, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine. It was decided to jettison the cargo as the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude. Eventually, the airplane struck trees then crashed in Milford, New York. Both crew were injured, one seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure due to blower, impeller assembly failure. The following factors were reported:
- Lack of lubrication on specific parts,
- Material failure,
- High obstructions,
- Jettisoned load,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Damage to impeller and associated parts resulted from impeller bearing failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell 1121A Jet Commander in New York: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1971 at 1955 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N400CP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Burlington - Providence
MSN:
1121-30
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
9908
Captain / Total hours on type:
692.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night over the State of New York on a flight from Burlington, Vermont, and Providence, Rhode Island, the twin engine airplane disappeared from radar screens without the pilots having been able to transmit all or part of an emergency message. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found. It is believed that the aircraft may crash into Lake Champlain but again, no trace was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report: