North Carolina

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

04309

YOM:

1951

Location:

Charlotte-Douglas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1784

Captain / Total hours on type:

29.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a night mail flight to Charlotte-Douglas Airport. On short final, both engines stopped simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed few miles short of runway and was destroyed upon impact. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Engine failure resulting in a spin during final approach,
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning on part of the crew,
- Fuel exhaustion.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Salisbury: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1968 at 0045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Miller Aviation

Registration:

N281FM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

BA-116

YOM:

1955

Location:

Salisbury

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5539

Captain / Total hours on type:

5.00

Circumstances:

While completing a regional cargo flight, the crew informed ATC about an in-flight fire and was cleared to divert to Salisbury-Rowan County Airport for an emergency landing. On approach, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames few dozen miles short of runway. The passenger and a pilot were seriously injured while the second pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire at rear of the instrument panel. The source of ignition could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Statesville

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1968 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Millers Aviation

Registration:

N525W

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20054

YOM:

1944

Location:

Statesville

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12000

Captain / Total hours on type:

150.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Statesville Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The pilot-in-command reduced power on the right engine and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. While all four occupants escaped uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Improper operation of powerplant on part of the crew who failed to use anti-icing/deicing systems prior to takeoff. Icing conditions conducted to the icing of the carburetor and induction systems on the left engine that failed during initial climb. Takeoff was completed with reduced power.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Tobaccoville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1968 at 1217 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Aero Flight (USA)

Registration:

N9098Y

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

31-134

YOM:

1968

Location:

Tobaccoville

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9000

Captain / Total hours on type:

31.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight and was simulating stalls at low height when control was lost. The twin engine airplane entered a flat spin and crashed in an open field located near Tobaccoville. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount in Raleigh

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1967 at 2100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

N7465

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

231

YOM:

1957

Location:

Raleigh-Durham

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8862

Captain / Total hours on type:

3982.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Raleigh-Durham Airport by night, the nosewheel collapsed. The airplane slid on the runway for several yards until it came to rest. All 43 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the nosewheel steering system upon touchdown due to fatigue fracture. A valve body on the nosewheel steering jack twin valve failed, causing oscillations.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-22 in Hendersonville: 79 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1967 at 1201 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-100

Operator:

Registration:

N68650

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Atlanta – Asheville – Roanoke – Washington DC

MSN:

18295

YOM:

1963

Flight number:

PI022

Location:

Hendersonville

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

18383

Captain / Total hours on type:

151.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3364

Copilot / Total hours on type:

135

Aircraft flight hours:

6445

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft departed Asheville Regional Airport at 1158LT and climbed to its assigned altitude. About three minutes later, while climbing to an altitude of 6,132 feet in a limited visibility due to clouds, the aircraft collided with a Cessna 310 registered N3121S. Operated by Lanseair, it was carrying two passengers and a pilot. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a dense wooded area located about nine miles southeast of Asheville Airport. The wreckage of the 727 was found in a forest along a highway located in Hendersonville. All 82 occupants in both aircraft were killed.

Probable cause:

The deviation of the Cessna from its IFR clearance resulting in a flight path into airspace allocated to the Piedmont Boeing 727. The reason for such deviation cannot be specifically or positively identified. The minimum control procedures utilized by the FAA in handling of the Cessna were a contributing factor. In June 2006, NTSB accepted to reopen the investigations following elements submitted by an independent expert who proved the following findings:
- Investigators ignored that the Cessna 310 pilot informed ATC about his heading,
- Investigators failed to report that a small fire occurred in the 727's cockpit 35 seconds prior to impact,
- The inspector in charge of investigations was the brother of the Piedmont Airlines VP.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules at Pope AFB

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

63-7801

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3867

YOM:

1963

Location:

Pope AFB (Fayetteville)

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Pope AFB, the airplane went out of control and veered off runway. A wing was torn off and the Hercules came to rest. All five crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Martin 404 in New Bern: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1966 at 0606 LT

Type of aircraft:

Martin 404

Operator:

Registration:

N40406

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wilmington - New Bern

MSN:

14170

YOM:

1952

Flight number:

PI101

Location:

New Bern

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12779

Captain / Total hours on type:

2807.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed Wilmington Airport, North Carolina, at 0540LT on a positioning flight to New Bern under call sign PI101. The approach to New Bern-Simmons Nott Airport was started in limited visibility due to the night when the airplane, too low, struck tree tops and crashed in the Croatan National Forest, about 3 miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Joe Helsabeck, pilot,
E. O. Adams, copilot,
Pamela Rumble, stewardess.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command descended below obstructing terrain for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Taylorsville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1966 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Renkenberger

Registration:

N9013K

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

AF-516

YOM:

1953

Location:

Taylorsville

Country:

Region: