Oklahoma

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Colorado Springs

MSN:

690-11112

YOM:

1973

Location:

Calumet

Country:

Region:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7000

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Oklahoma City Airport, from climb to cruise, the crew encountered bad weather condition with thunderstorm activity. In severe turbulences, the airplane suffered a general disintegration and crashed in Calumet. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight airframe failure during climb to cruise due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Initiated flight in adverse weather conditions,
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Airframe failure of wings spars,
- Airframe failure of flight control surfaces: horizontal stabilizer, attachments,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Low ceiling,
- Thunderstorm activity,
- General disintegration,
- Embedded thunderstorms.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Oklahoma City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1977 at 0913 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N331V

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Oklahoma City

MSN:

2002

YOM:

1967

Location:

Oklahoma City-Wiley Post

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:

20450

Captain / Total hours on type:

330.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the single engine airplane lost speed and height and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants who were taking part to a demonstration flight were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to improper operation of powerplant controls on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Engine power lever found aft the prop reverse position with finger lift raised above beta detent.

Final Report:

Crash of a Howard 500 in Pawhuska

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1977 at 1120 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Intercontinental Oil Company

Registration:

N44HH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Houston - Pawhuska

MSN:

500-115

YOM:

1943

Location:

Pawhuska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8950

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

After touchdown on a wet and short runway 17/35, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, hit obstacles and came to rest in flames. All four occupants were injured, three of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Overshoot and crashed on object following improper in-flight decisions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged distance and speed,
- Selected wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Donwind,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Ran off end of runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Elk City

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1976 at 1445 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Thermo Dyne

Registration:

N3775C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Phoenix - Elk City

MSN:

402B-0624

YOM:

1974

Location:

Elk City

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3900

Captain / Total hours on type:

11.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Elk City Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing off airport on land. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest in a field. All three occupants were injured, two of them seriously.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Instructions misinterpreted.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Tulsa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1975 at 0004 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Southern Aviation - USA

Registration:

N9911Z

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lawton - Tulsa - Kansas City

MSN:

AF-476

YOM:

1953

Location:

Tulsa

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2609

Captain / Total hours on type:

1345.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from Tulsa Airport, while on a night cargo flight from Lawton to Kansas City, the left engine failed. As the crew was unable to feather the propeller due to congealed oil, the airplane stalled, struck power cables and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb after the pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper maintenance,
- Deficiencies with company maintained equipment, services and regulation,
- Engine structure: failure of the master and connecting rods,
- Propeller and accessories,
- High obstructions,
- Left engine failed and propeller unfeathered due to congealed oil,
- Unable to maintain altitude,
- Poor maintenance known by pilots and operations.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1974 at 1930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N979L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Lawton - Altus

MSN:

31-459

YOM:

1969

Location:

Altus

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3080

Captain / Total hours on type:

103.00

Circumstances:

While descending to Altus Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low ceiling and rain showers. While approaching at an insufficient altitude, the airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles from the runway threshold. Two passengers were killed while two other occupants, among them the pilot, were injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground on final approach following improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Poorly planned approach,
- Fog,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- ATC failed to provide radar vectoring as requested,
- Pilot descended below MDA.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy in Clinton

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

Operator:

Registration:

68-0227

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Altus - Altus

MSN:

500-0030

YOM:

1970

Location:

Clinton-Regional

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Altus AFB in the day for a refueling training mission. En route, the pilot informed ground about technical problems and decided to divert to Clinton-Sherman Airport. For unknown reason, the crew mistook the airport and landed on runway 17 (4,300 feet long) at Clinton-Regional Airport. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its landing gear and came to rest in a field, broken in three. All five crew members were rescued while the forward section was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

An overheated brake ignited hydraulic fluid in the left aft landing gear well. The fire ignited tires and other components before burning through the keel beam and continuing into the right aft well. This was probably caused by a problem that occurred during taxiing at Altus AFB.

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 40R in Oklahoma City: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1974 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 40

Operator:

Registration:

N5565

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Corpus Christi - Oklahoma City

MSN:

282-119

YOM:

1973

Location:

Oklahoma City

Country:

Region:

Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

21500

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

The approach to Oklahoma City was started in limited visibility due to foggy conditions. On final, the crew descended below the MDA when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames few miles short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain following an improper IFR operation on final approach. The following factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Pilot fatigue,
- ILS approach below minimums,
- Descended below MDA,
- Crew had a little rest before flight,
- ATC did not monitor altitude on radar.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I in Tulsa

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1974 at 1754 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N4005L

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tulsa - San Antonio

MSN:

421A-0005

YOM:

1967

Location:

Tulsa

Country:

Region: