Pennsylvania

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

31-54

YOM:

1967

Location:

Muncy

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1091

Captain / Total hours on type:

80.00

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane went out of control and entered a dive. During the uncontrolled descent, the airplane disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a field, killing all three occupants. At the time of the accident, weather was poor and the crew lost his orientation shortly before he lost control of the airplane.

Probable cause:

A mismanagement of fuel on part of the flying crew caused the failure of both engines in flight. Then, due to spatial disorientation, the crew lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and disintegrated in the air due to exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft. Poor weather conditions were considered as a contributing factor.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Harrisburg

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1967 at 0025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Reading Aviation Service

Registration:

N5869C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

A-570

YOM:

1951

Location:

Harrisburg-Capital City

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4500

Captain / Total hours on type:

600.00

Circumstances:

The approach to Harrisburg-City Airport was completed in poor visibility due to foggy conditions. On final, the twin engine aircraft was too low, struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who descended below the published landing minimums.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Seven Springs: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1967 at 2003 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6231D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Location:

Seven Springs

Country:

Region:

Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2082

Captain / Total hours on type:

932.00

Circumstances:

While cruising by night, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and very limited visibility due to fog so he apparently decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with fog, thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The weather briefing received by the pilot prior to departure was incorrect.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Harrisburg

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1967 at 1535 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N205M

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

YOM:

1961

Location:

Harrisburg-Capital City

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16880

Captain / Total hours on type:

1668.00

Circumstances:

The approach to Harrisburg-Capital City Airport was completed in poor weather conditions. After touchdown on a wet runway, the crew encountered difficulties to decelerate and the captain eventually decided to make a sharp turn to avoid an overrun. The aircraft veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to a halt. While all eight occupants were uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind and failed to initiate a go-around. The landing procedure was completed at an excessive speed of 105 knots with a tailwind of 9 knots.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune in Lock Haven

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

128414

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Minneapolis – Willow Grove

MSN:

426-5260

Location:

Lock Haven

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Minneapolis-St Paul Airport to Willow Grove NAS, an engine failed. The crew was cleared to divert to Lock Haven for an emergency landing. In unknown circumstances, the airplane came to rest in flames and burned out. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a BAc 111-204AF in Blossburg: 34 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1967 at 1447 LT

Type of aircraft:

BAc 111

Operator:

Registration:

N1116J

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Elmira - Washington DC

MSN:

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

MO040

Location:

Blossburg

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13875

Captain / Total hours on type:

603.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4814

Copilot / Total hours on type:

677

Aircraft flight hours:

2246

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Elmira-Corning Airport at 1439LT on a schedule flight to Washington-National Airport, carrying 30 passengers and a crew of four. After takeoff, the crew was cleared to climb to FL160 when the airplane went into a nose-down attitude, plunged into the earth and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area located one mile east of Blossburg, Pennsylvania. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and none of the 34 occupants survived the crash.

Probable cause:

The loss of integrity of empennage pitch control systems due to a destructive in-flight fire which originated in the airframe plenum chamber, fueled by hydraulic fluid, progressed up into the vertical tail fin. The fire resulted from engine bleed air flowing back through the malfunctioning non return valve and an open air delivery valve, through the auxiliary power unit in a reverse direction, and exiting into the plenum chamber at temperatures sufficiently high to cause the acoustics linings to ignite.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680F in Reynoldsdale: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1967 at 0420 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N718MS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Altoona - Philadelphia

Location:

Reynoldsdale

Country:

Region:

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3991

Captain / Total hours on type:

1972.00

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Altoona Airport at 0328LT. Few minutes after takeoff, the pilot informed ATC he was starting the descent to Philadelphia Airport located 172 miles east of his position. About an hour later, apparently disoriented, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in an open field located in Reynoldsdale. The pilot and a passenger were killed while the second passenger was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot became lost and disoriented due to physical impairment caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Harrisburg

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1966 at 1728 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N3414

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Harrisburg – Pittsburgh

MSN:

YOM:

1953

Flight number:

AL305

Location:

Harrisburg

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft SNB-2 Navigator

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

17718

Captain / Total hours on type:

2500.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll on runway 26, the electrical system failed. The crew aborted the takeoff maneuver, started an emergency braking procedure and triggered the reverse thrust system. The reverse thrust system failed to work so the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran. Past the runway end, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest against a metallic tower supporting the approach light system. All 16 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the electrical system due to an improperly installed heater on part of the ground technicians. Improper emergency procedures on part of the pilot-in-command.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft SNB-5 Navigator in Milroy

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1750 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

TRB Flying Services

Registration:

N91373

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3072

YOM:

1942

Location:

Milroy

Country:

Region: