Pennsylvania

Schedule:

Reading - Philadelphia

MSN:

31-7405138

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

501

Location:

Philadelphia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3670

Captain / Total hours on type:

117.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed while making a visual approach to runway 27R at Philadelphia International Airport. The aircraft, a scheduled commuter flight from Reading, Pennsylvania, arrived in the Philadelphia Approach Control area as a VFR 'pop up' flight and was sequenced to land behind United flight 555, a Boeing 727 IFR arrival, on runway 27R. Witnesses stated that, when flight 501 was about 1/2 mile on final approach, it rolled from side to side, pitched up, rolled inverted to the left, and flew into the ground nose first. All three persons aboard the aircraft were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The probable cause of the accident was the loss of aircraft control due to an encounter with wake turbulence from the preceding aircraft at an altitude too low for recovery and the pilot's failure to follow established separation and flight path selection procedures for wake turbulence avoidance.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman E-2B Hawkeye in Wilkes-Barre: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Grumman E-2C Hawkeye

Operator:

Registration:

150537

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

A017

Location:

Wilkes-Barre

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. One pilot was able to bail out while the second was killed. The aircraft dove into the ground and was destroyed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Uniontown: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1979 at 1745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Coal Baron

Registration:

N9277Y

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

West Mifflin - Connellsville

MSN:

31-368

YOM:

1968

Location:

Uniontown

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4338

Circumstances:

While descending to Connellsville Airport on a flight from West Mifflin, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog, low ceiling and rain falls. He failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the twin engine airplane struck a hillside and crashed in Uniontown. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airways facilities, erratic,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- ADF ground line intermittent,
- Vectored to ADF from north at 5,000 feet, cleared for approach, minimum altitude procedure turn 3,500 feet,
- Mountain tops obscured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Slatington

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1979 at 0613 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Shane Aviation

Registration:

N281M

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Charleston - Allentown

MSN:

AF-644

YOM:

1954

Location:

Slatington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6042

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Allentown-Bethlehem Easton Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions and low ceiling. The twin engine aircraft descended below the glide, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Slatington, about 10,5 miles short of runway 13 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees during initial approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility two miles or less.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Pottstown: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1978 at 1040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Uwe M. Buehl

Registration:

N8283F

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Pottstown-Limerick-Heritage Field

Schedule:

Pottstown - Chicago

MSN:

402-0245

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

303

Captain / Total hours on type:

40.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from Pottstown-Limerick Airfield, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in flames. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Stall during initial climb due to engine failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons,
- Failed to abort takeoff,
- Failed to retract landing gear,
- Failed to maintain flying speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Fleetville: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1978 at 1905 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Safair Flying Services

Registration:

N9057Y

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Teterboro - Rochester

MSN:

31-80

YOM:

1968

Location:

Fleetville

Country:

Region:

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

23000

Circumstances:

On a cargo flight from Teterboro to Rochester, the twin engine airplane was abnormally flying at a very low altitude when it struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees and subsequent crash after the pilot suffered physical impairment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Pilot blood alcohol level 1,3‰.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440-86 Metropolitan off Shippingport

Date & Time: May 12, 1978 at 1530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9302

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Columbus - Fort Lauderdale

MSN:

416

YOM:

1957

Location:

Shippingport

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15000

Circumstances:

En route from Columbus to Fort Lauderdale, the crew encountered technical problems with both engines. Tower asked the pilot if he wanted to return to the airport due to slow climb but there was no reply. The crew attempted to ditch the aircraft in the Ohio River. The airplane slid on water and came to rest off Shippingport. All three occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight due to master and connecting rods failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Material failure,
- Failure of both engines,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Forced landing off airport on water.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Harrisburg

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1978 at 2332 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Flight Express Cargo

Registration:

N180X

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Harrisburg - Pittsburgh

MSN:

BA-84

YOM:

1955

Location:

Harrisburg

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8070

Captain / Total hours on type:

2435.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff run at Harrisburg Airport by night and ground fog, the pilot failed to realize that the airplane deviated to the left and came to rest in an adjacent area. The pilot was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Ground-water loop-swerve during takeoff run after the pilot failed to maintain directional control. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Airport conditions: snow windrows,
- Windshield, dirty, foggy, etc. - restricted vision,
- Ground fog,
- Single pilot operation,
- Encountered newly formed ground fog during night takeoff,
- Landing lights ON,
- Undetected runway deviation to the left.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1978 at 2005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Henry Weber Air

Registration:

N1BE

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dubois - Lancaster

MSN:

61-0245-041

YOM:

1976

Location:

DuBois-Jefferson County

Country:

Region: