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Crash of a Cessna 402B in Mercer: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1977 at 0758 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Sky Line Flying Services
Registration:
N69338
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Buffalo - Beaver Falls
MSN:
402B-0447
YOM:
1973
Location:
Mercer
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4789
Captain / Total hours on type:
454.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Buffalo to Beaver Falls, the twin engine airplane suffered an fire/explosion. It lost height and crashed in a corn field located near Mercer. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Fire or explosion in flight due to inadequate inspection of aircraft by maintenance personnel. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Powerplant - exhaust system: manifold fatigue fracture,
- Fuel system: lines and fittings leakage,
- Excessive temperature,
- Fire in wing,
- High obstructions,
- Manifold couple P/N085072-39 3 inches crack permitted exhaust gas into wing onto leaking fuel valve.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in Morrisville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1977 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
James C. McKinney
Registration:
N67690
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Titusville - Titusville
MSN:
1182
YOM:
1958
Location:
Morrisville
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6875
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Titusville on a local flight when he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in flames in Morrisville. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent due to pilot incapacitation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Alcohol level of 1,49‰,
- Struck catenary lines of Amtrak railroad.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Coraopolis

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1977 at 0541 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft G18S
Operator:
Flight Express Cargo
Registration:
N75FA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Pittsburgh - Cleveland
MSN:
BA-498
YOM:
1960
Location:
Pittsburgh-Intl
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Pittsburgh-Intl Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command initiated a right turn and attempted to return to the airport when the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a residential area located in Coraopolis, about three miles northeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were seriously injured. There were no injuries on the ground.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction and stall during initial climb due to powerplant, fuel system, carburetor failure. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fuel system, carburetor improperly installed, leakage,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper operation of powerplant and powerplant controls,
- Attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Right engine not feathered,
- Turned aircraft toward dead engine while returning to airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Nord 262A-27 in Reading: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1977 at 1356 LT
Type of aircraft:
Nord 262
Operator:
Registration:
N7886A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Philadelphia - Reading
MSN:
47
YOM:
1968
Location:
Reading
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a ferry flight from Philadelphia to Reading. 54 seconds after being cleared for an approach to runway 31 at Reading-General Spaatz Airport, while flying at an altitude of 4,500 feet, the twin engine airplane collided with a Cessna 195 registered N4377N and owned by the Hagerstown Cash Register Company. His pilot was performing a private flight from Lincoln Park to York, Pennsylvania. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed. All four occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
Inflight collision while descending to Reading Airport after the pilot-in-command failed to see and avoid other aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Pilot of other aircraft,
- Not under radar contact,
- No control area.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Harrisburg: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1977 at 0924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Registration:
N631PT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
New Cumberland - Harrisburg - University Park - New Cumberland
MSN:
31-7720001
YOM:
1977
Location:
Harrisburg-Capital City
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
4469
Captain / Total hours on type:
32.00
Aircraft flight hours:
173
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Harrisburg-Capital City Airport runway 08, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames onto a house located in a populated area in the town of Bressler, 1,55 statute miles from the departure end of runway 08. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed as well as one people in the house.
Those on board were:
Crew:
David M. Wolf, pilot,
Edward Soisson, copilot.
Passengers:
William Sherlock, State Transportation Secretary,
Richard C. Frame, State GOP Chairman,
William R. Smith, Sherlock's Chief of Staff,
Charles Wilson, PennDOT Public Relations Officer,
Larry G. Pennsyl, PennDOT photographer,
John W. Krebs, PennDOT data processing manager.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the flightcrew's failure to insure that the aircraft was loaded properly and that it's center of gravity was within certificated limits. As a result, the aircraft's control characteristics were degraded significantly by a center of gravity well aft of the certificated limits. This imbalance led to the pilot's inability to control a longitudinally unstable aircraft during a climbing turn in instrument meteorological conditions. There was no evidence of engine failure or malfunction, the flight crew was properly certified and the pilots had no medical or psychological problems. The accident was not survivable.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-31 in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1976 at 1712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
N994VJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Providence – Windsor Locks – Philadelphia – Nashville – Memphis
MSN:
47333/481
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
AL121
Location:
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
102
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
25000
Captain / Total hours on type:
6000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
11000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6000
Aircraft flight hours:
21320
Circumstances:
Allegheny Airlines Flight 121, a Douglas DC-9-31, suffered a landing accident on the Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania. Of the 106 persons onboard, 86 persons were injured; there were no fatalities. The captain of Flight 121 had conducted an instrument approach to runway 27R in visual conditions as a thunderstorm passed over the airport in a north-northeasterly direction. When near the threshold the captain initiated a go-around from a low altitude and entered rain of increasing intensity. Shortly thereafter the aircraft was seen descending in a nose-up attitude with the landing gear retracted. After striking tail first on a taxiway about 4,000 feet beyond the threshold of runway 27, the aircraft slid about 2,000 feet and stopped. The wreckage came to rest about 6,000 feet beyond the threshold and about 350 feet to the right of the centerline of runway 27R.
Probable cause:
The aircraft's encounter with severe horizontal and vertical wind shears near the ground as a result of the captain's continued approach into a clearly marginal severe weather condition. The aircraft's ability to cope under these conditions was borderline when flown according to standard operating procedures; however, if the aircraft's full aerodynamic and power capability had been used, the wind shear could probably have been flown through successfully. Contributing to the accident was the tower controller's failure to provide timely below-minimum RVR information.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Reading: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1976 at 1208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Silvio J. Adamo
Registration:
N3842C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Albany - Reading
MSN:
560-727
YOM:
1959
Location:
Reading
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2850
Captain / Total hours on type:
107.00
Circumstances:
The approach to Reading Airport was initiated in marginal weather conditions with fog and low clouds. On final, the airplane struck the ground and crashed 3,6 miles south of Reading LOM while cleared for an ILS approach to runway 36. The pilot was killed while both passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain on final approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Bloserville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1975 at 1846 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Balbo Air
Registration:
N91A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Reading - Altoona
MSN:
A-113
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bloserville
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
15314
Captain / Total hours on type:
6063.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night at an insufficient altitude, the twin engine airplane crashed in a field near Bloserville. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. He was completing a cargo flight from Reading to Altoona.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot misjudged altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Blood alcohol 0,98‰ .
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Nemacolin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1975 at 1058 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N847CE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pontiac – Pittsburgh – Nemacolin
MSN:
690-11223
YOM:
1974
Location:
Nemacolin
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4891
Circumstances:
On the leg from Pittsburgh to Nemacolin, weather conditions deteriorated with rain falls and fog. The crew started the descent to Nemacolin in IMC conditions and cancelled the IFR flight plan to continue the approach under VFR mode. While descending below MEA, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway 23. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain while descending under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Cruise clearance,
- Descended below MEA in IMC,
- Attempted VFR approach,
- The airport did not have approved instrument approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-48A-DO in DuBois

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1975 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-48 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N6
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
DuBois - Harrisburg
MSN:
4146
YOM:
1941
Location:
DuBois-Jefferson County
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
17177
Captain / Total hours on type:
3300.00
Aircraft flight hours:
13901
Circumstances:
While taking off from runway 25 at DuBois-Jefferson County Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the left, went down an embankment and came to rest in a wooded area. All 11 occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed. The pilot, inexperienced and unqualified in the DC-3, was making the takeoff with a 7-knot crosswind and with an unlocked tailwheel.
Probable cause:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was loss of control at takeoff because of the inexperience of the unqualified pilot making the takeoff and because of the failure of the experienced pilot in the right seat to assume timely control. The accident sequence was initiated by the poor judgment of the pilot-in-command in allowing an unqualified pilot to make the takeoff and by the Regional Director's assuming the left seat which was contrary to his own operating rules to assure that this aircraft was operated by qualified pilots at their respective duty stations.
Final Report:
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