Rhode Island

The airplane was in instrument meteorological conditions and the pilot was cleared for an approach. As the airplane neared the final approach fix, the controller observed the airplane diverge from the approach course and change altitude rapidly. Shortly thereafter, the pilot said he had "all sorts of problems." The pilot requested and received vectors to an alternate airport. At 1748:29, the pilot was cleared for an ILS approach and was told to report when "established" on the approach. When asked if he was established on the ILS course, the pilot replied "I sure hope so." The controller observed the airplane descend below the published glide slope intercept altitude and advised the pilot to climb back to 2,000 feet. The pilot reported "I have problems." When asked the nature of the problem, the pilot reported "...I'm all over the place...I think I'm iced up..." Radar data indicated the airplane's radar track began following a left descending turn from 1,900 feet, about 1 minute before radar contact was lost. At 1751:33, the controller advised the pilot that his altitude was 1,000 feet, and requested that he climb to 3,000 feet. The pilot responded, "hey, I'm trying like hell." Radar contact with the airplane was lost about 1752, at 800 feet. A witness near the accident site stated he observed the airplane come out of the clouds, "wobbling" from side to side, make a "hard" left turn and strike the ground. He stated the engine was "loud" and seemed to be at "full throttle." Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre impact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot purchased the accident airplane about 2 months prior to the accident. His total flight time in make and model was estimated to be about 200 hours. Airman's Meteorological Information (AIRMET) Zulu, Update 4, for Ice and Freezing Level was valid for the accident site area at the time of the accident. The AIRMET advised of occasional moderate rime/mixed icing in cloud in precipitation below 12,000 feet. The AIRMET reported the freezing level was from the surface to 4,000 feet. According to United States Naval Observatory astronomical data obtained for the accident site area, Sunset occurred at 1723, and the end of civil twilight was at 1751. The airplane was equipped with both wing leading edge and empennage de-icing boots. The switches for the de-icing boots were observed in the "Auto" position. The propeller de-ice and windshield anti-ice switches were observed in the "off" position.

The pilot was conducting the localizer approach to runway 15 when the aircraft overran the runway and struck an obstacle. According to the pilot, a loss of power occurred in both engines as he attempted to do a missed approach, and the airspeed subsequently decreased from 105 to 80 knots. The pilot reported that he pushed the nose over to avoid a stall, broke out of the clouds over the mid-point of the runway, landed long and continued off the end of the runway into terrain and a tower structure. A witness reported the 'aircraft broke out of the clouds just above the trees north of runway 5 and west of runway 15. Reportedly, the aircraft as being banked from a right to left to get aligned with runway 5, flaps appeared to be up, and the gear was down. The witness said the engines sounded to be at idle and at high rpm, and the aircraft appeared to be 50 feet above the ground at midfield when it went out of sight behind hangar.' The weather observed at the time of the accident was in part: ceiling 100 feet overcast, visibility 0.5 mile with fog and rain. The published landing minimums for the approach was ceiling 400 feet and visibility 0.75 mile. Recorded radar data of the flight indicated a descent below the minimum descent altitude at a constant airspeed. Both engines started immediately and ran during a postaccident check of the aircraft.

During an approach to land, the pilot made S-turns to allow for proper spacing from a preceding airplane. On short final, he decided to go around because the runway was still not clear. However, he reported there was a lack of response concerning the power, so he decided to land as originally planned. The pilot tried to align the airplane with the runway centerline, but its right wing and landing gear struck the ground, and the right landing gear collapsed. The airplane skidded off the right side of the runway. During the accident sequence, the outward portion of the right wing was torn away from the airplane and a fuel line was ruptured. A ground fire erupted and burned through the right side of the airplane's structure and right wing. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was reported.

The purpose of the flight was to prepare two first officers for a captain upgrade flight. The instructor pilot disabled the student's attitude indicator during flight, and the student had difficulty maintaining airplane control. During a simulated instrument approach, while in the procedure turn, the instructor simulated an engine failure in addition to the attitude indicator failure. The student asked the instructor to take control of the airplane because he became disoriented, however, the instructor refused. The investigation revealed that the instructor would turn his own flight instrument lights to the 'dim' position when the student was flying so that he could not 'peek' at the operable attitude indicator. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the instructor's light rheostat was in the dim position. The accident occurred over the ocean, on a moonless night. Neither the operator, nor the FAA were aware that this instructor was using Block Island for training, or what training methods he was employing.

On dark (moonless) night, non schedule domestic passenger flight departed Block Island for Westerly, RI, with 7 passengers and 2 dogs. It crashed along route in Block Island Sound, 3 to 5 miles northwest of island (an area lacking visibility reference on SFC). Later, main wreckage was found in 130 feet of water. Additional wreckage and bodies of pilot, 3 passengers and 2 dogs were found. Aircraft was badly damaged during impact (left wing separated outbound of left engine, extensive damage to forward part of aircraft), but no preimpact part failure/malfunction was found. Commercial/instructor rated pilot was part time employee. He was on medication for lyme disease, but no physiological problem was found that would have resulted in accident. At approximately 1720 est, there was a pirep of a broken cloud layer at 10,000 feet. Another pilot, who was flying at about the same time, reported scattered clouds above 10,000 feet, over 10 miles visibility, wind westerly at 15 to 25 mph and light to moderate turbulences. Sigmet (golf 4) warned of moderate occasional severe turbulences below 6,000 feet and potential of low level windshear. Accident occurred along bird migratory route. There had been no recent FAA inspection of base, ramp, cockpit (en route check), ground/flight training program, crew/dispatch/trip record. All eight occupants were killed.

The aircraft crashed about nine miles short of the runway during an ILS approach to Warwick, RI in IMC weather. The aircraft had been cleared to descend from 13,000 to 3,000 feet. The aircraft crashed outside the outer marker. The copilot had reported the aircraft as inside the outer marker. The crew did not report any aircraft problems. The approach procedure requires that the flight cross the outer marker at 1,800 feet msl five miles from touchdown. Minimum weather is 200 feet ceiling and 1/2 mile visibility. Surface observation at time of the accident was 300 feet overcast with 1 1/2 mile visibility. Post accident exam of the wreckage failed to disclose any malfunctions or failures in the equipment. Both occupants were killed.

At 4,000 feet light icing on the windshield was noted, and the deicing system was activated. After two cycles of deicing, alcohol was smelled in the cockpit, and smoke was coming up from the control yoke. An emergency landing was attempted at Providence, RI, but smoke and flames forced the crew to land on 10-12 inch thick ice on a reservoir. By then, heavy black smoke poured in the cockpit and fire was seen. Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed and the right wing was sheared off. Eleven occupants escaped and were injured while a passenger was killed.

While in cruising altitude on a flight from Chatham to Newark, the captain informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to divert to the nearest airport located in East Greenwich, east Rhode Island. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. A passenger was killed while five other occupants were injured.

En route to Boston, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with icing. Both carburetors suffered icing in flight and both engines failed. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located five miles southwest of Woonsocket. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Alexander Sable, pilot,
Edward Luidcinaitis, copilot.
Passengers:
Nelson A. Bergstend,
Ferdinand Liot,
Stephen Baksal,
Raymond Buese,
Jesse Hackney.

The crew was completing a local training sortie out from NAS Quonset Point. On approach, the airplane crashed into the Narragansett Bay about 500 feet short of runway 19. All six crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.