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Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Columbia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1973 at 1317 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Federal Land Bank of Columbia
Registration:
N711FC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Edenton - Columbia
MSN:
LJ-516
YOM:
1971
Location:
Columbia
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6125
Circumstances:
On approach to Columbia Airport, the pilot encountered below minima weather conditions with low ceiling, fog and rain falls. On final, the pilot descended below MDA when the twin engine airplane collided with trees and crashed. The pilot and a passenger were killed while a second passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- Pilot fatigue,
- High obstructions,
- Weather conditions below minimums,
- Descended below MDA.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules near Myrtle Beach: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
64-0558
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4059
YOM:
1965
Location:
Myrtle Beach
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The Hercules was engaged in a local training flight and was supposed, as a target, to be intercepted by the pilot of a USAF Convair F-102A Delta Dagger registered 56-1517. In unclear circumstances, both aircraft collided, dove into the ground and crashed, killing all 13 occupants. It is believed the collision was the consequence of poor judgement and lack of coordination between both crews.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2F Marquise in Alcolu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1972 at 1526 LT
Type of aircraft:
Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise
Operator:
Registration:
N757Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rocky Mount - Columbia
MSN:
151
YOM:
1969
Location:
Alcolu
South Carolina
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:
7500
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Alcolu. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and ground collision following a battery failure (electric system) in flight. The following factors were reported:
- Overheated,
- Fire in brakes, wheel assembly, wheel well,
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- Thermal runaway and fire in n°2 nickel-cadmium battery in right wheel well,
- Pilot lost control for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Sumter: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1972 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Robert H. Ford
Registration:
N21DD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sumter - Muscle Shoals
MSN:
BA-369
YOM:
1958
Location:
Sumter
South Carolina
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
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed in flames. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- The crew failed to retract the landing gear,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- The aircraft was approximately 300 pounds over gross weight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I Donaldson Center: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1971 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I
Operator:
Brookside-Pratt Mining Company
Registration:
N3194K
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Donaldson Center – Greenville
MSN:
421A-0004
YOM:
1967
Location:
Donaldson AFB-Donaldson Center Airport (Greenville)
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4140
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Donaldson Center Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It banked left then stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction during initial climb for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Physical impairment,
- Partial loss of power on one engine for unknown reason,
- Aircraft observed left turn in a nose high attitude,
- Engines appeared running low RPM,
- Pilot blood alcohol level 1,83 ‰.
Final Report:

Crash of a Volpar E18S in Columbia: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1971 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Volpar Turboliner 18
Operator:
Registration:
N47A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cleveland – Columbia – Fort Myers
MSN:
BA-153
YOM:
1956
Location:
Columbia
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
1504
Captain / Total hours on type:
35.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Cleveland to Fort Myers with an intermediate stop at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, South Carolina. On approach, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions and obtained a special VFR clearance. On final, as he was unable to locate the airport, he decided to make a go-around when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames one mile short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation. The following factors were reported:
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- Special VFR clearance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 520 in Columbia: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1971 at 2138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 520
Operator:
Newberry Flying Service
Registration:
N4190B
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ridgeland – Columbia – Newberry
MSN:
520-97
YOM:
1953
Location:
Columbia
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
3301
Captain / Total hours on type:
271.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Columbia Airport by night, during the last segment, the pilot overshot the center line and completed a sharp turn to the right when the airplane lost height and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed on final approach. The following factors were reported:
- Improperly loaded aircraft and CofG,
- Overshot the center line in sharp descending turn to the right,
- The airplane was overloaded by 200 pounds.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45G Expeditor in Columbia

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1968 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Industrial Electric
Registration:
N199H
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AF-68
YOM:
1952
Location:
Columbia
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5600
Captain / Total hours on type:
570.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after an early morning departure from Columbia-Metropolitan Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames in a field. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate flight preparation on part of the pilot who failed to clean the aircraft properly prior to takeoff. The aircraft was covered with frost and only the windshield was cleaned. The cabin heat system was insufficient to prevent windshield fogging and the pilot lost control of the airplane after rotation due to an insufficient flying speed. Exercised poor judgment.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Anderson: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1967 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Cannon Aircraft
Registration:
N3212Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
401-0012
YOM:
1967
Location:
Anderson
South Carolina
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:
3699
Captain / Total hours on type:
5.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane went into a dive and eventually crashed in a prairie. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight due to an incapacitation of the pilot who suffered a heart attack.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland CV-2B Caribou near Ridgeway: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1964
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
62-4196
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ridgeway - Ridgeway
MSN:
142
YOM:
1963
Location:
Ridgeway
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Taking part to the 'Hawk Star I' exercice, the crew was taking off from a remote airstrip located about five miles north of Ridgeway. After liftoff, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed on a fence. Fifteen occupants were injured while five others were killed as well as two soldiers who were repairing the fence.
Probable cause:
Failure of one engine for unknown reason.
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