Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Petros: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1984 at 1400 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N27948
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Cincinnati
MSN:
31-7952059
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1100
Circumstances:
The flight departed Fort Lauderdale, FL, on 8-2-84 at approximately 0815 edt for Cincinnati, OH. The aircraft wreckage was found on 11-17-84 on an up slope of big Fodderstack Mountain. The aircraft had contacted a 25 feet tall tree located 200 feet west of the main wreckage. The only known radio contact was recalled by the Monroe County airport manager who stated the pilot radioed to exchange the day's greeting. Exact weather at the accident site could not be determined. However, the airport manager recalled the high terrain being obscured with poor visibility. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
2. (c) vfr flight into imc - continued - pilot in command
3. (f) lack of total instrument time - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
4. (c) clearance - not maintained - pilot in command
5. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
6. Object - tree(s)
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I in Bristol

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1983 at 2108 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N68TG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Knoxville - Bristol
MSN:
68
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4927
Captain / Total hours on type:
427.00
Aircraft flight hours:
14759
Circumstances:
The copilot stated that when he began the approach to the destination airport, the weather condition was hazy and he delayed his descent slightly until he located the airport. When he saw the runway, he believed that they were a little too close, so he indicated to the captain that he would like to make a 360° turn. At that point, the captain assumed control of the aircraft and continued the approach to runway 04. According to witnesses, the aircraft touched down long. According to the captain, he tried several applications of the normal braking system, but got no response. He then tried the emergency brakes and asked the copilot to get on the brakes, but reported there was no braking. Subsequently the aircraft went off the end of the runway, went over an embankment and hit a fence. It came to rest on a second embankment where it exploded and burned. Tire marks with evidence of braking action were found starting 2,377 feet beyond the runway threshold. A required field length of approximately 2,600 feet was calculated for landing. No pre-impact part failure/malfunction was found. VASI lights were inoperative. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: overrun
Phase of operation: landing - roll
Findings
1. (f) light condition - dusk
2. (f) weather condition - haze/smoke
3. (f) airport facilities,visual apch slope ind (VASI) - not operating
4. (c) airspeed - misjudged - pilot in command
5. (c) distance - misjudged - pilot in command
6. (c) go-around - not performed - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: on ground/water collision with object
Phase of operation: landing - roll
Findings
7. (f) object - fence
----------
Occurrence #3: on ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - roll
Findings
8. (f) terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter on Mt Johns Knob: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1982 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0652
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Charleston - Charleston
MSN:
6065
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
24246
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Charleston in the early afternoon on a training mission, carrying a crew of nine. Weather conditions worsened en route with sky overcast at 4,500 feet, top of clouds at 8,000 feet and zero visibility below 4,500 feet due to rain falls and fog. The airplane struck the slope of Mt Johns Knob (4,908 feet high) located at the Tennessee - North Carolina border. The wreckage was found 118 feet below the summit and all nine occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums for military training mission.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules in McMinnville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0504
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3112
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a low level training flight when the airplane crashed in a field near McMinnville. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the loss of the left wing leading edge.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-20 Marquise in Nashville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1979 at 2141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N873Q
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chattanooga - Nashville
MSN:
160
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1498
Captain / Total hours on type:
661.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nashville-Metropolitan Airport by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low. The twin engine airplane struck power cables and crashed short of runway. All five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with power cables on final approach after the copilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Operational supervisory personnel: deficiency, company maintained equipment, services, regulation,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Fog,
- Crew scheduled for 18-20 hours, crew time routinely,
- Autopilot found on,
- Trim 10° nose down.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18 3NM in Memphis

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1979 at 0040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N12VT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cedar Rapids - Memphis - Springfield
MSN:
A-780
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7300
Captain / Total hours on type:
120.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a night cargo flight from Cedar Rapids to Springfield with an intermediate stop in Memphis. Cleared by ATC to align on runway for takeoff, the pilot increased engine power and entered the runway when the aircraft was struck by a Federal Express (FedEx) Dassault Falcon 20 registered N36FE that just landed on the same runway. The right wing of the Falcon struck the Beechcraft that caught fire instantly. The crew of the Falcon 20 was able to stop normally and the aircraft was slightly damaged. The Beech 18 was destroyed by fire and its pilot evacuated with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Ground collision between two aircraft after traffic control personnel issued improper or conflicting instructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Bristol

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1978 at 0907 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N7700L
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Johnson City - Bristol
MSN:
31-501
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1826
Captain / Total hours on type:
158.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to runway 23 at Bristol-Tri-Cities Airport, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and the airplane belly landed in a field located 2,600 feet short of runway. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wheels-up landing on final approach following a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Forced landing off airport on land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F in Memphis

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1978 at 1905 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N680RG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Memphis - Memphis
MSN:
680-1020-49
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2157
Captain / Total hours on type:
141.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Memphis Airport, while in initial climb, both engines failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure during initial climb due to fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Overload failure,
- Complete engine failure two engines,
- Gear collapsed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Memphis: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1978 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N121GW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Memphis - Memphis
MSN:
4
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3647
Captain / Total hours on type:
350.00
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Memphis Airport. Following several maneuvers and while circling in the traffic pattern at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the twin engine airplane collided with a private Cessna 150 registered N6423K and carrying two pilots. Following the collision, both airplane entered a dive and crashed about 3,8 miles west of the airport. All six occupants in both aircrafts were killed.
Probable cause:
The in-flight collision on approach was the consequence of a poor ATC coordination. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to see and avoid other aircraft,
- Inadequate spacing of aircraft on part of ATC,
- ATC failed to advise of other traffic,
- Under radar contact and controlled airport,
- No evasive action taken,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- The controller of Falcon assumed coordination had been accomplished between local controllers.

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Knoxville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1978 at 1923 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N41037
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale – Knoxville – Chicago
MSN:
421B-0571
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
707
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Circumstances:
The pilot was cleared to descend at his discretion to 2,500 feet 34 miles south of Knoxville Airport. While descending at an altitude of 3,800 feet, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in the Smoky Mountain Range. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees while descending due to improper in-flight decisions or planning on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot misjudged altitude,
- Traffic control personnel: other.
Final Report: