Tennessee

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Wakeman - Memphis

MSN:

BA-265

YOM:

1957

Location:

Covington

Country:

Region:

Professional Medical Specialities

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

22950

Circumstances:

While approaching by night to Memphis Airport on a cargo flight from Wakeman, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located in Covington, about 40 miles northeast of Memphis Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined as the aircraft was totally destroyed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-25 Marquise in Jefferson City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1975 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Mitsubishi MU-2 Marquise

Operator:

Registration:

N69QJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Memphis - Jefferson City

MSN:

254

YOM:

1973

Location:

Jefferson City

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3180

Captain / Total hours on type:

169.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Jefferson City-Moore-Murrell Airport, the left engine failed. The airplane banked left the stalled and crashed in flames few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Improper operation of powerplan controls,
- Wreckage pattern indicative of aircraft in left rotation at impact,
- Left propeller 11-15°, right propeller 30° position.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Rockwood: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1975 at 0150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

N75G

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Gainesville - Rockwood

MSN:

2482

YOM:

1943

Location:

Rockwood

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10685

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in an illegal flight from Gainesville to Rockwood, carrying a load of marijuana. On final approach to Rockwood Municipal Airport by night, in a gear up and flaps down configuration, the crew apparently attempted a low pass when the airplane struck trees located about a quarter mile short of runway and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused after the pilot-in-command failed to maintain flying speed and diverted attention from operation of the aircraft while completing a low pass by night.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Memphis

Date & Time: May 15, 1975 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Registration:

N617JC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Memphis - Baton Rouge

MSN:

411-0096

YOM:

1965

Location:

Memphis

Country:

Region:

Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4070

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Memphi Airport, while climbing, the right engine malfunctioned. The pilot elected to return but as he was unable to feather the propeller, he attempted an emergency landing in an open field located few miles from the airport. The aircraft belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. All six occupants were injured, three of them seriously. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction after a failure of the propeller governor control system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Material failure,
- Propeller control P/N 5000009-10 broken at swaged on fitting, pilot secured the engine but was unable to return to the airport due to windmilling propeller.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander in Tullahoma

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1975 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N711JT

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Tullahoma-William Northern Field

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Tullahoma

MSN:

1121-091

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4300

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Oklahoma City, the twin engine airplane landed on runway 36 at Tullahoma-Northern Regional Airport. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran the wet runway before colliding with trees. All seven occupants escaped with various injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Overshoot runway and collided with trees after the crew delayed in initiating go-around. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wet runway,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Touchdown on runway 36 near intersection with runway 24, approximately 2,000 feet remaining.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-90 King Air in Knoxville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1974 at 1048 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

West Coal Corporation

Registration:

N113TC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Knoxville-Downtown Island

Schedule:

Oneida - Haleyville

MSN:

LJ-22

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5397

Captain / Total hours on type:

36.00

Circumstances:

En route from Oneida to Haileyville, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and was cleared to divert to Knoxville-Downtown Island Airport for an emergency landing. On short final, the pilot realized he was not properly aligned with the runway centerline and decided to initiate a go-around when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on approach due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the lubricating system: lines, hoses, fitting,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Right engine oil line to cooler fitting disconnected,
- Full right trim.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Tullahoma

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1974 at 0235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Semo Aviation

Registration:

N313A

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Tullahoma-William Northern Field

Schedule:

Nashville - Chattanooga

MSN:

A-257

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1244

Captain / Total hours on type:

385.00

Circumstances:

While on a night approach to Tullahoma Airport, the left engine caught fire. The crew was able to extinguish the fire and the propeller was feathered. Unfortunately, the pilot missed the runway and the captain decided to initiate a go-around manoeuvre when the airplane stalled and crashed. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Fire on left engine after a fuel line failed on approach. The following factors were reported:
- Loose parts,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Fire in engine,
- Low ceiling,
- Obstructions to vision,
- Suspected or known aircraft damage,
- Loose fuel line.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Chattanooga

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1973 at 1851 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

N3323L

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Atlanta - Chattanooga

MSN:

47032/204

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

DL516

Location:

Chattanooga-Lovell Field

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15949

Captain / Total hours on type:

3218.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

6301

Copilot / Total hours on type:

4000

Aircraft flight hours:

18233

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Atlanta, the crew started the approach to Chattanooga Airport in poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On short final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck approach light located 1,600 feet short of runway 20 threshold. The airplane then struck the ground, lost its left wing and skidded for another 1,200 feet before coming to rest 250 feet to the left of the runway centerline. All 79 occupants evacuated safely and only seven passengers were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

The pilot did not recognize the need to correct an excessive rate of descent after the aircraft had passed decision height. This occurred despite two verbal reports of increasing sink rate by the first officer. The captain disregarded the reports by the first officer, possibly because of the influence of a visual illusion caused by the refraction of light through the heavy rain on the windshield. The excessive rate of descent was initiated by a wind shear condition which extended in the lower levels of the approach path and a glide slope that tended toward the lower signal limit.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Alcoa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1973 at 1255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6166X

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Knoxville - Knoxville

MSN:

500B-996-27

YOM:

1960

Location:

Alcoa

Country:

Region: