West Virginia

3-4 inch snow accumulation on aircraft prior to flight. Pilot said he swept snow off except an area he could not reach. Heavy snowfall, wet snow reported as aircraft was prepared for departure, during runup, taxi and takeoff. Pilot advised by tower that visibility was 1/8 mile with fog and snow. Published takeoff minimum for far 135 opn was 1/2 mile. After riking snowplow located 150 feet left of runway, aircraft continued over embankment and came to rest inverted. Ice and snow fnd on upper tail surface. Elevator trim indicated full nose down. Aileron trim ind left bank. Witnesses said engines sounded normal, landing lights on, 600 feet visibility from position of snowplow. Pilot said 35 inches map when descending. Map increased with additional throttle. No engine roughness.

The aircraft took off with 4 occupants and an estimated 596 lbs of cargo on board. After it took off, the ATC controller noted that it was climbing slower than expected. After climbing to about 4,200 feet msl, the aircrew reported a problem with the left engine and said they did not believe they could make it back to the departure airport. They expressed a desire to continue toward the southwest. ATC proceeded to vector them to the Weston Airport, but informed them that it had no instrument approach. After the reported engine malfunction, ATC personnel noted that the aircraft continued in a gradual left turn. About 8 minutes after takeoff, radio contact was lost. A witness on the ground saw the aircraft come over a hill with the sound of an engine at high power. At about that time, the aircraft collided with a power line cable, then crashed into two trees, impacted the ground and burned. An examination of the wreckage revealed no significant preimpact failures. The aircraft was estimated to be approximately 400 lbs over its max certificated gross weight. All four occupants were killed.

The manager of Blackhawk Airways had cleared the flight for a 1000 edt departure, but the actual takeoff time was not established. No record of a preflight weather briefing was found. However, during a telephone conversation prior to the flight, the pilot indicated to his manager that the clouds would be lower in the mountains. At approximately 1030, ground witnesses observed an aircraft, matching the description of N215W, circling beneath the clouds at Keyser, WV, then depart to the southwest. When the aircraft did not arrive at its destination, a search was begun. It was found where it had impacted rising terrain approximately 6 miles southwest of Keyser. The impact occurred on a 26° slope, at approximately the 3,000 feet level, just below a 3104 feet peak. The aircraft was climbing when it impacted wooded terrain. A pilot/mechanical, who operated an airport approximately 3 miles southeast of Keyser, reported there was fog in the morning hours with a ceiling of about 2,000 feet until midday and that the mountain tops in the vicinity of the crash site were obscured. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The airplane overran the end of runway 23, following an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, crashed, and burned at the Mercer County Airport, Bluefield, West Virginia. The aircraft touched down between 500 and 2,000 feet on the runway which was covered with wet snow, and it did not decelerate normally. About 1,200 feet from the departure end of the runway, the pilot added engine thrust and rotated the aircraft for liftoff; however, it did not get airborne because of insufficient flying speed. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and struck three localizer antennas and a 10-foot embankment before it plunged down a steep, densely wooded hillside. The five occupants were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire.

On a final ILS approach to Charleston-Kanawha Airport in marginal weather conditions, the pilot continued the descent 1'000 feet below the glidepath when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area located few hundred yards from the runway threshold. The pilot and two passengers were killed while two other occupants were seriously injured.

The crew was completing an illegal flight and the airplane was carrying a load of 20,000 lbs of marijuana. After touchdown at an excessive speed, the four engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with obstacles before coming to rest in fire. All three crew members were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Charlotte to Youngstown, the pilot reported engine problems and elected to divert to Charleston-Kanawha Airport for an emergency landing. After being cleared, he initiated the descent when the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames few miles from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

On February 12, 1979, Allegheny Airlines Flight 561 (N29824) had originally departed Benedum Airport, Clarksburg, West Virginia, for Morgantown, West Virginia, at 1116, but the pilot decided not to make an approach at Morgantown because the instrument landing system's (ILS) glide slope was out of service, and the visibility was 1/2 mi. Thereafter the flight returned to Benedum Airport and landed at 1146. The aircraft was on the ground for about 1 hr 14 min at Benedum Airport. During that time the aircraft was refueled to 3,000 lbs of Jet-A fuel (1,500 lbs in each wing tank), and all surfaces were deiced with a mixture of unheated ethylene glycol and water. Although the Safety Board could not determine the precise time of deicing, the persons involved stated that it was performed between 1220 and 1235. The persons involved stated that it was performed between 1220 and 1235. The persons who deiced the plane stated that there was no snow or ice on the aircraft when they finished decing it. Flight 561 was rescheduled as a passenger flight from Benedum Airport to National Airport, Washington, D.C. There were 22 passengers and a crew of 3 on board. Before the captain started the engines for taxiing, the station agent asked him if he wanted the aircraft deiced again, since it was still snowing. The captain declined the offer and about 1257 he taxied the aircraft from the parking ramp. According to the station agent, the aircraft had about 1/4 in. of wet snow on all its horizontal surfaces when it left the parking ramp. He said that some of the snow blew off as the aircraft moved toward the departure runway, but some of the snow appeared to stick to the aircraft's horizontal surfaces. Twelve of the passengers recalled that shortly after liftoff, the aircraft rolled to the right, back to the left, and back to the right. After the last roll, the right wingtip struck the ground and impact followed shortly thereafter. The aircraft crashed in an inverted position off the right side of the departure end of runway 21. According to other witnesses, the ground roll appeared normal. The Clarksburg Tower local controller said that he saw Flight 561 taxi to runway 21, and he cleared the flight for takeoff. He saw the aircraft during takeoff until it reached taxiway D, which is about 1,000 ft from the tower, but he did not see the aircraft after that point. He had spoken with the captain by telephone before the takeoff and had given him the 1215 special observation weather. He also radioed the same weather to Flight 561 when it was taxiing for takeoff. He stated that he saw no snow on the aircraft but that moderate snow was falling at the time. The Clarksburg approach controller said that he saw Flight 561 as it turned to line up for takeoff on runway 21. He watched the aircraft through binoculars and saw nothing abnormal as the takeoff roll began. He thought the aircraft was rotated about 1,900 ft down the runway and the liftoff appeared to him to be normal. He lost sight of the aircraft at 50 ft of altitude because of the poor visibility. He recalled that during Flight 561's takeoff, the runway lights were set at their highest intensity. He also stated that he saw no snow blow off the aircraft during its takeoff roll. Shortly after the aircraft disappeared from his view, he heard the sound of an emergency locator transmitter on 121.5 MHz. He asked the Cleveland Center controller if Flight 561 had established contact with him. Since his reply was negative, the approach controller closed the airport and activated the airport emergency plan. The control tower chief observed Flight 561 during takeoff. He lost sight of the aircraft when it was at an altitude of about 20 ft above the runway. At that time the aircraft's attitude appeared to be normal. A pilot in the terminal restaurant said that when the aircraft left the parking ramp, he saw about 1/2 to 1 in. of snow on the wing and tail surfaces of the aircraft. He said that the takeoff appeared normal; but, just before the aircraft disappeared into the overcast, it appeared to pitch up sharply. Another witness who had experience as a pilot was located on taxiway C about 75 ft from the runway. He thought the aircraft lifted off about 200 to 300 ft past taxiway C. Shortly after liftoff, he saw the right wing of the aircraft dip about 45°, then the left wing dipped about the same amount, and the right wing dipped again before the aircraft disappeared from his view about 100 ft above the runway. Shortly thereafter, he heard two separate and distinct sounds of impact. The witness heard no unusual engine noises from the aircraft. The aircraft crashed during daylight hours at an elevation of 1,203 ft ms1. A passenger and a crew member were killed while 23 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

On approach to Bluefield-Mercer County, the pilot encountered technical problems with one engine. He decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed few miles from the airfield. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

On approach to Beckley-Raleigh County Airport, the pilot encountered foggy conditions. During the last segment, the twin engine airplane struck a steel reinforced concrete wall and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.