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Crash of a Cessna T207A Skywagon near Littlefield: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1996 at 1939 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6468H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Grand Canyon - Saint George
MSN:
207-0532
YOM:
1979
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
23000
Captain / Total hours on type:
7.00
Aircraft flight hours:
10009
Circumstances:
The airplane was being positioned to another airport at night. The flight was over mountainous terrain. The airplane collided with the top of a 4,600-foot bluff. The pilot had a history of transient global amnesia. Examination of the accident site revealed a 567-foot long wreckage path, oriented along the direct course line from the departure point to the destination. Damage to the engine and propeller indicated that the engine was developing power at impact.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during descent for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the dark night and mountainous terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon near Grand Canyon: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1991 at 1319 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6280H
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grand Canyon - Grand Canyon
MSN:
207-0463
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
1168
Captain / Total hours on type:
36.00
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed into a wooded area about 8 minutes after takeoff. Evidence at the wreckage site revealed that the airplane crashed through the trees at a glide angle of 8°. The glide angle for a power-off forced landing is 6° according to the pilot's operating handbook. The propeller did not exhibit rotational damage. Engine teardown revealed that the #1 cylinder had catastrophic detonation. All seven occupants were killed, among them two British, two German and two Swiss tourists, and the US pilot.
Probable cause:
Detonation (or pre-ignition) in the n°1 cylinder, which resulted in erosion (burning) of the n°1 piston and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor related to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna T207A Skywagon in Grand Canyon

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1989 at 1242 LT
Registration:
N7602U
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Page - Page
MSN:
207-0442
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2765
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6302
Circumstances:
The airplane was flying a scenic tour when there was a loss of engine power. The pilot switched fuel tanks to the fullest tank and power was regained momentarily. The engine stopped. The propeller did not windmill. The pilot accomplished an off airport landing in rugged mountainous terrain. Disassembly of the engine revealed the crankshaft had fractured. Examination of the fracture revealed subsurface metal fatigue. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The inflight failure of the airplane's powerplant as a result metal fatigue which allowed the crankshaft to fracture. Contributing to the accident was mountainous terrain of the grand canyon which did not allow a suitable forced landing area.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Vista Liner 300 in Grand Canyon: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1989 at 0953 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N75GC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Grand Canyon - Grand Canyon
MSN:
439
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
YR05
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
4120
Captain / Total hours on type:
2610.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1309
Copilot / Total hours on type:
339
Aircraft flight hours:
11180
Circumstances:
Grand Canyon Airlines flight 5 (De Havilland DHC-6, N75GC) departed Grand Canyon National Park Airport on a local part 135, sightseeing flight. After returning from a normal trip, the flight was cleared to land on runway 21. Observers reported the approach to the airport was normal, but the aircraft traveled about 1,000 feet down the runway at an altitude of about 5 feet before touchdown. Reportedly, it bounced and traveled another 1,000 feet before touching down again. The aircraft then veered to the right and the flight crew initiated a go around (aborted landing). The aircraft climbed in a nose high altitude to about 150 feet to 200 feet agl, then it rolled to the left and crashed onto a wooded hill about 120 feet left of the runway. A power line was severed during impact, which interrupted electrical power to the airport and delayed emergency response to the crash. Surviving passengers reported the right seat pilot was flying the aircraft, while the left seat pilot narrated the tour; but after a hard touchdown, the left seat pilot took control of the aircraft and applied full power for a go-around. A scrape mark was found where the right wingtip scraped the runway during the 2nd touchdown. Both pilots and eight passengers were killed while 11 other passengers were injured, nine of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Improper pilot techniques and crew coordination during the landing attempt, bounce, and attempted go-around.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Vista Liner 300 in Grand Canyon: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1986 at 0933 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N76GC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Grand Canyon - Grand Canyon
MSN:
248
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
YR06
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Captain / Total flying hours:
5970
Captain / Total hours on type:
1556.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4450
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1076
Aircraft flight hours:
30569
Circumstances:
On June 18, 1986, at 0855 mountain standard time, a Grand Canyon Airlines DHC-6, N76GC (Twin Otter), call sign Canyon 6, took off from runway 21 of the Grand Canyon Airport. The flight, a scheduled air tour over Grand Canyon National Park, was to be about 50 minutes in duration. Shortly thereafter, at 0913, a Helitech Bell 2068 (Jet Ranger), NGTC, call sign Tech 2, began its approximate 30-minute, on-demand air tour of the Grand Canyon. It took off from its base at a heliport adjacent to State route 64 in Tusayan, Arizona, located about 5 miles south of the main entrance to the south rim of the National Park. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The two aircraft collided at an altitude of 6,500 feet msl in the area of the Tonto Plateau. There were 18 passengers and 2 flightcrew members on the DHC-6 and 4 passengers and 1 flightcrew member on the Bell 206B. All 25 passengers and crew members on both aircraft were killed as a result of the collision. Because of the lack of cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders in both aircraft, as well as the lack of radar data, no assessment of the flight path of either aircraft could be made. As a result, the reason for the failure of the pilots of each aircraft to “see and avoid” each other cannot be determined. Consequently, the issues highlighted in this report concern primarily the oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Grand Canyon-based scenic air tours or sightseeing flights and the actions of the National Park Service to influence these operations. Because of an exemption to 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135, local scenic air tours were conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. This investigation revealed that there was no FAA oversight on the routes and altitudes of Grand Canyon-based scenic air tour operators. This was contrary to the intent of Safety Recommendation A-84-52. Further, the National Park Service, through its authority under a 1975 law, was conducting a study to determine the effects of aircraft noise on the Grand Canyon and, at the same time, influencing the selection of air tour routes. The routes of the rotary-wing operators were ‘moved as a noise conservation measure to where they converged with those of Grand Canyon Airlines at the location of the accident. Other safety issues concern the lack of regulations to limit flight and duty times of pilots conducting scenic air tour flights, and the lack of a requirement for the pilots of such flights to use intercoms or public address systems when narrating during the flights. All 20 occupants of the Twin Otter were killed, among them 11 citizen from The Netherlands and two Swiss.
Probable cause:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the flightcrews of both aircraft to “see and avoid” each other for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration to exercise its oversight responsibility over flight operations in the Grand Canyon airspace and the actions of the National Park Service to influence the selection of routes by Grand Canyon scenic air tour operators. Also contributing to the accident was the modification and configuration of the routes of the rotary-wing operators resulting in their intersecting with the routes of Grand Canyon Airlines near Crystal Rapids.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Peach Springs: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 17, 1983 at 1227 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N88LV
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Grand Canyon
MSN:
31-7752118
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
6G88
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
8099
Captain / Total hours on type:
1782.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4325
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Las Vegas, NV as the 2nd of 5 aircraft on a scheduled Grand Canyon sightseeing flight. The 1st portion of the flight was over the Las Vegas strip area and Lake Mead and was uneventful. However, weather conditions precluded the pilot from continuing over the Shivwits plateau. Radio conversations between the pilot and other company aircrews indicated that the pilot of N88LV had encountered deteriorating weather conditions in the canyon and that he had decided to abort the flight and climb out. Later attempts to contact the aircraft were unsuccessful. The wreckage was found on 8/18/83 where the aircraft had collided on the west wall of a mesa inside the canyon. A helicopter pilot flying about 14 miles north of the crash site reported clouds at ground level (4,500 feet msl). The elevation of the accident site was 6,320 feet. Shortly before his last transmission, the pilot stated he was 'just short of Twin Peaks.' The pilot had transmitted his position from Peach VOR, indicating he was in the area of the crash site. Twin Peaks was northeast and had similar terrain. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Wallace S. Gustafson Jr., pilot.
Passengers:
Enrico Annibali,
Maria Vittoria Annibali,
Giancarlo Annibali,
Luciano Annibali,
Guliana Ranieri-Annibali,
Francesca Annibali,
Federica Annibali,
Stefano Annibali,
Daniele Vernava.
Photos: https://www.lostflights.com/Grand-Canyon-Aviation/81783-Las-Vegas-Airlines-Piper/
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) weather condition - clouds
2. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
3. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
4. (f) weather condition - rain
5. (c) VFR flight into IMC - continued - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: climb
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna T207A Skywagon in Grand Canyon: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1981 at 1733 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6324H
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Grand Canyon - Grand Canyon
MSN:
207-0483
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2980
Captain / Total hours on type:
257.00
Circumstances:
While completing an on-demand local touristic flight, the engine failed during normal cruise. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in rough terrain. A passenger was killed while six other occupants escaped with minor or no injuries.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High density altitude, approximately 5,400 feet
- Rough/uneven terrain,
- Forced landing off airport on land.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Grand Canyon: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1980 at 1702 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N2683S
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grand Canyon - Phoenix
MSN:
404-0606
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
YR306
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
2474
Captain / Total hours on type:
323.00
Aircraft flight hours:
718
Circumstances:
At 1702, Scenic Airlines flight 306, a Cessna 404, VFR commuter flight to Phoenix, crashed approximately three miles south of runway 21 after takeoff from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport. The aircraft cut a swath through a densely wooded area on a magnetic heading of 165° and came to rest upright about 230 feet from the initial point of impact with trees. Impact forces and an intense fire destroyed the aircraft. The pilot and six of the seven passengers were killed in the accident. One passenger survived the accident but died five days later as a result of thermal injuries.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was a substantial loss of power from the left engine at a critical point in the takeoff an the failure of the pilot to establish a minimum drag configuration which degraded the marginal single-engine climb performance of the aircraft. The loss of power resulted from the seizure of the turbocharger following a progressive failure of the turbine wheel blades initiated by foreign object ingestion which had occurred previous to this flight and was not detected during maintenance on the engine 4 days before the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 near Peach Springs: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1971 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N3250Q
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Grand Canyon
MSN:
402-0050
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Captain / Total flying hours:
2441
Captain / Total hours on type:
415.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Las Vegas Airport on a charter flight to Grand Canyon, carrying nine passengers, tourists from the US, France and Germany. En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and elected to turning around when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed about 39 miles north of Peach Springs. The wreckage was found a day later in the Shivwits Plateau near Parashant Canyon. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 10 occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Wayne Leeth.
Passengers:
James Allen Jr,
Florence Allen,
Mr. R. Lynch,
Mrs. R. Lynch,
Mr. P. Dosmond, France,
Mrs. P. Dosmond, France,
Paul Haack, West Germany,
Renate Haack, West Germany,
Walter Pilgram, West Germany.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and snow.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7 in the Grand Canyon: 58 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1956 at 1032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6324C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Los Angeles – Chicago – New York
MSN:
44288
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
UA718
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
53
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
58
Captain / Total flying hours:
16492
Captain / Total hours on type:
1238.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4540
Copilot / Total hours on type:
230
Aircraft flight hours:
5115
Circumstances:
United Air Lines Flight 718 was regularly scheduled from Los Angeles to Chicago, Illinois. On June 30, 1956, it took off from runway 25L (left) of the Los Angeles International Airport at 0904 (three minutes after TWA 2). Flight 718 was on an IFR flight plan to Chicago via Green Airway 5 Palm Springs inter-section, direct Needles, direct Painted Desert, direct Durango, direct Pueblo, direct St. Joseph. Victor Airway 116 Joliet, Victor Airway 84 Chicago Midway Airport. The flight plan proposed a .JPG"> airspeed of 288 knots., a cruising altitude of 21,000 feet, and a departure time of 0845. The flight crew consisted of Captain Robert F. Shirley, First Officer Robert W. Harms, Flight Engineer Gerard Flore, and Stewardesses Nancy L. Kemnitz and Margaret A. Shoudt. Flight preparations and dispatch of United 718 were routine and the aircraft departed with 3,850 gallons of fuel. The company load manifest showed the gross weight of the aircraft at takeoff to be 105,835 pounds, which was less than the maximum allowable of 114,060 pounds; the latter weight was restricted from a maximum of 122,200 pounds for the aircraft because of a landing limitation at Chicago. The load was properly distributed with respect to the center of gravity limitations of the aircraft. After takeoff the flight contacted the Los Angeles tower radar controller, who vectored it through the overcast over the same departure course as TWA 2. United 718 reported "on top" and changed to Los Angeles Center frequency for its en route clearance. This corresponded to the flight plan as filed; however, the controller specified that the climb to assigned altitude be in VER conditions. Flight 718 made position reports to Aeronautical Radio, Inc., which serves under contract as United company radio. It reported passing over Riverside and later over Palm Springs intersection. The latter report indicated that United 718 was still climbing to 21,000 and estimated it would reach Needles at 1000 and the Painted Desert at 1034. At approximately 0958 United 718 made a position report to the CAA communications station located at Needles. This report stated that the flight was over Needles at 0958, at 21,000 feet, and estimated the Painted Desert at 1031, with Durango next. At 1031 an unidentified radio transmission was heard by Aeronautical Radio communicators at Salt Lake City and San Francisco. They were not able to understand the message when it was received but it was later determined by playing back the recorded transmission that the message was from United 718. Context was interpreted as: "Salt Lake, United 718 . . . ah . . . we're going in."
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this mid-air collision was that the pilots did not see each other in time to avoid the collision. It is not possible to determine why the pilots did not see each other, but the evidence suggests that it resulted from any one or a combination of the following factors: Intervening clouds reducing time for visual separation, visual limitations due to cockpit visibility, and preoccupation with normal cockpit duties, preoccupation with matters unrelated to cockpit duties such as attempting to provide the passengers with a more scenic view of the Grand Canyon area, physiological limits to human vision reducing the time opportunity to see and avoid the other aircraft, or insufficiency of en route air traffic advisory information due to inadequacy of facilities and lack of personnel in air traffic control. The following findings were reported:
- Approaching Daggett, TWA 2 requested its company radio to obtain 21,000 feet as an assigned altitude, or 1,000 on top,
- Company radio requested 21,000 feet IFR from ARTC. This vas denied by ARTC. Request was then made for 1,000 on top. This was approved and clearance issued. The flight climbed to and proceeded at 21,000 feet,
- As an explanation for the denial of 21,000 feet, TWA 2 was furnished pertinent information on UA718,
- The last position report by each flight indicated it was at that time at 21,000, estimating the Painted Desert line of position at 1031,
- The Salt Lake controller possessed both position reports at approximately 1013, at which time both flights were in uncontrolled airspace,
- Traffic control services are not provided in the uncontrolled airspace and according to existing Air Traffic Control policies and procedures the Salt Lake controller was not required to issue traffic information; none was issued voluntarily,
- A general overcast with some breaks existed at 15,000 feet in the Grand Canyon area,
- Several cumulus buildups extending above flight level existed; one was nearly over Grand Canyon Village and others were north and northeast in the area of the collision,
- The collision occurred at approximately 1031 in visual flight rule weather conditions at about 21,000 feet,
- The collision in space was above a position a short distance west of the TWA wreckage area, 17 miles west of or approximately 3-1/2 minutes' flying time from the Painted Desert line of position,
- Under visual flight rule weather conditions it is the pilot's responsibility to maintain separation from other aircraft,
- At impact the aircraft relative to each other converged at an angle of about 25 degrees with the DC-7 to the right of the L-1049. The DC-7 was rolled about 20 degrees right wing down and pitched about 10 degrees nose down relative to the L-1049,
- There was no evidence found to indicate that malfunction or failure of the aircraft or their components was a factor in the accident.
Final Report: