Crash of a Dassault Falcon 50 in Greenville: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 2018 at 1346 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N114TD
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
St Petersburg - Greenville
MSN:
17
YOM:
1980
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11650
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5500
Aircraft flight hours:
14002
Circumstances:
The flight crew was operating the business jet on an on-demand air taxi flight with passengers onboard. During landing at the destination airport, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded the sound of the airplane touching down followed by the pilot's and copilot's comments that the brakes were not operating. Air traffic controllers reported, and airport surveillance video confirmed, that the airplane touched down "normally" and the airplane's thrust reverser deployed but that the airplane continued down the runway without decelerating before overrunning the runway and impacting terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane's brake system revealed discrepancies of the antiskid system that included a broken solder joint on the left-side inboard transducer and a reversal of the wiring on the right-side outboard transducer. It is likely that these discrepancies resulted in the normal braking system's failure to function during the landing. Before the accident flight, the airplane had been in long-term storage for several years and was in the process of undergoing maintenance to bring the airplane back to a serviceable condition, which in-part required the completion of several inspections, an overhaul of the landing gear, and the resolution of over 100 other unresolved discrepancies. The accident flight and four previous flights were all made with only a portion of this required maintenance having been completed and properly documented in the airplane's maintenance logs. A pilot, who had flown the airplane on four previous flights along with the accident pilot (who was acting as second-in-command during them), identified during those flights that the airplane's normal braking system was not operating when the airplane was traveling faster than 20 knots. He remedied the situation by configuring the airplane to use the emergency, rather than normal, braking system. That pilot reported this discrepancy to the operator's director of maintenance, and it is likely that maintenance personnel from the company subsequently added an "INOP" placard near the switch on the date of the accident. The label on the placard referenced the antiskid system, and the airplane's flight manual described that with the normal brake (or antiskid) system inoperative, the brake selector switch must be positioned to use the emergency braking system. Following the accident, the switch was found positioned with the normal braking system activated, and it is likely that the accident flight crew attempted to utilize the malfunctioning normal braking system during the landing. Additionally, the flight crew failed to properly recognize the failure and configure the airplane to utilize the emergency braking system, or utilize the parking brake, as described in the airplane's flight manual, in order to stop the airplane within the available runway.
Probable cause:
The operator's decision to allow a flight in an airplane with known, unresolved maintenance discrepancies, and the flight crew's failure to properly configure the airplane in a way that would have allowed the emergency or parking brake systems to stop the airplane during landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Greenville

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1997 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N440HM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Atlanta - Greenville
MSN:
35-294
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
GRA440
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5293
Captain / Total hours on type:
202.00
Circumstances:
The pilot-in-command stated he was cleared for an ILS approach. He had to use spoilers to intercept the glideslope. The landing was extended at the outer marker as the airspeed was slowed through 200 knots. As the airspeed decreased the spoilers were retracted and the flaps were extended to 20-degrees. The airplane was drifting to the right and flaps were lowered to 40-degrees as the drift was corrected. The airplane floated and touched down long. The spoilers, and brakes were applied as well as full reverse. There was no braking due to hydroplaning. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane went off the end of the runway, skidded through 200 feet of sod, vaulted off a 25 foot embankment, skidded across a road, and collided with a ditch.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point on a known wet runway, resulting in a subsequent overrun and on ground collision with a ditch.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Greenville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1979 at 1112 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N66893
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Greenville - Columbia
MSN:
31-7405192
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
18000
Captain / Total hours on type:
4.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff, while in initial climb, the right engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and turned back when the airplane struck a power line and crashed in flames near the airport. The pilot and four passengers were killed while two other passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- High obstructions,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Engine malfunction before best climb speed.
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:
Registration:
N3194K
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Donaldson Center – Greenville
MSN:
421A-0004
YOM:
1967
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: