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Crash of a Gulfstream G650 in Roswell: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 2011 at 0934 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N652GD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Roswell - Roswell
MSN:
6002
YOM:
2010
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
11237
Captain / Total hours on type:
263.00
Aircraft flight hours:
434
Circumstances:
On April 2, 2011, about 0934 mountain daylight time, an experimental Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation GVI (G650), N652GD, crashed during takeoff from runway 21 at Roswell International Air Center, Roswell, New Mexico. The two pilots and the two flight test engineers were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces and a post crash fire. The airplane was registered to and operated by Gulfstream as part of its G650 flight test program. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The accident occurred during a planned one-engine-inoperative (OEI) takeoff when a stall on the right outboard wing produced a rolling moment that the flight crew was not able to control, which led to the right wingtip contacting the runway and the airplane departing the runway from the right side. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted a concrete structure and an airport weather station, resulting in extensive structural damage and a post crash fire that completely consumed the fuselage and cabin interior.
Probable cause:
An aerodynamic stall and subsequent uncommanded roll during a one engine-inoperative takeoff flight test, which were the result of (1) Gulfstream’s failure to properly develop and validate takeoff speeds for the flight tests and recognize and correct the takeoff safety speed (V2) error during previous G650 flight tests, (2) the G650 flight test team’s persistent and increasingly aggressive attempts to achieve V2 speeds that were erroneously low, and (3) Gulfstream’s inadequate investigation of previous G650 uncommanded roll events, which indicated that the company’s estimated stall angle of attack while the airplane was in ground effect was too high. Contributing to the accident was Gulfstream’s failure to effectively manage the G650 flight test program by pursuing an aggressive program schedule without ensuring that the roles and responsibilities of team members had been appropriately defined and implemented, engineering processes had received sufficient technical planning and oversight, potential hazards had been fully identified, and appropriate risk controls had been implemented and were functioning as intended.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414A Chancellor in Midland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1988 at 0949 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6576C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Midland - Roswell
MSN:
414A-0018
YOM:
1978
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Captain / Total hours on type:
34.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2952
Circumstances:
The aircraft collided with power lines and the ground shortly after takeoff during instrument conditions. The only evidence of a malfunction or failure which was found was the gyro for the pilot's attitude indicator which had no indication of rotation at impact. The previous pilot stated that he normally pulled the ac circuit breaker after landing, that the breaker supplied voltage to the pilot's attitude indicator, and that he told the new pilot of this procedure which was not on the aircraft's checklist. This was the new pilot's first instrument flight in this aircraft. The accident occurred in a residential area.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: climb
Findings
1. (c) flight/nav instruments,attitude gyro - disconnected
2. (c) attitude indicator - not corrected - pilot in command
3. (c) spatial disorientation - pilot in command
4. (f) weather condition - fog
5. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
6. (c) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
7. Terrain condition - residential area
8. Object - wire, transmission
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-10-DO Skymaster near Oakland: 35 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1953 at 1838 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N88942
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Roswell – Oakland – Honolulu – Agana
MSN:
36076
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
TL942
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Captain / Total flying hours:
8312
Captain / Total hours on type:
5570.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
10656
Copilot / Total hours on type:
7379
Aircraft flight hours:
5976
Circumstances:
Transocean Air Lines’ Flight 942 of March 20, 1953, departed Roswell, New Mexico, at 1211 for Oakland, California. On board were 30 military passengers and a crew consisting of Captain H. E. Hum, First Officer F. W. Patchett, Chief Pilot H. W. Rodgers and Stewardesses V. Sandridge and L. Chapman. The flight was for the purpose of transporting military personnel in accordance with the company’s contract with the United States Department of Defense. Prior to departure a DVFR (Defense Visual Flight Rules) flight plan was filed with ARTC (Air Route Traffic Control), indicating a flight to be flown at an altitude of at least 500 feet on top of clouds via Red Airway 88 to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Green Airway 4 to Palmdale, California; Blue Airway 14 and Amber Airway 1 to Bakersfield, California; Amber Airway 1 to Fresno, California; and Blue Airway 10 to Oakland, California. There was sufficient fuel on board for 10 hours and the flying time to Oakland was estimated to be six hours and 35 minutes. According to the company’s records the gross weight of the aircraft at the time of takeoff was 63,817 pounds, which was within the allowable gross weight of 73,000 pounds; the load was properly distributed. After departing Roswell the flight progressed in a routine manner and at 1451, when in the vicinity of Winslow, Arizona, the DVFR flight plan was changed to IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), still at least 500 feet on top of clouds. At 1732 the flight reported that it was over Fresno, California, at 1730, that it was cruising at 8,000 feet (at least 500 feet on top of clouds), estimating Los Banos, California, at 1740 and requested further clearance, At 1744 Flight 942 called the Fresno radio communications station and asked that the requested clearance be expedited, stating that it was now at 7,000 feet, at least 500 feet on top. At 1747, the following clearance was issued the flight: “ARTC clears Transocean 942 to the Newark radio beacon, maintain 8,000, contact Oakland Approach Control after passing Evergreen, no delay expected, report reaching 8,000.” Approaching Evergreen at 1809, the flight was advised to maintain 8,000 feet to Newark. One minute later, at 1810, Flight 942 reported over Evergreen at 8,000 and requested a lower altitude. This request was denied because of traffic at the 7,000-foot level. At 1819 the flight reported over the Newark, California, compass locator and fan marker (radio beacon) at 8,000 feet where it held for 11 minutes. At 1827, Oakland Approach Control cleared Flight 942 for a straight-in range approach, to descend in the holding pattern to cross the Newark compass locator at 3,500 feet and to report leaving each 1,000-foot level. Three minutes later, at 1830, the flight reported leaving 8,000 feet, and subsequently reported leaving each 1,000-foot level. At 1836, it reported being at 3,500 feet leaving the Newark compass locator inbound. This was the last known radio contact with the flight. At approximately 1838 the aircraft crashed in a barley field. Impact and fire destroyed the aircraft. There were no survivors. The Oakland weather reported at the time was: Measured ceiling 1300 feet broken, 1800 feet overcast, light rain, fog, visibility two and one-half miles, wind south-southwest 17 miles per hour, altimeter setting 30.09.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of control of the aircraft for reasons unknown, during its descent from the Newark compass locator. The following findings were pointed out:
- The aircraft was flying under instrument weather conditions with icing in the clouds above 5,000 feet; temperatures were above freezing below this altitude,
- The descent from 8,000 feet to 3,500 feet was made at a rate of approximately 750 feet per minute,
- After reporting at an altitude of 3,500 feet and leaving the Newark fan marker inbound, the aircraft became uncontrollable and its average rate of descent was approximately 1,750 feet per minute,
- Witnesses observed the aircraft when it was immediately below the 1,300-foot cloud ceiling in a right wing low slipping attitude and watched it continue in this attitude until it struck the ground,
- No emergency was declared by the flight,
- All ground navigational facilities were operating normally,
- The location of the accident was approximately three miles beyond the Newark fan marker toward Oakland, and one and one-half miles to the right of course,
- The available evidence does not indicate that any malfunctioning of the aircraft or controls, fire in flight, or structural failure occurred prior to impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver in Roswell

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
51-16540
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
333
YOM:
1952
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the pilot decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Roswell. While the airplane was destroyed upon impact, the pilot was unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-85-DL near Roswell

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
43-15557
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
20023
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a desert area located 6 miles southwest of Roswell. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-55-MO Superfortress in Roswell: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-86383
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Roswell – Gander
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Roswell Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion six miles south of the airfield. Eight crew members were injured while 13 others were killed. It was reported that the aircraft may have been overloaded.
Crew killed were:
Maj Joe O. Will Jr., pilot,
Cpt Richard W. Hunsicker,
M/Sgt James L. Brewer,
Sgt Clyde N. Vanderslice,
Sgt Earl P. Boley,
Cpl Richard L. Lighthall,
Cpl Gordon E. McNeill,
Cpl Wayne O. Werkchiser,
Pfc John J. Capitan,
Pfc Maurice Harris,
Pvt Kenneth Ruohonen,
Sgt Charles R. Jackson,
Pfc Norman J. Remy.