Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air in Albuquerque: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1972 at 1229 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N841NS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Albuquerque - Santa Fe
MSN:
LD-346
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
6769
Captain / Total hours on type:
411.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Albuquerque Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to return when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure or malfunction during initial climb and uncontrolled descent. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Deficiency of company maintained equipment, services and regulation by operational supervisory personnel,
- Left front cargo door improperly secured,
- Blades failure due to foreign object damage,
- Suspected or known aircraft damage,
- Forward cargo door not secured, opened in flight and damaged left prop, causing additional drag,
- Door unsafe system inoperative.
Final Report:

Crash of a Ted Smith 601 in Santa Fe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1969 at 0915 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N7442S
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santa Fe – Dallas
MSN:
61-0025-054
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Santa Fe Airport, the airplane failed to gain sufficient speed but the pilot did not abandoned the procedure and continued. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height then stalled and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper operation of powerplant & powerplant controls and inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to abort takeoff,
- High density altitude,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Takeoff made with mixture controls too lean,
- Density altitude about 8,200 feet,
- Insufficient runway for takeoff.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin 404 near Albuquerque: 16 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1955 at 0713 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N40416
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Albuquerque – Santa Fe – Baltimore
MSN:
14120
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
TW260
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Flight 260 received an IFR clearance from the tower at 0703 hours: "ATC clears TWA260 for approach at the Santa Fe Airport via Victor 19 climb northbound on the back course of the ILS localiser". The flight departed Albuquerque at 0705 hours. The tower requested the flight to report over-the Weiler Intersection (formerly the Alameda Intersection), however, after taking off there were no further radio contacts with the flight. The aircraft was last seen at an estimated altitude of 3000 feet (8300 feet mean sea level) in a high speed shallow climb continuing its heading towards Sandia Ridge, the upper portion of which was obscured by clouds. The wreckage was sighted the following morning at 9243 feet mean sea level, just below the crest of Sandia Mountain, approximately 13 miles north-east of the Albuquerque Airport and almost directly on a straight line course of 30 degrees magnetic from that airport (elevation 5340 feet mean sea level) to the Santa Fe Airport (elevation 6 344 feet mean sea level). An investigation was initiated by the Civil Aeronautics Board immediately after the accident. This included examination of the wreckage at the crash site which was discontinued because of deep snow and dangerous footing in the mountainous terrain. On May 3, 1955, a second trip was made to the scene of the accident and study of the wreckage was continued. On October 12, 1955, the Board’s Accident Investigation Report was released. The probable cause was determined to have been lack of conformity with prescribed en route procedures and a deviation from airways at an altitude too low to clear obstructions ahead. Because of controversy over certain elements of the report of October 12, 1955, additional study was given to the facts and circumstances of the accident and an amended report thereon was issued by the Board on August 26, 1957. The probable cause of the accident in this report was identical to that of the first report although the analysis portion was altered to revise the statement that the direct course was intentional. On October 10, 1958, the Air Line Pilots Association presented to the Bureau of Safety certain factual information and theories concerning the cause of the accident. On November 24, 1958, a third trip to the accident site was made. While there a new determination was made of the airplane’s heading at the time of impact. Because of these developments since the August 26, 1957, accident report was issued, active investigation and study was resumed. Additional testimony and documentary material were received from representatives of the ALPA, TWA, CAB, Eclipse-Pioneer Division of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, and the Collins Radio Company at Kansas City, Missouri, on January 15 and 16, 1959. In addition, a later study and presentation of facts concerning the instrumentation of the airplane and an analysis of tests made of the fluxgate compass system by Eclipse-Pioneer and ALPA were considered.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a deviation from the prescribed flight path for reasons unknown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker Super Universal in Watrous

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1933 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC8011
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Trinidad – Santa Fe
MSN:
812
YOM:
1928
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Trinidad on a cargo flight to Santa Fe. En route, while cruising at an altitude of 800 feet, the engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The airplane rolled for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. The pilot evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.