Corporate Air - USA

The pilot of the Part 135 cargo flight was executing the 'full' ILS runway 27 approach at Helena Regional Airport in a non-radar environment. Although the approach calls for the pilot to maintain 7,000 feet until intercepting the glideslope, the aircraft impacted the terrain at 5,300 about 1.5 miles prior to reaching the point where the pilot should have crossed the Hauser NDB at an altitude of 6,741 feet. According to the approach plate, the aircraft should not have descended to an altitude below 5,400 feet until reaching the outer marker, which is located about five and one-half miles west of the impact site.

The Short Brothers SD3-60 cargo flight was being vectored for the VOR/DME RWY 28R approach to the Billings Logan International airport during instrument meteorological conditions. Weather conditions one minute before the accident were winds 020 at 13 knots, light snow and mist, and visibility was deteriorating rapidly. The co-pilot (occupying the right seat) was flying the aircraft, and the PIC (occupying the left seat) was handling radio communications. At 0812:25, having crossed the final approach fix, the aircraft descended through 100 feet above the MDA (3,940 feet or 426 feet above the runway threshold), and immediately thereafter the crew visually acquired the runway. At 0813:01 the aircraft's GPWS alert of 'SINK RATE' was heard, followed 2 seconds later by the PIC calling for 'POWER,' and a 2 second delay to ground impact. The co-pilot had logged a total of 103 hours in the SD3-60 (all within the previous 90 days,) while the PIC had just begun flying the aircraft in Montana's late fall weather after a 6 year assignment flying in the Hawaiian islands. The left main landing gear collapsed in overload during the ground impact.

On a ferry flight from Oakland, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, the pilot declared a low fuel emergency and diverted toward Hilo, Hawaii. Approximately 2.5 hours later, the aircraft was ditched in the Pacific ocean. The pilot evacuated the aircraft before it sank and was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. He stated that, under flight planned conditions, the aircraft departed Oakland with sufficient fuel onboard to reach the intended destination with a 2-hour fuel reserve. However, the winds at flight altitude, which were reported as light and variable at the preflight weather briefing, developed into a significant headwind during the flight. At a point 7 hours and 10 minutes into the flight, the pilot determined that his fuel remaining was 8 hours and 40 minutes, with 7 hours and 40 minutes remaining to destination. Three hours later, the pilot determined that his 2-hour reserve was gone. He declared an emergency and diverted toward the closest airport, which was Hilo. Prior to fuel system exhaustion, the pilot elected to ditch the aircraft with power.

After departure, the airplane intercepted airway V-2, and appeared to climb normally until reaching 8,300 feet (9,000 assigned) while tracking approximately 110° magnetic. Radar analysis showed the airplane at 128 kias when it abruptly turned left 30° and then appeared to recover. Voice communication during this event was normal with no change in the pilot's level of anxiety. Immediately thereafter, the heading changed over 90° to the left (northbound), and a maximum 6,750 fpm rate of descent developed before the heading stabilized and the descent slowed. The airplane's ground impact site was approximately 1 nm southwest of the last radar target. Wreckage distribution was roughly parallel to V-2. The airplane impacted the mountainside in a steep nose low, left wing down attitude. The engines, propellers/governors were disassembled and inspected with no evidence of mechanical malfunction. Exam of the left propeller indicated low power on impact. There was no evidence of significant icing/turbulence. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Airspur flight 500, a domestic cargo flight, departed Kalispell, MT, at 1903 mdt with an IFR flight plan to Great Falls, MT. At 1922, the pilot notified Salt Lake ARTCC he was returning to Kalispell due to a rough running engine. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported the engine had failed completely. The pilot made an emergency forced landing on a mountain ridge at the approximately 5,500 feet level in IFR conditions. Accident location was approximately 18 nm east of Kalispell. Engine disassembly later revealed the #4 connecting rod had failed catastrophically. The pilot escaped with minor injuries.

While en route on a night IFR cargo flight, the pilot requested and was cleared for a descent from an IFR cruise altitude of 16,000 feet to proceed VFR-on-top. The last transmission from the aircraft was at 2106 when the pilot acknowledged that he was familiar with the terrain along the route. At 2121:51 mdt, radar contact was lost after the aircraft made an approximately 360° left turn and descended thru 13,800 feet. Shortly after that, the controller tried to call the pilot to inform him that radar contact was lost, but was unable to make radio contact. Later, wreckage of the aircraft was found where it had crashed about 2 miles southwest of were radar contact was lost. The wreckage was scattered over an area of more than one mile. An investigation revealed the left wing and right horizontal stabilizer had separated upward from overload. No pre-accident fatigue or part failure/malfunction was found. Weather reports and pireps indicated moderate turbulences and towering cumulus clouds in the area. Approximately 60 miles west at Pocatello, ID, snow showers were reported; 2 to 3 inches of snow fell on the wreckage overnight. Both pilots were killed.

The pilot of the nonscheduled domestic passenger air taxi flight was flying the VOR/DME runway 22 approach to Wiley Field, Miles City, MT. The pilot said he turned on the autopilot and after turning inbound from the procedure turn towards the faf he engaged the approach mode. After crossing the faf the pilot descended to MDA and engaged the altitude hold mode. When he reached the map the pilot started to make a missed approach but a passenger, seated next to him in the copilot's seat, reported the runway in sight. The pilot said he saw the runway and retarded the throttles in order to descend for landing. The aircraft nose pitched up abruptly, the aircraft stalled, and mushed to the ground. The aircraft hit hard and skidded off the runway. Two occupants were injured and four others escaped uninjured.

The aircraft had just successfully completed a series of practice approaches to a full stop. The training flight was being conducted to give refresher training to the pilot who had not flown a Lear Jet in over a year and had never flown a lear model 35. The flight instructor requested a practice approach with a missed approach and was cleared for the option. Witnesses stated that the aircraft rolled right and then rolled left to an inverted position. Colliding with the ground shortly thereafter. All three occupants were killed.

While in normal cruise on a cargo flight from Hartford to Charlotte by night, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems. The aircraft lost 2,000 feet then entered an uncontrolled descent and eventually crashed in a field. The pilot was seriously injured.

After takeoff from Hartford-Brainard Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed while the right engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crashed few miles from the airfield and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.