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United States of America
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Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Iron Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1974 at 0151 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
Registration:
N72FA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lansing - Iron Mountain
MSN:
BA-631
YOM:
1962
Location:
Iron Mountain
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
12345
Captain / Total hours on type:
4000.00
Circumstances:
During a night approach to Iron Mountain Airport, the pilot descended below the MDA when the twin engine airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees on a night approach following improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Instruments misread or failed to read,
- High obstructions,
- Descended below clearance limit of 3,000 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Iron Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1974 at 0145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
Registration:
N73FA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lansing - Iron Mountain
MSN:
BA-649
YOM:
1963
Location:
Iron Mountain
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6070
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Iron Mountain-Ford Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and very limited visibility. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot who continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Incorrect altimeter setting,
- Not aligned with runway,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Heavy fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18S in Lansing

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1970 at 0059 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft H18
Operator:
Registration:
N2345Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Iron Mountain - Lansing
MSN:
BA-626
YOM:
1962
Location:
Lansing
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6267
Captain / Total hours on type:
2535.00
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Lansing Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a reduced visibility due to freezing rain and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. Both pilots were seriously wounded and the aircraft was destroyed. It was completing a cargo flight from Iron Mountain.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to maintain flying speed while completing an approach in icing conditions including freezing rain and fog. The following factors were reported:
- Airframe ice,
- Low ceiling, fog and freezing rain,
- Stalled on ILS approach due to airframe icing.
Final Report:
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