Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

HK-1195

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Chigorodó – Medellín

MSN:

AF-885

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Chigorodó, the pilot started the descent to Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport. Five minutes ETA, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt San Félix located few km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor off San Francisco

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1970 at 1010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6654R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

San José – San Francisco

MSN:

AF-485

YOM:

1953

Location:

San Francisco

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Captain / Total hours on type:

3300.00

Circumstances:

While approaching San Francisco Airport in foggy conditions, the crew reduced his altitude and passed below the minimum descent altitude when the twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the San Francisco Bay, few hundred yards off shore. All four occupants were injured and rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to fog.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who failed to follow the approved procedures. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Descended below MDA,
- Procedure requested identification of approach or runway lights not in effect by operator.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Lakewood

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1970 at 1715 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Walter Gehlaar

Registration:

N9961Z

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lakewood - Kenosha

MSN:

AF-751

YOM:

1954

Location:

Lakewood

Wisconsin

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6150

Captain / Total hours on type:

80.00

Circumstances:

Following a short takeoff roll, the pilot initiated a left turn at low height when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All seven occupants were injured, one seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Premature lift-off on part of the pilot who failed to obtain/maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Rotation at mid-field,
- Presence of 60 feet tall trees.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft UC-45J Expeditor in San Francisco

Date & Time: May 6, 1970 at 0050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N86415

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Francisco – Los Angeles

MSN:

4429

YOM:

1943

Location:

San Francisco

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

Prior to takeoff, the local controller offered pilot choice of runways 01 or 28. The crew decided to takeoff from runway 01. During the takeoff roll, the airplane was caught by strong winds and control was lost. The airplane veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The crew selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Unfavorable wind component,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft (W&B and CofG),
- Overload failure,
- Wind gusting up to 23 knots,
- Aircraft loaded aft of CofG.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Binghamton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1970 at 1611 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N497DM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Binghampton - Washington DC

MSN:

AF-690

YOM:

1954

Location:

Binghamton

New York

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6630

Captain / Total hours on type:

106.00

Circumstances:

At liftoff from Binghamton-Broome County Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height. Suddenly, it stalled and crashed in flames in an open field located near the airport. A pilot and two passengers were killed while eight other occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by a poor flight preparation on part of the crew who decided to takeoff with a snow covered aircraft. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Airframe ice,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- The crew attempted to takeoff with snow on wings,
- Aircraft not cleaned prior to takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft TC-45J Expeditor in Portage: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1970 at 0353 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Buckeye Air Services

Registration:

N3766

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Chicago

MSN:

6633

YOM:

1944

Location:

Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13410

Captain / Total hours on type:

41.00

Circumstances:

On a night cargo flight from Detroit to Chicago, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine that failed. The crew feathered its propeller and was cleared to divert to Kalamazoo Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach, the crew was unable to lower the gear so the captain decided to make a go-around and increased full power on the right engine when the airplane lost height and crashed in Portage, about 2,5 miles southwest of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight for undetermined reason. Loss of control during a go-around manoeuvre after the crew failed to obtain flying speed as the flaps were fully deployed. The following findings were reported:
- Powerplant failure for undetermined reason,
- The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- The pilot-in-command misused or failed to use flaps,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Left engine propeller feathered in flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Albany

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1969 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9818Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Detroit - Valdosta

MSN:

AF-76

YOM:

1952

Location:

Albany

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1840

Captain / Total hours on type:

800.00

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight from Detroit to Valdosta. While descending, he realize the fuel reserve was insufficient and decided to divert to Albany when one engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. In poor weather conditions due to fog, the airplane struck trees and crashed few miles from the airfield. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during a missed approach due to fuel exhaustion. The following factors were contributing:
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- Improper IFR operation,
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Complete power loss on one engine,
- Fuel exhausted during missed approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45J Expeditor in Barrow

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1969 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Pan Alaska Airways

Registration:

N437PA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Barrow

MSN:

3845

YOM:

1943

Location:

Barrow

Alaska

Country:

Region: