Crash of a Piper PA-31T-620 Cheyenne II in Don Torcuato

Date & Time: May 4, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Junta Nacional de Carnes
Registration:
LV-MOC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31T-7920031
YOM:
1979
Location:
Don Torcuato
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Don Torcuato while completing a flight on behalf of the Argentinian National Office for Meat. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T-620 Cheyenne II in Zárate: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
LV-MYY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
31T-7920085
YOM:
1979
Location:
Zárate
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Zárate, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in San Angelo

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1979 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
N444JW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dallas - San Angelo
MSN:
31-7720015
YOM:
1977
Location:
San Angelo-Mathis Field
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5680
Captain / Total hours on type:
670.00
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown at San Angelo-Mathis Field Airport, the twin engine airplane swerved then nosed over and came to rest in flames. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Swerved on landing due to improper operation of brakes and/or flight controls on part of the pilot-in-command who delayed in initiating a go-around.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T-620 Cheyenne II in Elyria: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1979 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Bay Aerostar Sales & Service
Registration:
N82282
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elyria - Elyria
MSN:
31-7820055
YOM:
1978
Location:
Elyria-Lorain County
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3510
Captain / Total hours on type:
8.00
Circumstances:
The crew (an instructor and a student pilot) was completing a local training at Elyria-Lorain County Airport, Ohio. On approach, the crew initiated a go-around procedure when control was lost. The airplane crashed five miles southwest of the airport and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during go-around due to inadequate supervision of flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Simulated conditions,
- Witnesses describes southeast go-around, flaps down, engine windmilling.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne I in Baltimore: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1979 at 1958 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
N6123A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lynchburg - Baltimore
MSN:
31-7804008
YOM:
1978
Location:
Baltimore-Washington-Thurgood Marshall
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6522
Captain / Total hours on type:
136.00
Circumstances:
While on approach to Baltimore-Martin State Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The visibility was reduced to 1/4 of a mile due to low ceiling and fog. On final, the twin engine airplane struck power cables. The captain increased engine power and initiated a go-around before diverting to Baltimore-Washington-Thurgood Marshall International Airport. On approach, while trailing about 1,500 feet of wire, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames few hundred yards from the runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with wires on final approach and subsequent uncontrolled collision with ground due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Foreign material affecting normal operations,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility about 1/4 mile or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Lamar: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1978 at 2140 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Benjamin G. Cobb
Registration:
N176CC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lamar - Fort Collins
MSN:
31-7620024
YOM:
1976
Location:
Lamar
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Lamar Municipal Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane entered a controlled descent then crashed in a field located three miles south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled collision with ground during climb to cruise due to inadequate preflight preparation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Two large dogs and a cat in aircraft unrestrained,
- The pilot flew approximately 6 hours and performed 2 operations on the day of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Pellston: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 13, 1978 at 1650 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Campbell Air Midwest
Registration:
N82271
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bridgeville - Boyne Falls
MSN:
31-7820044
YOM:
1978
Location:
Pellston-Emmet County
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
15000
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Boyne Falls Airport, the pilot was unable to locate the runway and decided to divert to the alternate airport of Pellston-Emmet County. On final, he encountered poor weather conditions with fog and a visibility reduced to 3/8 of a mile. In a 200 feet ceiling, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the brand new twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed two miles short of runway 32. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees during a missed approach due to improper IFR operation. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Visibility half a mile or less,
- Alternate forecast below minimums.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Beckley: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1977 at 1105 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Kirkway Corporation
Registration:
N801HD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
DuPage - Beckley
MSN:
31-7620031
YOM:
1976
Location:
Beckley-Raleigh County
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
6500
Captain / Total hours on type:
232.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Beckley-Raleigh County Airport, the pilot encountered foggy conditions. During the last segment, the twin engine airplane struck a steel reinforced concrete wall and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with object due to improper IFR operation and improper level off. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Fog,
- High obstructions,
- Visibility down to zero.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Harrisburg: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1977 at 0924 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Registration:
N631PT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
New Cumberland - Harrisburg - University Park - New Cumberland
MSN:
31-7720001
YOM:
1977
Location:
Harrisburg-Capital City
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Captain / Total flying hours:
4469
Captain / Total hours on type:
32.00
Aircraft flight hours:
173
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Harrisburg-Capital City Airport runway 08, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames onto a house located in a populated area in the town of Bressler, 1,55 statute miles from the departure end of runway 08. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all eight occupants were killed as well as one people in the house.
Those on board were:
Crew:
David M. Wolf, pilot,
Edward Soisson, copilot.
Passengers:
William Sherlock, State Transportation Secretary,
Richard C. Frame, State GOP Chairman,
William R. Smith, Sherlock's Chief of Staff,
Charles Wilson, PennDOT Public Relations Officer,
Larry G. Pennsyl, PennDOT photographer,
John W. Krebs, PennDOT data processing manager.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the flightcrew's failure to insure that the aircraft was loaded properly and that it's center of gravity was within certificated limits. As a result, the aircraft's control characteristics were degraded significantly by a center of gravity well aft of the certificated limits. This imbalance led to the pilot's inability to control a longitudinally unstable aircraft during a climbing turn in instrument meteorological conditions. There was no evidence of engine failure or malfunction, the flight crew was properly certified and the pilots had no medical or psychological problems. The accident was not survivable.
Final Report:
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