Concord

The 74 year old pilot and his wife were on a trip to attend a funeral. A witness, who heard the airplane overhead, reported that it sounded low and at least one engine was operating. He reported that when he looked up, the airplane was in a dive, spinning slowly; however, the airplane did not make a complete revolution. Radar data showed the airplane in a left descending turn at approximately 2000 feet per minute. The airplane impacted the ground about 3 miles west of the airport in a near vertical descent, and much of the forward section had penetrated the ground. There was a post-crash fire. Examination of the airplane and various actuators confirmed that the landing gear was retracted, flaps were extended 5°, elevator and aileron trim were neutral, and the rudder was positioned 3° left. Examination of the engine confirmed internal/rotational damage. Both occupants were killed.

The pilot had filed an IFR flight plan; however, he took off in VFR conditions and did not activate the flight plan. Radar data showed that the latter part of the flight was flown at 6,300 feet, then at 1712:39 est, a descent was begun. One minute later, the flight was last recorded at 3,700 feet. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed near the top of a 3,165 feet mountain. The elevation of the crash site was about 3,000 feet. The terrain was rocky and covered with ice and snow when the investigators arrived at the crash site. Approximately 8 miles west-northwest at Keene, NH, the 1755 est weather was, in part, 3,200 feet broken, 5,500 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles, wind from 130° at 10 knots. The elevation of the Dillant-Hopkins Airport at Keene was 487 feet. Both occupants were killed.

While in cruising altitude in good weather conditions, en route from Concord to White Plains, the twin engine airplane collided with a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith Aerostar 600) owned by Northeast Cellulose Inc and registered N8011J. En route from Boston to Syracuse, it was carrying one passenger and one pilot. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near Templeton. Both aircraft were destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

While cruising at low altitude in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck a hillside near Oakland. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were seriously injured.

The crew started the descent to Greenville Airport in poor weather conditions with fog and limited visibility. On final approach, the pilot-in-command passed below the glide and below the MDA fixed at 2,200 feet, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground. While descending to an altitude of 1,400 feet, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.