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Crash of a Boeing B-17G-95-DL Flying Fortress in Dallas: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 2022 at 1321 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N7227C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dallas - Dallas
MSN:
32513
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The Boeing B-17 was taking part to an airshow at Dallas-Executive (Redbird) Airport, carrying five people. While passing over the airfield at a relative low altitude, it collided with a Bell P-63 Kingcobra that was engaged in the same manoeuvre and coming from its left. The B-17 was cut in two, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The P-63 was also destroyed. All six people in both aircraft were killed. At the time of the collision, the B-17 was following a straight-in course while the P-63 was supposed to cut its trajectory behind. Obviously, the pilot of the P-63 misjudged the situation.

Crash of a Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601P) in Austin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 2014 at 1326 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N711YM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dallas – Austin
MSN:
61-0215-023
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
525
Captain / Total hours on type:
37.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3438
Circumstances:
Witnesses reported observing the airplane flying slowly toward the airport at a low altitude. The left engine was at a low rpm; "sputtering," "knocking," or making a "banging" noise; and trailing black smoke. One witness said that, as the airplane passed over his location, he saw the tail "kick" horizontally to the right and the airplane bank slightly left. The airplane subsequently collided with trees and impacted a field 1/2 mile north of the airport. Disassembly of the right engine revealed no anomalies, and signatures on the right propeller blades were consistent with power and rotation on impact. The left propeller was found feathered. Disassembly of the left engine revealed that the spark plugs were black and heavily carbonized, consistent with a rich fuel-air mixture; the exhaust tubing also exhibited dark sooting. The rubber boot that connected the intercooler to the fuel injector servo was found dislodged and partially sucked in toward the servo. The clamp used to secure the hose was loose but remained around the servo, the safety wire on the clamp was in place, and the clamp was not impact damaged or bent. The condition of the boot and the clamp were consistent with improper installation. The time since the last overhaul of the left engine was about 1,050 hours. The last 100-hour inspection occurred 3 months before the accident, and the airplane had been flown only 0.8 hour since then. It could not be determined when the rubber boot was improperly installed. Although the left engine had failed, the pilot should have been able to fly the airplane and maintain altitude on the operable right engine, particularly since he had appropriately feathered the left engine.
Probable cause:
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient clearance from trees during the single engine and landing approach. Contributing to the accident was the loss of power in the left engine due to an improperly installed rubber boot that became dislodged and was then partially sucked into the fuel injector servo, which caused an excessively rich fuel-air mixture that would not support combustion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Dallas

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1987 at 1729 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N400NY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Antonio - Dallas
MSN:
18-2379
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11500
Captain / Total hours on type:
782.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8735
Circumstances:
The right engine of the aircraft failed three times in flight. After the last failure near the middle marker the pilot feathered the propeller. The aircraft collided with power lines and the ground about 400 yards short of runway 31 at the Redbird Airport. The right fuel selector was positioned to the left rear tank and the left selector was positioned to the off position. The left wing tanks were intact and empty. Both engines had failed due to fuel exhaustion. Two airports were overflown that were adequate for landing and that had fuel available. This was the co-pilot's first flight.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
1. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
2. (f) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
3. (c) fuel consumption calculations - improper - pilot in command
4. (c) refueling - not obtained - pilot in command
5. (f) in-flight planning/decision - poor - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with object
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
6. (f) object - wire, transmission
----------
Occurrence #4: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
7. (f) terrain condition - rough/uneven
Final Report:

Crash of an IAI 1124A Westwind in Redwater: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1986 at 1922 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N50SK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dallas - Teterboro
MSN:
309
YOM:
1980
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
7353
Captain / Total hours on type:
657.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2745
Circumstances:
Airplane crashed during a uncontrolled descent, following a turbulence upset at FL370. The upset occurred as a result of clear air turbulences associated with a vip level 6 thunderstorm located within 7 miles of the last position of the airplane. After the upset, the airplane penetrated and descended thru the cell which contained lightning, extreme turbulences and severe icing. During the upset/descent both engines flamed out and the crew's attempts to recover the airplane were unsuccessful due to conditions in the cell. Crew received an improper briefing from FSS and reported their radar was malfunctioning to the deputy controller. Sigmet and AWW info was not given during the briefing. As the airplane came out of the bottom of the cell at 4,000 feet, the crew overstressed the airplane causing the left main landing door to separate and hit the left horizontal stab which subsequently separated in overload. Impact was 82° nose down. Nature of the airplane radar malfunction could not be determined. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: climb - to cruise
Findings
1. (c) flight/nav instruments, weather radar system - failure, partial
2. (f) operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
3. (c) weather condition - thunderstorm
4. (c) weather condition - turbulence, clear air
5. (c) weather condition - gusts
6. (c) weather condition - downdraft
7. (f) light condition - dark night
8. (c) preflight briefing service - improper - atc personnel (fss)
9. (c) hazardous weather advisory - not issued - atc personnel (fss)
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight encounter with weather
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
10. (c) in-flight weather advisories - not issued - atc personnel (fss)
11. (c) information unclear - atc personnel (fss)
----------
Occurrence #4: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
12. Remedial action - attempted - pilot in command
13. (f) excessive workload (task overload) - pilot in command
14. (f) excessive workload (task overload) - copilot/second pilot
----------
Occurrence #5: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
----------
Occurrence #6: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1979 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N444JW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dallas - San Angelo
MSN:
31-7720015
YOM:
1977
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: