Crash of a Saab 340A in Hibbing

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1993 at 1942 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N342PX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Hibbing
MSN:
147
YOM:
1989
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2800.00
Circumstances:
During the approach, the 1st officer (FO) asked the captain if he wanted to '...pop the boots?' to remove ice off the wings. The capt responded '...it's going to the hangar. I'll run'em on the ground...' The FO retarded power over the threshold and the sink rate increased; the capt observed 900 fpm. The FO applied additional back pressure on the yoke, but it was inadequate to arrest the high sink rate. Additional back pressure was applied, and the stall horn sounded followed shortly thereafter by the captain stating 'I got it.' During the hard landing the right main landing gear broke, the fuel tank ruptured, and the right wing rear spar bent upward. Aprx 18 hrs after the accident, 3/16 inch of rime mixed with clear ice was observed on the leading edges of the wing, horizontal stab, and vertical stab. The ice had finger-like protrusions positioned vertically to the wing surfaces. The company's line ops manual does not discuss flight characteristics or landing techniques specific to wing ice. Neither pilot had received company's current crm training.
Probable cause:
The first officer's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during the landing, and the captain's inadequate supervision by not taking timely action to ensure a safe landing. Factors which contributed to the accident were: the company's failure to provide adequate training on the airplane's flight characteristics and/or handling techniques under conditions of wing ice contamination, the company's failure to assure that both pilots had received the current crew resource management (crm) training, and the existing weather conditions which resulted in an accumulation of ice on the airplane's wing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Steamboat Springs: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1992 at 1606 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1974G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Steamboat Springs - Minneapolis
MSN:
421B-0862
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Aircraft flight hours:
2916
Circumstances:
While initiating a cross country flight, the eight place aircraft with nine persons aboard, impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. Ice had been seen on the wings and horizontal stabilizer, and icing conditions were present. The aircraft was over maximum gross weight by a minimum of 258 pounds, and the pilot held an expired student pilot certificate dated august 17, 1984. A copy of a private pilot certificate designating multiengine land and instrument was found in the pilot's personal belongings. Faa officials concluded that it was not a valid certificate. An application for a medical certificate dated may 30, 1991, indicated the pilot had 4,000 hours of flight time. This figure could not be verified. Just prior to takeoff the pilot was observed brushing snow off the wings. Following the accident granular ice was found on the aerodynamic surfaces. The pilot and two passengers were killed while six other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Airframe ice and the pilot's failure to remove it. Factors were: aircraft weight exceeded and lack of pilot certification.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in Mosinee: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1992 at 1305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N500BH
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Mosinee
MSN:
31-7530024
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8150
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3520
Circumstances:
Pilot was cleared for an ILS approach at his destination, and requested to report altitude of 3,000 feet on the approach. This was the last radio transmission received from the pilot. Aircraft was found in soft field six miles from the airport. Landing gear was up, flaps were down. Fisherman nearby reported hearing the aircraft maneuvering at low altitude. He reported that the engines sounded fine, but the sound was changing in pitch and intensity. He reported that got quiet just a few seconds before he heard the impact. The investigation revealed that there was evidence of a fire in the nose baggage compartment. The cabin heater is located in the nose baggage compartment, and had a recent history of discrepancies. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
An inflight fire with the cabin heater as the origin, and unsuitable terrain in which to make a forced landing. A factor related to the accident was the soft terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Rochester: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1985 at 1339 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N15TW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Rochester
MSN:
35-106
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4986
Circumstances:
The aircraft had just successfully completed a series of practice approaches to a full stop. The training flight was being conducted to give refresher training to the pilot who had not flown a Lear Jet in over a year and had never flown a lear model 35. The flight instructor requested a practice approach with a missed approach and was cleared for the option. Witnesses stated that the aircraft rolled right and then rolled left to an inverted position. Colliding with the ground shortly thereafter. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: go-around (vfr)
Findings
1. (c) directional control - not corrected - pilot in command (cfi)
2. (f) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command (cfi)
3. (c) remedial action - not performed - pilot in command (cfi)
4. (f) lack of recent experience in type of aircraft - dual student
----------
Occurrence #2: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Golden Valley

Date & Time: May 18, 1985 at 0656 LT
Registration:
N91043
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Crystal
MSN:
207-0030
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1800
Captain / Total hours on type:
607.00
Aircraft flight hours:
4002
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, on the last leg on it's flight, the engine of the air cargo aircraft started to sputter. The pilot turned the fuel selector handler from the left tank to another position and turned on the boost pump. The engine stopped running and the pilot elected to land in a public park. The left wing was torn off the aircraft during the emergency landing. Investigation revealed that the fuel selector had been turned to the 'off' position, a check of the fuel quantity in each tank showed less than five gallons in the left tank and about twelve gallons in the right tank. Sole on board, the pilot was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) fluid, fuel - starvation
2. (f) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
3. (c) fuel tank selector position - improper - pilot in command
4. (c) in-flight planning/decision - inadequate - pilot in command
5. (f) procedures/directives - misjudged - pilot in command
6. (f) diverted attention - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
Findings
7. (f) object - tree(s)
8. Wing - separation
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-188C Electra in Reno: 70 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1985 at 0104 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5532
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Reno - Minneapolis
MSN:
1121
YOM:
1960
Flight number:
GX203
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
65
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
70
Captain / Total flying hours:
14500
Captain / Total hours on type:
5600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
172
Aircraft flight hours:
34148
Aircraft flight cycles:
33285
Circumstances:
A Galaxy Airlines Lockheed L-188A Electra, registration N5532, was scheduled operate flights from Seattle (SEA) to Oakland as Flight 201, from Oakland to Reno (RNO) as Flight 202, from Reno (RNO) to Minneapolis (MSP) as Flight 203 and finally returning to Seattle using flight number 204. Scheduled departure time for Flight 201 had been 15:30, but had been delayed and the airplane departed Seattle at 20:19 on a ferry flight to Oakland, where it arrived at 22:25. Sixty-five passengers boarded the plane for the flight to Reno. Following ground servicing the ground handler supervisor signalled to the crew that they could commence engine starting. However, after engines one and four were started, he noticed that the other ground handler was unable to disconnect the air start hose. It was stretched taut from the power cart to the airplane’s air start access panel, located on the underside of the right wing leading edge, close to the fillet area. The supervisor gave the flightcrew an emergency stop signal, left his position, and disconnected the hose. None of the two ground crew members remembered closing the air start access door. At approximately 00:59 the first officer requested taxi instructions Reno tower almost immediately thereafter cleared Galaxy 203 to taxi to runway 16R. The aircraft taxied to the runway and at 01:01:32 the first officer requested takeoff clearance. Four seconds later Galaxy 203 was given clearance to take off from runway 16R. While accelerating through V1 speed, a "thunking" type sound was heard, followed by another one just after V2. Heavy airframe vibration started after liftoff. The captain reacted to the airplane’s vibration by reducing power significantly in all four engines, indicating that he believed the vibration was caused by the powerplants or propellers. The airplane reached an altitude of about 200-250 feet and started a right hand turn to return to the airport. The Electra then entered an aerodynamic stall buffet because of insufficient engine power to maintain flight. The Electra crashed into a field, bounced, slid into some mobile homes and burst into flames. Of the 71 occupants, three initially survived the crash. One died on January 29, while the second died of injuries on February 4. The sole survivor, a 17-year-old male, was thrown clear of the airplane onto the adjacent highway.
Probable cause:
The captain's failure to control and the co-pilot's failure to monitor the flight path and airspeed of the aircraft. This breakdown in crew coordination followed the onset of unexpected vibration shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the failure of ground handlers to properly close an air start access door, which led to the vibration.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226TC Metro II in Valley: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1980 at 1546 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N650S
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Appleton - Minneapolis - Lincoln
MSN:
TC-228
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
ZW965
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Captain / Total flying hours:
8391
Captain / Total hours on type:
6000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4063
Copilot / Total hours on type:
143
Aircraft flight hours:
8055
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Appleton, Wisconsin, at 1245LT on a regular schedule service (ZW965) to Lincoln, Nebraska, with an intermediate stop in Minneapolis. En route, while cruising at 12,000 feet, the crew encountered moderate turbulences and precipitation and was cleared to descend to 8,000 feet then later at 6,000 feet. As turbulences were getting worse, the crew was later cleared to descend to 4,000 feet and finally 3,000 feet. While descending to 6,000 feet, massive water ingestion caused both engines to lose power simultaneously. Both engines were restarted but the Metro couldn't recover and struck a muddy field in a slight nose down, right wing-down attitude. The aircraft bounced and hit the ground 288 feet further on. The plane skidded 1,022 feet before coming to rest inverted. There was no fire. Two passengers were seriously injured while 13 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The flight crew's continued flight into an area of severe thunderstorms, and the resultant precipitation-induced flameout or loss of power of both engines at an altitude from which recovery could not be made. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of the flight crew to utilise all available sources of weather information and the failure of the air traffic control system to disseminate critical weather information to the air traffic controllers and to the crew of Flight 965, the failure of air traffic control supervisory personnel to accomplish key job functions, and the failure of Center Weather Service Unit meteorologists to disseminate critical weather information to the Omaha Radar Approach Control Facility supervisors. Also contributing was the precipitation induced X-band radar attenuation which limited tile ability of airborne weather radar to detect the extent and intensity of the weather disturbances.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Minneapolis

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1978 at 0802 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N40SN
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Minneapolis - Evansville
MSN:
25-021
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1147
Captain / Total hours on type:
262.00
Circumstances:
While taking off from Minneapolis-St Paul Airport, the airplane suffered an uncontrolled collision with ground, skidded on runway and came to rest. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with ground during initial climb due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot-in-command. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Airframe ice,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Snow,
- Visibility 3/4 mile or less,
- Snow/ice on wings,
- Flaps 28°,
- Full nose-up trim.
Final Report: