Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Fleetville: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1978 at 1905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N9057Y
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Teterboro - Rochester
MSN:
31-80
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
23000
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Teterboro to Rochester, the twin engine airplane was abnormally flying at a very low altitude when it struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees and subsequent crash after the pilot suffered physical impairment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Pilot blood alcohol level 1,3‰.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Rochester: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1977 at 2152 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N406CA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buffalo - Rochester
MSN:
31-637
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8300
Captain / Total hours on type:
7735.00
Circumstances:
While on approach to Rochester-Greater Rochester Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in flames in the Cheektowaga County. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent on final approach due to improper operation of flight controls. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Physical impairment,
- Hypertensive hemorrhage of left basal ganglia.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Rochester

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1975 at 0932 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-ASHI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rochester - Woodford
MSN:
680-658-255
YOM:
1958
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8237
Captain / Total hours on type:
509.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3615
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 03 at Rochester City Airport, while climbing to a height of 900 feet, the left engine gradually lost power. The pilot increased power on the right engine and feathered the left propeller. After passing over the M2 highway at a speed of 100 knots, he expected to return to the airfield when the right engine lost power as well. He attempted an emergency landing by the motorway and the airplane crash landed at a speed of 85 knots before coming to rest. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by kerosene being placed in a petrol supply at Rochester City Airport. The aircraft, which had been refuelled with the mixed product from the supply, suffered a loss of engine power after takeoff. Thus led to a forced landing in difficult circumstances on unsuitable terrain. The loss of engine power resulted from damage to the engines due to their being run on contaminated fuel.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Rochester: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1972 at 0310 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6298X
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rochester - Batavvia
MSN:
500B-1388-141
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3100
Captain / Total hours on type:
520.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rochester-Greater Rochester Airport, while climbing by night, the pilot made a low level turn immediately after liftoff. Control was lost and the airplane crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight decisions or planning. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Pilot had flown 8 hours in last 24.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-222 in Philadelphia

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1970 at 1907 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9005U
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Philadelphia - Rochester
MSN:
19043/18
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
UA611
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11236
Captain / Total hours on type:
517.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2319
Copilot / Total hours on type:
736
Aircraft flight hours:
3956
Circumstances:
At 18:50 Boeing 737 "City of Bristol" taxied to runway 09 for departure. At 19:05 the first officer, who was pilot flying, initiated the takeoff roll. Shortly after rotation, at a speed above V2, a loud bang was heard and the aircraft veered to the right. The captain moved both throttles forward but there seemed to be no response. The captain then made the instantaneous decision to set the aircraft back on the runway. The aircraft touched down 1075 feet short of the runway end. The 737 continued of the end of the runway and across the blast pad. It crossed a field, passed through a 6-foot high aluminum chain link fence into an area covered with high grass, weeds and brush. The aircraft came to rest 1634 feet past the end of the runway.
Probable cause:
The termination of the take-off, after the No.1 engine failed, at a speed above V2 at a height of approximately 50 feet, with insufficient runway remaining to effect a safe landing. The captain's decision and his action to terminate the take-off were based on the erroneous judgment that both engines had failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Martin 404 in Rochester: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1963 at 1649 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N449A
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rochester – White Plains
MSN:
14140
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
MO112
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
38
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
15970
Captain / Total hours on type:
414.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3439
Copilot / Total hours on type:
795
Aircraft flight hours:
29817
Circumstances:
A Mohawk Airlines, Inc., Martin 404, N449A, operating as Flight 112 from Rochester, New York, to Newark, New Jersey, crashed on the Rochester-Monroe County Airport July 2, 1963, at approximately 1649 e d t. Seven of the forty-three persons aboard, including both pilots, were fatally injured. Flight 112 commenced a takeoff on runway 28 as a thunderstorm approaching from the west-northwest, moved over the takeoff runway. After becoming airborne and almost immediately after entering heavy rain and shifting wind conditions, the left wing of the aircraft made contact with the ground. In the ensuing Cartwheel to a stop, the aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was a loss or control during an attempted takeoff into a severe thunderstorm.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C off New York-La Guardia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1947 at 1849 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NX88787
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York – Rochester
MSN:
19639
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4934
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4760
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1500
Aircraft flight hours:
2035
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off on runway 13 of La Guardia Airport at 1843LT, having been cleared on an instrument flight plan to Rochester, New York, with Toronto, Ontario, as an alternate. Approximately 2 minutes after take-off the flight called La Guardia Tower and reported that it was in the vicinity of the south end of Whitestone Bridge, approximately 2 1/2 miles northeast of La Guardia Airport. The flight advised that the oil pressure was low on one engine, and requested clearance to land on runway 22. The request was approved, and the tower informed the crew that the wind was calm. When asked if emergency equipment was desired to stand by, the flight replied in the negative. Shortly thereafter, NX88787 reported that it was on the final approach, and that it was over the sand barges, located approximately one-half mile off the approach end of runway 22. In reply the flight was again given clearance to land. The aircraft was first seen at an altitude of approximately 800 feet, and about 1,300 feet off the approach end of runway 22 with the landing gear extended. The flaps were lowered, and the aircraft started a steep descent to runway 22,but it passed over the approach end of the runway at an altitude of approximately 300 feet. The flight then requested and was granted permission by the tower to make a right turn, however, the aircraft continued straight ahead over the runway, gradually losing altitude. When one-third of the way down the runway, the right propeller was feathered. When over the intersection of runways 22 and 18 and at an altitude of 200 feet the flaps were raised, which resulted in an additional loss of altitude. During or directly after raising the flaps, a right turn was initiated, and the landing gear was observed to retract slowly. Competent witnesses stated that the right turn was made at a very slow speed, at a high angle of attack, and at an altitude appearing never to have exceeded 200 feet. Over Bowery Bay the aircraft on two occasions almost settled into the water. When in a flat right turn toward runway 13 it lost altitude to about 50 feet. Approximately 2,000 feet from the end of the runway, the landing gear started to extend, and became fully extended when the aircraft was aligned with runway 13. At this time the airplane attitude appeared to be that of a steep climb. The wings were seen to wobble slightly, then the left wing and nose dropped, and the airplane struck the water at an angle of approximately 20 degrees. The forward movement of the aircraft continued on the surface of the water for 40 to 50 feet, throwing up a great spray as the tail rose to a vertical position, after which the aircraft continued over on its back and sank in about 5 minutes.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was that, following an attempted landing, a miss-approach procedure was attempted for a second landing without sufficient air speed for single engine operation.
The following factors were considered as contributory:
- The oil screen cover plate gasket on the right engine was either fractured when installed immediately prior to the flight of August 8, 1947, or failed during the initial part of that flight,
- As a result of the fractured oil screen cover plate gasket, oil pressure for the right engine dropped below normal, and the crew feathered the right propeller,
- Insufficient air speed was maintained in a landing approach to runway 13 at the La Guardia Airport, after an attempted landing and "go around" had been made on runway 22, and as a result the airplane stalled and crashed into Bowery Bay.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling I in Rochester

Date & Time: May 14, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7600
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rochester - Rochester
MSN:
01
YOM:
1939
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local test flight on this first S.29 prototype. Following a smooth mission, the crew was returning to Rochester Airport. Upon landing, the undercarriage failed and the aircraft came to rest on its belly. All four occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Upon landing one of the brakes locked, causing it to slew off the runway and collapse the landing gear. A redesign added much stronger and heavier struts on the second prototype.