United States of America

Northeast Airlines Flight 946 departed Boston 17:42 for a flight to Lebanon, NH and Montpelier, VT. The Fairchild climbed to a cruising altitude of 8000 feet. At 18:08 the crew were cleared for an approach to the Lebanon Airport to cruise at 5,000 feet and report leaving 6,000 feet. At 18:10:45, the controller advised the crew that radar service had been terminated and the flight was cleared to contact the Lebanon Flight Service Station (FSS). One minute later the FSS told the crew that the weather was an estimated ceiling of 2,000 feet overcast; visibility was 10 miles; there were breaks in the overcast; the altimeter setting was 29:55; and the wind was calm. The flight did not perform the published instrument approach procedure but executed an abbreviated approach by making a right turn from their northwesterly heading and then a left turn back to intercept the inbound radial to the VOR station. The inbound radial was intercepted at approximately 8 to 10 miles northeast of the VOR station where it passed through an altitude of about 4500 feet. The crew began the descent but did not level off at 2,800 feet m.s.l., the minimum altitude inbound to the VOR. During the approach to runway 25 the airplane contacted trees on the cloud-shrouded side of a steep, rocky, heavily wooded mountain 57 feet below the summit at 2,237 feet m.s.l. The aircraft cut a swath trough the trees broke up and caught fire. Two crew members and 30 passengers were killed while 10 others were injured.

The crew was transferring the aircraft to Vietnam. While approaching Klawock Airstrip located in south Alaska, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a swampy area. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

On final approach to Hopewell Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility and was unable to locate the runway lights. He failed to execute a missed approach and continued to descend until the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All five occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

The aircraft was engaged in a mission consisting of atmospheric research. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into a lake located in the region of Houghton, Michigan. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found.

During the final approach to Cleveland-Hopkins Airport, while in marginal weather conditions (low ceiling and fog), the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all seven occupants were killed.

After takeoff from Tin City, the right engine malfunctioned. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed by the runway. Both occupants were seriously injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Shortly after a night takeoff from Las Vegas-McCarran Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all four occupants were killed.

Following an uneventful training mission of seven hours, the crew was returning to Minot AFB, North Dakota. On final approach by night, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. Apparently due to low speed, the airplane stalled when four crew members managed to bail out. The aircraft crashed in an open field located eight miles from the airbase and was destroyed. Two crew members were rescued while four others were killed. The pilot ejected but was hit by a falling hatch after ejection and fatally injured. Sgt Blazina bailed out low and hit the ground before his chute opened.
Those killed were:
Lt Col Poole,
Maj McGuirk,
Sgt Cole,
Sgt Blazina.

While flying at low height, the pilot lost control of the seaplane that crashed into the sea few dozen yards off Avalon. Few debris were found floating on water but the pilot's body was never found.

The crew was completing a local training flight at Stockton Airport, California. Following several uneventful circuits, the crew initiated a new approach. On final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right main gear struck a blast pad located 102 feet short of the runway threshold and was torn off. The airplane partially belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. While all 11 occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.