United States of America

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Clark - Kadena - Yokota - McChord

MSN:

6054

YOM:

1964

Location:

Mt Constance

Washington

Country:

Region:

Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

16793

Circumstances:

The airplane was conducting a flight from Clark AFB, Philippines, to McChord AFB with intermediate stops at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, and Yokota AFB, Tokyo, carrying 16 people among them six marines. En route to McChord, while cruising by night, the crew established contact with ATC and was cleared to descend from FL370 to FL150 then FL100. Few minutes later, after confusing the C-141 with another Navy aircraft, the air traffic controller cleared the crew to descent to 5,000 feet which was a too low altitude for the area. While descending at an altitude of 7,000 feet in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Constance (7,756 feet high) located in the Olympic National Park, about 52 miles northwest of McChord AFB. The airplane impacted the mountain about 150 feet below the summit and caused an avalanche. Debris were found scattered on a wide area and none of the 16 occupants survived the crash.

Probable cause:

The air traffic controller with whom the captain conversed mistook the C-141 with another Navy aircraft. As a result, he cleared him to descend to FL050 when the minimum prescribed altitude was FL100. Due to limited visibility caused by night, lack of ground visual references and clouds, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain. This resulted to a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander in Tullahoma

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1975 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N711JT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Tullahoma-William Northern Field

Schedule:

Oklahoma City - Tullahoma

MSN:

1121-091

YOM:

1967

Location:

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4300

Captain / Total hours on type:

70.00

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Oklahoma City, the twin engine airplane landed on runway 36 at Tullahoma-Northern Regional Airport. After touchdown, it was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran the wet runway before colliding with trees. All seven occupants escaped with various injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Overshoot runway and collided with trees after the crew delayed in initiating go-around. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Wet runway,
- Hydroplaning on wet runway,
- Touchdown on runway 36 near intersection with runway 24, approximately 2,000 feet remaining.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Anchorage

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

N8416F

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

402-0264

YOM:

1968

Location:

Anchorage-Merrill Field

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Shrike Commander 500

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed while taking off from Anchorage-Merrill Field Airport due to an excessive accumulation of frost on wings and fuselage. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S near Kelso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1975 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N711LZ

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Apple Valley - Amarillo - Oklahoma City

MSN:

500-1846-35

YOM:

1968

Location:

Kelso

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9000

Captain / Total hours on type:

150.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude between Apple Valley and Amarillo, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility. He failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Kelso. The wreckage was found four days later and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- High obstructions,
- Advised VFR flight not recommended.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Palwaukee: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1975 at 2205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Bob Kilpatrick Aircraft

Registration:

N54N

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Chicago-Executive (Palwaukee)

Schedule:

Chicago - West Memphis

MSN:

BA-303

YOM:

1957

Location:

Illinois

Country:

Region:

Trans National Airlines - TNA

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taking off from Chicago-Palwaukee Airport, the airplane stalled, struck the ground and eventually crashed in a greenhouse. The copilot was slightly injured while the captain was killed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Selected wrong runway relative to existing wind,
- Premature liftoff,
- Failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Snow,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice on windshield,
- Downwind,
- The pilot reported could not see,
- The copilot aborted takeoff,
- Snow on aircraft,
- No alcohol in system.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2A near Carpinteria: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1975 at 0423 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

N424SF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Paso Robles - Los Angeles

MSN:

04335

YOM:

1952

Location:

Carpinteria

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Captain / Total hours on type:

400.00

Circumstances:

While cruising by night in marginal weather conditions (low clouds), the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Carpinteria. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed. The wreckage was found two days later.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain following improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Electrical failure,
- Low ceiling,
- High obstructions,
- Ceiling at 3,000 feet,
- Both generators and batteries failed in flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Troy: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1975 at 0350 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft G18S

Operator:

Semo Aviation

Registration:

N6614B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Montgomery - Dothan

MSN:

BA-487

YOM:

1960

Location:

Troy

Alabama

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1921

Captain / Total hours on type:

641.00

Circumstances:

While cruising by night under VFR mode, the pilot's attention diverted from operation and he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed near Troy. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees during normal cruise after the pilot diverted attention from operation of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged altitude,
- Continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions,
- Operated carelessly,
- Dense fog in area.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C at Grand Prairie NAS

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1975 at 0646 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dassault Falcon 20

Operator:

Registration:

N990L

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Grand Prairie-Hensley Field NAS

Schedule:

Grand Prairie - Washington DC

MSN:

YOM:

1966

Location:

Texas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13287

Captain / Total hours on type:

1423.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll on runway 17 at Grand Prairie-Hensley Field NAS, the pilot-in-command elected to takeoff but this was impossible due to an incorrect trim setting. As the aircraft unrotated, the crew decided to attempt an emergency braking procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran runway 17, collided with a fence and eventually came to rest into the Mountain Creek Lake. All five occupants were injured, both pilots seriously.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Incorrect trim setting,
- Wet runway,
- Failed to use the checklist,
- The crew did not check the stab trim prior to takeoff,
- Spoilers and drag chute not deployed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Dodge City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1975 at 2147 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Registration:

N311D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dodge City - Hays

MSN:

BA-456

YOM:

1959

Location:

Dodge City

Kansas

Country:

Region: