United States of America

Schedule:

Mammoth Lakes – Santa Ana

MSN:

P-229

YOM:

1973

Location:

Mammoth Lakes-Yosemite

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2400

Circumstances:

Shortly after liftoff from Mammoth Lakes-Yosemite Airport, while in initial climb, both propellers oversped. As the airspeed was insufficient, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Propeller and accessories: hydraulic pitch control mechanism,
- Lack of action on part of the pilot,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Propeller oversped due to congealed oil,
- The pilot failed to exercise props checks before takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in New Orleans: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

58-0721

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

New Orleans-Alvin Callender Field NAS

MSN:

3516

YOM:

1959

Location:

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from New Orleans-Alvin Callender Field NAS, while in initial climb, the engine n°1 failed. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near the airport. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the engine n°1 for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL off Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1975 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N9BC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Freeport - Fort Lauderdale

MSN:

9510

YOM:

1943

Location:

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood

Florida

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5373

Captain / Total hours on type:

833.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Fort Lauderdale, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. The right engine oversped while the left engine overheated. The crew decided to shut down the left engine and to feather the propeller but as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain elected to ditch the aircraft offshore. While all three occupants were rescued, the airplane sank and was not recovered.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Propeller and accessories,
- RPM-uncontrollable-overspeed,
- Complete engine failure,
- Right propeller erratic, exceeded 3,000 rpm,
- Left engine overheated and lost power.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Saint Augustine: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1974 at 1025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft H18

Operator:

Misener Marine

Registration:

N500MM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Saint Petersburg – Cocoa Beach – Saint Augustine

MSN:

BA-715

YOM:

1964

Location:

Saint Augustine

Florida

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9293

Captain / Total hours on type:

100.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Saint Augustine Airport, the passenger reported to ATC that pilot had no control over aircraft after controls frozen. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames, killing both occupants. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire, precluding determination of cause.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on approach for undetermined reason. The following findings were reported:
- Fog,
- The passenger reported pilot had not control over aircraft,
- Controls frozen,
- Extensive fire damage precluded determination of cause.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 60 in Lancaster: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1974 at 2005 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 60

Operator:

Registration:

N920G

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Lancaster-Fairfield County

Schedule:

Denver - Lancaster

MSN:

306-74

YOM:

1974

Location:

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

15105

Captain / Total hours on type:

367.00

Circumstances:

While on a night approach to Lancaster-Fairfield County Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who disregard of good operating practice. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- High obstructions,
- Non-standard approach in night-instrument conditions,
- Flew into mountain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Seattle: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1974 at 1805 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

N66HA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Seattle - Oak Harbor

MSN:

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

HG308

Location:

Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac)

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Captain / Total hours on type:

342.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Seattle-Tacoma Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a residential area located in Riverton Heights, near the airport. Two passengers were seriously injured while four other occupants including the pilot were killed.

Probable cause:

Diverted attention from operation during initial climb caused the aircraft to crash. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Instruments-misread or failed to read,
- Low ceiling,
- Snow,
- High obstructions,
- Flight and navigation instruments: airspeed, obstructed,
- Foreign materials affecting normal operations,
- Unknown matter in Pitot static system affected the airspeed indicator.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor near Chester: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1974 at 1507 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 414 Chancellor

Operator:

McGee Enterprises

Registration:

N414ZM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Eureka - Winnemucca

MSN:

414-0494

YOM:

1974

Location:

Chester

California

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2773

Captain / Total hours on type:

385.00

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 19,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a wooded area located about nine miles northwest of Chester, California. The wreckage was found few hours later. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Spatial disorientation,
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Overload failure,
- Separation in flight,
- Empennage separated,
- Entered overcast about 19,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Palma Sola

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1974 at 1520 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

R. Lewis West

Registration:

N3719G

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Palma Sola - Sarasota

MSN:

AF-900

YOM:

1954

Location:

Palma Sola

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

550

Captain / Total hours on type:

3.00

Circumstances:

Just after takeoff from Palma Sola, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that collided with a fence. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The pilot attempted operation beyond experience/ability level. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Misjudged distance, speed, altitude or clearance,
- Spontaneous, improper action,
- Powerplant failure for undetermined reason,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Taxiing on runway, unable to stop, attempted takeoff,
- Not multi engine rated, all times as copilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Kodiak: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

N1583V

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Old Harbor - Kodiak

MSN:

1125

YOM:

1942

Location:

Kodiak

Alaska

Country:

Region: