United States of America

Hillsboro-Highland County

Schedule:

Hillsboro - Pontiac

MSN:

A-830

YOM:

1952

Location:

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10500

Captain / Total hours on type:

3500.00

Circumstances:

While rotating at Hillsboro-Highland County Airport, the pilot decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the twin engine airplane overran, collided with trees and came to rest in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during takeoff run due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Trees,
- Failure of the ignition system: magnetos,
- Improper alignment,
- Delayed action in aborting takeoff,
- Improper operation of flight controls,
- Rough terrain,
- High obstructions,
- Became airborne during abort.

Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Mt Baldy

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1974 at 1042 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Intermountain Aviation

Registration:

N351FH

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Mt Baldy - Mt Baldy

MSN:

2012

YOM:

1967

Location:

Mt Baldy

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9199

Captain / Total hours on type:

4950.00

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff from a short airstrip at Mt Baldy, the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The crew was engaged in a survey flight against forest fire.

Probable cause:

Failed to maintain flying speed at takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High density altitude, about 12,000 feet,
- Airport conditions,
- High altitude short runway takeoff,
- Wind 12-15 then died, causing the aircraft to settle down slope into trees.

Final Report:

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy 101 in Point Hope

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1974 at 1250 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N894U

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Galena - Point Hope

MSN:

6658

YOM:

1961

Location:

Point Hope

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Topps Factory Outlet of Nashville

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Captain / Total hours on type:

477.00

Circumstances:

Upon landing at Point Hope Airport, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane slid on the ground, veered off runway and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Gear collapsed upon landing due to fatigue fracture and stress corrosion cracking.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo near Chatsworth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

N11HW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Knoxville - Rome

MSN:

31-362

YOM:

1968

Location:

Chatsworth

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Circumstances:

En route from Knosville to Rome, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, clouds and heavy rain falls. While flying in clouds at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the airplane struck tree tops and crashed on the slope of a mountain. The wreckage was found five days later and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- High obstructions,
- Rain,
- Thunderstorm activity with heavy rain falls,
- Mountain peaks shrouded in clouds,
- Aircraft hit the mountain at about 4,000 feet.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft H18 in Iron Mountain: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1974 at 0145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft H18

Operator:

Registration:

N73FA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lansing - Iron Mountain

MSN:

BA-649

YOM:

1963

Location:

Iron Mountain

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6070

Circumstances:

On a night approach to Iron Mountain-Ford Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and very limited visibility. On final, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a dirt bank and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Improper in-flight decisions on part of the pilot who continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Incorrect altimeter setting,
- Not aligned with runway,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Heavy fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer near Safford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1974 at 0726 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

SS&T Aerial Contractors

Registration:

N7237C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Fire fighting

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Tucson - Tucson

MSN:

59763

YOM:

1943

Flight number:

Tanker 50

Location:

Safford

Arizona

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12000

Circumstances:

The crew departed Tucson Airport in the early morning on a firefighting mission in the region of Safford. While flying at low height over the forest in fire, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a mountain slope. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew misjudged the clearance with ground. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Gulfstream GII near Kline: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1974 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Gulfstream GII

Operator:

Registration:

N720Q

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Savannah - Savannah

MSN:

YOM:

1969

Location:

Kline

South Carolina

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14500

Captain / Total hours on type:

4000.00

Aircraft flight hours:

3224

Circumstances:

The crew departed Savannah-Intl Airport on a training flight. While in cruising altitude over South Carolina, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive. It completed a 360 turn then crashed in a marshy field. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent following the failure of the wing spoiler system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Unwanted extension of ground and flight spoilers, possibly due to short circuit in the extended control kit,
- Left ground spoiler actuator failed in flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Petersburg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1974 at 1225 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Holladay Aero Sales

Registration:

N69379

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Richmond - Petersburg

MSN:

402B-0523

YOM:

1973

Location:

Petersburg

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith 600)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1600

Captain / Total hours on type:

29.00

Circumstances:

The crew (an instructor and a student pilot) departed Richmond, Virginia, on a training flight to Petersburg, Virginia. After several touch-and-go maneuvers, the twin engine airplane was landing when on touchdown, it struck the runway surface and the pilot elected to make a go-around. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The aircraft went out of control upon landing after the crew failed to extend the landing gear. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Diverted attention from operation of aircraft,
- Examination of runway revealed prop slash marks right and left of runway centerline,
- Right propeller damaged, one blade broken, left propeller damaged.

Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-60 Aerostar (Ted Smith Aerostar 600) in Perkasie: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1974 at 0750 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Seiz Corp.

Registration:

N14ES

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Perkasie – Williamsport

MSN:

60-0036-79

YOM:

1970

Location:

Perkasie-Pennridge

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region: