United States of America

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1195

Captain / Total hours on type:

217.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed Buffalo Airport on a cargo flight to Pittsburgh. Few minutes after takeoff, the right engine caught fire and the crew declared an emergency. The fire spread to the engine nacelle and the right wing that detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames in an open field located in Hamburg, about 15,5 miles south of Buffalo Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Fire of undetermined source in the right engine resulted in an in-flight separation of the right wing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Longview: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1973 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Registration:

N73JB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dallas - Longview

MSN:

BA-218

YOM:

1956

Location:

Longview

Texas

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5600

Captain / Total hours on type:

2600.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Longview Airport by night, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility. On final, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in flames 1,75 mile short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Collision with trees on final approach after the pilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Pilot fatigue,
- Hit trees 32 feet agl 1,75 mile from airport,
- Pilot had landing lights on and gear down.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Belton

Date & Time: May 26, 1973 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N2269B

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Killeen - Killeen

MSN:

560A-263

YOM:

1955

Location:

Belton

Texas

Country:

Region:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

440

Captain / Total hours on type:

30.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight out from Killeen Airport. While cruising at a relative low altitude, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located in Belton. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine in flight for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Rough terrain,
- The pilot did not apply adequate power to left engine after failure of the right engine.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 in Minneapolis: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1973 at 1607 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 411

Operator:

Registration:

N4932T

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Minneapolis - Gwinner

MSN:

411-0132

YOM:

1965

Location:

Minneapolis-Saint Paul

Minnesota

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3450

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine lost power. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb caused by an improper adjustment of the fuel injection system. The following factors were reported:
- Improper maintenance,
- The pilot failed to follow approved procedures,
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- The pilot failed to use all available runway,
- Partial loss of power on left engine because fuel mixt too rich,
- The pilot failed to feather the left propeller,
- Got below VMC,
- Near gross weight and aft CofG,
- The pilot took off from the intersection.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560F in Granada Hills: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1973 at 1828 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

David M. Hume

Registration:

N6191X

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Van Nuys - El Paso

MSN:

560-1053-20

YOM:

1961

Location:

Granada Hills

California

Country:

Region:

Swearingen SA26T Merlin II

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

570

Captain / Total hours on type:

180.00

Circumstances:

Four minutes after takeoff from Van Nuys Airport, while climbing in marginal weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in Granada Hills, north of Van Nuys. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and suffered a spatial disorientation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, fog and obstruction to vision,
- Visibility limited to half a mile or less,
- IP told the pilot not to fly VFR by night,
- The pilot departed with a special VFR clearance,
- Control lost 4 minutes after takeoff.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA26T Merlin IIA near Deadhorse: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1973 at 1045 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Winship Air Services

Registration:

N1214S

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Fairbanks - Deadhorse - Prudhoe Bay

MSN:

T26-31

YOM:

1968

Location:

Deadhorse

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8216

Captain / Total hours on type:

1134.00

Circumstances:

While descending in marginal weather conditions, the pilot lost his orientation and descended too low without any ground reference when the airplane struck the ground and crashed 28 NM south of the airport. Two passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain during initial approach following improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Became lost/disoriented,
- Low ceiling,
- Began approach before Sta passage,
- Descent below clearance limit,
- Exceeded 10 NM arc outbound,
- Impacted terrain 28 NM south of airport.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove in Moses Lake

Date & Time: May 15, 1973 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Jimmy T. Thompson

Registration:

N4041B

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Moses Lake - Twin Falls

MSN:

04385

YOM:

1953

Location:

Moses Lake

Washington

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2795

Captain / Total hours on type:

15.00

Circumstances:

During the takeoff run, at V1 speed, the crew started the rotation when the left engine lost power. The captain elected to abandon the takeoff procedure but following a lack of coordination and poor experience, the crew lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The crew failed to maintain flying speed,
- The crew failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Misused of flaps,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Left engine lost power,
- Pilot continued the takeoff and did not feathered the propeller,
- Flaps were retracted.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B in Greenville: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1973 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Charter Flight

Registration:

N2985Q

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Concord - Greenville

MSN:

402B-0242

YOM:

1972

Location:

Greenville

Maine

Country:

Region:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4471

Captain / Total hours on type:

290.00

Circumstances:

The crew started the descent to Greenville Airport in poor weather conditions with fog and limited visibility. On final approach, the pilot-in-command passed below the glide and below the MDA fixed at 2,200 feet, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground. While descending to an altitude of 1,400 feet, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few miles short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling, fog,
- Descended below MDA at 2,200 feet,
- Hit trees at 1,400 feet,
- Witnesses reported hillside was in fog about halfway up.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor in Sarasota

Date & Time: May 11, 1973 at 1217 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N7697C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Kingston - Tampa

MSN:

AF-404

YOM:

1953

Location:

Sarasota-Bradenton

Florida

Country:

Region: