Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation in Miami

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1973 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Aircraft Airframe
Registration:
N6906C
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami - Miami
MSN:
4020
YOM:
1952
Location:
Miami-Intl
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Miami-Intl Airport, the right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to a halt. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear due to hydraulic leak and material failure. The downlock mechanism failed to prevent the right gear from retract after hydraulic pressure loss for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-2H Neptune at South Weymouth NAS

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
141250
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
726-7122
Location:
South Weymouth NAS
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident at South Weymouth NAS. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Niles: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1973 at 2053 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Midwest Tankers
Registration:
N300X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Owensboro - Niles
MSN:
31-412
YOM:
1968
Location:
Niles-Jerry Tyler
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
16770
Captain / Total hours on type:
376.00
Circumstances:
The pilot started the approach to Niles-Jerry Tyler by night and in poor weather conditions. On final, due a visibility limited to a half of mile, he decided to descend below the minimal descent altitude when the aircraft struck trees and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot who took improper in-flight decisions. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain, fog and thunderstorm activity,
- Visibility limites to half a mile,
- Descended below MDA in known thunderstorm conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Savoy: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1973 at 0510 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
N7705
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Savoy - Chicago
MSN:
5
YOM:
1966
Location:
Savoy-Willard
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2745
Captain / Total hours on type:
60.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Savoy-Willard Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in flames in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who failed to realize that the gust locks were still engaged at takeoff. Unfavorable wind conditions was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S off Cleveland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Buckeye Air Services
Registration:
N1900R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cleveland - Detroit
MSN:
BA-25
YOM:
1955
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
22000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Circumstances:
Crashed into Lake Erie en route from Cleveland to Detroit. The wreckage was never found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Oklahoma City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1973 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Georg O. Mejlaender Jr.
Registration:
N7312
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Muskogee - Oklahoma City - Houston
MSN:
680-476-146
YOM:
1957
Location:
Oklahoma City-Downtown Airpark
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1300
Circumstances:
On final approach, the twin engine airplane was too low and struck power cables. It stalled and crashed in flames few dozen yards short of runway, killing all three occupants.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged distance and altitude on final approach, causing the aircraft to hit power cables and to crash. High obstructions were considered as a contributory factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-70-LO Orion off Brunswick: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1973 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152749
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Brunswick - Brunswick
MSN:
185-5189
YOM:
1966
Location:
Brunswick
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a training flight out of Brunswick NAS when it crash in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean about 40 miles offshore. The wreckage sank by a depth of 300-600 feet. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air in Portland: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1973 at 1138 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
N791K
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Portland - Portland
MSN:
LJ-253
YOM:
1967
Location:
Portland
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2896
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Circumstances:
The crew (two pilots under supervision and one instructor) was engaged in a local training mission at Portland Airport. On short final, at a height of 10-15 feet in a gear down and flaps 80% down configuration, the pilot-in-command initiated a go-around and added full power when the right engine lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed in flames onto the runway. The instructor was seriously injured and both pilots were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during the last segment after the right engine failed for undetermined reasons. The following factors were reported:
- ATR flight check,
- Go-around initiated about 10-15 feet about ground,
- Flaps 80% down, gear down.
Final Report:

Crash of a MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet in Phoenix

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1973 at 2024 LT
Type of aircraft:
MBB HFB-320 Hansa Jet
Operator:
Registration:
N320MC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco - San Diego - Phoenix - Santa Fe
MSN:
1034
YOM:
1968
Location:
Phoenix-Sky Harbor
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11672
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from San Francisco to Santa Fe with intermediate stops in San Diego and Phoenix. At Sky Harbor Airport, the airplane landed on its belly, slid for several dozen yards and came to rest in flames. While all seven occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
On approach, the crew failed to use the checklist and forgot to extend the landing gear.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Silk Hope: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1973 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
0-50781
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Fort Bragg - Fort Bragg
MSN:
14953/26398
YOM:
1943
Location:
Silk Hope
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a training sortie from Fort Bragg-Simmons AAF and was carrying 11 members of the USA Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, two pilots and a crew chief. About an hour after its departure, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by the fact that the aircraft was overloaded. Apparently, a heavy metal plating floor had been added in Vietnam but not entered in the log book.
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