Crash of a Nord 2501 Noratlas in Pau: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1971 at 1454 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49/F-RABB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pau - Pau
MSN:
49
YOM:
1954
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Pau-Uzein Airport on a local training flight with nine crew members and 25 paratroopers, on behalf of the Escadron de Transport 2/63 Bigorre. Few minutes after takeoff, the captain informed ground about an engine fire and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the airplane nosed down then crashed in a huge explosion few km short of runway. Two passengers were injured while 32 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Mallet,
Cpt Remy,
Adj Abdi,
Adj Sion,
Mdlc Carlu,
Mdlc Gruselle,
Sgt Piccerelle,
Sgt Tondeur,
Mdl Perron.
Passengers:
S/Lt Berthe,
S/Lt Boju,
S/Lt Cartal,
S/Lt Coullerez,
S/Lt Delarche,
S/Lt Del Toso,
S/Lt Dhome,
S/Lt Ducatillon,
S/Lt Erba,
S/Lt Flori,
S/Lt Guillamet,
S/Lt Kerleguer,
S/Lt Labriet,
S/Lt Lanterme,
S/Lt Lafitte,
S/Lt Megevand,
S/Lt Peters,
S/Lt Pina,
S/Lt Py,
S/Lt Rousseau,
S/Lt Sensfelder,
S/Lt Tachet,
S/Lt Zangarelli.
Probable cause:
Engine fire for unknown reason.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor in Lakeside

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1971 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N4709C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lakeside - Lakeside
MSN:
AF-819
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2075
Captain / Total hours on type:
251.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a local skydiving mission, carrying 10 skydivers and one pilot. Following a roll of about 900 feet, the pilot started the rotation. At a speed of 75 mph, the airplane lifted off then stalled and struck the ground. Out of control, it veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 11 occupants were rescued, one passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Premature lift-off on part of the pilot who failed to obtain/maintain flying speed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman in Lakewood

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1970 at 1144 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1207
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lakewood - Lakewood
MSN:
841
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1520
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane was engaged in a local skydiving exercice. While taking off from Lakewood, the engine stopped. The airplane lost height, struck trees and crashed. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured while seven other occupants were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel starvation,
- High obstructions,
- Fuel selector positioned between tanks,
- The left fuel tank was empty while approx 12 galons of fuel remained in the right fuel tank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stinson V-77 Reliant in Perris Valley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1970 at 1404 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N69440
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Perris Valley - Perris Valley
MSN:
77-107
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
800
Captain / Total hours on type:
252.00
Circumstances:
While completing a skydiving flight, the aircraft suffered an airframe failure. Control was lost and it crashed near the Perris Valley Airport. Five occupants were rescued while a passenger was killed.
Probable cause:
Probable cause(s):
- pilot in command - inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- pilot in command - exercised poor judgment,
- pilot in command - failed to follow approved procedures, directives,etc.,
- personnel - maintenance, servicing, inspection: inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- airframe - wings: skin and attachments,
- miscellaneous acts,conditions - improperly loaded aircraft-weight-and/or c.g.
Factor(s):
- miscellaneous acts,conditions - overload failure.
Remarks- metal skin coverage top left wing loose, skin working, separation occurred. Pilot exceeded aircraft operations limits before occurrence.
Final Report:

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman off Sydney

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
VH-GSF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
270
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed and burst into flames during a skydiving display off Manly Beach, northeast of Sydney. Eight parachutists baled out, followed by pilot Ken Andrews (owner of Skyservice Aviation) at 5,000 feet who was wearing a parachute. As he floated down under his parachute the circling Norseman came very close to hitting him. All were rescued by boats. The Norseman struck the sea 6 miles off the beach, 5 miles southeast off Sydney Heads.
Souce: Geoff Goodall
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Vilia: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1970 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a training mission, carrying a crew of 5 and 22 paratroopers. While cruising in foggy conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kithairon located near Vilia, some 47 km northwest of Athens. Three paratroopers and a crew member were rescued while 23 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Antananarivo

Date & Time: May 18, 1968
Registration:
5R-MAN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Antananarivo - Antananarivo
MSN:
6591
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed. All six occupants (five skydivers and one pilot) were uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A Beaver in Garderen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S-2
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
952
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine was engaged in a local skydiving exercice, carrying one pilot and three soldiers/skydivers. While in cruising altitude, the pilot stabilised the aircraft and the first skydiver jump out of the cabin when he apparently struck the stabiliser. The pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in an open field located between the villages of Garderen and Elspeet. The pilot and a second parachutist were injured while the first skydiver and a second parachutist were killed.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in Zephyrhills

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1968 at 1010 LT
Registration:
N349FH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Zephyrhills - Zephyrhills
MSN:
2007
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2455
Captain / Total hours on type:
16.00
Circumstances:
Following a local skydiving mission, the single engine aircraft was returning to Zephyrhills Airfield when it bounced on landing, went out of control and crash landed. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Improper level off on part of the pilot who failed to recover from bounced landing. On landing, the aircraft trim was set full nose up.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Halfpenny Green

Date & Time: May 7, 1967
Registration:
G-AJKW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Halfpenny Green - Halfpenny Green
MSN:
6539
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a successfully skydiving mission in the region of Halfpenny Green Airport, the crew was returning to his base when the airplane crashed on landing for unknown reason. All three occupants survived while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.