Flight | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet in marginal weather conditions on a flight from Rome to Foggia, the airplane lost 1,200 feet while its speed dropped 30 knots. It nosed down to 20° then crashed at a speed of 340 knots in an open field located near Frosinone, about 75 km southeast of Rome. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 18 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying in a thunderstorm area.
Crew:
Paolo Lombardino, pilot,
Vittorio Pedemonte, copilot,
Clemente Basile, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, based on the flight recorder analysis, it is believed that the loss of control was caused by severe atmospheric turbulences associated with thunderstorm activity.

Crash of a Consolidated CA-10A-1 Catalina near Humaitá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1972 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

6514

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Humaitá - Manaus

MSN:

1917

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Humaitá to Manaus, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a wooded area (jungle) located about 80 km northeast of Humaitá. A passenger and a crew member were killed while eight other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure apparently caused by a faulty fuel supply system.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Ban Xieng Lom: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1972 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

N152L

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

554

YOM:

1963

Location:

Ban Xieng Lom

Louangphabang Province

Country:

Laos

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

13687

Captain / Total hours on type:

3216.00

Circumstances:

While completing a low pass over a previous accident site, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in Ban Xieng Lom, about 8 km southeast of Luang Prabang. The pilot was killed while two other occupants were injured.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 near Noxon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1972 at 1315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Operator:

Red Carpet Flying Service

Registration:

N2776

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Topographic

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Walla Walla - Libby

MSN:

500-693

YOM:

1958

Location:

Noxon

Montana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5131

Captain / Total hours on type:

57.00

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a mapping/photo mission from Walla Walla (Washington) to Libby, Montana. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in the region of Noxon. The wreckage was found June 16, 1972. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent caused by improper in-flight decisions or planning on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Ice-carburetor,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Flew into icing conditions beyond capability of aircraft deicing systems.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan near McFadden: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1972 at 1916 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan

Operator:

Thomas W. Lane

Registration:

N1322M

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rock Springs - Broomfield

MSN:

1468

YOM:

1942

Location:

McFadden

Wyoming

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1295

Captain / Total hours on type:

16.00

Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions on a flight from Rock Springs to Broomfield, Colorado, control was lost. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located near McFadden. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the crew continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions and suffered a spatial disorientation. The following factors were reported:
- Snow,
- Icing conditions, including sleet and freezing rain,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Airframe ice,
- While following hiway, the crew encountered forecasted snow and turbulences,
- Struck the ground in a nose down and left bank attitude at high rate of speed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130E Hercules near Salavan

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

69-6571

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

4345

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Engaged in a military mission on the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, the aircraft was hit by ground fire while flying at an altitude of 7,500 feet. The captain elected to return to his base when the right wing caught fire. All 15 occupants bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2D into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1972 at 2144 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.114 Heron

Operator:

Registration:

N19D

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

San Francisco - Hilo

MSN:

14109

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11980

Captain / Total hours on type:

2500.00

Circumstances:

On a ferry flight from San Francisco to Hilo, while cruising by night, all four engines stopped simultaneously. The crew informed ATC about his position and attempted to ditch the aircraft that came to rest in water about 219 miles off the Hawaiian coast. Both pilots were rescued and evacuated while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew who miscalculated the fuel consumption and the flight time to check point. The following factors were reported:
- The crew became lost and disoriented.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130A Hercules near Xepon: 14 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

55-0044

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ubon Ratchathani - Ubon Ratchathani

MSN:

3071

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a military operation along the Ho Chi Minh Trail when it was hit by an SA-2 surface to air missile. Out of control, it crashed 16 km southeast of Xepon. All 14 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2 in Vorochilovgrad: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1972 at 0815 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-42621

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

City

MSN:

1G40-22

YOM:

1963

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

9044

Aircraft flight cycles:

9242

Circumstances:

Parked at Voroshilovgrad Airport, the single engine aircraft was stolen by a pilot who decided to commit suicide due to marital problems. He took off alone and directed his aircraft into a 4-floor building where he was living (house # 10 in the 27th district of Voroshilovgrad). The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot was killed. The building was partially destroyed as well but no one was injured.

Probable cause:

Pilot suicide.