Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Novotitarovka: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1969 at 0755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32607
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Novotitarovka - Novotitarovka
MSN:
1 63 473 03
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
6274
Circumstances:
On an unauthorized flight during crop-spraying operations for the Kolkhoz (collective farm) im. Kalinina at Novotitarovka (Dinskaya district of the Krasnodar region), the pilot performed unauthorized manoeuvres at low height. The aircraft touched a 7 metres high tree at Novotitarovka, collided with more trees and the mast of a powerline, damaged a house then crashed in a garden and caught fire. The pilot and the sole passenger were killed.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Piura: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Piura - Piura
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Piura AFB while conducting a local night training mission. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Rosedale: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1969 at 1400 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N9001N
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Norman - Norman
MSN:
690-11000
YOM:
1969
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1454
Captain / Total hours on type:
11.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from Norman Airport, consisting of various tests (stalls) in specific conditions. In flight, the pilot-in-command engaged the aircraft in a stall when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a wooded area located in Rosedale, about 28 miles southeast of Norman Airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all threes occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed, causing the aircraft to stall. The lack of familiarity with aircraft was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-2V Harpoon near Sebring

Date & Time: May 5, 1969 at 0845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N7260C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sebring - Sebring
MSN:
15-1420
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5053
Captain / Total hours on type:
1051.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Sebring Airport for a local spraying mission. En route, the left engine failed and the crew delayed the feathering the prop. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed near Sebring. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled collision with ground while the crew was trying to return to his departure point. Failure of the engine structure caused by a master and connecting rods failure. The following findings were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions on part of the crew,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Complete engine failure due to rear master rod bearing failure,
- Pilot delayed feathering the left prop.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680S near Cali: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1317W
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
680-391-71
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in a mountainous terrain located about 80 km west of Cali, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Otar: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1969 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-09193
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Otar - Otar
MSN:
1G21-01
YOM:
1962
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
4585
Aircraft flight cycles:
12119
Circumstances:
On an unauthorized pleasure flight during crop-spraying operations for the kolkhoz (collective farm) im. Kalinina in the Kurdai district of the Dzhambul region, the intoxicated pilot performed unauthorized manoeuvres at low height. He eventually lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located 1,500 meters from Otar. The pilot and all 6 passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Intoxicated pilot.

Crash of a Learjet 25 in Corban: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1969 at 0952 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N515VW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Geneva - Basel
MSN:
25-013
YOM:
1968
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8500
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1350
Aircraft flight hours:
260
Circumstances:
While descending to Basel Airport in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about navigation problems and requested the permission to climb to 3,500 feet over the Homburg beacon. Due to traffic, the crew was cleared to climb to 2,500 feet only when few dozen seconds later, the aircraft disappeared from radar screens. SAR operations were quickly conducted but the wreckage was found three days later, on April 20, by a farmer in an open field located in Corban, some 25 km south of Basel Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Commission has unanimously come to the conclusion that the accident was due to a collision with terrain that occurred during following a missed ILS approach procedure, interrupted due to difficulties of navigation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed EC-121M Super Constellation into the Japan Sea: 31 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1969 at 1350 LT
Operator:
Registration:
135749
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Atsuji - Atsuji
MSN:
4316
YOM:
1954
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a maritime patrol flight over the Sea of Japan, the four engine aircraft was shot down by two North Korea Air Force MiG-17. Out of control, it entered a dive and crashed into the sea some 145 km off the city of Chongjin. Few debris and two dead bodies were found floating on water and none of the 31 occupants survived the crash.
Crew:
ADR2 Louis F. Balderman,
AT1 Stephen C. Chartier,
AT1 Bernie J. Colgin,
ADR1 Ballard F. Connors Jr.,
CT3 Gary R. DuCharme,
LT John N. Dzema,
LT Dennis B. Gleason,
ATN3 Gene K. Graham,
AEC LaVerne A. Greiner,
ATR2 Dennis J. Horrigan,
ATN2 Richard H. Kincaid,
S/Sgt Hugh M. Lynch,
ADRC Marshall H. McNamara,
ATR2 Timothy H. McNeil,
CT3 John A. Miller,
LCDR James H. Overstreet,
Lt Peter P. Perrottey,
CT1 John H. Potts,
AMS3 Richard T. Prindle,
CTC Frederick A. Randall,
LTJG Joseph R. Ribar,
AT1 James Leroy Roach,
LT John H. Singer,
CTC Richard E. Smith,
CT3 Philip D. Sundby,
AT1 Richard E. Sweeney,
LTJG Robert J. Sykora,
LT Robert F. Taylor,
CT2 Stephen J. Tesmer,
LTJG Norman E. Wilkerson,
ATN3 David M. Willis.
Probable cause:
Shot down by two North Korea Air Force MiG-17.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Suez: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1969 at 1930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
ET-AAQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Asmara - Cairo
MSN:
20174
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the twin engine airplane was shot down and crashed in an uninhabited area located about 3 km south from Suez. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. It was reported that the aircraft was overflying a prohibited area when it was shot down. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was not equipped with a VOR receiver and the crew informed ATC about the fact he was unable to receive the information transmitted by the Cairo NDB.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 in Staroshcherbinovskaya: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1969 at 1203 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-13667
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Staroshcherbinovskaya - Staroshcherbinovskaya
MSN:
112 473..
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
9205
Circumstances:
During a crop-spraying flight on behalf of the sovkhoz (state farm) 'Severny' located in the village of Staroshcherbinovskaya, the pilot completed a steep turn at low height when control was lost. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed, killing all three occupants, among them two unauthorized passengers.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot was intoxicated with 1,7‰ of alcohol in blood.