Flight | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Sigonella Airbase for a local training mission when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea southeast of Syracuse. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Claudio Martinelli,
Lt Rino Meini.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560A in Crossville: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1969 at 1129 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

Operator:

Beaudoin Steul

Registration:

N2761B

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Benton Harbor - Atlanta

MSN:

560-442

YOM:

1956

Location:

Crossville

Tennessee

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:

889

Captain / Total hours on type:

236.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude in poor weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed few dozen seconds later in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Icing conditions including sleet, freezing rain,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Airframe ice,
- Ice carburetor,
- The pilot entered known icing conditions with no prop or airframe de-icing systems on aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Sagirdasht: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1969 at 1235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Antonov AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-98316

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Qal'ai Khumb – Tavildara – Dushanbe

MSN:

1102 473 14

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

SH84

Location:

Tavildara

Districts of Republican Subordination

Country:

Tajikistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8606

Aircraft flight cycles:

12069

Circumstances:

On the leg from Qal'ai Khumb to Tavildara of a flight from Qal'ai Khumb to Dushanbe, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (the summits were covered by clouds), deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west by 8 km and crashed into a snow-covered slope of the Darwaz Mountain range, some 9 km SSW of Sagirdasht (Gorny Badakhshan). Two of the 3 pilots (including a check pilot) and 9 of the 10 passengers were killed and both survivors were seriously injured. The wreckage was found 31MAR69 and both survivors were evacuated three days later, on 02APR69.

Probable cause:

The crew decided to continue in below-weather minima in violation of the published procedures. Poor support on part of the meteorological services and lack of ATC assistance were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Jakharrad

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

OO-SBH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Desert

MSN:

11979

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a desert area located 155 km east of Jakharrad. All 17 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1649A Starliner in Isluga

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-1649 Starliner

Operator:

Trans American Leasing - TAL

Registration:

N7311C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lima – Montevideo

MSN:

1013

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Lima to Montevideo, carrying a load of cigarettes and whiskey. En route, the crew encountered problems with the engine number two and elected to return to Lima when the engine number one caught fire shortly later. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a desert area located near Isluga, near the Chili-Bolivia border. Upon landing, the left wing was torn off and the airplane came to rest, broken in two. All three crew members were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Beechcraft U-21A Ute near Huế: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft U-21 Ute

Operator:

Registration:

66-18007

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Quy Nhơn – Huế

MSN:

LM-8

YOM:

1967

Location:

Huế

Thừa Thiên–Huế Province

Country:

Vietnam

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Huế-Phú Bài Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility. Too low, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Loc Thuy located about 45 km southeast of Huế Airport. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles R. Barnes, pilot,
Cpt David R. Smith, pilot.
Passengers:
SP4 Michael L. Batt,
SP4 Raymond E. Bobe,
Maj Marvin L. Foster.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Grumman S-2F Tracker off Ko Samet Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

420

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

329

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While completing a local training mission, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Ko Samet Island. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Tajo de Cabaneja: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Paris – Rabat

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport in the evening on a flight to Rabat. While cruising by night, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain. The wreckage was found few hours later and all seven occupants were killed, among them one civilian.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1969 at 1840 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

N65134

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

19025

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10000

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed California on a delivery flight to Indonesia via Hawaii, the aircraft being delivered to its new operator Zamrud Aviation. While cruising about 370 km off Hilo, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to ditch the aircraft. All three occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines due to the lubricating system malfunction. Loss of oil pressure for undetermined reason.

Final Report: