Crash of a Lockheed P-2H Neptune into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
140964
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
726-7066
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the aircraft 769 km west of Guam Island. The crew of the ship SS President Cleveland was quickly on the scene and was able to evacuate all occupants. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald 201 near Tainan: 36 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1969 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
B-2009
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kaohsiung - Taipei
MSN:
157
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
FE104
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
36
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kaohsiung Airport, while climbing, the crew encountered technical problems with the right engine. The captain informed ground about his situation and was cleared to return for a safe landing. He quickly realized he could not make it so he reduced his altitude and attempted and emergency landing. While flying a low height over a dense wooded area, the airplane went out of control and eventually crashed in flames in an open field located near Tainan. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 36 occupants were killed. The aircraft crashed 12 minutes after its takeoff from Kaohsiung Airport, bound for Taipei-Songshan Airport.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the right engine failed in flight. For undetermined reason, the crew was unable to feather the propeller that was windmilling, causing high drag and the loss of control.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Tiley Dove into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1969 at 0315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N880JG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04491
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
26000
Captain / Total hours on type:
175.00
Circumstances:
While on a ferry flight from Hawaii to California, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure. He reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the aircraft near a boat approximately 140 miles west of Long Beach. The pilot was quickly rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reason. At the time of the accident, weather conditions includes sleet and freezing rain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-49J near Lone Pine: 35 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1969 at 0510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N15570
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Hawthorne - Burbank - Long Beach
MSN:
6320
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
HNA708
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Captain / Total flying hours:
16348
Captain / Total hours on type:
6000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3445
Copilot / Total hours on type:
967
Aircraft flight hours:
48274
Circumstances:
While cruising by night under VFR mode, the crew changed his route from 170° to 195° direction Palmdale as they thought flying over the valley. Shortly later, the airplane struck a ridge and crashed down the slope of Mt Whitney (11,770 feet high) located about 12,5 miles west of Lone Pine. SAR operations were quickly conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 35 occupants was found. The wreckage was located in a very hazardous area on August 8, 1969 and was not detectable till this date due to snow accumulation on the ground. The accident was unsurvivable.
Probable cause:
The deviation from the prescribed route of flight, as authorized in the company's FAA-approved operations specifications, resulting in the aircraft being operated under IFR weather conditions, in high mountainous terrain, in an area where there was a lack of radio navigation aids.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/A-H2 Turbo Porter near Ban Y: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
XW-PCE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
571
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While completing a dropping mission at low height, the airplane exploded and crashed, killing all three occupants.

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in Cambodia

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-3271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
117
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shot down and crashed somewhere in Cambodia. All four occupants escaped while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mindanao Island: 19 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1969
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While completing a liaison flight, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere on Mindanao Island. The wreckage was found a week later in the jungle and all 19 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Max Holste M.H.1521M Broussard near Chenevières-Saint-Clément AFB

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
172/F-UHTB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Chenevières-Saint-Clément - Chenevières-Saint-Clément
MSN:
223
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a local training flight at Chenevières-Saint-Clément AFB, the single engine aircraft crashed in the Mondon forest located north of the airbase. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander NU-9D in Easton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
57-6531
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
680-371-56
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a mission from Lakehurst, NJ, when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Easton, PA. Two crew members were killed while a third occupant was injured.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Jasper: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1969 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N440VC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
31-416
YOM:
1968
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
19320
Captain / Total hours on type:
120.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck trees, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located near Jasper. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees in normal cruise after the pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Pilot of aircraft in the vicinity diverted to Beaumont Airport because of low ceiling and poor visibility conditions.
Final Report: