Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R near Sufi-Kurgan: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1968 at 1217 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-32209
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dzhargital – Lyahsh – Daraut-Kurgan – Osh
MSN:
1G95-21
YOM:
1968
Location:
Sufi-Kurgan
Osh Province
Country:
Kyrgyzstan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Aircraft flight hours:
170
Aircraft flight cycles:
201
Circumstances:
On the leg from Daraut-Kurgan to Osh of a flight from Dzhargital to Osh, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (thunderstorm and rain). He failed to return, lost orientation and deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west by 10 km. The single engine aircraft crashed at a height of 4,000 metres into the steep slope of a mountain (4,170 metres) located some 15 km southwest of Sufi-Kurgan. The wreckage was found two days later and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue in adverse weather conditions and failed to return. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Delta

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1968 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft D18
Operator:
Omni Investment
Registration:
N303MW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
A-587
YOM:
1951
Location:
Delta
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2360
Captain / Total hours on type:
265.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the pilot informed ATC about engine problems and was forced to shut down the right engine and to feather its propeller. He was cleared to divert to the nearest airport when few seconds later, the airplane stalled and crashed in a prairie located in Delta. The pilot was uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Powerplant failure due to piston rings improperly installed,
- Excessive temperature,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Rough terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Beverly: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1968 at 0028 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Far Airlines
Registration:
N4090Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
402-0190
YOM:
1968
Location:
Beverly
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1671
Captain / Total hours on type:
193.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog. At ant insufficient altitude, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Beverly. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the probable consequence of the following factors:
- Improper flight decision,
- Controlled flight into terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Paris: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1968 at 1036 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Continental Services
Registration:
N224W
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
680-1561-109
YOM:
1965
Location:
Paris-Cox Field
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8700
Captain / Total hours on type:
63.00
Circumstances:
While cruising under VFR mode, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed near Paris, Texas. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent after the aircraft encountered thunderstorm activity and turbulences. Overload failure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando off Punta Arenas: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CDI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
33445
YOM:
1945
Location:
Punta Arenas
Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Magellan Straits, killing all five occupants.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Super Commando near Gravatá: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VBJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
São Paulo – Recife
MSN:
33481
YOM:
1945
Location:
Gravatá
Pernambuco
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from São Paulo to Recife, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Coelhos Mountain Range, near Gravatá. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45G Expeditor off Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1968 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Air Vac
Registration:
N199E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
AF-175
YOM:
1952
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2648
Captain / Total hours on type:
94.00
Circumstances:
While cruising along the east coast of Florida, the pilot encountered serious vibrations on one engine and was forced to shut it down and to feather its propeller. He decided to divert to the nearest airport but unable to do so, he eventually ditched the aircraft offshore. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas B-26 Invader in Show Low

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1968 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
N8629E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
7285
YOM:
1941
Location:
Show Low
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10300
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a fire fighting mission in the region of show Low. While cruising at low height, the right engine lost power. The pilot shot down the engine and feathered the propeller and started to drop its retardant load when the left engine caught fire. He attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The cause of the loss of power on the right engine could not be determined while fire on the left engine was caused by the failure of the n°11 cylinder head.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Reading: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1968 at 2018 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Teterboro Aircraft
Registration:
N3248Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
401-0048
YOM:
1968
Location:
Mohrsville
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
1117
Captain / Total hours on type:
12.00
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the pilot encountered severe turbulences when control was lost. The twin engine aircraft entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in Mohrsville, north of Reading. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions and attempted operation beyond experience/ability level. Turbulence associated with clouds and/or thunderstorm activity exceeded the designed stress limits of the aircraft, causing the horizontal stabilizer to buckle on both sides from positive air loads.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 off Groton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1968 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Buckner Company
Registration:
N4955T
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Groton
Connecticut
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
9372
Captain / Total hours on type:
203.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night and in foggy conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea off Groton. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found. The wreckage was eventually localised on 15 November 1968 by a depth of 40 feet few hundred yards offshore.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:
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