Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air off Ponce

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1977 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Hollywood Flying Service
Registration:
N99JL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Great Inagua - Christiansted
MSN:
LD-277
YOM:
1966
Location:
Ponce
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
20.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a pleasure flight from Great Inagua Island to Christiansted, US Virgin Island. While flying along the south coast of Puerto Rico, he contacted ATC and declared an emergency after both engines failed simultaneously. He reduced his altitude then ditched the aircraft about 32 miles southeast of Ponce VOR. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure in flight for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Attempted operation with know deficiencies in equipment,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Failure of two engines,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- Both fuel flowmeters,
- Left engine alternator inoperative,
- Wet comp 20-30° error.
Final Report:

Crash of an Ilyushin II-62M in Havana: 67 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1977 at 0845 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-62
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-86614
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Frankfurt - Lisbon - Havana
MSN:
51903
YOM:
1975
Flight number:
SU331
Location:
Havana-José Martí (Rancho Boyeros)
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
59
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
67
Aircraft flight hours:
5549
Aircraft flight cycles:
1144
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Lisbon, the crew started the descent to Havana-Jose Martí-Rancho Boyeros Airport and was cleared for an approach to runway 05. The crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions and failed to realize his altitude was too low after he initiated the final approach too late, causing the aircraft to be 64 meters below the minimum descent altitude. The aircraft turned onto runway heading at a distance of 9 km from the runway threshold. According to the approach procedure, the aircraft should have done so at 14-15 km from the threshold. Despite he did not have the runway in sight, the captain decided to continue to descent until the aircraft passed below the decision height. At a distance of 1,820 meters from the runway threshold, the aircraft was approaching at a speed of 280 km/h and at a height of 23-25 meters when it struck power cables. Elevators separated and flaps on the right wing were torn off. The airplane then struck 22 palms, continued to descent until it crashed in flames 1,270 meters short of runway and 121 meters to the right of its extended centerline. Two passengers were seriously injured while 67 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of several errors on part of the flying crew who failed to realize that the approach configuration was wrong. The approach was initiated too late (9 km iso 15 km) and the crew continued the descent below the glide due to a wrong altimeter setting. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums due to foggy conditions and the crew failed to take corrective actions and to properly monitor the radio altimeter, causing the airplane to descend until it impacted with trees and ground.

Crash of a Convair CV-440 Metropolitan in Guatemala City

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
Operator:
Registration:
TG-ACA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
143
YOM:
1954
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot declared an emergency and was cleared to return. Unfortunately, he was unable to feather the left propeller and the airplane became unstable. In such conditions, the captain decided to attempt a belly landing in an open field located near the airport. The aircraft slid for dozen meters and came to rest. While all 28 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the left engine was the consequence of an hydraulic leak. Following maintenance, a hydraulic hose was not properly connected and failed after takeoff.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560F in Moss Town

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1977 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
International Air Freight
Registration:
N6217X
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Acklins Island - Moss Town
MSN:
560-1051-18
YOM:
1961
Location:
Moss Town
Exuma
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2800
Captain / Total hours on type:
30.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Moss Town, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed in flames short of runway. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on final approach. Undershoot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper in Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Island Traders
Registration:
N692A
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7318
YOM:
1942
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Landed hard at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport for unknown reason. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.

Crash of a Cessna 402B off Great Stirrup Cay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1977 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Fred Bell Enterprises
Registration:
N69378
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chub Cay - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
402B-0522
YOM:
1973
Location:
Great Stirrup Cay
Berry Islands
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4335
Circumstances:
En route from Chub Cay to Fort Lauderdale, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Great Stirrup Cay. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent for unknown reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin IIIA in Nassau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1977 at 1923 LT
Type of aircraft:
Swearingen SA226T Merlin III
Operator:
INA Aviation
Registration:
N5329M
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Farmingdale - Nassau
MSN:
T-243
YOM:
1974
Location:
Nassau
New Providence
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1200
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nassau Airport, the pilot decided to make a go-around when the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees on final approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Amatlán de Jora: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos de Nayarit (TANSA)
Registration:
XA-COM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19409
YOM:
1944
Location:
Amatlán de Jora
Nayarit
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to Amatlán de Jora Airstrip. Both pilots and three loaders were killed. The airplane was carrying a load of cereals.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 Islander in Hill Bank

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
VP-HCD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
374
YOM:
1973
Location:
Hill Bank
Orange Walk
Country:
Belize
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight, the pilot encountered technical problems with the engines and elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a wooded area located near Hill Bank. the pilot was rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando off San Juan

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1977 at 1413 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HI-208
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Juan - Santo Domingo
MSN:
30685
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Juan-Isla Grande (Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8200
Captain / Total hours on type:
3500.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San Juan-Isla Grande Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The crew could not feather the propeller and control was lost. The airplane lost speed and height and crashed into the sea near the airport. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during climb to cruise due to inadequate maintenance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Failure of the ignition system: ignition harness, shielding,
- Failure of the hydraulic pitch control mechanism,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Failure of the electrical system: generators/alternators,
- Failure of the electrical system: batteries,
- Prop distributor valve losse,
- Right engine generator inoperative,
- Battery weakened.
Final Report:
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