Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Winisk

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
CF-OBN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
N29-19
YOM:
1946
Location:
Winisk
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from a lake located in Winisk, the single engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. As the shore was approaching, the pilot elected to turn when the airplane struck the ground and came to rest upside down. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the elevators were jammed in an unsuitable position for takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth off Carlisle Island

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1968
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
P. J. Pastoral Company
Registration:
VH-UAL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
4039
YOM:
1933
Location:
Carlisle Island
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 1,300 feet, the pilot encountered atmospheric turbulences. The airplane initiated an uncontrolled descent until it struck the water surface off Carlisle Island. The pilot was rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by downdrafts and turbulences.

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 Douglas B-26C Invader off Iquique: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
817
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Iquique – Antofagasta
MSN:
27410
YOM:
1944
Location:
Iquique-General Diego Aracena
Región de Tarapacá
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Iquique Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 15 km offshore. Both 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 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:

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2M off Gdańsk

Date & Time: May 28, 1968
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
636
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1G36-36
YOM:
1963
Location:
Gdańsk
Pomeranian Voivodeship (Pomorskie)
Country:
Poland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the floatplane landed hard off Gdańsk and sank. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Tupolev TU-16R into the North Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Tupolev TU-16
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Severomorsk - Severomorsk
Location:
North Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The strategic bomber departed Severomorsk Airbase on a survey flight over west Europe. While cruising over the North Sea, the crew made two first passes over the USS Essex then a third pass was completed at a very low height. The the pilot-in-command decided to leave the area when control was lost. The airplane crashed into the sea in a huge explosion, killing all six crew members. Debris were found about 240 km west of the Norwegian coast.
Crew:
Cpt Andrey Pliyev +5.

Crash of a Grumman G-44A Widgeon off Lafitte: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1968 at 1806 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-44 Widgeon
Operator:
Registration:
N41982
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1413
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lafitte
Louisiana
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:
6468
Captain / Total hours on type:
533.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lafitte, south Louisiana, the amphibian aircraft went through a thunderstorm area and encountered severe turbulences. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the bayou of Rigolettes. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. The aircraft was owned by J. Ray McDermot.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot who continued under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions. He encountered turbulences associated with clouds and/or thunderstorm activity.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fairchild UC-123K Provider off Xóm Rach Tàu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-123 Provider
Operator:
Registration:
54-0588
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
20037
YOM:
1954
Location:
Xóm Rach Tàu
Cà Mau Province
Country:
Vietnam
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an aerial attack of a Viêt Cong camp located at Xóm Rach Tàu, at the extreme south coast of South Vietnam. While cruising at low height, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The left engine and the left wing caught fire and the crew elected to evacuate the area when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Emmet Rucker,
Maj James L. Shanks,
Sgt Herbert E. Schmidt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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