California

Country:

Region:

Lockheed L-1649 Starliner

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Captain / Total hours on type:

3000.00

Circumstances:

While flying at low height, the pilot lost control of the seaplane that crashed into the sea few dozen yards off Avalon. Few debris were found floating on water but the pilot's body was never found.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1649A Starliner in Stockton

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1968 at 1613 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Willair International Airlines

Registration:

N8081H

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stockton - Stockton

MSN:

1026

YOM:

1958

Location:

Stockton

Country:

Region:

Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Stockton Airport, California. Following several uneventful circuits, the crew initiated a new approach. On final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right main gear struck a blast pad located 102 feet short of the runway threshold and was torn off. The airplane partially belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. While all 11 occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The student pilot misjudged the distance and altitude on final and the pilot-in-command failed to supervise the flight adequately.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell 1121A Jet Commander in Hollywood: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1968 at 0723 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N148E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Hollywood-Burbank (Bob Hope)

Schedule:

Santa Monica - Hollywood

MSN:

1121-022

YOM:

1965

Location:

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11164

Captain / Total hours on type:

6121.00

Circumstances:

While on final approach to Hollywood-Burbank Airport on a positioning flight from Santa Monica, the airplane adopted a nose-down attitude, struck power cables, hit a house and crashed in a wasteland located few miles short of runway. Both pilots and one people on the ground were killed. The aircraft was destroyed as well as several cars. A house was also damaged.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent caused by vortex turbulences from a preceding aircraft with separation of approximately 3 minutes and 15 seconds.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker on Mt Lassen: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

56-3655

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Castle - Castle

MSN:

17404

YOM:

1958

Location:

Mt Lassen

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6089

Circumstances:

The crew departed Castle AFB on a training mission. After completing a simulated emergency descent from FL390 to FL230, the pilot-in-command initiated a sharp turn when control was lost. The airplane crashed on Mt Lassen and was totally destroyed. All nine crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of the physical loss of the stabilizer which detached during the sharp turn, maybe due to overload.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Colusa County

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1968 at 0954 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

J. Fender & Partner

Registration:

N4914V

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

04273

YOM:

1949

Location:

Colusa County

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2200

Captain / Total hours on type:

250.00

Circumstances:

While completing a regional executive flight, one of the engine failed in flight. The pilot decided to divert to Colusa County but on approach, his position was wrong so he decided to make a go-around when the airplane struck power cables, stalled and crashed in a field. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Engine failure,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel starvation,
- Improper in-flight decision,
- Improper decision to abort landing while on single engine.

Final Report:

Crash of a Waco UIC in San Luis Obispo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1968 at 1314 LT

Type of aircraft:

Waco UIC

Operator:

Registration:

N13066

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Luis Obispo - San Luis Obispo

MSN:

3716

YOM:

1933

Location:

San Luis Obispo

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After completing touch-and-go, the pilot increased engine power and elected to takeoff. While climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed, killing all four occupants.

Probable cause:

The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed and the aircraft entered an abnormally steep climb after touch-and-go and crashed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-95-LO Orion at Moffett AFB

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-3 Orion

Operator:

Registration:

A9-296

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Moffett - Moffett

MSN:

5406

YOM:

1968

Location:

Moffett AFB

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local test flight on this new aircraft which should be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force. Upon landing, one of the main landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in flames. While all four crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Rockwell Commander 680E near Lake Hughes: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1968 at 1723 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6243B

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Location:

Lake Hughes

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While completing a regional executive flight, the pilot encountered technical problems en route and elected to make an emergency landing. While flying over mountainous terrain, he attempted a wheels-up landing on a hillside when the airplane crashed. The burned wreckage was found a day later and the pilote, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

Improper operation of powerplant on part of the pilot. Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction systems icing.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in San Diego: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1968 at 1040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Imperial Commuter

Registration:

N82B

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

San Diego-Lindbergh Field

MSN:

BA-149

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region: